Masjid Khadeejah Community Update Muhammad Waseem Khan President Board of Directors Date:

Status Update 2 Brief History >In the Ramadan of 2007 the residents of South Denver realized that they needed a Masjid closer to home >After some initial team building and planning the South Denver Islamic Center organization was registered with the Secretary of State of Colorado >Tax-exempt status (501 C3) was granted to us on March 6, 2008 >A very determined and sustained search for a suitable rental place was initiated soon after the organization was fully registered >Despite a large available inventory of commercial real estate in the area, we were having serious problems in having realtors and property owners to sign the lease for the Masjid

Status Update 3 Brief History >Finally on the very blessed day of the 27 th of Ramadan last year we were able to sign the lease with Lone Tree Commons. >We were able to take the possession, clean the place, and offer our first prayer on the same evening of this blessed day. >Since then we have been regularly praying Jumah and Isha prayers. >In addition, three important programs have been launched very successfully.

Status Update 4 Organization >Board of Directors Muhammad Waseem Khan – President Dr. Abdul Fatah Ali – Director General Management Adnan Al- Ghoraiby – Director Communications & Public Relations Frank Vanbaelinghem – Director Treasury >Program Managers Sima Ali – Sunday School Shehla Barkatullah – Sisters in Solidarity ShemsAdeen Ben-Masaud – MAS Youth

Status Update 5 Vision >Our Vision is to have “a clean, convenient, and unifying place of worship where we are able to pray according to the teachings of our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). A place that will foster an environment to bring out the best of our qualities as individuals and as a community. A place where we can seek the undistorted message of our Creator, Allah subhana hu wa’ ta’ala; where we can truly improve our spiritual being; and where we can nurture excellent relationship within our community as well as with the larger Denver community.”

Status Update 6 Goals and Objectives >First and foremost – establish regular daily and weekly prayers >Design, develop and implement programs for: 1) Children; 2) Youth; 3) Women; 4) General Muslim Community; 5) Non-Muslim Community >Provide a platform to fulfill the social needs of Muslim community >Establish a mutually supportive relationship with other Muslim organizations of Colorado >Establish a relationship of understanding, respect, trust and support with the Non-Muslim community of Douglas County and Colorado in general.

Status Update 7 Significant Accomplishments >We are regularly praying Jumah and Isha prayers since the Masjid has been established. Muslim population living in the following neighborhoods are attending the prayers: Lone Tree Highlands Ranch Parker Castle Pines Castle Rock >Muslim professional working in the DTC, Highlands Ranch, and Inverness are attending Jumah prayers. They are also using the Masjid for other daily prayers on a limited basis.

Status Update 8 Significant Accomplishments >We have a very encouraging turnout for children’s Sunday School. Currently, 25 kids are registered in two different grade levels in the school. Sisters Sima Ali and Shehla Barkatullah are voluntarily running this program in a very impressive way. >Our women’s program – Sisters in Solidarity (SIS) – is another successful launch. 20 members have joined this group within a few weeks of its initiation. Again, Sister Shehla Barkatullah is voluntarily running this program very effectively. >MAS Youth of Colorado has seamlessly extended to our Masjid. Young girls and boys from the Douglas County are actively participating in the MAS Youth events. Brother ShemsAdeen Ben Masaud is doing a stellar job in channeling our youth energy in the right direction.

Status Update 9 Significant Accomplishments >We have launched a website ( for the Masjid. Adnan Al-Ghoraiby has designed and developed the website and is responsible for managing its content on an on-going basis.

Status Update 10 Major Challenges >We have the following four major inter-related challenges: Weak financials No Imam Fewer prayers Low turnout >Because of the weak financials we are not able to hire an Imam due to which we cannot offer regular prayers effectively, and thus we are not able to attract a larger population to the Masjid.

Status Update 11 Major Challenges – Weak Financials >Our monthly rent is $4,830. In addition, we have other expenses, such as, utilities, insurance, maintenance etc. >Our approximate monthly collection from weekly donations is $200 per week. In addition, since the last month or two we are collecting approximately $1,000 per month from the Sunday School fees. >This leaves us with a monthly deficit of approximately $3,200 per month. >So far we haven’t formally raised any funds. A few brothers contributed significantly at the time of signing of lease in September last year. >That money is almost fully used up in expenses for the last 5-6 months and there is hardly any money to keep the operations going at this point.

Status Update 12 Major Challenges – No Imam and Limited Prayers >We have to renew the lease in couple of months from now. It will be very difficult to do so without having enough funds in our bank. >Because we have hardly any money to pay the monthly rent we are not able to effectively and formally engage a full time or part time Imam for the Masjid. >There are a few volunteers who take turns to deliver the Jumah Khutbah and lead the Jumah prayer. >There are only very few people who pray regular Maghreb and Isha prayers. >The absence of a qualified, experienced and dedicated Imam has resulted in lesser people attending the regular prayers that are offered only on a limited basis in the first place.

Status Update 13 Next Steps >Short Term (2-3 months) Get financially stable Hire an Imam Consider other relatively non-expensive rental properties >Long Term Continuously improve the design and delivery of our programs Add new programs to our portfolio Buy an existing building for the Masjid or buy land and subsequently build our own structure Generate the funding for Masjid expenses through self-sustaining business options, such as, childcare, shops etc. Hand things over to more competent, capable and better individuals who can improve and build upon our humble effort, insha’Allah