The Peace Centre

Mission Statement

 

 

We ask Allah (SWT) to guide us in our efforts, to incline our hearts to Islam and to firmly establish our hearts on the straight path of His Deen.  We seek His (SWT) aid, without which we cannot succeed.  We implore and beseech His mercy and blessings in this endeavor.  We ask that He (SWT) purifies and accepts our deeds and forgives our mistakes and shortcomings.   

 

The Peace Centre was incorporated on April 3,2002 as a Domestic Non Profit Corporation in the State of Pennsylvania USA in compliance with 15 Pa. C. S. $. 5306 (relating to articles of incorporation).  On October 21, 2003 The Peace Centre was granted tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as such is an officially recognized charity by the US Department of the Treasury. 

 

We view these efforts to be a sacred duty imposed upon all Muslims by Allah (SWT) in Surah An-Nahl: 125:

           


Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knows best those who have strayed from His Path

and those who receive guidance.

 

We understand this to include invitation to both Muslim and non-Muslim people.  This is an enormous task which will require a marriage of stratagem, patience, wisdom, resources, and commitment. Bringing to bear these constituent components in the proper proportions, at the proper time, and in the proper setting is a challenge which Muslim ‘caller’s’ have traditionally had to contend with.  We recognize these challenges and eagerly look forward to merging each of our individual strength’s and talent’s in order to evolve a team of effective Callers.  It is our intention, that with the help of Allah (SWT), we will be able to provide an atmosphere which inspires students to seek knowledge for the sake of Allah alone.  One which in turn motivates and inspires these same students to venture forth into the world acting upon this knowledge and ultimately, spreading this knowledge to others.   

 

Goals and Methodologies

 

 

The Peace Centre has identified both short and long term goals and has established it’s priorities in relation to these goals in such a way as to ensure that the maximum possible benefits can be obtained from its initial efforts and its limited resources.  Our primary concern is to maintain a high level of confidence and live up to a high standard of conduct in implementing of our projects.  We feel that, in order to secure and maintain the trust and confidence of the Carlisle Muslim community we must approach all of our undertakings in a positive, professional and Islamic manner. 

 

All activities are thoroughly analyzed prior to our undertaking them.  If we feel that if we cannot “exceed the community norm” or “exceed the community expectations” with regard to any given activity, then we are prepared to walk away from it.  Similarly, if one member of the management team senses that an activity is done for any reason other than for the sake of Allah, it becomes his primary responsibility to immediately rectify that activity or put an end to it.

 

It is through these standards that we hope to maintain a high level of confidence within the Carlisle community and at the same time prevent ourselves from developing feelings of arrogance, power or supremacy.  No member of the management team is willing to sacrifice his soul on the Day of Judgment for a small success in this world.  We categorically state that, we will never be successful in any project or activity if Allah (SWT) does not grant us such success.  

 


Lo! Wrong-doers will not be successful. (al-Qasas:37)

 

 

Current Activities

 

 

The Peace Centre currently provides the following services and undertakes the following activities:

 

*      5 daily salat

*      Salat ul-Jumuah

*      Daily halakat between Maghrib and Isha’

*      Collection and distribution of Zakat for the Carlisle Community

*      Qur’an reading classes

*      Dawah presentations to a wide variety of audiences including over Church groups, Universities and Community groups.

*      Community and public relations – We have become the ‘public’ face of Islam in Carlisle.  We strive to fulfill this responsibility by putting forth the best practices, advice and methodologies of Rasullullah (SAW).

*      Various liaison activities related to assisting the Muslim officers who are part of the International Fellows program at The US Army War College.  These activities cover a wide range of support services for individual officers as well as the families that often accompany them during there studies here.

*      Marriage services including family counseling

 

 

Projected Activities

 (upon completion of Masjid)

 

 

In addition to the above current activities, once the construction of the masjid is complete we expect to be able to provide the following additional services to the local Muslim community:

 

*      The existing building will be renovated so that we can hold classes for both children and adults.

*      The rear portion of the Peace Centre property will be converted into a Muslim cemetery.  This will be the first Muslim cemetery in Central PA.  The total land reserved for this purpose is approximately 1 acre and will accommodate more than 700 grave sites. 

*      Dawah events utilizing both the new building and existing renovated building will be held at the Peace Centre for the first time.  Currently, all Dawah activities are conducted off site, thereby limiting their scope and frequency.  With the new facilities we will be able to have regular programs as well as be able to control the surroundings during the various programs.

*      Expansion of our existing library to provide authentic Islamic resources for both the Muslim community as well as the various higher educational institutions in the Carlisle area.

 

 

 

The Islamic Community in Carlisle PA

 

 

*      The current Carlisle Muslim community consists of more that 200 families from diverse backgrounds and ethnic origins.  It is not uncommon to attend slat at the Peace Centre and find representative from countries such as Morocco, Bosnia, Egypt, Kenya, Niger, Malaysia, Pakistan, Uganda, America, Libya, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, ans indeed many others..

 

*      Carlisle is home to Dickinson College and Dickinson School of Law.  We are also within 25 miles of Shippensburg University and the Penn State Harrisburg Campus.  Each year a diverse and growing number of Muslim students come to Carlisle to pursue their studies.  Over the last 4 years we have seen a steady increase in the number of these students who are making use of The Peace Centre facilities and resources.

 

*      Each year, The US Army War College hosts a large group of international students as part of the International Fellows program.  It is usually the case that between 12 and 18 of the IF students are Muslim officers from various Muslim countries.  Many of these officers bring their families with them as they complete the one year course of study.   The Peace Centre supplies a readily accessible place for these officers to perform their salat and get a variety of other assistance and support that only a masjid can provide.

 

 

The Current Building and Land Description

 

 

Current Deeded Land:  Land and current buildings are 100% owned by The Peace Centre.

 

Land Size: approximately 4.025 acres (approximately 16,500 square meters)

 

Existing House: (Please click on Picture Gallery for photos of our site)

 

*      4 bedroom, 2600 square foot (250 sq m) “Cape Cod” style house.  Currently used as Musallah for the Muslim community of Carlisle.

 

*      1 car garage – used as a maintenance building to house maintenance equipment.

 

*      300 ft (100 m) long driveway and parking for 15 cars.

 

*      Old un-useable swimming pool, which needs to be removed or filled in.

 

*      1080 square foot (1000 sq m) cement slab enclosed by chain link fencing.  Future site of community outdoor picnic pavilion.

 

*      Well water – public water is available

 

*      Public sewer

 

*      The enclosed plan contains provisions to allow for the conversion of this house into a library and school for youth, adult and dawah teaching purposes once the masjid facilities are completed.

 

 

Proposed Masjid Project

 

 

*      Current Legal Status – The Peace Centre has been granted permission to build and operate a Masjid as part of a comprehensive Zoning Variance approval that was issued by the North Middleton Township on January 5th 2006 ( Please see Zoning Variance Approval).

 

*      The Peace Centre has engaged the Civil Engineering firm of Dawood Engineering (website: http://www.dawoodeng.com/ ) as its engineering consultant.  Dawood Engineering is a multi-disciplinary, professional consulting firm specializing in civil engineering, environmental services, geotechnical engineering, land development, and surveying services.  Dawood Engineering shall be handling all civil engineering, land development, and surveying tasks for the Masjid Construction.  In addition, they shall also be providing certain Project Management expertise.

 

*      The Peace Centre has engaged the firm of Town & Country Cedar Homes (website: http://www.cedarhomes.com/ ) to design and build the Masjid.  (Please see The Masjid Design Page to view the most recent iteration of the Masjid design).

 

*      The Masjid (Masjid As-Salam) shall provide constant space for approximately 140 men and 60 women worshippers with an overflow capability to expand to allow for an additional 100 worshippers in the event additional space becomes immediately necessary.   In addition, the selected site location and general design of the building shall allow for easy future expansion as the Community grows.

 

 

Project Costs (Financial Requirements)

 

 

*      The current estimate to complete the construction of the masjid is approximately US$600,000.

 

 

Peace Centre Board of Directors

 

 

The Peace Centre Board of Directors:

 

Fiduciary responsibilities of the Peace Centre are handled by:

 

  1. Michael D. Williams/Muhammad Nur Abdullah – Chairman/Director.

e-mail:mohdnor@comcast.net

 

  1. Roshan Ali Sabar – Director

e-mail: sabarr@sec.gov.qa

 

  1. Abdul Basit Moosa – Director

e-mail: mmoosa@comcast.net

 

 

Peace Centre Management

 

 

All management positions are voluntary and no person associated with The Peace Centre receives any pay or financial benefits from Peace Centre funds.

 

The management of The Peace Centre is accomplished by a combination of External Independent Oversight and Local Community Participation. 

 

The Oversight function is the responsibility of the Peace Centre Advisory Council.  The purpose of this council is to provide guidance of a general administrative nature as well as to serve as a source of independent, outside, apolitical feedback and advice regarding the overall direction and utilization of the Peace Centre facilities and it’s activities.  In this capacity, the Advisory Council expected to ensure that the masjid and it’s activities conform to the Shari’ah of Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

 

The Peace Centre Advisory Council Members:

 

  1. Br. Michael D. Williams (aka Muhammad Nur bin Abdullah) - Founder and Chairman of the Peace Centre.  Converted to Islam in 1977 while teaching high school mathematics in Malaysia.  Currently working as an Information Technology Specialist for a large multi-national computer company.  Interests include calling non-Muslims to Islam and working to build the institutions to help develop the Muslim leaders of tomorrow.

 

  1. Dr. Abdul Qadri Akin Adeseun – PhD. in Criminology, University of Maryland.   Director, Division of Planning Evaluation and Budget Analysis for the State of Pennsylvania.  He is a long time Muslim community leader in Central PA with many years of leadership experience.  He is a leading khatib, public speaker and Da’ie.  He is consistently sought out for his deep understanding of Islam and his knowledgeable and just decisions.

 

  1. Dr. Muhammad Elnour MD. – Nephrology Specialist with the Nephrology Associates of Central PA.  A well respected member of the Harrisburg PA Muslim community known for his insightful and beautiful khutbat, beautiful recitation of the Qur’an and extensive knowledge of the Seerah. 

 

  1. Dr. Abdul Kadir Elmi – PhD. Agricultural Science, University of Arkansas.  President of Masjid al-Hidayah in Troy, NY.  Currently acts as Imam (Chaplin) for the State of New York Prison system.  Translator of several Islamic texts into the Somali language including Fiqh-us-Sunnah.

 

  1. Sheikh Mahmud Jawhar – Principle and founder of the Islamic Center of PA and Al-Hikmeh Institute, Mechanicsburg PA.  Founder of the most successful and experienced institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Central PA.  His knowledge of Islam and his dedication to the Muslim youth is well known and respected throughout Central PA.

 

Implementation of the Community Participation or ‘running the day to day’ functions of The Peace Centre is the responsibility of every Muslim man and woman who utilizes or benefits from The Peace Centre or its facilities.

 

Masjid plans, activities, and policies are discussed in open forum between Maghrib and Isha’ every evening as they arise.  All community members are invited and encouraged to attend these forums and are free to discuss either a personal matter of interest or a common community interest. 

 

Every Muslim in the community is encouraged to attend the masjid for salat and to participate in the running of the masjid.  The Managing Director of The Peace Centre, who is also a member of the Peace Centre Advisory Board, acts as both the liaison to the Advisory Board and as Emir of this community majlis.

 

Decisions are reached through a balance of mutual consultation and appropriateness of action.  Individual responsibilities or duties are allocated to those who have a genuine, sincere interest in undertaking them.  Tasks or responsibilities for which no one volunteers or which remain undone become the personal responsibility of the Directors.