A tragedy in San Diego this week brought a mosque into the national spotlight.
What the world saw was an American Muslim community worth knowing.
Most masjids run on constant fundraising.
This one was quietly built to need less of it.
Two things stand out:
→ A store inside the Islamic center that was ran by one of the brothers who had passed away, serving the everyday needs of local Muslims and generating steady income for the masjid instead of relying on donation appeals.
→ A solar structure over the parking lot powering the building with clean energy, while shading the cars from the San Diego sun.
The kind of self-reliance and ingenuity that exemplifies American Muslims, and the kind of community that develops those ready to make sacrifices for their fellow brother and sister.
Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad have returned to Allah, but the work they did to build this community lives on as an example for all of us.
May Allah have mercy on the martyrs of San Diego. May He raise them to the highest ranks of Jannah. And may He preserve the community they built.