The WRMA Expansion Project held its second fundraising dinner on February 24, 2024, at the Riverside Banquet Hall in Surrey.
The event was meticulously organized and drew an impressive crowd of over 500 guests. The esteemed keynote speaker for the evening was Imam Siraj Wahaj. The program commenced with a beautiful recitation of the Quran by Shaheer Lakhani, a dedicated volunteer of WRMA, followed by an English translation of the Surah.
MC Shaheer Muhammad then invited WRMA chair, Asad Syed, to extend a warm welcome to the guests. Asad Syed expressed gratitude to all attendees, including the keynote speaker Imam Siraj Wahaj and the diligent volunteers who made the event possible. He shed light on the purpose of the fundraiser, explaining that the funds raised would contribute towards paying off the $300,000 Qarz Hasna loan for the new Musallah and community center purchased by WRMA. Asad Syed elaborated on WRMA's multifaceted role in serving the Muslim community of South Surrey and White Rock. Beyond being a place of worship, WRMA functions as a community center and school.
The center offers daily Quran classes from Monday to Thursday, and in collaboration with the QLM Institute, it runs a school serving students from grades 4 to 12 who opt for homeschooling due to concerns about the SOGI curriculum. Omer Abdulfattah, a licensed and certified teacher, leads the school. The center also hosts weekly Halaqa and Islamic teachings for teenagers and sisters, overseen by Dr. Hala Ahmed, Amani Elchehimi, and Muhammad El Hannach.
Additionally, there is a Youth Speaker's Forum in collaboration with Brother Shakil Gaya in a Toastmaster style, aiming to enhance communication and public speaking skills. Highlighting WRMA's focus on empowering youth and fostering connections among sisters and the new generation, Asad Syed introduced the Directors of the Board: Dr. Hala Ahmed, Dr. Faiza Jabbar, Shaheer Muhammad, Youssef Khattab, Roshan Jamal, Dr. Ijaz Hussain, and Dr. Farhan Haque as Director of Communication and Membership. Following Asad Syed's address, brief videos and testimonials from members, parents, and youth were presented. Subsequently,
MC Shaheer Muhammad introduced the keynote speaker, Imam Siraj, and invited him to share his thoughts. Imam Siraj delivered a poignant speech emphasizing the significance of charity and sacrifice for the faith, highlighting that building a house of Allah on earth guarantees a place in Jannah. Following his speech, Imam Siraj conducted a fundraising segment which, along with Shaheer Muhammad's efforts, raised approximately $90,000. An auction of various items, including gold, paintings, and antiques donated by community members, further boosted donations and pledges to reach the fundraising target of $150,000.
Both Imam Siraj and Shaheer Muhammad played pivotal roles in achieving this target, with the blessings of Allah. The evening concluded with a delightful dinner served to all guests, preceded by continuous servings of starters.
Notable members from various organizations graced the event, including Islamic Relief with Brother Tahir Sattar and a group of volunteers, HCI represented by Istiaq Saleem and Sister Tanveer, Hina Gehlan and Furqan Gehlan from the Muslim Food Bank, Unity Muslims represented by NCCM, Miracle Newspaper's Brother Naseer Pirzada, Al Ameen Newspaper's Brother Jafar Bhamji, Islamic Advocacy Group's Brother Rahat Rao, SDP TV's Brother Tariq Keyani, Brothers from Abbotsford Masjid, and other esteemed members of the Muslim community. Maulana Zafar Abid Sahib also attended the event. A significant factor in the event's success was the hard work, dedication, and discipline of the young volunteers. The child-minding group led by Yousra Syeda and Sehrish Syed did an exceptional job of keeping children engaged in various activities, allowing parents to fully enjoy the event.