In less than a year, the new Young Mosque has risen from foundation to near completion, marking an unprecedented achievement for a rural Islamic centre in Australia.
Located on the same expanse of land as the existing mosque on the outskirts of Young (a township 400 kilometres from Sydney and in the heart of the Riverina region), the project has not only progressed at record speed but has also demonstrated the remarkable generosity and dedication of the Muslim community.
As the blessed month of Ramadan drew to a close, Young Mosque committee member Abdullah Sultan, a major driving force behind the Young Mosque initiative, reflected on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
“The new Young Mosque has been under construction for less than a year,” Mr Sultan told AMUST.
The early days of the project were less than a year ago!
“We’ve raised a large portion of the money for the build, but we still require some more to finish it off.”
“If everything goes well during our drive for funds over the Last Ten Days of Ramadan and we can secure the funds we need, we should have everything finalised within the next three to six months, Inshallah.”
The new mosque’s main structure is already complete, with the community’s focus shifting toward essential finishing touches, including carpeting, windows and doors.
The carpet has already been ordered from Türkiye, with a dedicated fundraising campaign being launched.
“We’ll be running a campaign just to cover the carpet, similar to our very successful ‘Buy a Block’ initiative,” Mr Sultan said.
“That campaign was incredible – we sold 8,000 blocks in just seven days, averaging over 1,000 per day at $10 each!”
The rapid progress of the Young Mosque has drawn attention far beyond the town.
“I’ve had multiple imams and sheikhs message me and call me, saying they’ve never seen a mosque of this size built so fast,” Abdullah said.
Once completed, the Young Mosque will be the largest Dawah centre in rural Australia.
It will accommodate over 1,000 worshippers, featuring 600 square metres of prayer space, a new wudu area, upgraded bathroom facilities and a striking three-in-one minaret, mihrab and minbar – a unique architectural feature and unlike any that Abdullah has seen anywhere in Australia.
Young Mosque is a vital part of the Lebanese Muslim Association, Australia’s oldest non-profit Islamic organisation, and is one of three masjids under the LMA’s ownership.
LMA Secretary Gamel Kheir praised the project, telling this newspaper: “The Young Mosque project is a shining example of what a small rural Muslim community can achieve when the committee and the local community work together to grow Dawah and expand Islamic services.”
He further described Young as “a success story with no boundaries and a symbol of the Muslim community’s maturing status in Australia.”
The Young Mosque project has been fuelled by the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Abdullah highlighted the contributions of community members who have given not only financially but also through their time and expertise.
“We’ve had multiple brothers donate generously in terms of their service and time,” he said.
“One incredibly humble brother, Mohamed from Tonemaster Australia – may Allah reward him – stayed at the site for the first four or five days of Ramadan, away from his family, to wash the bricks with a special acid wash so we could pull the scaffolding down and relocate it.”
The project’s rapid development has inspired many, and fundraising efforts remain ongoing, with a strong ‘push’ particularly during the recent, sacred Last Ten Nights of Ramadan.
Earlier, the Sydney Muslim community came together with their brothers and sisters from Young for a fundraising dinner at the Renaissance function centre, where over $400,000 was raised (July, 2024).
Young and LMA board members on site during the formative stages.
LMA President Hafez Alameddine has commended the Young Mosque team, stating that they “are doing an incredible job” while the Association’s Religious Affairs Administrator Salim Allouche added: “the volunteer team at Young is a well-oiled machine, setting the benchmark and making history in regional New South Wales for Islam.”
As previously referenced, while the Young Mosque project has made incredible strides, funds are still needed to complete the final stages.
From carpeting to fixtures, every contribution brings this vital project closer to reality.
As Abdullah Sultan beautifully put it: “It’s important to note that we have reached the final stages of construction in under a year for a masjid that is going to fit over 1,000 worshippers – this is a true testament to the dedication of our community and those who have contributed in any way.”
For those who wish to support this historic initiative and be part of its lasting impact, please click on this link for more details:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YKD6PSZPVMN34
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