On Friday 14 August, the town of Young in the New South Wales Riverina celebrated the grand opening of the new Omar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque, marking one of the most significant days in the history of the Australian Muslim community.

In spite of the fact that it was a weekday, an estimated 400 worshippers and visitors travelled from near and far to witness the milestone, with strong representation from radio, television and print media capturing the historic occasion. 

Young now stands as home to the largest Islamic centre in regional Australia, a huge credit to both the local mosque community and the Lebanese Muslim Association.

The morning began with LMA Secretary Hajj Gamel Kheir welcoming guests on behalf of the Association’s President Hajj Hafez Alameddine and the board of directors.

Reflecting on the journey since 2017 when the concept of the new mosque was first mooted, Mr Kheir told the crowd that the project had been “pursued ever since with enthusiasm, determination and above all, faith.” 

LMA Secretary Hajj Gamel Kheir inside the masjid (Photo courtesy of Jostina Basta, ABC Riverina).

He praised the achievement as the realisation of “the largest Dawah centre in rural Australia,” a development that took shape from humble beginnings.

Mr Kheir spoke warmly of the relationship between the mosque and its town, describing Young as “a perfect example to the rest of Australia of communities embracing newcomers and living together in harmony”, a bond he noted has held strong since the local Muslim community first put down roots there in the mid-1990s. 

He extended an open invitation to sceptics of multiculturalism, declaring simply, “our door is open.”

Head imam  of Lakemba Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Safi, followed with a reflection on the virtues of the mosque, before Hajj Abdullah Sultan, representing the Young Mosque committee, addressed the gathering with a deeply personal account of the build.

Mr Sultan began by marking the occasion as “the 860th day and final day of construction,” describing himself as “humbled, in awe, emotional and excited” as the project reached what he called “the finish line.”

Abdullah Sultan from the Young Mosque committee spoke passionately about the project at the grand opening (Photo courtesy LMA Creative Team).

He was quick to frame the achievement as a communal one rather than an individual triumph, telling the crowd, “this achievement does not belong to one person, one committee or one family….it belongs to a community.”

Mr Sultan acknowledged the sacrifices of everyone involved, from donors to tradespeople, before turning his attention to the families behind the build. 

He offered a heartfelt tribute to “the wives and mothers who were patient with us,” noting that “this achievement is yours too.”

He also placed the mosque within a much longer local history, reminding attendees that “the Muslim community is not new” to Young, and that “for generations, Muslims have lived here, worked here, raised their families here,” a history that speaks to a town that has welcomed its Muslim residents with open arms for more than thirty years.

Looking ahead, Mr Sultan expressed hope for what the building would come to mean for future generations, saying, “we built it hoping our deeds would be remembered by Allah,” a sentiment that drew a warm response from the crowd.

Sisters admiring the imported chandelier (Photo courtesy of Jostina Basta, ABC Riverina).

He singled out the LMA for particular thanks, acknowledging its “financial, political and public support” throughout the project, before also expressing gratitude to Hilltops Council for being “accommodating, supportive and genuinely good” to the community during construction.

Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram then addressed the gathering, offering his congratulations on behalf of the local council and reflecting on the mosque’s place within the fabric of the town.

Another high profile guest at the grand opening was NSW Legislative Council member Stephen Lawrence, whose duty electorate includes Young. 

A long-time advocate for multicultural communities in the NSW Parliament,Mr  Lawrence took to social media to declare, “We have never been a monoculture and never will be,” adding that the mosque “sits at the heart of community life.” 

Visitors were given a tour through the newly completed building, admiring its finishes including an imported chandelier and expanded prayer hall. 

Friday Jumu’ah prayer followed, with an inspiring khutbah delivered by Young’s resident imam, Sheikh Emad Hamdy.

It was a proud day for the Young Mosque committee and other Young community members, flanking resident imam Sheikh Emad Hamdy in this photo (which is courtesy of the LMA Creative Team).

The celebrations concluded with a community barbecue, bringing together worshippers, guests and residents in a fitting end to a day defined by unity and gratitude.

The new Omar Ibn Al Khattab Mosque caps off a journey that began with plans first raised in 2017 as previously referenced, with construction breaking ground on the seven-acre Moppity Road site in 2024. 

What followed was a pace of building that surprised experienced builders and religious leaders alike, culminating in a facility with capacity for more than 1,000 worshippers.

For a community that Abdullah Sultan described as “a small Muslim community in regional New South Wales that came together, sacrificed and refused to give up,” the grand opening represents not an ending, but “simply a new chapter in a story that was already here.”

Those wishing to continue supporting the mosque can still contribute via www.bit.ly/support-ym.

Photo courtesy LMA Creative Team.

 

Photo courtesy LMA Creative Team, who also supplied the feature image for this article.