A few blocks from the subway in Brooklyn, Bassam and I took a stroll down Coney Island Avenue and found a bustling street of Pakistani run businesses, including a hospital. Check out the banner on the hospital celebrating Pakistan’s Independence Day last month.
http://bassamtariq.com/30days/makki/clinic.jpg
Across the street from the hospital was our destination, the Makki Masjid.
It’s a predominantly Pakistani mosque that is basically in its first phase of construction, as indicated by the scaffolding on the outside.
http://bassamtariq.com/30days/makki/makki.jpg
Our friend Adeel Rahman said he used to go to this mosque as a kid, here’s what he had to say in this post’s comment thread:
“This is the Mosque I grew up with and still pray Eid at. Before the reconstruction it was three conjoined four floor apartment buildings with a capacity that had to be over 2000. Thanks for checking it out!”
What I like about this place is even though it could take months for construction to be complete, the people there have managed to make this place look beautiful. Its amazing what a few strategically rolled out carpets and lights can do to turn a giant hollow building into a cozy place of worship.
http://bassamtariq.com/30days/makki/musala.jpg
http://bassamtariq.com/30days/makki/wait.jpg
Check out all the rolled up carpet insulation in the right corner.
http://bassamtariq.com/30days/makki/prayer.jpg
Downstairs is the place to make wudhu. You have to walk across this wooden plank to get to the sink otherwise you’ll be stepping in dirt. Its quite an adrenaline rush to walk the plank on your tippy toes (if you’re easily amused like me that is).
It was time to break our fast and the imam led us in a lengthy but heartfelt du’aa (supplication). Normally we’ve grown accustomed to eating something small before prayer and then a full dinner after. But here they combined it so we broke our fast with dinner. I had some rice -w- chicken, dates, a large potato samosa and in the left corner of my plate is halwa. Its basically a dessert that tastes like Cream of Wheat. To drink I had my fave Ramadan drink, sharbat (rose syrup mixed in milk).
Prayer started quicker than I expected, so I ate my food quickly and ran upstairs to join the congregation.
There was something incredibly humbling about this place, that’s hard for me to put in words. You don’t need things like extravagant domes and fancy caligraphy on the walls to make yourself feel at home in a mosque. Because there’s more than one way to make a place look beautiful, as the people here have done.
I had an extremely stressful day today, but as soon as I took off my shoes and walked into the place, I felt a load come off my shoulder. That’s one of the things I enjoy about going to mosques – no matter how stressful my day is, I am always able to leave my baggage at the door and step inside into a serene garden of spirituality.
