NEW YORK—Nearly one year to the date of reopening its doors since being sheltered in place due to the spread of COVID-19, the believers of Muhammad Mosque No. 7 celebrated another reopening on Sunday, Nov. 13. This one, dubbed the “Grand Reopening,” marked the completion of a four-month renovation project.
“Upon returning to the Mosque in November of 2021,” said Student Minister Arthur Muhammad, “we took an honest look at our beloved sanctuary and concluded we needed to totally renovate our space.”
The work began in late July with the deconstructing of the sanctuary. New floors and walls were installed. The ceiling was lowered, along with installing new doors, moldings, lighting and electrical updates.
The reopening began with a processional. The believers from Harlem, along with those from Muhammad Mosque No. 7C in Brooklyn, gathered on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, two blocks away from Mosque No. 7. Led by the military cadence calling of Captain Majied Muhammad, the Student Regional Captain of the Eastern Region, the F.O.I.
(Fruit of Islam) and M.G.T. (Muslim Girls Training), dressed in their uniforms, marched in ranks chanting “Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed the processional.
“This reopening signals our commitment to the reeducation and retraining of our people in the way of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” Student Minister Arthur Muhammad said. He publicly thanked the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for purchasing the building for the believers over 20 years ago.
“It is absolutely our responsibility to maintain the mosque in such a way that the mosque becomes a haven and destination place for those in search of knowledge, wisdom and understanding,” he expressed.
Along with renovations to the sanctuary, a new audio/visual room was constructed, equipped with a new soundboard, speakers, television monitors and cameras.
The believers were treated to a surprise video presentation from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, thanking them for their support of the renovation project and issuing to them a loving challenge to match and even surpass the great work that he and those with him did in the 1970s, when the mosque was known as Temple No. 7. He reminded the audience that the mosque grew to 18 locations in New York City and the surrounding areas and had four Muhammad Universities of Islam and 14 businesses.
The sanctuary and overflow rooms were filled to capacity as attendees listened attentively to Student Minister Arthur Muhammad’s inspirational message, “Make All Things New.” Many believers from cities throughout the Nation, formally of Muhammad Mosque No. 7, attended the grand reopening to show support for the mosque where they got their start.
“The palatial feel of the sanctuary coupled with the incredible spirit felt throughout the building reassured me that a re-emergence of Islam is coming back to New York City,” said Victor Muhammad, who received his X in 1994 at Muhammad Mosque No. 7 and is currently registered at Muhammad Mosque No. 4 in Washington, D.C.
The day ended with a touching award ceremony wherein the Eastern Regional laborers gave awards to the believers who went above and beyond with their time, donations and work to make the project possible.
—Submitted by Student Minister Arthur Muhammad, Mosque No. 7
