About Madina Masjid
AMAN Islamic Cultural Center
Our Name
Madina Masjid
Madina is the city that welcomed the Prophet Muhammad after he fled an assassination attempt in Mecca. While the leaders of Mecca persecuted the Prophet, the people of Madina welcomed him with open arms, protecting him and saving his life. In Madina, the Prophet was finally able to pursue his spiritual vision in peace – and the city of Madina began to thrive. There, the Prophet built his first-ever mosque, which functioned as a community center for prayers, lectures, cultural performances, and even featured a soup kitchen for the needy.
For the members of Madina Masjid, New York City is a haven, a special place that has welcomed us. We have come to Brooklyn to live in freedom and pursue happiness. We are deeply grateful for the ability to worship freely in America, to interact with diverse neighbors from around the world, and to give back to our adopted homeland. Our mosque aims to bring the original spirit of 7th Century Madina to 21st Century America.
Our Mission and Values
Madina Masjid’s mission is to foster faith, knowledge, and spiritual healing through traditional Islamic teachings and community support. Our mosque aims to provide a welcoming space for worship, education, and personal growth, rooted in the Sufi tradition of love, remembrance (Zikr), and service to others. Inspired by the Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Qur`an, we:
- Seeking to increase knowledge and pursue wisdom wherever it can be found
- Recognize that all human beings emerged from the same source and have no advantage over one another by blood or lineage
- Empower and uplift women as a vital means of elevating the entire community
- Extend a hand of peace to our non-Muslim neighbors
- Celebrate both our Islamic and American identities with pride and patriotism, recognizing that the United States stands as a haven of freedom for Muslims.
Our Vision
A Beacon of Faith, Knowledge & Empowerment
The American Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) envisions a future where every Muslim in America has access to the resources, support, and community they need to thrive. The Madina Masjid serves as our headquarters and as a model for the kind of communities that can be nurtured all over America.
As the AMAN Islamic Cultural Center, Madina Masjid aims to be purpose-driven, full-scale Islamic center rooted in the traditions of love for all God’s creations, remembrance of Divine mercy, encouraging learning for all, and community service to assist the vulnerable.
The AMAN Center is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a space for hope, healing, and harmony.
Our Imam
Mufti Muhammad Sajjad Raza
Imam Raza was born in Madina, just steps from the Prophet Muhammad’s original mosque. He grew up in Pakistan, making a name for himself as a charismatic imam at an early age. With ijaza (religious degrees) in a range of Islamic disciplines, Imam Raza has completed advanced studies to formally earn the title of “Mufti,” an expert in Islamic law qualified to issue fatwas. He serves as the National Chair of the American Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN).
For a time in his youth, Imam Raza advocated for hardline political and theological positions, denouncing America as well as those who did not follow his particular religious sect. But encounters with both non-Muslims and Muslims from other sects opened his eyes and his heart to a more inclusive and open-minded path. While he once denounced others with hate, he now preaches love – inspired by love of the Divine and all the creatures Allah created.
In his native Pakistan, Imam Raza was a prominent civic organizer and television host, with his own religion talk-show on the international stations like GEO-TV. He studied for 11 years at the renowned Islamic institute Jamia tul Medina, and earned an M.Phil in Social Sciences from the University of Karachi. In 2018, Imam Raza received the National Peace Award from the Pakistani Federal Minister of Religious Affairs and an award for “Outstanding Contribution to Promote Democracy” at Pakistan’s Peace and Education Foundation’s National Conference.
In 2022, Imam moved to New York City and soon became a prominent spiritual and community leader. As Director of Dialogue and Advocacy at the AICC NY, he engaged with the Mayor Adams, Congresswoman Clarke, and other political officials, as well as serving as the Pakistani community representative to the NYPD’s 70th Precinct Community Council. He has received commendations from NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Nassau County Executive Bruse Blackman. He is the proud father of three daughters.
