Who We Are
We are a multi-ethnic community of Muslims who embrace the Qur'an as our scripture, Prophet Muhammad as our model and example, and Imam W. Deen Mohammed as our leader and teacher of the religion of Al-Islam. We are a local community who are a part of the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and we are a part of a national community with over 200 masjids that are associated with the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed. We are proud, patriotic American citizens who embrace the responsibility of contributing to the betterment and excellence of our families, neighborhoods and the city of Plainfield as a whole.
Allahu Akbar!
OUR HISTORY
The history of Masjidullah dates back to 1957 when Mr. James Ali, the first Muslim in Plainfield, moved to our great city. Mr. Ali joined the Nation of Islam under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and began spreading the message. "Through the vessel of James Ali came Islam to the city of Plainfield," writes Ummil-Khair Sharif in her history book "Famous African Americans in Our Community." Jaami D. Sharif, husband of Ummil-Khair and third Muslim in Plainfield writes "James Ali endured many battles, verbal as well as physical. As a result of his energy, in a short time, Plainfield had over 40 Muslims transporting to New York Temple #7, now known as Masjid Malcolm Shabazz." Eventually the Muslims of Plainfield began holding meetings in Plainfield. They met at a place on West 3rd Street and Manson Place and then acquired the current location of the masjid. Visiting Ministers would come to Plainfield to teach. By 1973 the meeting location was named Mosque #80 and they were assigned a permanent Minister, Leonard Salahud-din of Newark NJ.
When Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, son of Elijah Muhammad, became the new leader of the Nation of Islam, he changed the title of leaders from Minister to Imam and he encouraged all Mosques to take a name of their own. Imam Leonard Salahud-din became the first Imam of Masjidullah and served admirably from 1973 until 1980. In 1980, Masjidullah elected a new Imam, Abdul-Wali Muhammad, and he has served as leader of this community until the present time. To learn more about the history of Masjidullah, get your copy of "The History of Masjidullah" by Jaami D. Sharif and to learn more about some of the Muslims in the Plainfield community, get a copy of the fine book "Famous African Americans in Our Community."
by Hajja Ummil-Khair Sharif
MAJLIS AS-SHURA
