📜 MAGR COMMUNITY HISTORY & MILESTONES
🌱 1985 – The Beginning
- Community meetings held at Dr. Poorsatar’s home
- Sunday School launched at Dr. Jamil Hussain’s office (Charles St., across from Swedish American Hospital)
- Established as a nonprofit with 43 founding families
- First Board elected:
- President: Dr. Mahmood Butt
- Vice President: Dr. Waseem Kamal
- Secretary: Dr. Walled Said
- Treasurer: Ribhi Sulaiman
- Members: Br. Magdy Kandil, Br. Altaf Rashid, Br. Ali Saif Harhara
🏫 1989 – A Permanent Home
- Vander Cook School identified for purchase
- July 13: Winnebago County Zoning approved as a Muslim Community Center
- August: Final offer of $204,400 accepted by the Board of Education
- November 17: Sale completed → MCC of Greater Rockford established
🎉 1990 – Official Opening
- January 27: MCC officially opened
🏢 1995 – Growth & Development
- February 8: Rental agreement signed with Montessori School ($37,000) for the south side of the building
- Board Members signed for MCC: Dr. Waseem Kamal (President), Dr. Asim Mustafa (VP), Br. Altaf Rashid (Treasurer)
- August: First permanent Imam hired: Br. Mahmood Sabah
🕊️ 1996 – Community Services Expanded
- August: Muslim cemetery established (Arlington Memorial Cemetery), 50 lots were purchased in an area dedicated to Muslims
- November 15: Contract signed for Islamic burial services with Rockford Funeral
🎓 1998 – Education Milestone
- August 15: Full-time Islamic School opened (Pre-K through 12th grade)
🚧 2005 – Expansion Begins
- June 1: Parking lot renovation (added 120 spaces)
- Groundwork started for a new mosque
🕌 2009–2011 – New Mosque Construction
- October 22, 2009: Construction permit obtained
- Dr. Dawood Harunani
- Br. Magdy Kandil
- Br. Altaf Rashid
- Capt. Shahid Naseer
- Dr. Mohammed Harunani
- Br. Tanvir Jaffery
- Br. Mokhtar Mohamed (General Contractor)
- New Mosque Committee formed
- Construction completed:
- Capacity for prayer halls: 750 men / 350 women
- Total Cost: $1.23 million
- March 28, 2011: Certificate of Occupancy granted
The Muslim Association of Greater Rockford (MAGR) has been a central part of the Rockford community for over 30 years. As Americans, we value the principles and freedoms that make this nation exceptional, and we are committed to working alongside our neighbors to make our community stronger.
Our members are your neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Together, we contribute every day to the growth and well-being of the Rockford area. We are proud to call this region our home.
Our facility, located at 5921 Darlene Drive, was built by local skilled labor. It serves as a place where we come together to worship, gather, and celebrate the blessings God provides each day.
We welcome you to reach out to us at any time—we are happy to provide any information you may need. We also encourage you to visit us to learn more about Islam and the MAGR community. We look forward to connecting with you!
