Masood N. Khan M.D.
DECENTRALIZED, SMALL & MODEST MUSLIM COMMUNITY CENTERS: A NOVEL CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE RESULTS
It is a common observation that in any rapidly growing and economically vibrant sub-mega city in North America, significant demographic shifts in its Muslim community are normal. These changes are particularly evident in the proliferation of places of worship and community centers across town, funded by millions of dollars through relentless fundraising. The establishment of new centers in big cities, often stems not solely from demographic or geographical necessity, but from internal divisions and disagreements within the Muslim community. This raises two critical questions: Firstly,
- How effectively do these centers achieve their goals, both within the community and in their broader impact on neighborhoods and the city?
- Is the construction of these large centers a wise allocation of community resources?
Having participated in congregational prayers, experienced the spiritual hustle and bustle of Ramadan, observed the mediocre “feel-good” standard of Sunday Schools and attended various social activities that gather people on dinners, I’ve often questioned whether these centers truly foster a productive, interactive community that achieves modest but solid goals with cohesive and collective action. Beyond serving as a social hub for repetitive religious practices and offering a platform for position-hungry individuals to cling to executive positions, these centers have largely failed to produce positive changes in people’s attitudes or behavior, and they have not successfully undertaken projects that demonstrably have improved surrounding neighborhoods where they are located.
The answer to the first question is, therefore, a disappointing no. The answer to the second question is much easier to determine. Do these centers represent a good use of community resources? Of course, not except perhaps, in a few rare cases. The financial and other resources invested in such centers are not only wasted but often stand as glaring examples of inglorious extravagance. Moreover, it is not uncommon for these centers to have partially or wholly survived by fostering hostilities and conflicts among various groups within the community, leading to a disgraceful waste of human energy. With very few exceptions, a collective analysis shows that the emergence of huge centers reflects a severe mismatch between the resources they consume and the results they are able to produce.
This situation clearly calls for serious scrutiny. It is time for Muslims to think carefully about the functional effectiveness and results-oriented use of their centers, which currently sit within the community consuming vast financial resources while delivering little without any palpable benefit. The real productivity of any center is directly tied to two factors:
- The interactive involvement of its members internally and
- Their cohesive, dynamic action externally.
Unfortunately, both of these essential forces are noticeably absent in large centers.
Experience repeatedly shows that cohesiveness and coordination are achieved most effectively in small groups. People living in closely connected neighborhoods naturally develop mutual awareness and strong bonds, making it easier to unite them around common goals. The motivational energy generated in such an environment can be transformative. A smaller, more modest center is therefore far better suited to nurturing the conditions necessary for effectiveness and success. In such centers, families form tighter, well-bonded networks and develop a strong sense of belonging. This level of connectivity is essential for designing programs and implementing them successfully. Small, well-organized projects with realistic goals can be launched and sustained through honest, periodic review and evaluation. For example, a center could: –
Offer after-school enrichment classes for students.
Organize fireside chats with experts to help teenagers address social, emotional, and religious challenges.
Encourage well-to-do community members to establish scholarship funds for gifted students pursuing higher education.
Utilize psychosocial counselors to provide guidance during marital and domestic crises.
Form community response teams to assist those facing catastrophe or loss.
The possibilities are extensive. When small, committed, and cohesive groups take on challenges together, the results can be truly impactful.
A smaller center will not burden the community with endless and unattractive fundraising drives. Because of their close connection and constant interaction, those involved in the center will know exactly what is being accomplished and at what cost. Funds will be raised through mutual consultation, careful planning, and by presenting clear, concrete proposals to those with the means to contribute—rather than relying on professional fundraisers who often who often stage an embarrassing show exploiting the Prophet and Quranic verses to shame the audience to extract donations who often stage an embarrassing show exploiting the Prophet and Quranic verses to shame the audience in order to extract money, resort to emotional appeals or exploit religious sentiments to extract donations. Such large-scale fundraising efforts usually end with long pauses that leave people uncertain about how the money was spent or what was achieved. In a smaller center with dedicated members, however, collection of funds and task-oriented allocation of resources fundraising and allocation of resources are handled responsibly and transparently, ensuring their effective use. Here, accountability is direct and open, preventing waste and keeping every resource purposefully at work toward shared goals.
Let us evaluate the sermons delivered from the pulpit—laboriously dull, unnecessarily fiery, and acrobatic with words. Common in large centers, these lectures often serve as little more than entertainment or a way to pass the time. But do they change attitudes or behavior? Not at all. People attend, listen—or rather enjoy—praise the eloquence, and even rush to shake the sheikh’s hand, only to return unchanged to their old ways. The pattern repeats weekly at Juma and occasionally at other gatherings. Nothing truly changes. Research in education on how people absorb knowledge points to two effective methods. The first is voluntary participation in small groups, where individuals eagerly learn, reflect, and engage in interactive discussion. The second is structured education within an institution, supported by regular evaluation. Large, unstructured lectures delivered to crowded audiences are among the least effective ways to educate adults. In contrast, smaller centers allow better coordination and organization of focused, value-oriented learning sessions aimed at character building. These settings encourage personal effort, mutual research, and meaningful interaction as the foundation of learning.
Let us examine how these large centers contribute to the neighborhoods in which they are located. Do they enjoy a positive image because of benevolent actions, cooperation with existing local projects, or by initiating new ones? The contribution is virtually nonexistent. Muslims who gather at these centers are often unaware of what is happening in the surrounding community. They enter in large numbers, complete their religious rituals or social functions, and leave, largely oblivious to their responsibility toward the neighborhood that hosts their center. Has the center engaged with the non-Muslims living nearby? Have its members participated in local improvement programs? Hardly at all. A smaller center, by contrast, can more easily integrate into the neighborhood and build relationships with non-Muslims through care and genuine concern. Islamophobia will not be eliminated by protesting against it alone. It requires Muslims to make their presence and values known through consistent benevolent action and meaningful interaction. Modest yet effective community programs can be developed in partnership with non-Muslims in the area. Such efforts demand a clear understanding that charitable work must transcend boundaries of faith, ethnicity, and language. A small, cohesive group is far better positioned to cultivate this understanding and sustain the conviction needed to make a lasting impact.
A large center that functions merely as a gathering place for religious congregations and social events—where Muslims assemble to feel good and psychologically secure—will not change their attitudes or conduct, nor will it improve their image in the neighborhood or the city. Such a center is, in fact, a waste of resources. It is time for Muslims to critically examine the role of the center or mosque and determine how that role can best be fulfilled. Smaller, modest centers that are deeply engaged with their neighborhoods and internally cohesive and motivated are far more capable of creating positive change and contributing meaningfully to society. Therefore, whenever proposals arise to build yet another large center that consumes tremendous financial and other resources, we should remember that waste is a crime. A network of twenty small, community-centered institutions—clearly visible in their neighborhoods because of their benevolent and positive impact on people’s lives—is far preferable to five large centers that lack vision and produce no meaningful results.