Please allow us to start by saying... WE’RE SORRY!
We’re sorry for letting you down,
We’re sorry for not delivering the kinds of programs you needed,
We’re sorry for not being fully present when you needed us,
We’re sorry for being unable to hear your voices when you called,
We’re sorry we could not hear your pain and hold space for your wounds,
And most of all, we’re sorry we are having to close our doors just as we were getting to know one another...
Beloved family, it is with deep pain and sadness, that we are announcing the sunsetting of the organization known as Masjid al-Rabia. It has been a long, tiring, journey that has weakened the strongest of us in how we show up for you. This is not to say that any of you were the cause of our fatigue. You all gave us the strength to carry on as long as we did but running an organization with little to no staff at times, for the past 7 years finally took its toll.
The past 3 years proved difficult with issues like the pandemic, Russia/Ukraine, gender rights (again- this time targeting our trans-feminine sisters), reproductive rights, marriage rights (again), anti-lgbtq fatwas and letters, just to name a few. These issues had a direct emotional impact on our community and/or families of origin, leaving some of us feeling helpless to the rising needs of spiritual and professional support. Without the proper support and strategic foresight of the organizational mission, it was impossible to keep our doors open.
Through our best efforts to support the community and our leadership with aid and radical resources, the decision was finally made to dissolve Masjid al-Rabia and lay-off its paid staff.
Since there are no other openly affirming mosques in the Chicagoland area (that we know of), we had hoped to be the buffer between liberal thinkers and traditional Islamic schools of thought, offering a warm, welcoming space to pray AND be fully authentic. Unfortunately, the resources for progressive mosques are short and limited but we’ve kept that part of our website open for those needing support.
We also understand this news may be scary and unstabilizing for some. If you missed the discussion sessions, feel free to drop a message here.
