We are establishing this masjid to serve and unite the Afghan community, providing a place for worship, learning, and community support. Our goal is to preserve our faith, culture, and values while fostering a strong and connected community.

WHY WAS THE AFGHAN MOSQUE IN CHICAGO NAMED AFTER SََAYYID JAMAL AL-DIN AFGHAN?

WHO IS SََAYYID JAMAL AL-DIN AFGHAN?

Sayyid Jamal-al-Din Afghan (1838-1897) was born in 1838 in Asad Abad, Kunar province, Afghanistan. He was one of the most prominent intellectuals, political thinkers, and reformers of the Islamic world. A multi-dimensional figure, he played a key role in awakening Muslims and promoting the idea of Pan-Islamism (Islamic unity).

As described in the book Afghanistan in the Course of History, “Sayyid Jamal al-Din, this Eastern scholar and Islamic philosopher, was a learned writer, a bold revolutionary, and a passionate orator who drew the attention of European political and academic circles. Feared by authoritarian rulers, he was expelled from colonies and despotic states alike.”

He traveled to many countries, including India, the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, Iran, Russia, France, Germany, and England, using his speeches and writings to warn Muslims about the dangers of colonialism and the need for reform. In Egypt, he published the magazine Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa, focusing on issues concerning the Islamic world.

In Afghanistan, he called for a strong central government; in Iran and Turkey, he advocated for democracy; in India and Egypt, he demanded freedom from British colonialism; and across the Islamic world, he promoted Pan-Islamism as a united front against European imperialism.

Sayyid Jamal founded new political movements in India, Egypt, and Turkey, and toward the end of his life, at the invitation of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, he went to Turkey. After four years of efforts to foster Islamic unity, he passed away in Istanbul on March 9, 1896.

Why Our Masjid Bears His Name

We honor Sayyid Jamal-al-Din Afghan’s legacy by naming our masjid after him, symbolizing his vision of knowledge, unity, and strength in the Muslim community. His dedication to Islamic revival and justice reflects our mission to serve and uplift the community.