Islamic Circle of Mercer County (ICMC) — Attraction in Lawrence Township

I gave 4 stars few years ago hoping that the issue I raised would be addressed by the board of this masjid. Now I give them a lone star. NO ACCESS FOR TRAVELLERS OR VISITORS. A MASJID IS USELESS IF PEOPLE ARE BARRED ACCESS EXCEPT DURING SOME UNKNOWN "PRAYER TIME". If you go online, respect the time and dedication of travellers who set their GPS to your masjid to come & pray..., only to find your locked masjid.

This is a shameful trend in many masjids losing the true essence of a place of worship, trying to protect their treasured "vaults". Pls put a tap or garden hose outside for travellers to fetch water for ablution. They can use the bathroom at Wawa gas stop, or Home Depot, or Walmart, or Subway, or Mall, or McDonalds or Library or Safeway but you should be ashamed of yourself for locking up the house of God. You should not be in the Internet community if you want to keep codes & fingerprints to grant access to local members only. What is this? A CIA headquarter? Keep the place open for worshippers...people don't make it at your given "fix" prayer times. You don't even leave a number for a visitor to call a security personal or receptionist.

Protect your vaults with codes but create a free access prayer area. Better still if you can afford a building, then pay a security guard or keep (or give) 2 hifz students (incentive) to stay in the masjid 24/7 - no rent.

Kindly install a tap for ablution outside your locked up building you call a Masjid.

Travellers Guide: Please I apologize for my stern demeanor, the inconvenience and the incompetence of this board as well. Please carry a bottle of water for ablution in the outdoor premise of this building, and use the bathroom in a nearby departmental store or Wawa Gas Station (before coming here to pray). When you come here, be prepared to pray outside.m l

Masjid Board Guide: You must grant access to travellers and visitors to earn a 5 star. You have a security issue, it's your problem, not the worshippers problem. I can solve your security issues for you in a fraction of a second but I let you, " the board" to do your due diligence.

Barring visitors & travellers is a poor PR show by this masjid and this local community. You lose donations and worshippers too this way. Must I remind you that travellers are more open to donating to good masjid causes. They may help you to build an outdoor wudu area and toilet, and prayer area away from you cherished coded vault of a building...if you want to keep your building locked up.

Leave a place for ablution and prayer outside your building if you worship inside a bank vault.

KEEP 2...

Please provide an outdoor washroom & prayer area for travellers, visitors & worshippers if you wish to keep this place under lock & key.

This is not the first time I have found this place locked up after a long drive. I hope someone fixed this.

On the good side, they let you wait on the premises until somebody showes up - And you can pray outside, if you want to, if you are already in ablution.

No portable toilets. Yes...you don't have an open air option or an indian- toilet in the premises. Google map McDonald or nearest Wawa when you are in need of a restroom (& the place is locked).

"Locked- masjid" alert to visitors. No community member lives around the premises of the building.

No entry or reception is provided to long-distance travellers (in-transit) coming from other States & stopping just to pray & move on. Prayer timing is not displayed outside the building... (when last I checked).

Kids school program, Marriage Bureau, Family & Senior Citizens program, Festivity Programs are commendable.

... But not very helpful to travellers (until there is an on-site reception). Travellers may be inconvenienced by stopping in-transit or driving to this place in order to meet a masjid official.

Suggestion... At least station a resident iman or scholar or a retired community senior on-site. Alternatively, please create an outdoor access washroom & open prayer/Wi-Fi/waiting...

We came to food festival & paid $80 for people, food supposed to be included. Food guy kept serving his friends and people behind us and totally ignored us. After waiting in line for long time, he said he doesn’t have the food v ordered, while he served everyone else and ignored us standing in line. My grandkids first time came to this masjid were very disappointed and v have to go somewhere else to get food for my grandkids. Food guy didn’t return our money or said he was sorry. Seems like they invite and serve their friends and family who are not standing in line. Masjid should announce that event was only family and friends and not...