Al-Madinah Mosque — Attraction in Upper Darby

I visited with my mother this past Sunday to catch the isha and taraweeh prayers at night. While I had high hopes, having heard this was one of the bigger and more organized masjids in the Philly suburbs, what I experienced was absolute chaos. Parking? Forget it - cars were double, triple parked in the adjacent lot and blocking the road in front of the masjid with their hazards on, no movement. After circling the block, I happened to get a spot in front of a nearby business and walked to the masjid hoping my car wouldn't get towed. Upon entering the women's side, there was a screeching alarm on the door that never stopped and piles and piles of shoes on the floor, despite there being space to place shoes on the shelf along the wall. Ok fine, some of these are things you can expect at most masjids, so I overlooked these issues. Once I entered the musallah, I found food particles and crumbs littered all over the carpet inside. I understand that this masjid hosted iftar earlier in the evening, but failing to vacuum the prayer area prior to isha/taraweeh and leaving it in that state was absolutely unacceptable. Then, isha prayer did not begin until at least 20 minutes after the athan was called, after which a brother on the mic addressed the piles of shoes on the floor upon entering the masjid, but felt inclined to attribute this to the Bengali attendees - he stated that he was not sure if the Bengalis could understand him, but someone needs to tell them to not leave their shoes around on the ground. Was this type of racially charged statement and assumption necessary to announce in front of the entire congregation? Absolutely unprofessional, as this brother continued to make distasteful jokes while he fundraised over the course of the next hour, further delaying taraweeh prayers. I get that fundraising over the weekend makes most sense due to greater attendance, but why not do this on Saturday night or, if you must do it on Sunday, prior to Isha salah? Some of us have professional jobs we have to get to on Monday morning (but again, we have established these folks are quite unprofessional). Taraweeh did not begin until 9:45 pm - a full 1.5 hours after the isha athan. Further, sisters failed to move up and fill in the gaps in the rows when others left - in fact, some sisters were vying to "save" spots for each other and refused to move from their "reserved" areas. How ridiculous is this? Putting aside how apparently these attendees (most of whom seemed like regulars) are not aware of the etiquette of praying in congregation, getting out of this room was like an impossible maze. The only parts I can praise from my experience are a kind sister (who happened to be Bengali) who offered to grab my mother a bottle of water, and beautiful recitation during prayer. Will absolutely not be returning here and will stick to my local...

I went to this masjid today with intentions on praying tonight as many other Muslims are doing in various masjids as I approached the door it was lock but a few other brothers were inside praying and reading the Quran as I knock one brother look at me and then turn the other way I thought he didn’t hear me so I knock again to grab his attention he turn again and signaled me pointing to the side of the building but when I walk towards that direction nothing was their to allow me entry so I went back to the front door where the Muslim man gave me hand jesters stating that they are inside praying and I can’t come in. This was horrible and I felt that only because me being a black man wasn’t able to go inside and pray as the other Muslim brothers were doing. This is unfair and such a horrible act if this masjid doesn’t recognize black Muslims they shouldn’t be open at all. Not only that as I first walked up it was another black brother walking away from the door saying they must be closed. How can a community allow to operate saying we are all Muslims yet turn black Muslims away? This is not fair and seems to be happening in the Delco area this would have never happen within Philadelphia such a...

Masjid Al-Madinah, located at 201 S 69th Street, Upper Darby, PA 19082, is a cooperative effort of the Muslim Community in Upper Darby. This mosque serves as a vital hub for Islamic activities in Delaware County. The community gathers here for daily prayers, including the Jumu’ah congregational prayer. Masjid Al-Madinah hosts weekly programs such as Tafsir, Fiqh, and Hadith sessions, providing spiritual enrichment for both adults and children. Additionally, they offer Islamic education classes, allowing individuals to learn about the Quran, Tajwid, and Seerah. The mosque actively engages in interfaith events and Dawah programs, fostering understanding and dialogue with the broader community. For those seeking marriage services, counseling, or funeral arrangements, Masjid Al-Madinah provides essential support. Their commitment to community service extends beyond spiritual matters, as they continually work on improvement projects. Donations play a crucial role in sustaining the mosque’s activities, and they encourage contributions to support their mission. As the sun rises and sets, Masjid Al-Madinah remains a beacon of faith and community in the heart of Upper Darby, just west of...