Construction is moving forward on a new mosque on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley following final approvals and site clearing.
The project, formally known as the Islaamic Center of Mastic-Shirley, also called Masjid Umar Bin Khattaab, had received unanimous approval from the Brookhaven Town Board. The two-acre property is zoned for residential use, where houses of worship are permitted under town code.
Founded in 2001, the Islaamic Center has grown to approximately 400 members. Its stated mission is to establish and maintain a place of worship for daily congregational prayers, weekly Salaatul Jumu’ah services, Islamic education, and charitable programs that support the spiritual development of the Muslim community. Center officials stress that the facility will be open for public activities, including use of an indoor basketball court.
Plans call for a two-story mosque standing about 35 feet high and totaling roughly 13,000 square feet. The site design includes 124 off-street parking spaces, exceeding the minimum required under local zoning regulations. During hearings on the plan, residents expressed concerns that the center is too close to neighboring homes and will draw parking to side streets.
In addition to serving as a house of worship, the facility is envisioned as a community-centered space. Once construction is complete, the mosque is expected to accommodate regular prayer services, educational activities, and community gatherings for residents of the Mastic-Shirley area and surrounding neighborhoods.