Around 610 A.D. with the advent of Islam, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent the Qur’an to His Final Messenger, Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam (peace and blessings be upon him) with a divine system of beliefs and laws. He armed him with the most exalted character as a mercy to mankind and to demonstrate how we should live our lives. Each and every Muslim’s responsibility is to call people to good and forbid evil. In that respect, Baitulmal America, a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, has been established to assist families and build better communities through community cohesion, community engagement, and collective efficacy, Insha Allah (if Allah wills). Socio-economic statistics are alarming and show dramatic declines in America’s morality thus warranting a strategic intervention. Nearly half of all children born in America are born out of wedlock. One in every four American girls, ages 14 – 19, has a sexually transmitted disease. Millions of Americans are buried in debt with no hope of ever getting out. By adhering to the Commandments of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and utilizing the existing legal framework of the United States of America’s Constitution, Baitulmal America will overcome these challenges by inculcating Islamic values in the heart of every American, Insha Allah. Baitulmal America will begin its strategy implementation in the City of Belle Glade, Florida. Belle Glade is an isolated and forgotten community overwhelmed with blight, economic despair, and violence. It can be found about an hour drive away from the Miami-Dade / Broward Countyline on the westernmost point of Palm Beach County. Unemployment is high and abandoned properties are everywhere. Over a third of Belle Glade’s residents live in poverty and violent crimes are consistently above the national average. To reverse these troubling trends, Baitulmal America will implement five essential elements; they are: 1) family development; 2) community development; 3) community economic development; 4) Islamic awareness; and, 5) leadership. As success is realized in Belle Glade, Baitulmal America will scale up its strategy in communities across America, Insha Allah. Belle Glade is the demonstration site and national headquarters for Baitulmal America. The city's historical charm and elegance will be restored in Baitulmal America’s redevelopment efforts. Islamic architectural design will influence and be incorporated in new developments. Organic, pure, wholesome, sustainable, “green,” and halal (lawful according to Islamic Shari’ah) will become synonymous with the new Belle Glade or what will be known as “Medina West,” Insha Allah.
