US-based Sikh family donates 2 shops for mosque expansion in Punjab's Samrala

LUDHIANA: A Sikh family from Samrala, now residing in the United States, has donated two shops to facilitate the expansion of Jama Masjid, setting an example of communal harmony in the region.
Harsimrat Singh Dhillon, from the donor family, handed over the shops' keys to the mosque management in a ceremony on March 14, coinciding with the holy observances of Hola Mohalla, Holi, and Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan. Dhillon said he was pleased to contribute to the mosque's reconstruction efforts and hoped the donated space would serve a meaningful purpose. "These shops have been with our family for many years, and I often thought about donating these to the historical mosque for its expansion that will make its exterior more beautiful."
Dhillon emphasised that the timing of the donation was not planned but happened to coincide with multiple religious occasions, which he described as divine intervention. He extended congratulations to the residents of Samrala on the occasion. Members of the mosque community expressed gratitude for the donation. Haji Muhammad Nazir Bhamu, who oversees the expansion work, acknowledged the family's generosity and noted that Hindu community had approached the Sikh family about the donation, initially.
Bhamu said: "These shops will help expand the mosque by 28 gaz (about 23 square metres). Three Hindus and Muslim have also contributed their shops for the expansion." Mosque committee member Mohammad Gufran Salmani, who runs a salon, highlighted donation's significance, explaining that the Waqf Board had allocated these shops to the Sikh family decades ago.
Salmani said: "The family used to run a medical store in these shops before moving abroad around 2000. Donating commercial property, in a prime market location especially, takes a big heart. Their gesture is a remarkable example of communal unity." With the expansion, the mosque's capacity will increase, accommodating at least 20 more worshippers during prayers.
Gulzar Muhammad, estate officer of the Punjab Waqf Board, also commended the Sikh family's gesture. "We are deeply thankful to Dhillon Sahib for this contribution, which strengthens communal harmony," he said. "The donated shops will be used for mosque purposes solely and nothing else." The donation comes amid ongoing efforts in the region to promote interfaith goodwill, reinforcing the message that religious harmony remains an integral part of the local community.