The Muslim Society of Jersey Shore operates the Masjid Bilal mosque and community center in Toms River, New Jersey. ¹ The Masjid Bilal mosque, the first mosque opened in Ocean County, New Jersey, was founded in 1988. ² The Muslim Society of Jersey Shore, Inc. received its tax-exempt charitable status from the Internal Revenue Service in 1996. ³

The mosque operates a Sunday school and after-school programs for children, as well as a summer camp. ⁴ A planned expansion will include the construction of a larger Islamic school. ⁵

Opposition to ISIS

In 2015, Muslim Society of Jersey Shore chairman Mohamed Nabeel Elmasry told the Asbury Park Press that the mosque opposed Islamic terrorist groups such as ISIS and that it was “a constant watchdog” against radical Islamist propaganda among its students and members. ⁶

Federal Grant

In 2019, the Muslim Society of Jersey Shore received a grant from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which supports “target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack.” ⁷ The amount of the grant, which was awarded on a competitive basis, was not publicly announced. ⁷

North American Islamic Trust

The Muslim Society of Jersey Shore is affiliated with the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), a nonprofit endowment that assists in the financing of American mosques and frequently holds the title to the facilities it finances to ensure their perpetual use for Islamic religious purposes. ^{8 9 10} NAIT has controversial ties to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organization, and in 2007 was characterized as an “unindicted co-conspirator” by the U.S. Department of Justice in its prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) for funding the terrorist group Hamas. ^{10 11 9}

Expansion Controversy

In 2017, the Muslim Society of Jersey Shore caused local controversy over its plan to build a school and massively expand its mosque, increasing the total facility footprint from 3,900 square feet to more than 51,000 square feet on a 5.5-acre property. ¹² It attempted to have some of its property rezoned and get a waiver from local zoning rules that require at least 10 acres of property for houses of worship, but was unsuccessful and withdrew its application. ¹²

In 2021, the Township of Toms River settled a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit instigated by the local Orthodox Jewish community charging that its religious zoning laws violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. ^{13 14} In the settlement, Toms River agreed to reduce the required size of a synagogue, church, or mosque parcel down to two acres. ¹⁴

In 2022, the mosque received zoning approval for a downsized 21,320 square foot project and started a $1.5 million capital campaign to fund its construction. ²

1. “Home.” Masjid Bilal. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://masjidbilal.net/.
2. Santora, Alexander. “Growing Mosque as Busy as Its Location on Shore Highway: Faith Matters.” Jersey Journal, July 25, 2022. https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/07/growing-mosque-as-busy-as-its-location-on-shore-highway-faith-matters.html
3. “Muslim Society of Jersey Shore Inc.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223384179.
4. “Bilal Academy Protect Our Children Campaign Programs.” Bilal Academy. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://bilalacademy.masjidbilal.net/.
5. Mikle, Jean. “Hearing Tonight on Toms River Islamic School Plan.” Asbury Park Press, April 27, 2017. https://www.app.com/story/news/local/communitychange/2017/04/26/hearing-thursday-toms-river-islamic-school-plan/100932894/.
6. Yi, Karen. “NJ Muslim Leaders Call Paris Attacks ‘Despicable.’” Asbury Park Press, November 18, 2015. https://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2015/11/17/nj-muslim-leaders-call-paris-attacks-reprehensible/75877034/.
7.  “FINAL ALLOCATION AND AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2019 STATE AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS GRANT PROGRAMS .” Federal Emergency Management Agency, August 2, 2019. https://cuellar.house.gov/uploadedfiles/dhs_fy19-allocation-announcement.pdf.
8. “About.” Masjid Bilal. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://masjidbilal.net/about/.
9. “North American Islamic Trust.” Philanthropy Roundtable. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/north-american-islamic-trust/.
10. Baran, Zeyno. “The Muslim Brotherhood’s U.S. Network.” Hudson Institute, February 27, 2008. https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/the-muslim-brotherhood-s-u-s-network.
11. “Fifth Circuit Appeal in HLF Case.” North American Islamic Trust, October 20, 2010. https://www.nait.net/index.php/resources/fifth-circuit-appeal-in-hlf.
12. Mikle, Jean. “Toms River Mosque, Islamic School Plan Will Be Revised.” Asbury Park Press, September 13, 2017. https://www.app.com/story/news/local/redevelopment/2017/09/13/toms-river-islamic-school-plan-revised/661007001/.
13. Mikle, Jean. “Toms River Orthodox Synagogue Supporters: Change Zoning or We May Sue.” Asbury Park Press, June 21, 2018. https://www.app.com/story/news/local/communitychange/2018/06/21/toms-river-orthodox-synagogue-supporters-change-zoning-we-may-sue/703452002/.
14. “Justice Department Settles Claims against Toms River over Zoning Code That Restricts Houses of Worship.” District of New Jersey | Justice Department Settles Claims Against Toms River over Zoning Code that Restricts Houses of Worship | United States Department of Justice, March 10, 2021. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/justice-department-settles-claims-against-toms-river-over-zoning-code-restricts-houses