Updates from Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in 2024

Embracing Change and meeting the moment

Dear Beloved Community,
As-salamu alaykum!

We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we make the most of the last blessed nights of this holy month of Ramadan. We ask Allah to reward you for your consistent support of this community and pray that Allah grants us accepted worship and good deeds as we reach the end of Ramadan. 

We wanted to take this moment to share some important updates on our communitys growth and expansion. As many may have seen and heard in the past several weeks, we are delighted to announce the opening of two new locations to better serve our expanding community, HAWA Community Center - Fairfax and Centerville Islamic Center. These new locations of Dar Al Hijrah are a testament first to the blessings of Allah upon our community and second, to the continuous support and dedication of each and every one of you. The new locations will not only accommodate our growing community but will also provide more opportunities for creative programming, much needed facilities, and welcoming spaces to accommodate the diverse needs of our congregation. 

Change is an inevitable part of growth, and 2024 will indeed be a year of transformation for our beloved community. As part of embracing that change, we are saluting some senior staff members who will be moving on to new opportunities and restructuring some departments to better meet the needs of the community. Our Government and Public Affairs department will be merged under the Outreach Department and Family Services will become part of the Religious Affairs Department.

First, we would like to thank our beloved Imam Shaker Elsayed for his incredible 19 years of service to the community as he transitions out of his full-time role. Imam Shakers unwavering commitment and benevolent leadership have been the cornerstone of our community's spiritual growth and social welfare. Through his insightful sermons, compassionate guidance, and tireless efforts in community service, he has profoundly impacted the lives of countless individuals and families across the nation and within our local community of Dar Al-Hijrah. We ask Allah to reward him immensely for his extraordinary contributions to our community and give him the strength and wisdom to continue sharing his knowledge with us as a pillar of this community in the coming years. 

Second, we would also like to thank Br. Saif Rahman, our esteemed Director of Public & Government Affairs, for 6 years of service to our community. Saif has played a vital role in bridging our community with the broader society, advocating for our values and fostering understanding, and empowering our community with knowledge of the civic process. Saifs dedication to advancing the communitys engagement with local and national government officials to advance critical causes in our community leaves an important foundation for us to build on. In light of this transition, the Public & Government Affairs Department will be consolidated into the Outreach Department under the leadership of Imam Naeem Baig and sister Fazia Deen. We look forward to Saifs continued engagement with the community in a volunteer capacity as we continue to expand our work in this space.  

We recognize that this growth can be challenging as much as it is invigorating, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition during this period. As our locations expand across Northern Virginia, we will also be recruiting new talent to meet the needs of the expanding Dar Al-Hijrah locations including operations manager, senior youth director, fund development manager, deputy imam, maintenance manager and more. We hope these new positions will bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and commitment to the service of our community. Keep an eye on our careers page at hijrah.org/hiring for more information.
 
To facilitate a seamless integration, we will be organizing listening sessions, meet-and-greet events, and community gatherings to foster connections and strengthen the bonds that make our community unique. As we embark on this transformative journey together, we invite you to celebrate this growth  first and foremost with deep gratitude to Allah swt for His immense blessings upon us. We are confident that with the support of our dedicated community, Dar Al-Hijrah will continue to thrive and serve as a beacon of unity, service, and spiritual growth and realize our vision of a model Muslim community striving for a just and virtuous society.

Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming events and initiatives. Your participation and feedback are invaluable to us, and we look forward to shaping a brighter future for Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in 2024 and beyond.

May Allah's blessings be upon us all.

Akram Elzend, Chairman of the Board 
Samir Abo Issa, Executive Director 

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center