ICNYU Ramadan Announcement: Info on Iftar, Taraweeh Prayers, Visitor Access & Important Dates
as'salaamu alaykum,
I hope you all are well and keeping safe inshallah. As we all ready ourselves for Ramadan, I wanted to share with you some of the different things the IC will be doing in our service of you all. Please do read everything in its entirety and feel free to be in touch with any questions you might have. You can also find more info on our website at icnyu.org/Ramadan.
RAMADAN START DATE | IFTARS & TARAWEEH PRAYERS
We will begin Taraweeh prayers from this Sunday night, March 10th beginning at 8:13PM with Isha Prayers, observe the first day of Ramadan and fasting/iftar on Monday, March 11th and Eid ul Fitr on Wednesday, April 10th based on a method of calculations as per the Fiqh Council of North America.
The Islamic Center at NYU recognizes the diversity of opinion that exists in our community in regards to the start and end of months throughout our religion's lunar calendar. The three broader opinions that exist to determine the start and end of months are: 1) Calculations, 2) Local moon sighting and 3)Global moon sighting. All are considered to be valid and have their respective evidences. If you have any questions on it, feel free to email back and we would be happy to discuss.
For those who follow the moonsighting opinion, Shaykh Faiyaz Jaffer will be sending out info on it as it becomes available inshallah. You are more than welcome to join in the programming when it starts or in accordance with the moonsighting opinion that you follow.
PROGRAMMING & VISITOR BUILDING ACCESS
We have planned an amazing programming schedule for you all - inshallah it will be a means of benefit. You can find more info on what is happening along with major events and programs at icnyu.org/Ramadan. We are asking all attendees to RSVP as well at this link so we can plan as best as possible.
All guests are required to fill out the visitor access form by clicking here. Once this form is complete, you will be entered into the NYU visitor system and will be able to enter our facilities by presenting a govt. issued ID card that matches the name that you filled out the form with. Please note that a physical ID is necessary to gain access to the building and a virtual ID will no longer be acceptable.
DONATIONS & YOUR SUPPORT
For more than 20 years, the IC has been providing free nightly iftars and an array of services to the entire community through the generous support of individuals like you. This Ramadan, we are expecting to host 700 to 800 people at a minimum, with some nights likely having that many more. Our estimated cost per night this year is $8,600.
Our programs and operations, including Ramadan, run completely off of donations. If you can cover an entire night, part of a night or gather a group of friends to get together and cover a night, we greatly appreciate the support. You can make a tax-deductible donation towards our Ramadan costs at https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/25895/donations/new.
SUPPORTING CHILDREN FROM GAZA & OTHER CHARITY CAMPAIGNS
This Ramadan the IC will be focusing our charity fundraising on raising funds for children in Gaza. I just returned from a visit on the ground to visit children from Gaza who have been evacuated with urgent medical needs to Turkiye. You can see some images of my visit by clicking here.These are young boys and girls, many of whom are babies, who have lost limbs & eyes, need prosthetics, critical surgeries and more. They and their remaining family members with them are also in need of food and other supplies. Our Islamic Center at NYU has launched a campaign at LaunchGood.com/HelpGazasChildren that will run through Ramadan and will provide food, medication, therapy, surgeries and other critical treatments, shelter, and more to our little brothers and sisters from Gaza and their families inshallah. We will be working with Human Concern International and are hoping to help as many as possible. All contributions are tax-deductible and zakat-eligible. All contributions are tax-deductible and zakat-eligible and there are no fees on launchgood when donating through the platform alhamdulillah. If you would like to contribute through another method, please let me know and I can provide details on it.
As we have done in the past, we will also be running some other campaigns as the month proceeds: supporting survivors of abuse, local Muslim families in need in NYC , the Aida refugee camp in the west bank of Gaza, and a new project to help secure a permanent, autonomous space for our community. Please make du'aa that we are successful in each of these endeavors.
On behalf of the Islamic Center at NYU, Ramadan Mubarak wa Ramadan Kareem. May Allah accept from all of us during this blessed month of Ramadan. Ameen.
- Khalid
Imam Khalid Latif
University Chaplain | Global Spiritual Life at NYU
Executive Director | The Islamic Center at NYU
Senior Fellow & Co-Founder | Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership
Adjunct Assistant Professor | NYU Wagner
212.998.4712