Welcome Ramadan 2024/1445!
The Month of Mercy!
In the name of God, Most-Gracious Most-Merciful
Welcome Ramadan
As Salaamu Alaykum dear beloved ISB Community,
As we enter to celebrate the most important and holiest of months, Ramadan, we write to you to take the opportunity for sending our prayers and blessings and to share a moment with you in welcoming this great guest in Ramadan. We say in Somali Ramadaan Wanaagsan. This stands to wish Ramadan Mubarak to everyone in our community. Ramadan is the extraordinary time of the year in which Allah - - sends down His immense blessings, free people from the blaze of fire and forgives His servants that recognize their mistakes and comeback to Him in repentance! Every Muslim understands that this is the month of the Quran in which our beloved received his first of Quranic revelations. May Allah include us to be part of the people of the Quran who are closer to Allah and part of Ahlu Allah.
Ramadan brings us closer together as a community because it is a month of unity, revival of brotherhood, extreme empathy and compassion. It is an ample month of generosity and giving. So, in this month of Ramadan DONATE GENEROUSLY and help causes that will get you closer to Allah including the ISBCC. May Allah make you among those who are accepted easy entry into the Al-Firdows Jannah. Dear brothers and sisters, we are committed to fulfill the commandments of the Quran through this month and to find Taqwaa (righteousness and piety) from it. May Allah guide us and give us illumination of light and striving to better ourselves and our families in order for us to be safeguarded from Hell. The most amazing thing you could do for yourself is try to ponder upon the deeper meanings that you can find in these couple of verses of the Quran where Allah guides us to the benefits in this month. Allah said:
[O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous] (Quran, Al Baqarah, 2:183)
Couple of verses later, the same Surah Allah mentioned the benefits of fasting!
[Raman is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days after Raman. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.] (Quran, Al Baqarah, 2:185)
The Prophetic narrations of Hadith state that there are many virtues that the faithful will find in this month of Ramadan. One of such humble narrations state the following:
The great companion Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever fasts 'the month of Ramadan' in good faith and seeking reward from his or her Lord, they shall be forgiven all of previous sins."(Agreed upon and Authentic)
Another Hadith of Abu Huraira the Prophet states the following: "When Ramadan enters, the gates of Heaven are OPENED, the gates of Hell are CLOSED and all Satans are chained 'and locked up'" - (Imam Muslim, Authentic)
Remember fasting the month of Ramadan does not end with abstaining from food, drinks and sexual intercourse. But it far supersedes that. It needs a person to hold it together and to leave everything that is filthy and all things that will decrease his good deeds for the sake of Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan this year begins on Sunday night March 10th and first day of fasting is Monday Mar 11, 2024. Please remember that Taraweeh prayers will be started on Sunday March 10, 2024 right after Ishaa prayer. We will have a very beautiful recitation of the Quran by two Quraa among the top reciters here in the US. The first is Shaykh Saleh Mahdi who led us during the last couple of Ramadans. The second is an amazing reciter named Imam Adeeb Bari who won International Quran competitions several times including Minesottas Imam Shatibi Quran Competition!
Were so thrilled to have all these amazing Quranic reciters and we are going to expect profound Ramadan this year. Please come and bring your family with you to this success. May Allah make this Ramadan an opportunity for forgiveness, guidance and freeing from Hell. May Allah grant us and our Muslim brothers and sisters serenity and grace from it.
Acts needed before Ramadan
-
Remove yourself from all sins
-
Forgive people and ask forgiveness on everyone
-
Make Tawbah and complete repentance
-
Be serious to change your ways and means
-
Ask Allah to forgive you and guide you every step of the way
Acts needed during Ramadan
-
Quranic recitation - make intention to make at least one Khatmah
-
Nightly Prayer - Enjoy Taraweeh and bring your family and friends
-
Dhikr (Remembrance) of Allah - Make invocations part of your day
-
Build ties with all family members you are now disconnected with
-
Give counseling to people in your inner circle to make things right
-
Bring happiness to the orphans, the poor and the less fortunate
-
Sacrifice part of your time and resources for Allah, help others
-
Make a great deal of seeking forgiveness from Allah, be grateful!
-
Give charity and make sure that Masjid is a priority
-
Bless others with Iftar and be among the donors of Iftar program
-
Practice patience and make sure to forgive those who wronged you
Thank you so much dear beloved community and we wish you and your family a blissful and accepted Ramadan. RAMADAAN WANAAGSAN
!
Jazaakumullahu Kheyr!
Abdulqadir H Farah, Imam
Click here to donate to your Masjid
Mark your calendars, dear brothers and sisters! We're thrilled to invite you to the ISB Ramadan Fundraising Event happening on *March 16th* at ISBCC-Roxbury.
Join us for an evening filled with inspiration, community, and the opportunity to support our important initiatives during the blessed month of Ramadan.
Buy your tickets HERE! https://us.mohid.co/ma/cambridge/isbcambridge/masjid/online/ticketing/event/aFFHSlRMbFR0QldXM3l0SUhjWHhXZz09
See you soon!
Ramadan is known as the month of the Qur'an and is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him). We are excited to announce the categories for our annual Ramadan Quran Competition. This year, the competition is open to all ages, from children to adults! Sign up to participate in this spiritually enriching competition or join us as a guest to listen to the beautiful recitation of the Qur'an by our amazing competitors. Valuable prizes will be awarded to the winners. Please refer to the flyer for details on categories and registration.
Event details:
Screenings:
Initial screenings will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 at ISBCC.
Registrants will be contacted with further details.
Selected participants will move on to the actual competition on Saturday, March 30th.
Competition:
Date: Saturday, March 30th
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: ISBCC - 100 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury MA
Open to the public
Register here for the Ramadan Quran Competition!
Participate in this great reward (Ajr), during this blessed month of Ramadan and sponsor iftar by clicking on the button below!
Click to Sponsor Iftaar at ISB
Are you looking for a unique place to host your private iftaar this year in a spiritually enriching setting? Rent a hall at ISBCC - 100 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury MA!
Make sure to book early to secure your spot!
Big Hall: Up to 100 People
City View Hall: Up to 60 People
Please contact [email protected] for pricing and availability.