Ramadan 2025/1446
As-salmu Alaykum Wa-ramatu Llhi Wa-Baraktuhu
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you
Dear MCA Community,
We pray this message finds you in good health and imn.
As our community continues to grow, we are always looking for ways to ensure accessibility to our religious services while also maintaining unity with our neighboring Muslim communities and masajid (mosques) in Southeast Michigan. In 2024 alone, MCA welcomed over 7,000 community members to Eid al-Fitr prayers. Alhamdulillah.
However, given the ever increasing Muslim population in Washtenaw county, planning for large communal gatherings such as Eid al-Fitr requires decision-making to occur months in advance rather than hours, as inevitably occurs when waiting on global moon-sighting reports. MCA has recently transitioned to three Jumuah (Friday) prayers and even with this change, parking and accommodation at our center on Fridays remains a major challenge. As we all know, the number of congregants who attend Eid al-Fitr prayers is many fold larger than even the busiest Jumuah prayer. Furthermore, the current climate of our country unfortunately necessitates proactive planning with the safety of our families and children being as much of a priority as securing a large venue for prayer.
Due to the necessity of providing prayer services that can accommodate everyone, after much discussion and careful consideration, MCA will be adopting the calculation method for determining the start and end of the month for this upcoming Ramadan as detailed by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA).
The Fiqh Council of North America supports astronomical calculations for determining Islamic months, emphasizing unity and practical benefits for Muslims in North America. In their official statement, they mention:
"The use of calculations helps to unify the Muslim community by providing clear, predictable dates for Islamic observances. It removes confusion, allows for better planning, and aligns with the principles of ease and certainty in Islamic jurisprudence. Our decision is rooted in the scholarly tradition and is supported by numerous Islamic scholars and fiqh councils worldwide."
By adopting this method, we aim to foster greater unity between our community and neighboring Muslim communities while also ensuring that we have the necessary logistical arrangements in place for Eid prayers. We also emphasize that this change is being made for the current Ramadan and any constitutional changes will be made within standard processes for the center.
We understand that some members of our community prefer the traditional moon-sighting method, and we respect this viewpoint. We are grateful that Masjid Bilal in the area will continue to follow the global moon sighting opinion, providing an option for those who wish to observe Eid accordingly.
May Allah (SWT) bless our community with unity, wisdom, and barakah in our worship. We appreciate your support and understanding as we make this transition for the benefit of our growing congregation. We invite feedback to be forwarded to [email protected].
Ramadan Mubarak!
Sincerely,
MCA Ann Arbor
Location:
2301 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Email: [email protected]
**Phone number: (**734) 665-6772\