Muslim Community Center

Ramadan 2024

Ramadan will begin on the evening of Sunday, March 10, 2024, with Taraweeh prayers starting the same evening. See the calendar below:

In-Person Iftars at MCC

Join the community for in-person iftar every evening at MCC!

To make this possible we need your donations! Please help us reach our fundraising goal!

Donate for Iftar – “Ramadan 2024 Iftar Sponsorship”

Zakat ul-Fitr

Zakut-ul Fitr will be collected this year at MCC at $15.00 per person.

If you have not already, please be sure to pay your Zakat-ul Fitr. The money collected will be distributed to poor and needy family in our community to help with Eid celebrations. It is $15 per family member and can be paid in person at the masjid in any of the donation boxes labeled “Zakat-ul Fitr”. Alternatively, you can pay it online at the following link: 

https://payments.madinaapps.com/mccmd

Click the link and select “Zakat ul Fitr” then type in the amount and click proceed.

For any questions, please contact zakat@mccmd.org.

Calling all Henna Vendors

Message from Imam

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu dear beloved members of our community,
I hope this message finds you in the best of health and prosperity, and I ask that Allah allows us all to reach the blessed month of Ramadan and to take full advantage of this valuable time.

During Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn till dusk, more than daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on Allah (SWT), and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking. Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits – essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for “fasting” (sawm) literally means “to refrain” – and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from wrongdoing and negative thoughts.

Accordingly, the month of Ramadan is called the month of the Quran; therefore, Muslims should have a habit of reciting and understanding the Quran frequently in this month. During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from lies, backbiting, and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hands must not touch or take anything that does not belong to them. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but rather the total commitment of the person’s body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint, a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one’s self on the obedience of Allah. Yet, it should not be that we just practice these actions and once Ramadan is over, go back to our normal routine. Ramadan should be a method of changing oneself and keeping it that way for every moment of life.

Ramadan is a blessed month in which Muslims abstain from food, drink, and intimate relationships with their spouses. However, as Muslims, there are multiple lessons that we can learn and benefit from that can help us not just during the month of Ramadan; but throughout the entire year.  The following lessons can be understood only if we as Muslims take the time to reflect upon them while we are fasting and praying to Allah. These life lessons include patience, discipline, avoiding wastefulness and excessiveness, as well as time management.

May the peace and blessings of Almighty Allah be with you all.