Author Archives: annarbormca

MCA Weekly Announcements

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Weekly announcements regarding the MCA and Muslim community in Ann Arbor and vicinity.  The announcements are updated every Friday and you can receive them by email by entering your email and clicking on the subscribe tab below.




Posted in General Announcements, Weekly Events

Determining Ramadan and Eid

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How does the MCA determine the beginning of Ramadaan and the Day of Eid-ul-Fitr?
The beginning of the blessed month of Ramadaan is determined by one of the following two criteria:
  1. Physical sighting of the crescent moon of Ramadaan or Shawwaal.
    • The physical sighting of the crescent is established by the testimony of one or two trustworthy Muslim witnesses.
  2. The completion of month of Shaaban or Ramadaan.
    • The thirtieth day of any lunar month marks the completion of that particular month.
These very criteria apply to determining the end of Ramadan and the day of Eid.

This position is based on following evidences:

  • Allah says in the Qur’an:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ

It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was [first] sent down as a guidance for humanity and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Hence, whoever of you witnesses the month, shall fast it. [2:185]

  • The Prophet’s (saws) said in the hadith which was related from him by nine of the companions of the Prophet (saws):
صوموا لرؤيته، وأفطروا لرؤيته، فإن غَبِيَ عليكم فأكملوا عدة شعبان ثلاثين‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه وهذا لفظ البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏  وفي رواية مسلم‏:‏ ‏”‏فإن غم عليكم فصوموا ثلاثين يومًا‏“
“When you see the crescent moon, fast, and when you see it, break your fast, and if it is obscured from your vision, complete the month to thirty days.”
Recorded by Bukhari, Muslim and others.
  • This is also based on the hadith of Abd-Allah ibn Umar (raa) that Allah’s Messenger (saws) said:
الشَّهْرُ تِسْعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً، فَلاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ ثَلاَثِينَ
“The month is twenty-nine nights, so do not fast until you see it, then if it is obscured from your vision, complete the month to thirty.”
Recorded by Bukhari. 
  1. The Prophet’s saying (saws) made the obligation of fasting dependent on the sighting of the crescent moon, not on just its presence, and the consensus of the vast majority of the scholars of this Ummah has converged on this point over the centuries.
  2. The Prophet’s saying (saws) did not bind the issue of fasting to the birth of the crescent moon, but rather to it being seen.
Therefore, we in the MCA follow any established crescent moon sighting by the proper authorities in any Muslim country which follows the aforementioned criteria, or any verifiable reliable sighting of the crescent moon by any Muslim in any part of the world:
  • This position is the stance of the majority of the people of knowledge and the view adopted by the authenticating scholars amongst them.
  • This is also closer to Allah’s objective of harmony and agreement, and a step on the path to unitingtheUmmah and speaking with one voice.
    • If one Muslim sights the crescent moon of Ramadan, all Muslims fast.

Moreover, this position does not stir up regional sensitivities, for whichever Muslim country announces the moon sighting, the Muslim communities will follow them; their decision is to be relied on and acted upon.

We hope this clarifies any questions you may have.
JazakumAllahu Khayran for your patience.
Posted in General Announcements

Islam 101 – Every Wednesday, 7pm

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Questions about Islam?

We are offering a new class that focuses on the basic beliefs and practices of Islam – free and open to all.

 
What:
  • Islam 101
Where:
  • The Islamic Center of Ann Arbor
  • 2301 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48105
When:
  • Every Wednesday Night @ 7:00 pm
  • 3 weekly sessions which repeat every month – you can start at any time!
Why:
  • Because you deserve to have your questions answered!

First time to a mosque?

Click here to read our visitors guideline!

www.mca-a2.org/visitors

Contact the Islam 101 team via email

islam101@mca-a2.org

What are you going to learn about?
  • Lesson 1 – Articles of Faith, Part I
  • Lesson 2 – Articles of Faith, Part II
  • Lesson 3 -The Prophet’s life
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” The Quran (49:13)


If you wish to donate to this program, you can do so by clicking on the donate button below!

Read more »

Posted in Community Event, Education

Jumuah Prayer

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Why does the MCA conduct the first service for the Jumu’ah congregation sometimes before the start of the time of Zuhur?

The answer, in short, is that we do this to accommodate as many people as possible for the Jum’ah service by taking advantage of a valid position in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence (Fiqh) which permits the Jumu’ah prayer before the start of the time of Zuhur.

The crowds of Jumu’ah prayer necessitated having two services – had we had one service we would have certainly made that one service after the start of the Zuhur.

This is the view of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Imam Ishaaq ibn Raahawayh. The basis of those who hold this view is a number of authentic hadeeths:

عن رضي الله عنه جابر بن عبد الله قال :كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ نَرْجِعُ فَنُرِيحُ نَوَاضِحَنَا. قَالَ حَسَنٌ : فَقُلْتُ لِجَعْفَرٍ : فِي أَيِّ سَاعَةٍ تِلْكَ ؟ قَالَ : زَوَالَ الشَّمْسِ . رواه مسلم (858(

Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah narrated: We used to pray with the Messenger of Allaah, then we would go back and let our camels used for carrying water rest. Hasan said: I said to Ja’far: At what time was that? He said: When the sun passed its zenith. [Muslim – 858]

وعن سهل رضي الله عنه قال : مَا كُنَّا نَقِيلُ وَلَا نَتَغَدَّى إِلَّا بَعْدَ الْجُمُعَةِ. 

(رواه مسلم (859

Sahl said: We used not to take a nap or eat lunch until after Jumu‘ah. [Muslim – 859]

Imam Shawkaani said: In this hadeeth there is an evidence for those who take the view that it is permissible to pray the Jumu’ah congregation before the sun passes zenith…This is so because [the norm of] eating lunch and taking a nap were [then]  done before the sun passed its zenith.

وعن سلمة بن الأكوع رضي الله عنه قال : ( كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْجُمُعَةَ فَنَرْجِعُ وَمَا نَجِدُ لِلْحِيطَانِ فَيْئًا نَسْتَظِلُّ بِهِ ) رواه البخاري (4168) ، ومسلم (860) واللفظ له

Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘  said: We used to pray Jumu’ah with the Messenger of Allaah, then we would go back and we could not find any wall offering shade. [Bukhaari – 4168; Muslim – 860]

Posted in General Announcements