New-comers and visitors to Washington DC often have a difficult time locating Friday Prayer (salaatul jumu’a) downtown. This issue comes up most frequently at the beginning of the summer, when interns have to hear about Friday services by word of mouth (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) instead of being able to find a list somewhere. Unfortunately, the information on http://www.islamicfinder.net is out of date, and http://www.salatomatic.com is incomplete.

But for now, here’s what I can share, having lived in DC for the last three years:

Islamic Center of Washington aka “Mass Ave Masjid” at 12:30 (winter) or 1:30 (summer)

2551 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

North of Dupont Circle

This mosque is located on Embassy Row and is just north of Dupont Circle.  It is a solid 10-15 minute walk from Dupont, but only a $4-5 cab ride.

The sermons are now equally in Arabic and English (first and second half).  It is a good idea to get to this masjid early if you want to be able to pray inside the prayer room itself, and not get stuck outside.

A free lunch is served on the north side of this masjid every Friday. To add to the commotion, there is also a “protest khutba” outside on the sidewalk in front of the Turkish Embassy, led by ousted Imam al-Asi.

Masjid Muhammad at 12:15 PM (winter) or 1:15 PM (summer)

1519 Islamic Way  (4th St.) NW Washington, DC20001 (202)483-8832

Near Shaw-Howard metro

This mosque has the longest khutbas in the downtown Washington DC area — often nearly 40-45 minutes long.  The community follows the ministry of the late Imam Warth Deen Muhammad, and the mosque was originally a Nation of Islam meeting house.  Many community members clearly make an effort to dress up for this jumu’a, which is very nice to see.

There is zabihah halal lunch served downstairs after Friday prayer, consisting mostly of southern foods like fried chicken, corn bread, green beans.  The cost is somewhere between $7-12 dollars, cash only.

Indonesian Embassy

2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW

http://www.salatomatic.com/ds.php?id=4884

located 1 block from Dupont Circle

The Indonesian Embassy alternates the language of the Friday Sermon between English and Bahasa Indonesian every other week.

Metro Center at 1:20 PM

13th & G Street NW in the basement of “The Church of the Epiphany” (towards 14th St)

Two blocks from Metro Center

This jumu’a prayer serves the downtown working community.  It is hosted in the basement of the Church of the Epiphany, the only church on G street between 13 and 14 streets.

L’Enfant Plaza at 1:30 PM

Portals Conference Center at L’Enfant Hotel

1250 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20065

Walking directions from L’Enfant hotel:

• Go West on D Street SW. Cross the 12th Street. D St becomes Maryland Ave. (ends at circle and Mandarin Hotel. Building entrance is on the left before Mandarin hotel. Pass the security desk and take the main elevator one level down to the Courtyard (CY) level. Exit the elevator hall towards the Portals Courtyard Level North. Turn left in the hallway. Follow the sign to the Portals Conference Center. Enter the Conference room’s area through the double door. First Conference (large) room on the left is reserved for Friday prayers

Alternate Walking direction from Promenade level of L’Enfant Plaza

• Walk east towards the USPS building (opposite to the metro station). Take escalators by CVS to go one level down. Walk diagonally to your right once you come out of the glass double doors, towards D Street
• Turn left on D Street going east. Cross the traffic light still going east.  Go past two buildings on your left then make a left turn.  Continue walking past the curved entrance. Enter the building from the next entrance on your left.  Go past the security desk.  Take the elevators down one level.  Walk towards the conference rooms on your left.  Keeping on going till you come to glass doors.  The prayer area will be on your left.

The George Washington University at 1:15 PM
24th and G St NW, located in church basement, entrance on 24th Street itself near sign “Mariam’s Kitchen”

3 blocks south of Foggy Bottom Metro (23rd and I)

This Friday prayer is among the largest downtown.  The GW MSA organizes it throughout the school year, and has only canceled it during Winter Break.  An active rotation of local scholars provide khutba here, including Imam Nassimi and Dr. Shafi Khan.

Georgetown University – Main Campus at 1:30 PM
Leavey Center Bulldog Alley
located on the Georgetown University main campus

If you need an address to enter into your GPS or to give to the taxi, it is 3700 O Street NW Washington DC 20057 (37th and O Streets NW, the main gate).

The location of this Friday prayer changes frequently and the MSA along with Muslim Chaplaincy is getting better at communicating those changes to the attendees.  If Friday Prayer is not in Leavey Center, then you should proceed to Riverside Lounge which is located on the far south end of campus, in the “river front” entrance of the New South dormitory. From Mid-May to Mid-August, Friday prayer is held in the musalla (Muslim prayer room) in Copley Hall.

On the http://maps.georgetown.edu site: Leavey Center is building number #22, Copley Hall (the musalla) is building #36, New South (Riverside Lounge) is buildling #61

Georgetown University Law Center at 1:30 PM

600 New Jersey Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20001

located half-way between Judiciary Square and Union Station

The prayer will be held in the St. Thomas Moore Chapel on the first floor (Basement) of McDonough Hall

Directions:

• You can enter on 600 New Jersey, or on 2nd Street, between F and G.
  All visitors (non students) are required to sign in with security at
  the front desk (very quick).  Then proceed downstairs to the Main
  Chapel at the center of the building.

• This is currently among the better-organized Friday prayers in DC, with a weekly e-mail going out stating who the khateeb will be and any relevant schedule changes.  Sign up for their list here: http://groups.google.com/group/GtownLawJumuah?hl=en

The United States Capitol Building  at 12:30 PM

Room HC-5 of the United States Capitol Building

A valid driver’s license or other government issued ID is required for entry into the US Capitol Building.  Inform the guard where you are headed, and he or she will gladly give you directions to the prayer.  They are all familiar with “Muslim Friday Prayer”

.

]]> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/2009/06/09/jumma-prayer-dc/feed/ 0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/2008/09/01/outlandish-ive-seen/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/2008/09/01/outlandish-ive-seen/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:26:51 +0000 wasim http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/?p=41 Several years old, still one of the best songs out there.

Outlandish – I’ve Seen (featuring Sami Yusuf)

What happened to the ummah once known so well?
Greatness was known but now can you tell?
The Qur’an has left out hearts stranded, hanging on out walls
6232 verses, so strong
9 out of 10 of us can’t even read or write
1924 feels distant like way before Christ

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Had We sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would certainly have seen it humbled, splitting asunder out of fear of God, and We set forth these parables to men that they may reflect.

Surat al-Hashr v. 21

You have to hear the Arabic somehow to really understand why it is so captivating.  The rhythm and sounds are such an important part of the intrigue:

Lau anzalna hadha-l qur’an AAala jabalin laraaytahu khashiAAan mutasaddiAAan min khashyati-llahi wa tilka-l amthalu nadribuha li-lnnasi laAAallahum yatafakkaroon

As I waited, a homeless man leaving the soup kitchen asked me for a pen.  I wanted to help him out, and of course I’m not one to refuse such a simple request, or just ignore him (like so many do with the urban poor) so I reached into my bag and I eyed a pen I didn’t really want.  I looked at it again as I handed it to him, making sure it wasn’t one I “needed.”  He got on a payphone, asked someone for an address so he could apply for a job, and then left.  With the pen. 

Later, as I studied the faces of the other passengers on the bus (I am always amazed by the immense class difference between the city bus and the Metro), I started to feel guilty.  I felt guilty not because I had given him a pen, but because I am instinctively selfish.  Without really thinking about it, I made sure to give him something I didn’t want or like.  Sure, functionally, I gave him what he needed.  But had I really been charitable?  What if I had just reached into my bag blindly and pulled out whatever I saw?  Most of the pens I own are ones I’ve found here and there — mostly just freebies I’ve up from offices or the Lexis/Westlaw printing room. 

The point is that even when faced with small, easy moments to be charitable, I try to minimize the cost to me.  What about giving charity freely, for its own sake, especially when it is so easy?  I hate that I don’t give freely from what I love.  Charity has to be more than just convenient. 

 So if I could go back and do it again, I’d reach into my bag and pull out the pen I’d want to keep (not that I think about pens in those terms really). 

 I need to learn how to give from what I value, to sacrifice.  Isn’t that the point of relgion for the people who “have”? Aren’t we are supposed to learn how to give to the “have nots”?

Muslims have to learn to give from what they love — whether that means their pens, their time, their energy, their money… we need to learn to be charitable and take advantage of the small opportunities as they arise. 

This reminds me of Surah Ma’uun, 107 of the Qur’an:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ

Have you seen the one who denies the Reckoning?

فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ

Who shuns the orphan,

وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ

and forgets the hungry?

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ

الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ

Who worships mindlessly,

الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاؤُونَ

and only to be seen,

وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ

and fails in neighborly kindness?

He writes:

God says: “And do not kill yourselves.” (An-Nisaa’: 29). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “Whomsoever drinks poison, thereby killing himself, will sip this poison forever in jahannam.”

Cigarettes consist of many poisonous substances and furthermore, the smoker indulges in a slow suicidal act by smoking this poison.”
 

Also, Shaikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller holds that smoking is haram in Reliance of the Traveller.  This is referenced here and here on Sunnipath.com

Finally, Dr. Ibrahim Syed makes some excellent arguments against smoking.

Brunei (tourist at her hostel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjol4_u9Dh8

Fez, Morocco (tourists walking through bazar)  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbVBCDIxsX8

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (tourists)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyMGcw2iBts

Esfahan, Iran (mosque acoustic demonstration – amazing!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOytbD4Z0s

Jakarta, Indonesia (from hotel room, “this is what I wake up to everyday”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3YTsHvQVCo

Alexandria, Egypt (multiple masajid) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVCIE3wcMTI

The whole cartoon controversy earlier this year sadly prompted very few Muslims to look into their canon and investigate why such imagery was prohibited.  It is clear that the images were offensive and degrading, but where did the oft-mentioned prohibition against images of the Prophet Muhammad saws come from exactly? 

 When I began to do some research on this topic, I discovered is that the prohibition we apply to images of the Prophet saws, is in fact based upon a general unrestricted iconoclast tradition in Islam. 

I consulted a local hanafi scholar on this issue last February at the height of the controversy, and he was unaware of any explicit prohibition of images representing religious leaders or the Prophet, peace be upon him.  Instead, his understanding was that there is a prohibition on drawings of animate creatures generally.  He also mentioned, however, that there are extra precautions to take because man has a natural tendency to corrupt Revelation.  Muslims — all of whom venerate Muhammad as a Prophet and leader — could slip into worshipping his image instead of the true Creator Himself.  Moreover, there are precautions to take with the Prophet saws specifically because we should be very worried about misrepresenting him.  Some have exaggerated what he did, looked like, etc, which is obviously not cool.

 So the issue, then, is if images are haraam carte blanche, then why do we have drawings of animate objects everywhere of other things?  I know that traditionalist sunni groups, like the shuyukh that give fataawa on sunnipath.com and Shaikh Nuh Hah Mim Keller, all oppose images to the point that they don’t have any photos of their faces, but most of lay Muslim society seems to be comfortable with a drawing representing them on Facebook.com or Naseeb (not that I’m on it!). 

 I can see how drawings would be permitted if there is a utility to them, like for medical textbooks or to help demonstrate important concepts to children in books and cartoons.  So intention seems to be crucial here, and reason certainly plays a part in how we determine what is religiously acceptable or not (at least for me).

 I wonder where Orthodox Jews stand on this issue…  And protestants of yesteryear….

The professor I work for forwarded me images of about 20 one-sentence letters from kids to God.  Some were very amusing, others reminded me of the innocence of being a child.  Anyway, here are two of my favorites:

Don’t these letters remind you of letters to the toothfairy or Santa Claus?  

One kid writes: “I keep waiting for spring but it doesn’t come.  Don’t forget.”  His sense that God, not the planetary tilt towards the sun, controls the seasons is a basic premise of pure monotheism as understood in Islam.

So I naturally thought about how society (science class, TV, vogue deconstructionism) will inevitably lead many of these believing kids to atheism.  I really do believe that our society, and particularly TV and many public schools promote atheism.  I am not one to support group prayer in school, or benedictions or Lord’s prayers at football games and convocations, but I don’t think it is right to raise children to think that science and God are incompatible.  If the sun predictably (or scientifically) tilts towards and away from the sun each year, does that really mean that there isn’t some higher power controlling the movements?

 I am reminded of this year’s Muslim Youth Camp theme, “wa huwa alaa kulli shay’in qadeer” (And He has power over all things), a phrase which is found in the Qur’an.  Many of these kids believe in the idea of an omnipotent God, and I hope they hold to that idea throughout their lives in sha Allah.

Today I picked up some surveys for a really noble project that I initially didn’t ever plan to join.  The idea is to create a free health clinic for everyone in Cambridge, and I am trying to gather survey responses from shelters in the Central Square area.

Reading through the dozen responses I have so far, I find myself thinking about the individuals who completed the surveys.  Despite good spelling and an education, each of these individuals are in really difficult situations that have forced them to end up at a shelter.  I know so little about these people and their needs that I don’t really understand how one comes to the position where a shelter seems like the best sanctuary.  I feel so ignorant.  Several of the responses said that they were very dissatisfied with free health care and, for example, were not able to see a dentist for several months despite continuous pain.  This, in the city of Mass General, Harvard Medical, Beth Israel… ?

There is so much wealth in this city/state/country and yet there’s still so much suffering.  Why is man so eternally ungrateful for what God has given him?  Why do we turn a blind eye to those who need th most help in society, while we spend so frivolously?

How can those of us who are concerned help to increase awareness by creating a welfare ethic in society?  I know it is human nature to help someone in need — I am convinced we all have an innate desire to be charitable — but in contemporary society where we don’t know each others names and rarely ask about one anothe, how is it possible?