— Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali ابو حامد محمد ابن محمد الغزالی

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”

— Mevlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi جلال الدین محمد بلخى

“Oh My Lord! grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things that I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

—   Dr. Ali Shariati  علي شريعتي

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 Unfortunately, the information on http://www.islamicfinder.net is out of date, and http://www.salatomatic.com is incomplete.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”

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]]> 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/2009/04/06/panel-explores-tradition-of-interreligious-dialogue/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/2009/04/06/panel-explores-tradition-of-interreligious-dialogue/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:10:21 +0000 wasim http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/wasim/2009/04/06/panel-explores-tradition-of-interreligious-dialogue/ From Jesuit Heritage Week:

 http://explore.georgetown.edu/news/?ID=3…

“Georgetown values people who are of different traditions, it recognizes that society is diverse,” he said, discussing some of the values that attracted him to working as a Muslim chaplain at a Catholic and Jesuit university.

A chaplain-in-residence in Harbin Hall — a residence hall predominantly made up of first-year students, Rahman works as a counselor and mentor and has experience in interfaith settings.

When discussing his decision to come work with Georgetown students, he addressed them directly saying, “(Georgetown recognizes) you should be exposed to the ideas I have to bring; you should be able to dialogue with me.”

I used this list during my khatira during the 27th night of Ramadan taraweeh service at Georgetown, and thought it would be beneficial to promote here:

There are ten useless matters:

1. Knowledge that is not acted on
2. The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others
3. Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter
4. The heart that is empty of love and longing for God, and of seeking closeness to Him
5. A body that does not obey and serve God
6. Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure
7. Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good
8. A mind that thinks about useless matters
9. Serving those who do not bring you close to God, nor benefit you in your life
10. Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of God in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.

Hamd – Jimmy Attre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJE8Gavz7SY

Ramadan Assalaam – Amir Liaquat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr2BLmWLPYE

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

By the group Rejjan, about how Ramadan is observed in Sarajevo.  It begins and ends with the ezan (adhan, call to prayer).