The Muslim Association Of Huntington
The Muslims in Huntington are continuously engaged in activities that strengthens one’s faith and relations with Muslim brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends from all walks of life and from all denominations.
We have a community dinner that is held once a month at the Islamic Center of Huntington. This is an excellent opportunity for people to meet new comers to the community and to introduce Islam to non-Muslim friends.
In addition, there is a Halaqah session (a round table discussion) that is moderated by knowledgeable Brothers and sisters. Those Halaqahs address various issues ranging from religion, faith and theology to the everyday challenges we face as individuals and groups in this life.
Community Gatherings
The Muslims community of Huntington has the tradition of holding a community dinner every Saturday after Maghreb.
During the month of Ramadan instead of having dinner we hold Iftar after Maghrib Prayer.
Our non-Muslim guests are always welcomed
Understanding Qura’n
In this interactive lecture series we discuss the chapters of Qura’n as we recite them throughout the month of Ramadan. Brief session meant to deliver the general meaning of the recited chapters to help Arabic and non-Arabic speaking individuals comprehend and reflect on the verses of the Holy Book.
"Mending The Hearts"
A weekly lecture every Friday Evening after Maghreb.
In this interactive session we discuss issues such as: Faith and theologies, Islam and other religions, the life of the Messenger of Islam, Muhammad PBUH, this life and the hereafter....
For comments and advise please send us an email at: info@mahuntington.org
Eid
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
The fifth pillar of Islam is to make a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah, in Saudi Arabia, at least once in one's lifetime. This pillar is obligatory for every Muslim, male or female, provided that he/she is physically and financially able to do so.
Prerequisites for performing the Hajj are to be a Muslim, to be free, to be an adult or mature enough, to be of sound mind, and to have the ability to afford the journey and maintain one's dependents back home for the duration. The reward for the Hajj is nothing less than Paradise.
The Hajj is the ultimate form of worship, as it involves the spirit of all the other rituals and demands of the believer great sacrifice. On this unique occasion, nearly two million Muslims from all over the globe meet one another in a given year. Regardless of the season, pilgrims wear special clothes (Ihram) - two, very simple, unsewn white garments - which strips away all distinctions of wealth, status, class and culture; all stand together and equal before Allah (God).
The rites of Hajj, which go back to the time of Prophet Abraham who built the Ka'bah, are observed over five or six days, beginning on the eighth day of the last month of the year, named Dhul-Hijjah (pilgrimage). These rites include circumambulating the Ka'bah (Tawwaf), and going between the mountains of Safa and Marwah, as Hajjar (Abraham's wife) did during her search for water for her son Isma'il. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafah and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Last Judgment. The pilgrims also cast stones at a stone pillar which represents Satan. The pilgrimage ends with a festival, called 'Id al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers, the sacrifice of an animal, and the exchange of greetings and gifts in Muslim communities everywhere.
Ramadan
Sawm (Fasting the Month of Ramadhan)
The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting. Allah prescribes daily fasting for all able, adult Muslims during the whole of the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, beginning with the sighting of the new moon.
Exempted from the fast are the very old and the insane. On the physical side, fasting is from first light of dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. On the moral, behavioral side, one must abstain from lying, malicious gossip, quarreling and trivial nonsense.
Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant, or nursing are permitted to break the fast, but must make up an equal number of days later in the year. If physically unable to do so, they must feed a needy person for each day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayers) from puberty, although many start earlier.
Although fasting is beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly pleasures and comforts, even for a short time, the fasting person gains true sympathy for those who go hungry regularly, and achieves growth in his spiritual life, learning discipline, self-restraint, patience and flexibility.
In addition to the fast proper, one is encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. In addition, special prayers, called Tarawih, are held in the mosque every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz') is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an has been completed. These are done in remembrance of the fact that the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was begun during Ramadan.
During the last ten days - though the exact day is never known and may not even be the same every year - occurs the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr). To spend that night in worship is equivalent to a thousand months of worship, i.e. Allah's reward for it is very great.
On the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted, a special celebration is made, called 'Id al-Fitr. A quantity of staple food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-Fitr), everyone has bathed and put on their best, preferably new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.
There are other fast days throughout the year. Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan, Mondays and Thursdays, and the ninth and tenth, or tenth and eleventh of Muharram, the first month of the year. The tenth day, called Ashurah, is also a fast day for the Jews (Yom Kippur), and Allah commanded the Muslims to fast two days to distinguish themselves from the People of the Book.
While fasting per se is encouraged, constant fasting, as well as monasticism, celibacy, and otherwise retreating from the real world, are condemned in Islam. Fasting on the two festival days, 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha, the feast of the Hajj, is strictly forbidden.
Da'wah (Introducing Islam)
Da'wah is an Arabic word which means invitation. Da’wah in Islam refers to inviting people to learn about Islam. It is an obligation on every Muslim to convey the true message of Islam to non-Muslims.
Our Lord Almighty says: "Invite to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them (non-Muslims) in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided." [al-Qur'aan, an-Nisaa'(16):125]
In this regard, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Convey from me, even one verse." [al-Bukhaaree]", and he also said: “Whoever guides [another] to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it." [Muslim].
While inviting others to Islam is an obligation on each and every Muslim, embracing Islam remains a pure personal choice for those who receive the invitation. It is clear in our Holy Book, Quran, that there is no compulsion in religion.
Allah says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.” [Al-Baqarah. Chapter 2, verse 256]
To our local community of Huntington:
The Muslim Association of Huntington invites you to visit our Islamic Center and learn about Islam. We invite you to meet your fellow American Muslim citizens. We invite you to meet Muslims from different backgrounds and experience ethnic and cultural diversity.