Mosque Opens up to Community During Ramadan

As the sun set Thursday night marking the beginning of Ramadan, Muslims in Northern Virginia are partaking in their first day of fasting during the 30-day observance.

Through Aug. 18, Muslims will celebrate Ramadan, a time to gain God conscientiousness through fasting. Johari Abdul-Malik, Imam at the in Falls Church, said the mosque has several things planned for the entire community, not just those of the Muslim faith.

“Generally this is a time people can invite a friend or neighbor to the mosque,” Abdul-Malik said Thursday.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar Muslims follow, prayer will begin at sundown at the Falls Church mosque. Abdul-Malik said the prayers, along with a nightly dinner for 1,000 people, will cause heavy traffic along Leesburg Pike between Columbia Pike and Seven Corners. He said the dinner is open to anyone in the community. Fairfax County police will monitor the traffic along the busy road during sundown and dusk prayers that will run from 10 p.m. through 11:30 p.m., Abdul-Malik said.

With a community-based focus, the Falls Church mosque has made it a tradition to invite the surrounding community in during Ramadan. Abdul-Malik said it gives people an opportunity to learn more about each other to open lines of communication.

Wednesdays will be the day of facilitation for such events to bring in different cultural and faith-based groups. Abdul-Malik said on Wednesday, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross is bringing her Kaleidoscope program to the mosque. The program recognizes diversity in the Mason District and promotes understanding and cooperation between the various groups in it.

Abdul-Malik said an interfaith group is coming Aug. 1 to discuss strengthening the community and on Aug. 8, a group of interfaith teens — Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice — are making a presentation about how everyone in the community can help preserve the Earth and stop a daily lifestyle that affects people nations away.

The mosque will also participate in a “Salatul Istisqa” today at 12:15 p.m. The prayer for rain is similar to what the Prophet Muhammad offered during times of drought. Abdul-Malik said the center is joining other religious institutions in praying for rain in countries affected by drought.

Though Abdul-Malik and other Muslims will be fasting, he said the programs are a way to nurture more than the body.

“It’s an opportunity to deprive my body to preserve my soul,” he said. “Ramadan is a time for us to starve our bodies of food and drink to feed our souls.”