
Ramadan 1431	A Guide to Ramadan	Ramadan Q&A

Ramadan and Eid Dates

First day of fasting of Ramadan – Wednesday, August 11

Eid will be celebrated on – Friday, September 10

Ramadan Prayer Schedule

View and print a printer friendly Ramadan Calendar
Ramadan Calendar in balck and white
Ramadan Calendar in color
Nutrition Tips during Ramadan

Daily Iftaar (Breaking of the Fast):

Milk, Juice & dates will be provided at the Masjid.
Maghrib prayer will follow 5 minutes after the adhan (call for Prayer).

Taraweeh Prayers

The first Taraweeh prayer will be after the Isha prayer on Tuesday, August 10.
Taraweeh prayers will be held every night of Ramadan, following the Isha prayer.
Khateras (short talk ~ 10 mins) in between Taraweeh prayers - only on Fridays & Saturdays

Babysitting Service - during the Taraweeh Prayer time

Free Babysitting service will be provided during the Taraweeh prayer time every day of the week, for children up to Age 7.
Parents with infants can pray in the Gymnasium where audio provision will be made.

Community dinners on August 13, 20, 27, Sep 3

All Muslims in the Greater Lansing area and their guests are invited to the community dinners at the Islamic Center on August 13, 20, 27 and Sep 3.

All Muslims, irrespective of their ethnic groups or countries of origin, are urged to reserve this date and to gather at the Islamic Center on these Fridays to eat together and enjoy the blessings of Ramadan, together as a community.

Ramadan Unity Dinner – August 27th

The Annual Mayor’s Ramadan Unity Dinner on August 27th will be graced by the presence of Congressman Br. Andre Carson. Muslims are strongly encouraged to attend this event. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the Lansing Food Bank.

Tickets can be purchased from the Islamic Center office.
Venue – Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Annual Fund Raising Dinner

Guest Speakers
Br. Rafael Narbaez

American Muslim Activist

Br. Mohammad Hassan Khalil

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies &
Visiting Professor of Law
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Saturday August 14

Program
8:30 pm - Maghrib prayer
8:45 pm - Dinner by Sultan's Restaurant
9:15 pm - Welcoming Remarks
9:20 pm - Address by Guest Speakers
Babysitting will be provided on-site for children under eight

Tickets : $25 for singles and $100 for family

Singles Dinner

Dinner provision will be made for single brothers and sisters at the Islamic Center during the month of Ramadan. $2 for cover.

Registration is required in order to avail this convenience.
Sign-up by contacting the office or by placing your name in the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.

Pay $30 for whole Ramadan or $2 each day to cover costs.

Sponsoring Singles Dinner

To sponsor a Singles dinner on one of the evenings, please eMail info@lansingislam.com or sign-up on the sheet on the Bulletin board.
If you prefer not to cook yourself, the Islamic center can arrange for the food to be catered for a charge of $350 towards the cost.

Provision needs to be made for approximately 75 people. At least two families will need to sign up every day and will need provide a total of 2 Full size Trays of Rice, 2 Trays of Salads, 2 Trays of Stew/Khorma and 2 Trays of a Chicken dish

Parking guidelines

Overflow parking – proceed to next door Lutheran Church.
Please abide by the parking signs posted and please do no park on the grass.
Please DO NOT Park on the streets adjacent to the Islamic Center without a parking permit. The City of East Lansing strictly enforces parking rules at all times.
During Taraweeh payers, Jumuah prayers, and Community Dinners, when arriving to Masjid, youngsters and able individuals are encouraged to park at the Lutherans Church Parking Lot in order that Senior citizens, Families and Sisters may use the Islamic Center parking lot.

Qiyam Prayer (Tahajjud / night vigil)

Qiyam (Tahajjud / night vigil) prayers will be prayed in congregation at the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadan and will commence at 4:15 a.m.

The first day of Qiyam would be at 4:15 AM on Tuesday, August 31st.

Sahour (meals) will be provided. All Muslim brothers and sisters are invited to attend the prayer at the Islamic Center during the last ten days of Ramadan.

Itikaf (Spiritual Retreat)

The Masjid will be open for anyone who wants to make Itikaf (spiritual retreat) during Ramadan as long as prior consent is obtained from the office. A sign-up sheet will be made available in the office for registration.

Hosting Private Iftaars at the Masjid

The Islamic Center Gymnasium can be rented for private iftaars. Suggested donation : $150.

Please eMail info@lansingislam.com or contact Br. Maher Mahmoud at 517.285.4157 to reserve the Gym.

You may purchase paper products from the Islamic Center for your private parties. This will be more economical for you rather than buying them on your own from the stores in the area.

Ramadan Donations

During Ramadan, the Islamic Center incurs high expenses as a result of organizing the various activities, community dinners, utilities, Imam related expenses, toys for children, renting hall for the two Eid prayers and a lot more. Following are ways for you to make a contribution towards Ramadan and earn abundant rewards from Allah in this blessed month.

Provide or Sponsor a Singles Dinner (for about ~75 people or pay @ $350 towards catering).
Sponsor a Community Dinner and Ramadan activities package – The cost is $5000 (This covers the cost of the dinner, utilities, electricity, water & heater, expenses towards hiring Ramadan Imam, Rental charges for Eid venue, Eid toys, and more).
You may also sponsor jointly as an extended family or as a group of related friends or professionals. Start scouting around for like-minded people to jointly sponsor a dinner.
You may also sponsor one or more of the following – Dates, Milk, Juice, paper products, cleaning supplies, pay for hired help etc. Contact the office to contribute towards this.

Zakat-ul-Fitr

Zakat-ul-Fitr is an obligatory Charity due from every Muslim, both male and female and must be given to the poor and needy people so that they can enjoy the happiness of Eid-ul-Fitr with other Muslims.

The head of the household must pay this amount on behalf of his/her own self and on behalf of their spouse, children and any other dependants. It is estimated at about $8.00 per person and must be given during Ramadan - BEFORE the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer.

If there are 3 members in your family, then your Zakat-ul-Fitr due is 3 x $8 = $24.

If you are unable to find a recipient for your Zakat, the Islamic Center can find a beneficiary.

A donation box at the Islamic Center has been designated for this purpose. The sooner you fulfill your obligation, the earlier we can distribute the same to the needy and the deserving in order that they can celebrate Eid in a joyful manner along with the rest of us.

Day of Eid – Friday, September 10th

Prayer venue : Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Gathering, Takbeer : 9:00 am
Eid Prayer : 9:30 am
Greetings : 10:00 am
Toys for children : 10:15 am (under 12 years of age)

Eid Festivities

The community will be treated to Eid festivities with an Eid party, an exclusive party for the sisters and fun events for children.

Details will be posted on the web site http://lansingislam.com

Guidelines to be observed at the Masjid during Ramadan

Youth aged 10 and older will be encouraged to attend the Taraweeh prayers.
Children from age 7 to 10 are also encouraged to attend the prayers as long as they are standing next to their parents and don’t disturb others around them.
Children not attending prayers will be required to be in the Gym during Taraweeh prayer time.
There will be provision in the Gym for Parents with Infants and toddlers who wish to pray Taraweeh prayers.
Youth and other willing brothers are encouraged to park their cars in Church parking lot for Isha prayers so that the Masjid parking space is made available for elders and sisters.
Youth will be required to attend programs designed for them and they will report to the designated youth coordinators. Youth Boys coordinators - Khaled Hammoud and Zakaria Sheikhaden. Youth Girls coordinators - Sarah Mahmood and Sarah Mousa.
Tents will not be allowed in the Masjid for Itikaf. Beds should not be stacked in the prayer area. The Conference room will be available for storing personal belongings. Food is not permitted in the conference room.
Parents need to ensure that their children will not venture into the parking lot or the playground during prayer time. Children cannot be at the Church playground without adult supervision.

This Ramadan, let us remind ourselves on protecting Allah’s creation by not hurting the environment.
Emphasis will be placed on Recycling after the Iftaars and building awareness on recycling.

Ramadan Tips for Employers

Ramadan this year takes place from August 22 to September 19 with Eid ul-Fitr, the celebration at the end of the holy month, on September 20. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and pay particular attention to spiritual matters.

Look at special requests for annual or unpaid leave

Consider flexible working or changing shift rotas to accommodate breaking the fast

Consider allowing extra time off to pray, especially at sunset

Encourage gestures such as sending Eid cards, in a similar way to Christmas cards

Avoid organising social events during major religious festivals so as not to exclude Muslims

Consider allowing meal breaks at different times, for example lunch breaks at dusk to coincide with breaking the fast – and extending these to non-Muslim employees to encourage integration

Consider training staff on different religious events.

Employers do not have to allow time off or changes to the usual routine if it would adversely affect the business. However it is good practice to do so wherever possible and helps to generate goodwill. Accommodating religious practices does not mean allowing extra time off, but rather being flexible about employees’ existing holiday entitlement or break periods.

Most employers are aware that discrimination on grounds of religion is against the law – but they should also ask themselves whether they are guilty of indirect discrimination. For example, always scheduling important meetings for dusk when Muslims are due to break their fast could fall into this category.

Source: http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=33589&hilite=

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)." [Sura Baqara (Chapter 2) : verse 183]

"(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." [Sura Baqara (Chapter 2) : verse 184]

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"Oh ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint," Quran II:183


Disclaimer: Views expressed in this site are those of individuals and not necessarily the express opinion of the Islamic Soc. of Gr Lansing.
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