Dar al-Hijrah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center (Arabic: دار الهجرة, English: Land of Migration) is a masjid and Islamic Center located in Falls Church, Virginia. Founded in 1982, it is one of the first masjids to be established in the multi-cultural Northern Virginia area and has since become one of the largest and most influential mosques in the United States. Dar al Hijrah often has over 3,000 people in attendance for Friday prayers[1] and is known for its community service and outreach in the Washington, DC area[2].
Contents |
[edit] Background
The mosque is situated at the corner of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Row Street around which there are a number of apartment units and single family homes in which numerous Muslim families are living within close proximity to the mosque which is near Washington, D.C.. Numerous halal restaurants, grocery stores and other Muslim businesses are also located close to the center
The mosque was established in the 1983 in a house that is still on the Center's campus and operates as a Food Bank. The current facility was finished in 1991.
[edit] Activities
Activities at Dar Al Hijrah besides daily prayers include youth recreation and outdoor activities such as camping and field trips, lectures, women's classes, community outreach, financial assistance, health fairs and conferences. During Ramadan, Dar Al Hijrah serves over 800 free meals every night to everyone who wants to come eat whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Also during Ramadan, Dar Al Hijrah sponsors several interfaith and civic iftar dinners with several different faith groups throughout the month in its mission to promote mutual understanding. Tens of thousands of dollars in zakat is also distributed by the center every Ramadan.
Dar Al Hijrah has a social services department that provides food, clothing and other household items weekly to needy families of all faiths in the local community
Dar Al Hijrah also operates a Youth Center as well as an Islamic School called the Washington Islamic Academy in Northern Virginia
Dar Al Hijrah is open for group tours
[edit] Outreach
Dar Al Hijrah is active in community outreach and promoting mutual understanding in Northern Virginia. As part of its outreach, Dar Al Hijrah has participating in several community food drives , organizing back to school supply drives for needy children, is actively engaged in several interfaith projects in Fairfax County as well as participates in civil rights work, and community clean up drives
[edit] Leadership
Dar Al Hijrah has a committee of 7 members (3 of 7 members are elected every two years while the other 4 are appointed by MAS/Board). The current Imam is Shaker Elsayed
