بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الأربعاء 1433/6/25 هـ 2012/05/16 م
Dear Member/Supporter:
As Salaamu Alaykum; may Allah, Who is the source of all peace be with you. Ramadan 2012 is fast approaching and the preparations have begun. As Muslims, we look forward to this season of personal “purification.” The year has been extremely long and we have all experienced highs and lows. As Imam, I pray your high moments have outnumbered your low moments. Nearly one year later, we are all a bit weary and haggard and the promise of “renewed” Faith is rather timely. We look forward to another opportunity to address our spirit-souls with the religious “tool” of Fasting Ramadan, reciting the Holy Quran from cover-to-cover and standing with one another in nightly Taraweeh Prayers.
As is customary, the Mosque will be abuzz with great enthusiasm and our hearts will align and beat as one unified organ in adoration of our Lord! We are extremely proud of our community for all it reflects and represents to us: the Worshippers who call Yusuf Mosque home for ourselves and our families. As such, each year we have taken strict care to reflect the very best means of Muslim Hospitality to all of the Fasters who join us for Iftar and Taraweeh. This is an enormous undertaking and it would be impossible without the commitment and dedication each of you has shown.
Today I put out the call to each of you to begin to “return” to “work-mode.” We are tasked with the same accommodations seen in past years, but to a much higher degree this year! Our Mosque is beautiful and it is growing by leaps and bounds. As our mosque continues to grow, so too grows the need for support.
As such, I am “putting-out-the-call,” it’s time to rise to the wonderful occasion of “service” to Allah! Our united Ramadan effort requires all of the resources at our disposal to make the Month of Ramadan “another” success. We require your physical resources as well as your financial support. Please step forward and support the Iftar Program with your “hard earned” income. We have a daily financial goal ceiling that “must” be achieved to sustain each of the 30 days of the Fast. Your cash donations and sponsorships are critical. Ramadan is but a few months ahead of us and “planning” begins now! In the coming weeks, you will hear me speak regarding this reality as a standard part of the Friday Sermon. I leave you with these Quranic messages:
(2:185) (sūrat l-baqarah):
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Sahih International: The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey — then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَـٰٓأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ
And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, O ye that are wise.! (2:197)
As Salaamu Alaykum,
Imam Ibrahim A. Rahim
