Assalam Alykom wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

As we embrace the dawn of this blessed month of Ramadan, The Board and I extend our warmest greetings to each and every one of you. Ramadan Mubarak!

This holy month, as Allah SWT tells us in the Quran, "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" (Quran 2:183). It is a time for us to deepen our faith, renew our spirits, and draw closer to Allah SWT. Let us come together as a community, strengthening our bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys.

We are delighted to welcome many new faces to our masjid this year. We say to our new brothers and sisters: "You are not strangers here, for we are all united in the love and worship of Allah." Additionally, it fills our hearts with joy to see familiar faces returning, as well as those we haven't seen in a while. May you all find peace, solace, and a sense of belonging within our community.

As we gather in prayer and fasting, let us also remember the words of our beloved Prophet Mohamed (PBUH): "The believers, in their mutual kindness, compassion, and sympathy, are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever" (Sahih Bukhari). The plight of our brothers and sisters in Gaza weighs heavily on our hearts, as does that of any Muslims who are enduring hardships in many other places around the world. Our prayers and support are with them all, and we ask Allah to grant them well needed respite, and give them a special place in the Jannah.

In the spirit of unity and compassion, let us remember the less fortunate in our du'as and charitable acts. Ramadan is not only a time of fasting and prayer, but also a time to increase our acts of kindness and generosity. The Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said, "He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry" (Sahih Muslim). Let us embody this spirit by extending our hands to those in need within our community and beyond.

Starting tonight, Isha will be held in the Gym, with Tarwih following immediately after. We expect Tarwih to last about an hour on weekdays and slightly longer on weekends. We are also pleased to announce that childcare during Tarwih will be provided at no cost to the parents, more details on ages covered will be provided at the Masjid. We look forward to joining together as a community as we stand shoulder to shoulder in devotion to Allah SWT.

Lastly, I would like to express our deep gratitude to everyone who donated water bottles and supplies for iftar. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. For future supply donations, please coordinate with the Social Committee to ensure we can manage and store them effectively.

May Allah bless us all during this holy month and accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds. We ask that He grant us strength, patience, and unity as we strive to become better Muslims and better human beings.

Jazakom Allah Khair,

Your Brother in Islam,

Jordan Saikaly

Board Chair, Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids.