Ramadan in 2020 will start on Friday, the 24th of April(24/4/2020) and will continue for 30 days until Saturday, the 23rd of May.
Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Thursday, the 23rd of April.
Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.
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Kennesaw Muslims look to build permanent mosque
Jon Gargis jgargis@mdjonline.com
Jul 19, 2019
A Kennesaw mosque that previously won a fight with the city to open and operate within a strip mall is now seeking to build its own facility on a nearby property across Cobb Parkway as soon as next year.
Masjid Suffah of Kennesaw has been operating for about four years in a strip mall on Jiles Road behind the Publix grocery store that fronts Cobb Parkway. The prayer center’s permit was granted by the City Council following an initial denial by a 4-1 vote in December of 2014. After Doug Dillard, the attorney representing mosque members, threatened to sue the council for violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, council members reversed their decision.
Now Masjid Suffah leaders are pursuing the initial steps to move to a permanent location behind the Bank of America on Pine Mountain Road near Cobb Parkway. Mohammad Jafari, the imam or leader of prayer at the mosque, said that while mosque leaders would like to have the facility built sometime next year, a more realistic construction table would likely see it opening in two or three years. Fundraising for the facility, he adds, will be the ultimate factor of when it is built.
The mosque has been the topic of several discussion threads on the social media site Nextdoor. The traffic generated by the facility is among the points of concern.
“My question is who in their infinite wisdom approved the construction of a potentially heavily attended, non-residential facility in a residential area on a single lane street that is already heavily burdened with traffic? Am I missing something?” wrote Larry Krause, a Pine Mountain Road resident.
But the city has yet to receive any building plans, and no votes have been taken regarding the proposed mosque site by the city’s planning commission or council, according to Councilman Chris Henderson, who says the mosque has so far only gotten approval for mass grading of the site and pre-engineering work.
In 2016, mosque officials said their plans called for an 8,500-square-foot space with a larger worship area, multi-purpose space for kids to play and about 200 parking spaces. The property, which was donated to the mosque by a member, was said at the time to be about 3.5 acres.
The mosque has yet to submit to the city any documents pertaining to its proposed facility.
“I would assume at some point, it will come to us for final plat approval,” Henderson said of the residentially zoned property, which under city zoning code and federal law is allowed to have religious facilities built on it and therefore does not need to be rezoned.
The mosque would still have to meet all building codes and other regulations, he added.
“So far, I’ve had one phone call, and that’s the main interaction I’ve had with the community on it. I have heard from other council members that at least one other has had at least one phone call,” Henderson said. “It’s an understandable concern — as the gentleman who talked to me said, he bought his property and it had residential behind it, so the worst he expected was a house built behind him. Now that there’s a parking lot that’s going to be built behind him, that’s a surprise and a completely understandable surprise.”
NEIGHBOR SEEKING EFFECTIVE BUFFER
Mitchell Hyre, who resides in the Village At Pine Mountain neighborhood near the proposed mosque site, shares Henderson’s concern. He says his goal is to see the formation of a committee of nearby property owners that would meet with the developer and the city to come up with buffers that would be visually pleasing to those in neighboring residents and would muffle any sound from the mosque.
“These people bought their properties with the understanding that all around it was residential, and we were told by Realtors that nobody (else) could build there, and ‘you’ll be fine,’ and it’s all wooded, and there are deer and rabbits and foxes,” Hyre said, who says his opposition is not based on religion.
“If they do their due diligence, and we don’t have to look at it, and we don’t have to hear it, that we don’t have lights shining in our bedroom window and that we don’t listen to garbage trucks at 2:30 in the morning servicing their dumpster, that’s about all we can do,” Hyre said, “and that’s all that I want.”
The city of Kennesaw, Henderson adds, has received “zero complaints“ since Masjid Suffah began operating, adding that he would vote in favor of the mosque’s plans if they met all city codes.
“It comes down to there is no difference in a mosque or a Baptist church or anybody else, and I have to protect their rights, just like I protect the rights of any other citizen in Kennesaw,” he said. “If they are following our zoning ordinances, and they are building to code, then there is absolutely no reason that I can ever see saying ‘no’ to it.”
Amid Masjid Suffah’s efforts to open in the strip mall in 2014, protesters attended numerous council meetings about the mosque, carrying signs saying “Ban Islam” and “No Mosque,” and voiced concerns about the mosque spreading Shariah law.
Jafari, the mosque’s imam, said he fears that anti-Islam sentiment could return.
“People are not aware of what or who Muslims are, and so I think that’s the main issue that we’re dealing with,” said Jafari, adding that a church operates on the same street, likely less than a mile down the road.
In the meantime, Jafari is extending an invitation for community members to visit Masjid Suffah when it is open at prayer times.
We are here to establish our connection with God, and that’s by the teachings that have been taught to us in the Quran and ultimately by the example of our prophet, Muhammad,” Jafari said. “Our responsibility as Muslims is to make sure that our neighbors are always good in terms of our relationship with them. This is just our gesture to them and our way (to say), ‘Hey, we’re open to helping you guys understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.’”
----------------------------------------
RAMADAN
Assalamu Alaikum WRWB
Alhamdulillah the moon has been sighted.
Ramadhan Kareem! May Allah SWT grant us all the ability to strengthen our connection with Him in this blessed month and ultimately make it a means for us becoming better Muslims.
Note Isha Salaah will be at 9:55 followed by the Taraweeh Prayer.
Also, please keep referring back to the Masjid Prayer Time Display for accurate Salaah times at display.masjidsuffah.com
Jazakumullahu Khaira
Masjid Suffah of Kennesaw has been operating for about four years in a strip mall on Jiles Road behind the Publix grocery store that fronts Cobb Parkway. The prayer center’s permit was granted by the City Council following an initial denial by a 4-1 vote in December of 2014. After Doug Dillard, the attorney representing mosque members, threatened to sue the council for violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, council members reversed their decision.
Now Masjid Suffah leaders are pursuing the initial steps to move to a permanent location behind the Bank of America on Pine Mountain Road near Cobb Parkway. Mohammad Jafari, the imam or leader of prayer at the mosque, said that while mosque leaders would like to have the facility built sometime next year, a more realistic construction table would likely see it opening in two or three years. Fundraising for the facility, he adds, will be the ultimate factor of when it is built.
The mosque has been the topic of several discussion threads on the social media site Nextdoor. The traffic generated by the facility is among the points of concern.
“My question is who in their infinite wisdom approved the construction of a potentially heavily attended, non-residential facility in a residential area on a single lane street that is already heavily burdened with traffic? Am I missing something?” wrote Larry Krause, a Pine Mountain Road resident.
But the city has yet to receive any building plans, and no votes have been taken regarding the proposed mosque site by the city’s planning commission or council, according to Councilman Chris Henderson, who says the mosque has so far only gotten approval for mass grading of the site and pre-engineering work.
In 2016, mosque officials said their plans called for an 8,500-square-foot space with a larger worship area, multi-purpose space for kids to play and about 200 parking spaces. The property, which was donated to the mosque by a member, was said at the time to be about 3.5 acres.
The mosque has yet to submit to the city any documents pertaining to its proposed facility.
“I would assume at some point, it will come to us for final plat approval,” Henderson said of the residentially zoned property, which under city zoning code and federal law is allowed to have religious facilities built on it and therefore does not need to be rezoned.
The mosque would still have to meet all building codes and other regulations, he added.
“So far, I’ve had one phone call, and that’s the main interaction I’ve had with the community on it. I have heard from other council members that at least one other has had at least one phone call,” Henderson said. “It’s an understandable concern — as the gentleman who talked to me said, he bought his property and it had residential behind it, so the worst he expected was a house built behind him. Now that there’s a parking lot that’s going to be built behind him, that’s a surprise and a completely understandable surprise.”
NEIGHBOR SEEKING EFFECTIVE BUFFER
Mitchell Hyre, who resides in the Village At Pine Mountain neighborhood near the proposed mosque site, shares Henderson’s concern. He says his goal is to see the formation of a committee of nearby property owners that would meet with the developer and the city to come up with buffers that would be visually pleasing to those in neighboring residents and would muffle any sound from the mosque.
“These people bought their properties with the understanding that all around it was residential, and we were told by Realtors that nobody (else) could build there, and ‘you’ll be fine,’ and it’s all wooded, and there are deer and rabbits and foxes,” Hyre said, who says his opposition is not based on religion.
“If they do their due diligence, and we don’t have to look at it, and we don’t have to hear it, that we don’t have lights shining in our bedroom window and that we don’t listen to garbage trucks at 2:30 in the morning servicing their dumpster, that’s about all we can do,” Hyre said, “and that’s all that I want.”
The city of Kennesaw, Henderson adds, has received “zero complaints“ since Masjid Suffah began operating, adding that he would vote in favor of the mosque’s plans if they met all city codes.
“It comes down to there is no difference in a mosque or a Baptist church or anybody else, and I have to protect their rights, just like I protect the rights of any other citizen in Kennesaw,” he said. “If they are following our zoning ordinances, and they are building to code, then there is absolutely no reason that I can ever see saying ‘no’ to it.”
Amid Masjid Suffah’s efforts to open in the strip mall in 2014, protesters attended numerous council meetings about the mosque, carrying signs saying “Ban Islam” and “No Mosque,” and voiced concerns about the mosque spreading Shariah law.
Jafari, the mosque’s imam, said he fears that anti-Islam sentiment could return.
“People are not aware of what or who Muslims are, and so I think that’s the main issue that we’re dealing with,” said Jafari, adding that a church operates on the same street, likely less than a mile down the road.
In the meantime, Jafari is extending an invitation for community members to visit Masjid Suffah when it is open at prayer times.
We are here to establish our connection with God, and that’s by the teachings that have been taught to us in the Quran and ultimately by the example of our prophet, Muhammad,” Jafari said. “Our responsibility as Muslims is to make sure that our neighbors are always good in terms of our relationship with them. This is just our gesture to them and our way (to say), ‘Hey, we’re open to helping you guys understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.’”
----------------------------------------
RAMADAN
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Management Suffah Masjid.
Copyright © 2019 Suffah Masjid, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Suffah Masjid
2750 Jiles Rd. Suite 109, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Ramadan begins around the Muslim world
By Ross Williams rwilliams@mdjonline.com
WEST COBB — At sunrise, the congregants at Masjid al-Furqan, a mosque and Islamic Center in west Cobb, will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan along with Muslims from around the world.
This will be the second full Ramadan at the mosque, which opened in 2017 partway through Ramadan off Barrett Parkway south of Dallas Highway.
In the time since, the congregation has doubled, growing from about 150 to over 300, said board member Amjad Taufique.
“It’s really grown up since a lot of people have moved in,” he said.
The outside of the mosque will also be growing soon, the board recently received permits to build a picnic pavilion for outdoor activities.
Taufique said they are also conducting a search for a new imam, a Muslim worship leader.
“We are passing the word around, seeing what is available, who is interested,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of candidates come out, but they decided not to because of family obligations and things like that, so we’re still in search for an imam and youth director.”
Though the prayers recited at the mosque are the same as they have been since the religion was founded in the 7th century, modern technology has become part of Islam as well.
After the evening prayers, some worshippers stayed behind to read the Quran, the holy book of Islam, on their cellphones. Taufique said he has an app that tells him when to pray based on the time zone in his GPS.
“My phone is set up for evening and morning prayers, and it actually calls the call to prayer aloud. … So even if I’m not here at the mosque, I may be somewhere and I know.”
Congregant Yusuf Khan said his phone has an app that uses GPS to show the direction of the city of Mecca, toward which Muslims are directed to pray.
“For example, if I’m at Starbucks or something, and prayer comes in, I need to pray, it’s not like I know which direction Mecca is to pray, so you look it up on your phone, you use your app, it tells you where to look, and you pray in that direction,” he said.
“So if you ever see a Muslim guy, like, praying to a car, he’s not praying to the car,” he added with a laugh.
RamadanIslam is the world’s second-largest religion, with about 1.8 billion practitioners. Its followers believe in one God, called Allah in Arabic, and that Muhammad is God’s prophet.
The holy book of Islam is the Quran, which Muslims believe is the verbatim word of God that was handed down to Muhammad. It’s in the pages of the Quran where Muslims are directed to observe Ramadan.
“Within the Quran, the revelation was there that made it mandatory on the believers to fast in the month of Ramadan,” Taufique said. “In the words of the Quran, it says fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed on those before you, so you may attain piety.”
Taufique and some of the mosque’s younger members met with the MDJ last week to talk about Ramadan and how Muslims in the United States mark it.
During Ramadan, the day begins with a morning meal called Suhur, which is eaten before the sun comes up. Once day breaks, there is no eating or drinking until the sun comes back down. The fast is broken in the evening with a meal called Iftar, often held at the local mosque.
Suhur dishes depend on personal taste and run the gamut from fruit and water to eggs and pancakes, according to the congregants. And while traditions vary in Muslim communities around the world, it is common to break one’s fast with dates and water, because that is what the prophet Muhammad did. After that, you’ll find Muslims breaking their fast with every type of food imaginable, said congregant Yusuf Khan.
“If you come here any given night during Ramadan, you’ll find food from like Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Africa, you name it,” he said. “Someone here is going to bring that food for that night. … You’re going to find food from every country. It’s always going to be a surprise.”
But many of the worshippers said they learned the hard way not to overeat during Iftar, especially because it is immediately followed by prayers which involve repeatedly standing, kneeling and prostrating, something that is not fun on a full stomach.
“You can only eat a normal meal, you just can’t handle more than that,” Taufique said. “As a kid, I remember being so sick at night, being like ‘Oh my God, why did I do that?’”
American lifeMany of the younger members of the congregation said participating in Ramadan while attending school in America felt a little different at first, but people ended up getting used to it.
“When I was younger, in elementary school, I would go to the library during Ramadan, so I got to read a lot, which was fun,” said Taufique’s daughter, Saleha Taufique. “And then once, when I had P.E. in high school, and I was ready to run, I said ‘Okay, I’m going to do this,’ and then my dad called the school and was like ‘She’s fasting, she’s not allowed to run.’ So I just spent that whole month on the bench, just hung out and became really good friends with the coach.”
Children are not forced to fast during Ramadan, nor are the elderly, the sick or women who are pregnant. Taufique said he sent a lunch box to school with his daughter in case she needed to eat.
“The teacher would know that her lunchbox was there, so if it was not manageable for her to fast, she realized she can’t continue anymore, no problem, she could go out and eat it. … You build up that environment in that house so they want to compete with their siblings, they want to compete with other kids, like ‘Oh, I fasted three days this Ramadan,’ ‘Oh, I fasted thirteen days,’” he said.
Someone who is unable to fast during Ramadan can also make up for it by fasting during another day of the year or by feeding somebody who would otherwise be unable to eat.
The members of the congregation agreed that the first few days of Ramadan are always the hardest, but after that your body gets used to it. They said that while some people lose weight during Ramadan, it’s not at all uncommon to gain weight during the month from a combination of a slower metabolism and eating big meals right before bed.
Since Ramadan follows the Islamic calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, it occurs on different dates each year, about 11 days apart.
Khan joked that fasting in the summer months with its long days is tougher than fasting in winter.
“When I was little, we were fasting in the wintertime, so the fast was like 14 hours, versus now, like 18,” he said with a laugh. “Summer is a different story altogether.”
According to Islamic scholars, Muslims living near the north pole where nights can get extremely long are allowed to celebrate Ramadan based on the schedule of the nearest town with a normal day/night cycle, or based on the times in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Closer to GodAccording to Islamic tradition, during Ramadan, the gates to Heaven are open and the devil is locked in chains.
“The devil is locked up, he’s chained up,” said worshipper Aqsa Adnan. “So throughout the rest of the year, he’s constantly trying to whisper something to you to make you do something you shouldn’t do, making you try to move away from the straight path. So Ramadan is that one chance where all you have is yourself and God.”
Congregant Areej Mukhtar said that means good deeds done during Ramadan are better, and if you sin during Ramadan you can’t blame anyone but yourself.
“Anything you do that’s bad or sinful, that’s on you,” she said. “Shaitan, the devil, is gone. So it’s all on you. You get more self-conscious, like I can’t do anything bad. You’ll restrict yourself from watching TV, restrict yourself from going onto social media out of your own will. It’s really rewarding in a way.”
Masjid al-Furqan’s members all said for them, Ramadan is about more than just eating.
“Part of fasting, at least for me, is stopping anything like, so TV, moving away from that, from reading just random books. I reread ‘Harry Potter’ all the time, so listening to lectures, reading the Quran more becomes a goal. When you’re not eating, you’re consciously thinking of other ways to spend your time,” said Saleha Taufique.
Khan said for many, Ramadan is a time to reflect on your behavior and, if necessary, get back on the right track.
“If you’re someone who’s not a regular, coming to the mosque a lot, you’ll find a lot of people who are in that same boat actually at the mosque in Ramadan, and you’ll have conversations and end up kind of realizing it on your own, like, hey maybe we shouldn’t go smoke tonight, maybe we should do the night prayer then go home and hang out,” he said. “You do things that are better for you.”
Ramadan concludes with a festival called Eid al-Fitr, a day when Muslims are forbidden from fasting. Instead, believers hold large feasts in mosques or in homes with family to thank God for a good Ramadan. It is not uncommon for parents to give gifts or money to their children on Eid al-Fitr.
“For me, it’s like when a bunch of aunties invite you over and say ‘Come eat food with us!’” Mukhtar said. “It’s the one day of the whole month where you can eat and have fun with your family. You ask everybody how their Ramadan was, what they did during their Ramadan. It’s just a day to be happy and celebrate doing good in our lives.”
This year, Eid-al-fitr begins the evening of June 3.
Amjad Taufique said all are welcome to come visit the mosque’ especially during Ramadan.
“We welcome people to visit us. We are very open. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances around the world, with places of worship being attacked, whether a synagogue, a church or a mosque, we’re seeing that more and more, there are locks on the door where you cannot get in unless you have the codes. Before that, we had it open throughout the day, it used to be open. But if somebody calls us, lets us know they’re on the way, we’re happy to let them in, show them around. Especially during the month of Ramadan, we’ll be more open, during dinner time, stuff like that. People are more than welcome to join us.”
|
Ramadan begins around the Muslim world
By Ross Williams rwilliams@mdjonline.com
WEST COBB — At sunrise, the congregants at Masjid al-Furqan, a mosque and Islamic Center in west Cobb, will mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan along with Muslims from around the world.
This will be the second full Ramadan at the mosque, which opened in 2017 partway through Ramadan off Barrett Parkway south of Dallas Highway.
In the time since, the congregation has doubled, growing from about 150 to over 300, said board member Amjad Taufique.
“It’s really grown up since a lot of people have moved in,” he said.
The outside of the mosque will also be growing soon, the board recently received permits to build a picnic pavilion for outdoor activities.
Taufique said they are also conducting a search for a new imam, a Muslim worship leader.
“We are passing the word around, seeing what is available, who is interested,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of candidates come out, but they decided not to because of family obligations and things like that, so we’re still in search for an imam and youth director.”
Though the prayers recited at the mosque are the same as they have been since the religion was founded in the 7th century, modern technology has become part of Islam as well.
After the evening prayers, some worshippers stayed behind to read the Quran, the holy book of Islam, on their cellphones. Taufique said he has an app that tells him when to pray based on the time zone in his GPS.
“My phone is set up for evening and morning prayers, and it actually calls the call to prayer aloud. … So even if I’m not here at the mosque, I may be somewhere and I know.”
Congregant Yusuf Khan said his phone has an app that uses GPS to show the direction of the city of Mecca, toward which Muslims are directed to pray.
“For example, if I’m at Starbucks or something, and prayer comes in, I need to pray, it’s not like I know which direction Mecca is to pray, so you look it up on your phone, you use your app, it tells you where to look, and you pray in that direction,” he said.
“So if you ever see a Muslim guy, like, praying to a car, he’s not praying to the car,” he added with a laugh.
RamadanIslam is the world’s second-largest religion, with about 1.8 billion practitioners. Its followers believe in one God, called Allah in Arabic, and that Muhammad is God’s prophet.
The holy book of Islam is the Quran, which Muslims believe is the verbatim word of God that was handed down to Muhammad. It’s in the pages of the Quran where Muslims are directed to observe Ramadan.
“Within the Quran, the revelation was there that made it mandatory on the believers to fast in the month of Ramadan,” Taufique said. “In the words of the Quran, it says fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed on those before you, so you may attain piety.”
Taufique and some of the mosque’s younger members met with the MDJ last week to talk about Ramadan and how Muslims in the United States mark it.
During Ramadan, the day begins with a morning meal called Suhur, which is eaten before the sun comes up. Once day breaks, there is no eating or drinking until the sun comes back down. The fast is broken in the evening with a meal called Iftar, often held at the local mosque.
Suhur dishes depend on personal taste and run the gamut from fruit and water to eggs and pancakes, according to the congregants. And while traditions vary in Muslim communities around the world, it is common to break one’s fast with dates and water, because that is what the prophet Muhammad did. After that, you’ll find Muslims breaking their fast with every type of food imaginable, said congregant Yusuf Khan.
“If you come here any given night during Ramadan, you’ll find food from like Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Africa, you name it,” he said. “Someone here is going to bring that food for that night. … You’re going to find food from every country. It’s always going to be a surprise.”
But many of the worshippers said they learned the hard way not to overeat during Iftar, especially because it is immediately followed by prayers which involve repeatedly standing, kneeling and prostrating, something that is not fun on a full stomach.
“You can only eat a normal meal, you just can’t handle more than that,” Taufique said. “As a kid, I remember being so sick at night, being like ‘Oh my God, why did I do that?’”
American lifeMany of the younger members of the congregation said participating in Ramadan while attending school in America felt a little different at first, but people ended up getting used to it.
“When I was younger, in elementary school, I would go to the library during Ramadan, so I got to read a lot, which was fun,” said Taufique’s daughter, Saleha Taufique. “And then once, when I had P.E. in high school, and I was ready to run, I said ‘Okay, I’m going to do this,’ and then my dad called the school and was like ‘She’s fasting, she’s not allowed to run.’ So I just spent that whole month on the bench, just hung out and became really good friends with the coach.”
Children are not forced to fast during Ramadan, nor are the elderly, the sick or women who are pregnant. Taufique said he sent a lunch box to school with his daughter in case she needed to eat.
“The teacher would know that her lunchbox was there, so if it was not manageable for her to fast, she realized she can’t continue anymore, no problem, she could go out and eat it. … You build up that environment in that house so they want to compete with their siblings, they want to compete with other kids, like ‘Oh, I fasted three days this Ramadan,’ ‘Oh, I fasted thirteen days,’” he said.
Someone who is unable to fast during Ramadan can also make up for it by fasting during another day of the year or by feeding somebody who would otherwise be unable to eat.
The members of the congregation agreed that the first few days of Ramadan are always the hardest, but after that your body gets used to it. They said that while some people lose weight during Ramadan, it’s not at all uncommon to gain weight during the month from a combination of a slower metabolism and eating big meals right before bed.
Since Ramadan follows the Islamic calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, it occurs on different dates each year, about 11 days apart.
Khan joked that fasting in the summer months with its long days is tougher than fasting in winter.
“When I was little, we were fasting in the wintertime, so the fast was like 14 hours, versus now, like 18,” he said with a laugh. “Summer is a different story altogether.”
According to Islamic scholars, Muslims living near the north pole where nights can get extremely long are allowed to celebrate Ramadan based on the schedule of the nearest town with a normal day/night cycle, or based on the times in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Closer to GodAccording to Islamic tradition, during Ramadan, the gates to Heaven are open and the devil is locked in chains.
“The devil is locked up, he’s chained up,” said worshipper Aqsa Adnan. “So throughout the rest of the year, he’s constantly trying to whisper something to you to make you do something you shouldn’t do, making you try to move away from the straight path. So Ramadan is that one chance where all you have is yourself and God.”
Congregant Areej Mukhtar said that means good deeds done during Ramadan are better, and if you sin during Ramadan you can’t blame anyone but yourself.
“Anything you do that’s bad or sinful, that’s on you,” she said. “Shaitan, the devil, is gone. So it’s all on you. You get more self-conscious, like I can’t do anything bad. You’ll restrict yourself from watching TV, restrict yourself from going onto social media out of your own will. It’s really rewarding in a way.”
Masjid al-Furqan’s members all said for them, Ramadan is about more than just eating.
“Part of fasting, at least for me, is stopping anything like, so TV, moving away from that, from reading just random books. I reread ‘Harry Potter’ all the time, so listening to lectures, reading the Quran more becomes a goal. When you’re not eating, you’re consciously thinking of other ways to spend your time,” said Saleha Taufique.
Khan said for many, Ramadan is a time to reflect on your behavior and, if necessary, get back on the right track.
“If you’re someone who’s not a regular, coming to the mosque a lot, you’ll find a lot of people who are in that same boat actually at the mosque in Ramadan, and you’ll have conversations and end up kind of realizing it on your own, like, hey maybe we shouldn’t go smoke tonight, maybe we should do the night prayer then go home and hang out,” he said. “You do things that are better for you.”
Ramadan concludes with a festival called Eid al-Fitr, a day when Muslims are forbidden from fasting. Instead, believers hold large feasts in mosques or in homes with family to thank God for a good Ramadan. It is not uncommon for parents to give gifts or money to their children on Eid al-Fitr.
“For me, it’s like when a bunch of aunties invite you over and say ‘Come eat food with us!’” Mukhtar said. “It’s the one day of the whole month where you can eat and have fun with your family. You ask everybody how their Ramadan was, what they did during their Ramadan. It’s just a day to be happy and celebrate doing good in our lives.”
This year, Eid-al-fitr begins the evening of June 3.
Amjad Taufique said all are welcome to come visit the mosque’ especially during Ramadan.
“We welcome people to visit us. We are very open. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances around the world, with places of worship being attacked, whether a synagogue, a church or a mosque, we’re seeing that more and more, there are locks on the door where you cannot get in unless you have the codes. Before that, we had it open throughout the day, it used to be open. But if somebody calls us, lets us know they’re on the way, we’re happy to let them in, show them around. Especially during the month of Ramadan, we’ll be more open, during dinner time, stuff like that. People are more than welcome to join us.”
Holly Mill shared a post.
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Friday, April 19, 2019
Misc Info FYI:
This is one of at least half a dozen+ blogs that I have about Kennesaw and all of them are pretty much out of service as I have been gone from K for just over 3 yrs, after 15 years living there.
So with the passage of time I have posted less and less. The site 'may' now and then have another post but it is pretty much off my radar scope these days. So take a look, you might find something of interest, I see that several folks come back repeatedly and are probably disappointed to find nothing new here. Thanks for looking in -
Bill Harris, Canton, Ga.
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11/24/18
WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY AT THE KENNESAW MOSQUE?
Assalmu Alaimum Respected Community Members,
Don’t forget! Tonight after Maghrib Salaah (5:31pm) we are hosting our Monthly Family program on the life of one the greatest companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.
Program will begin promptly after Maghrib Salaah so that we may be done by Isha Salaah.
Once again, we want to make sure the youth and adults are involved throughout the event, therefore please be sure to encourage your children to bring their electronic WiFi capable devices for the very interactive kuhoot game with prizes.
Dinner will be served for both adults and children.
Please keep in mind this is a family event, therefore to best benefit as a family, encourage all family members to come and participate for full benefit and a lasting experience for our homes.
May Allah ﷻ accept from us all and give us a life like that of Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه in Deen and Taqwa!
آمــــــــــــــــــين
Jazakumullahu Khaira
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9-3-18
COBB COUNTY County commission OKs Mableton mosque
A mosque, Masjid Qubaa - The Islamic Center of Mableton, and a retail or office establishment for the mosque were approved 5-0 Aug. 21 by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.
Instead of the present appliance liquidation business, new uses by the Islamic Center - also called Mableton Center, Inc. - will occupy 214 acres at 6145 Mableton Parkway on the east side and north of Community Drive.
The mosque’s commercial tenant will occupy the front 1,000-square-foot building on Mableton Parkway.
Accommodating 100 to 110 people, the mosque will occupy the rear building of 3,625 square feet and be used 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Undeveloped property behind the mosque may be developed with a playground or more parking spaces, according to an Aug. 6 letter from applicant attorney Lisa S. Morchower of Berman Fink Van Horn in Atlanta to Cobb County Zoning Division Manager John P. Pederson.
The buildings are flanked by two gas stations and Fanatics Sports Bar and Grill.
Jimmy D. Hester is the title holder, and Charles Woodard is the representative for Mableton Center.
CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM FOR THE AJC
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Info on the Kennesaw Mosque is available at:
http://suffadawa.blogspot.com/
Info on the suit the Kennesaw Mosque filed against the City is at:
http://suffadawatsuit.blogspot.com/
The Newton County (Ga) mosque and cemetary issue is at:
http://almaadalislami.blogspot.com/
Radical Mosques in America (1 is in Ga)
https://shariaunveiled.wordpress.com/2015/11/28/radical-mosques-in-america-is-there-one-near-you/
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Suffa Dawat Center is a non profit organization established to provide a place of worship to the Muslims residing in and around Kennesaw.
Established in January 2015, it is a fairly young mosque constantly seeking to improve itself to meet the requirements of its community and provide a center for worship.
To contact them, send an email at:
suffahmosque@gmail.com
Or phone: 770-906-0838
Web site: http://suffadawatcenter.weebly.com
Read the 29 page suit against the City of Kennesaw at:
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Here are a few direct links to info about the Kennesaw mosque:
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Ramadan in 2018 will begin in the evening of May 16, and will end in the evening of June 14.
When is Ramadan 2018, what dates does the festival start and end and why do Muslims fast?
It celebrates the first time the Quran was revealed to Muhammad, according to Islamic belief
RAMADAN is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate "the best of times".
It celebrates the first time the Quran was revealed to Muhammad, according to Islamic belief - but what else do we know about the festival?
When is Ramadan 2018?
Ramadan in 2018 will begin in the evening of May 15, and will end in the evening of June 14.
The beginning and end are determined by the lunar Islamic calendar.
Hilal, the crescent, is usually a day or more after the astronomical new moon.
The "night of power" or "night of decree" is considered the holiest night of the year, as Muslims believe the first revelation of the Quran was sent down to Muhammad on this night.
It is thought to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan - the 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29th.
The holiday of Eid as-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the next lunar month.
What happens during Ramadan?
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness.
Fasting is obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating.
Muslims also engage in increased prayer and charity during Ramadan.
Ramadan is also a month where Muslims try to practice increased self-discipline.
As well as fasting - abstaining from eating and drinking - Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran throughout the month, before the holy festival of Eid-al-Fitr.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
Ramadan is seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship.
Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and this includes fasting - which teaches people how to be more self-disciplined and have empathy for those less fortunate.
The pre-dawn meal before the fast is called the suhur, while the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is the iftar.
In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, Muslims also increase restraint, such as abstaining from sexual relations.
The act of fasting is said to cleanse the soul by freeing it from worldly activities, in addition to abolition of past sins.
Dates usually break the fast at sundown, as is tradition.
After that the usual practice is to adjourn for prayer and then the main meal is served.
3/25/18
The current mosque at 2750 Jiles Road is the owner of the 3.62 acre property at 6045 Pine Mountain Road, also in Kennesaw. This oddly shaped property was long abandoned and sold off by the estate of the deceased Mary Estelle Holcomb (Parcil ID: 20016601430).
It was initially purchased by Kashif Rashid Rana and then donated to the mosque as the potential home of a one million dollar proposed mosque, details further down this site.
Donations to fund the new mosque are minimal and there is little chance for any building in the reasonable future. Taxes on the undeveloped property are $1,034.20 and are kept up to date by the mosque.
Masjid Suffah Newsletter
Email Campaign Archive
from Suffah Masjid
- 03/28/2018 - Insha'Allah our Halaqah will resume tonight after Maghrib Salaah
- 03/16/2018 - Class of Aqidah Tahawiyyah this Sunday (03/18/2018) after Fajr Salaah
- 03/13/2018 - Maktab classes Time Change
- 02/26/2018 - Curriculum for our Maktab Classes
- 02/14/2018 - Weekly halaqah on Hadith after ishan tonight
- 02/10/2018 - Aqidah Tahawiyyah Class
- 02/02/2018 - 3 Janaza prayers Today, Friday 2/2 after Jummah prayer and Burial at ECIC Cemetery
- 02/01/2018 - Janaza prayer tomorrow (2/2/18) at Masjid AlFurqan after Jummah prayer and Burial at ECIC Cemetery
- 01/24/2018 - 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi
- 01/18/2018 - Maktab classes will resume today
- 01/17/2018 - Maktab Classes cancel today due to weather conditions.
- 01/16/2018 - Maktab Classes cancel due to inclement weather
- 01/08/2018 - Maktab Classes Starts from tomorrow( 01/09/2018) Insha'Allah
- 01/05/2018 - The Atlanta City Council is opening up a third warming station needs your donations.
- 12/21/2017 - Join us tomorrow for Jumu'ah at 1:30pm sharp to make sure we take full benefit and be sure to bring your children.
- 12/03/2017 - Janaza Prayer Tomorrow (12/4) at Masjid AlFurqan at 4:15pm and Burial at ECIC Cemetery
- 11/30/2017 - Janaza Today (11/30) at Masjid AlFurqan at 2:00 and Burial at ECIC Cemetery at 2:30pm
- 11/18/2017 - Janaza tomorrow (11/19) at Islamic Center of North Fulton at 2:00 and Burial at ECIC at 3:00pm
- 11/08/2017 - Janaza Today (11/8) in Rome and Burial at ECIC Cemetery at 12:30 pm
- 11/01/2017 - WEEKLY HALQAH TO NIGHT In sha Allah.
Here are a few direct links to info about the Kennesaw mosque:
https://rluipa.robinsoncoleblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2015/01/Suffa_Dawat_Center_v._Kennesaw.pdf
(above direct link to the 29 page Civil Suit)
http://www.masjidsuffah.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KennesawMasjid
http://www.masjidsuffah.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Fundraising-Flyer.pdf
http://masjidsuffah.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Admissions-Form-2015.pdf
https://www.salatomatic.com/spc/Kennesaw/Masjid-Suffah/kdhDmNaEzy
https://www.coursehero.com/file/18376865/Islam/
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4/9/17
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12/18/16
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016
Not much is going on with the Kennesaw Mosque issue but here is an interesting article about a NY Mosque. If you are not interested just skip down until you come to the Ga. Mosque information.
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Mohammad Ali Chaudry, a retired financial officer, has lived in this prosperous town for 40 years. It is where he raised his three children and where he served as mayor, and before that, as a member of the school board. It was also where Mr. Chaudry, an observant Muslim, always wanted to pray.
But Mr. Chaudry and some 70 fellow Muslims have been stymied for years in their quest to build a mosque on a four-acre plot of land in Basking Ridge, a genteel community here that is as proud of its old oak trees as its old homes. A year ago, after 39 public hearings in which local officials and residents picked apart every aspect of the proposed mosque, the planning board rejected the proposal, citing issues like storm water management and pedestrian safety in the parking lot.
Now, the federal Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Bernards Township, arguing that its decision violated federal law and discriminated against the applicants purely because of their Muslim faith. The complaint, filed last month, follows a lawsuit brought by Mr. Chaudry’s Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, which has been subjected to anti-Muslim fliers and social media posts and even vandalism.
During the protracted application process, someone stomped on the group’s mailbox and later superimposed “ISIS” over the society’s initials on the mailbox. “This was unprecedented,” said Mr. Chaudry, the society’s president, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Tufts University and teaches a course at Rutgers University on Islam. “No other house of worship in the township’s history had ever been treated the way we were.”
Across the country, more and more towns have used local zoning laws as barriers to new mosques and Islamic schools, underscoring what civil rights advocates say is a growing wave of intolerance that has been amplified by the victory of President-elect Donald J. Trump. In response, the federal government has been increasingly turning to the courts, using a law passed unanimously by Congress in 2000 that prohibits municipalities from discriminating against religions in land-use decisions or treating religious groups differently than secular ones.
While the law, with the arcane name Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, was intended to protect all religious faiths, 11 of the last 13 cases brought by the Justice Department — including three in the last month — have involved Muslims.
“The law, by its very nature, deals with particularly vulnerable populations,” said Mark Goldfeder, a senior lecturer at Emory University’s School of Law and a senior fellow at the university’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion. “It’s so easy for towns to hide discrimination behind layers of land-use procedure.”
But Muslim advocates and experts on religious freedom worry that Mr. Trump’s impending inauguration leaves the future of the powerful religious freedom law in doubt. The man the president-elect has nominated to lead the Justice Department, Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, has endorsed Mr. Trump’s call for a temporary ban on immigration from Muslim countries.
As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, Mr. Sessions might be less sympathetic to pursuing investigations involving the rights of Muslims. There are now 13 open land-use investigations under the law, though a spokesman for the department declined to say how many of those involved mosques.
Ross K. Baker, a distinguished professor of political science at Rutgers who has studied the federal law, said it was “entirely possible” Mr. Sessions could choose to dial back on the investigations. “It is within the province of the attorney general-designate to decide whether to proceed with a lawsuit,” he said.
Another recent case brought by the department involved a proposed mosque in Virginia. The lawsuit argued that Culpeper County violated the religious land-use law in denying a sewage permit application. The complaint noted that since 1992, the county had considered 26 applications and never before denied such a permit to either a commercial or religious group.
In a speech this month at a Virginia mosque, Loretta E. Lynch, United States the attorney general, talked about the department’s response to a surge in hate crimes, highlighting enforcement of the land-use law. “Members of the Civil Rights Division have heard repeatedly about more overt discrimination in both the tone and framing of objections to planned religious institutions, especially mosques and Islamic centers,” said Ms. Lynch, who sent a letter to state and local officials on Thursday reminding them of the law and their obligation to respect religious freedom.
In the case of Bernards Township, the Islamic Society bought land that was in a zone that permitted a house of worship. Raising money from various sources, Mr. Chaudry oversaw the purchase of four acres, aware that the zoning code required at least three acres for a house of worship.
The society hired an architect who took pains to design a mosque that would blend in with the neighborhood, where a fire station stands across the street from the site. The 4,400-square-foot mosque, the size of a large house, would forgo the traditional dome and would include minarets that mimic the chimneys on neighboring houses.
“The mosque proposal met with vociferous public opposition,” the Justice Department wrote in its recent complaint. “Fliers, social media and websites denounced the mosque and were filled with anti-Muslim bigotry and references to terrorism and the 9/11 attacks.”
The federal lawsuit concluded that the planning board had used different requirements in denying the society’s application than it “had in evaluating previous applications.”
The language in the society’s own lawsuit was more blunt: “What should have been a simple board approval for a permitted use devolved into a Kafkaesque process that spanned an unprecedented four years.”
Nearly three dozen religious, legal and civil rights groups have supported the society’s lawsuit by signing amicus briefs, said the society’s lawyer, Adeel A. Mangi, of the firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.
Bernards Township officials deny that the applicants’ faith played any role in their decision. The mayor, Carol Bianchi, declined to respond to the allegations. But a statement by the township after the Justice Department filed its lawsuit asserted that the planning board’s denial was based on “legitimate land-use and safety concerns which plaintiffs refused, and to this day, refuse to address.”
The township’s most forceful response was reserved for the Justice Department, which it accused of a conflict of interest because one of its investigators served on the same board at Drew University’s Center for Religious and Cultural Conflicts as Mr. Chaudry. The township also claimed that the department’s communication with the Islamic Society before bringing the federal complaint suggested an “inappropriate collusion.”
The United States attorney for New Jersey, Paul J. Fishman, a Democrat, looked into the township’s allegations and declared them baseless.
In July, the Justice Department released a report on its enforcement of the federal law since 2010, which detailed the growing proportion of cases involving mosques. It also found that while 84 percent of non-Muslim investigations were resolved without a lawsuit, only a fifth of cases involving Islamic institutions were similarly resolved.
In Bernards Township, much of the initial resistance to the proposed mosque centered on parking. According to the federal complaint, the local ordinance required 50 parking spaces for houses of worship based on a 3-to-1 standard ratio, or an average of three people arriving in one car. But a traffic engineer enlisted by opponents of the mosque recommended 107 spaces.
The planning board insisted the mosque meet that goal, which, in turn, raised new issues, like visual impacts and storm water runoff. The society’s complaint stated that applicants “dutifully revised their site plan and brought back professionals to testify time and again, only to find that the board had generated yet more requirements.” Mr. Fishman said the township “kept moving the goal posts.”
For Mr. Chaudry and other members of the society, the lack of a mosque has made worshiping difficult. The nearest mosque is 25 minutes away. Members have rented a local community center for Friday prayers, lugging in prayer rugs and audio equipment. But the center is unavailable in the summer so they pray in a public park. And the absence of a mosque has prevented the society from attracting a full-time imam.
During public hearings, some residents made anti-Muslim remarks, but town officials mostly restricted their comments to land-use questions. But in a trove of emails unearthed by the Justice Department investigation, and recently shown to the Islamic Society, the same officials shared their personal views of Muslims.
In one email, a member of the township committee, John Malay, wrote, “As a religion, Islam owes its source of influence to a tradition from Day 1 of forced conversion through violent means.”
In an email chain, members of the committee and planning board discussed ways to exclude Mr. Chaudry from a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony in honor of town residents who died in the terrorist attack. “Let’s make it happen without that fool,” John Carpenter, a township committee member, said.
Mr. Chaudry is active in local groups like the Rotary Club and statewide committees promoting interfaith understanding. In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, appointed him to the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service. He also serves on the state attorney general’s Outreach Committee for the Muslim Community and the Interfaith Advisory Council of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Outside the Dutch colonial on Church Street that serves as the society’s offices and where, members hope, a new mosque will one day stand, signs of patriotism abound. A sign amid American flags of various sizes proclaims, “Proud to Be an American.”
“We feel everybody should know that we are American,” Mr. Chaudry said.
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12/15/16
During the week there is not much activity at the Mosque. Friday for their main afternoon service (around 1-1:30, times vary) it is jammed.Misc Info: Mosque Activities FYI
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12/5/16
Just in case you are interested in what is taught to kids at the Kennesaw Mosque, here is info on their classes:
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8/13/16
Anonymous asked Kennesaw City Councilman Jim Sebastian:
Mosque Question
Q) As I recall the approval for the Suffa Dawat Mosque/Worship Center was phrased as a ‘variance’ for 24 months of usage. We are approaching the end of that period now.
Did they in fact get a 2 year variance or did they just get total approval with no specified time limit?
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Jim Sebastian • reply
Get the Story about Kennesaw
Get the Story about Kennesaw
In April 2015 , to ensure compliance with all Federal laws, including the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (commonly referred to as RLUIPA) and to bring the City of Kennesaw into compliance with recommendations made by the Department of Justice, the Mayor and Council unanimously amended the Kennesaw Code of Ordinances Appendix A, Chapter 2, Sections 2.02.03 “Table of Land Uses- Residential Districts” and 2.02.04 “Table of Land Uses – Non-Residential Districts.”
This conformity was made to allow for Religious Assemblies (defined as a site or facility maintained by a bona fide religious groups) for the primary purposes of religious worship, study, prayer or other religious practices of such religious groups.
Religious assemblies include but are not limited to churches, mosques, synagogues and temples in residential and non-residential districts. As these uses are now allowed, there are no limits on times or durations of use.
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8/5/16
The Mosque land was donated by Mr. Kashif Rashid Rana of Kennesaw.
3.62 acres, 200 spot parking
NEW KENNESAW MOSQUE SITE:
3.62 acres already donated. Fund raising started for:
Masjid Suffah, 6045 Pine Mountain Road, to replace the strip mall mosque at 2750 Jiles Rd, Kennesaw.
The property with a FMV of $134,400 was donated to the Mosque by Kashif Rashid Rana, Kennesaw, and on 4/6/16 a demolition permit was issued for the existing abandoned shell of a house.
The property belonged to Mary Estelle Holcombe and was sold by her estate to Mr. Rana (Parcil ID: 20016601430).
(Note: Flyer is from 2015, very little $ has been donated so far)
WHO IS BEHIND THE MOSQUE?
Kashif Rashid Rana, 678 485-9261
Naser B. Omer, 770 906-0838
Nayyer Islam, 404 556-9222
Mazhar Hussain, 404 483-8077
Sena Ali, 404 936-7108
Imam Faizan Wahid, 678 848-1965
Mufti Fakhir Islam (Director)
Abdul Kareem Amer
The property belonged to Mary Estelle Holcombe and was sold by her estate to Mr. Rana (Parcil ID: 20016601430).
(Note: Flyer is from 2015, very little $ has been donated so far)
WHO IS BEHIND THE MOSQUE?
Kashif Rashid Rana, 678 485-9261
Naser B. Omer, 770 906-0838
Nayyer Islam, 404 556-9222
Mazhar Hussain, 404 483-8077
Sena Ali, 404 936-7108
Imam Faizan Wahid, 678 848-1965
Mufti Fakhir Islam (Director)
Abdul Kareem Amer
Kashif Rashid Rana, 678 485-9261
Naser B. Omer, 770 906-0838
Nayyer Islam, 404 556-9222
Mazhar Hussain, 404 483-8077
Sena Ali, 404 936-7108
Imam Faizan Wahid, 678 848-1965
Mufti Fakhir Islam (Director)
Abdul Kareem Amer
1 year ago:
Neighbors react to plans on moving mosque into their neighborhood
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7/15/16
KENNESAW: SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE OVERFLOW PARKING
Another Friday (7/15/16) and another overflow of parking at the Kennesaw Commons strip mall at 2750 Jiles Road.
The lot has a few open slots reserved for shoppers at other retail stores but otherwise not only is the parking lot completely full, spill over parking goes to the Publix lot.
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KENNESAW: WHAT WILL THE NEW SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE LOOK LIKE?
The ‘new’ Suffa Dawat Mosque to be built at 6045 Pine Mountain Road. The 3.62 acres (161,000 sq ft) has set aside 200 spaces for parking.
The Mosque land was donated to them by Mr. Kashif Rashid Rana of Kennesaw.
Due to an almost total shortfall in donations for this new center it will be years before any construction could start.
SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE OVER CROWDING
Initially information was given by the mosque backers that they would have at most 80 worshipers for their main service on Friday afternoon in the 2 rental spaces at the Kennesaw Commons Strip Mall, 2750 Jiles Rd location.
Since then they have expanded their rental to another next door unit which is suppose to be used for the women, bringing the total rented space to 3,300 sq ft.
Photos taken in July 2016 on the “28th Night of Ramadan” at 11 p.m. show only the men’s side, which is the original 2 units (2200 sq ft) and show at least 106 people, considering the remaining area not shown, probably there are 130 (+/-) plus an unknown number of women in the remaining unit.
While the County Fire Dept had initially established the maximum number allowed under their regulations at an unrealistic 315 for the original 2 units, you can see that the facility is well above the actual physical capacity of the rooms and the parking lot during both Ramadan and their normal main service on Friday afternoons.
The original City variance for use of the property as a Mosque for 24 months still has a few months to run but there is no indication that any other facility is being prepared for the expiration of the approved 24 month usage.
A careful look at the photos will show that there are conceptual drawings of the proposed Mosque to be built at 6045 Pine Mountain Road, the design shows 3 minarets and a dome. The 3.62 acres (161,000 sq ft) has set aside 200 spaces for parking.
Whether this new million dollar Mosque is ever built, in the proposed configuration or otherwise, it clearly would be impossible for it to be ready for several years. The donations are very minimal, hardly enough to pay the rent on the current location.
Mosque leadership has been critical of worshipers for their lack of contributions.
This despite their own leadership being composed of several multi millionaires, one of which is Abdul Kareem Amer, who is also in the news recently for being the spokesman for the East Cobb Islamic Centers building of a cemetery for 6-7,000 plots in Powder Springs on MacLand Road.
The immediate Kennesaw concern is that their Friday service exceeds the available strip mall parking.
Near term concerns are for what happens when both their lease and agreement with the City of Kennesaw for the 24 month variance runs out.
Long term concerns are for construction of the new Suffa Dawat Mosque on the land donated to them by Mr. Kashif Rashid Rana of Kennesaw.
Previous dealings with this Mosque have not been satisfactory and have cost the City $18,000, a Federal lawsuit and an international black eye.
With 5 of the 6 elected City posts now held by newly elected representatives perhaps some clearer thinking will emerge on how to deal with the referenced issues.
If not then it will be another round fought out in the press and probably the courts.
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7/8/16
MAIN FRIDAY SERVICE OVER FLOWS EXISTING PARKING
Remember how it was 'claimed' that their main Friday afternoon service might draw at most 80 people?
The 7/8/16 main service totally filled the parking area at this strip mall.
Parking monitors direct members to open spots and several slots are reserved by them for use of shoppers at other mall stores.
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7/5/16
MORE KENNESAW MOSQUE BULLSHIT
KENNESAW MOSQUE THRIVING AFTER BUMPY BEGINNING
Emily Selby MDJ 7/5/16
It’s been about a year and a half since the Kennesaw City Council balked at allowing a mosque to open in a strip mall, and since that time, mosque leaders say everything is “going great.
“It is so convenient,” said Dr. Nayyer Islam, president of the mosque, the Masjid Suffah of Kennesaw.
“It’s a great place for everyone to come together and meet each other. There are some people I didn’t even know were in the area that are coming here now.”
In December of 2014, the Kennesaw City Council voted 4-1 to deny a permit that would have allowed worshippers to open a Muslim prayer center in a strip mall on Jiles Road behind a Publix grocery store.
Protestors attended numerous council meetings about the mosque, carrying signs saying “Ban Islam” and “No Mosque,” and voiced concerns about the mosque spreading Shariah law.
After Doug Dillard, the attorney representing mosque members, threatened to sue the council for violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, council members reversed their decision and granted a 24-month permit.
Former Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh was the only council member to approve the permit in the initial vote. She said she voted to approve the mosque because it was their “constitutional right to be there.
“The (mosque members) who came to that City Council meeting, they have been members of this community for 20, 30 years,” Eaton-Welsh said “They are your radiologists, your doctors, your dentists … I’m glad they have a safe space to worship. I don’t think it’s any different than a synagogue or chapel.”
Former Councilwoman Debra Williams, who initially voted against the mosque, said her opposition was based on the location.
“It was going in a retail space that had active businesses, and a worship center takes away from that. We need to put in businesses that complement each other,” she said.
However, Islam said the shopping mall is now thriving.
“The (shopping) complex where the mosque is located had one or two businesses back then, and as I was promising the city at the time, now the whole complex is flourishing,” Islam said.
Dream Body Inc, a personal training studio, moved into the strip-mall in May, and owner Seth Carver said that while parking had been an initial concern, business is good and the studio has about 150 sessions per week.
“They are very courteous, they come over and put cones in front of our space so that nobody parks in front of our business so that way there’s parking for our clients,” Carver said.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
Before the mosque opened, many Muslims in the area had to travel to other communities to worship.
Mosque board member Naser Omer, of Kennesaw, said “we were going and coming 10 miles each way, so that’s 20 miles, and some of the prayers are only ten minutes.” He called the mosque a great facility.
Nayyer Islam’s daughter, 18-year old Maha Islam, said before the mosque opened, her family traveled to Canton to a different Muslim community.
“It’s so nice having the mosque here. I didn’t know all the Muslims in this area and now I do,” she said.
Another mosque on Barrett Parkway in west Cobb is scheduled to open in about four to six months.
The Masjid Suffah, which sees about 80 to 100 members on its busiest day, is collecting funds to move to a permanent location behind the Walgreen’s pharmacy and Bank of America on Pine Mountain Road near Cobb Parkway.
Nayyer Islam said an architect, who is a member of the mosque, has already drawn up the plans for an 8,500-square-foot space with a larger worship area and multi-purpose space for kids to play. The property, which was donated to the mosque by a member, is about 3.5 acres and the new development will include about 200 parking spaces.
Kennesaw resident Eileen Alberstadt, who opposed the mosque’s opening in 2014 citing traffic congestion, said she is still concerned about traffic when the Pine Mountain Road location opens.
“I live on Pine Mountain and it’s a nightmare to get out of the subdivision,” Alberstadt said. “The traffic will be hell; it’s already hell now.”
Alberstadt and Williams also said mosque members tried to demolish a house on the Pine Mountain Road property, but did not have the permit and were forced to stop.
Because the project is privately-funded, it is difficult to pinpoint when it will be finished, Nayyer Islam said.
“If you wrote me a check today, I could start working tomorrow,” he said, laughing.
According to Nayyer Islam, the property already has the needed zoning and the final architectural designs will be submitted to the city for approval. The estimated cost for the Pine Mountain Road mosque is $1.4 million.
The mosque has a 24-month leasing period for the strip mall location which ends in about nine months.
“We told them at the time that this is a temporary thing and our permission is for two years, so we are going to obey our promise,” he said. “We are going to keep striving towards building the other mosque so it becomes a permanent thing where people can go.”
RAMADAN
Nayyer Islam is hopeful to have more funds for the permanent mosque after Ramadan, a religious month for Muslims.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and practice self-restraint and self-reflection. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is celebrated as the month Muhammad received the revelations that became the Quran.
Each night during the holy month, the Masjid Suffah serves about 150 people with a four-course meal at sunset that is followed by prayer.
“Ramadan is about restricting ourselves from what is normally available. We restrict in everything, including lying and cussing,” Nayyer Islam said. “Those things happen from impulse and the purpose of Ramadan is to calm those impulsivities … the training for this month allows us to remember these things in the next 11 months. It trains us on how to be a good citizen.”
Food served varies night to night but often includes dates, meats, rice, bread and desserts.
“It’s a cool thing here because we have different Muslims from a lot of different countries. Everyone signs up to bring in food for Ramadan so we have a lot of different flavors,” said Maha Islam.
The end of Ramadan is called Eid and is a time for celebration. People dress up in colorful outfits and donate to the community.
Humaira Qhan, a member of the mosque who has lived in Kennesaw for 12 years, said. “We give alms to the poor and to the underserved so they can celebrate Eid with us.”
This year, funds donated to the mosque will be given to the community of Clarkesville, according to Nayyer Islam.
Also new this year for Eid, the Masjid Suffah gathered with other mosques in the area at Pine Mountain Middle School to pray and celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Mosque v. City of Kennesaw at: http://suffadawatsuit.blogspot.com/
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by Meris Lutz October 16, 2015 Special to the MDJ
WEST COBB — When Amjad Taufique first moved to Cobb from Houston, the entire observant Muslim population of the county could fit in the small office they rented for prayer services.
More than 25 years later, the community is preparing to celebrate the opening of the first mosque constructed in Cobb County.
There are five mosques already throughout the county, but all of them are in repurposed buildings, said Taufique, an active community leader who owns a repair management company.
Named Masjid Al Furqan, the about 45,000-square-foot mosque off Barrett Parkway, not far from the intersection with Dallas Highway, is expected to open early next year.
“The county is growing,” said Taufique. “It’s a good place to live, good for businesses. We’ve got a lot of Muslims who have businesses around here, doctors, we have a lot of them, so that kind of attracts a crowd.”
Fadi Ali, a management consultant who moved to Cobb County from Florida with his wife, a surgeon, and children two years ago, recently bought a house near the new mosque in order to attend prayers there.
Ali said being able to build a place of worship from the ground up is significant for the Muslim community.
“I think it makes a huge difference,” he said. “This is significant especially for me because I can take my children, my wife, my extended family and show them how we put this window here and that there.”
Ali also said it was important to him that the mosque be a resource not just for Muslims, but for the entire Cobb community, and talked about offering classes and activities.
When finished, Al Furqan will occupy a six-acre site that includes two existing houses, one of which will become administrative offices and the other will be available as the residence for the imam, who leads the congregation in prayer. The grounds will be encircled by a landscaped buffer and walking trail, which Taufique said would be open to the public.
The mosque is being built with funds donated by the community and is expected to serve a congregation of up to 300 people. Construction is estimated to cost $1.2 million, Taufique said, adding that the building was designed to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, with a few nods to Islamic architecture, such as arches in the entranceway.
The property was previously owned by a church and already zoned to allow a religious institution. “We are going to stick to the code like nobody ever did,” said Taufique. “We know where we are, we know our position.”
Taufique is hoping Al Furqan will be open for services by February or March of next year, and encouraged members of the public who were curious to reach out to arrange a tour.
“We would love for our neighbors to say, ‘Hey I just want to stop by,’” he said.
Construction of the mosque follows on the heels of a heated confrontation in Kennesaw in December that saw protests over a proposed storefront prayer hall in a shopping center. The Kennesaw City Council eventually reversed its vote not to allow the prayer hall after being threatened with legal action.
By contrast, both Ali and Taufique said they were not aware of any negative responses to the new mosque in west Cobb. In fact, they said, all of the neighbors have been very welcoming.
A handful of people have expressed alarm to the local county commissioner, Bob Weatherford, however.
Weatherford said he has received calls from “five or 10” constituents who called to complain.
“You get some that are far out there,” Weatherford said. “I don’t discriminate based on anything as long as it’s legal.”
He went on to say he supported freedom of worship as long as it did not infringe on the rights of others and it was done “peacefully.”
“My opinion of that particular religion is that they have a propensity not to be peaceful,” Weatherford said, adding he was speaking in general terms and not about the Muslim community of Cobb County.
Ali said he was not concerned about the kind of anti-Muslim sentiment that was on display in Kennesaw last year, where protesters held signs that read “ban Islam” and “Islam wants no peace.” “I believe in our justice system and elected officials,” Ali said.
As a community leader, Taufique has often found himself in the role of ambassador of his faith, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Several years after the attacks, he recalled reading an article about a young Muslim couple who were interrogated by the FBI after their neighbors reported “suspicious” behavior, which, it turned out, included fixing their washing machine and cooking biryani, a popular South Asian and Middle Eastern rice dish.
“It made me start to think that the neighbors really don’t even know you. They’re just scared (for) no reason, so what can we do to change that?” he asked.
Taufique decided to invite his entire neighborhood association, representing more than 140 houses, to an open house at his home.
“We said, ‘Hey, we understand maybe you guys are a little concerned about who we are, what we are, so come in and see,’” he said.
About 100 neighbors showed up, many of them meeting for the first time in Taufique’s home.
Taufique calls the extra efforts made by Muslims to assuage their neighbors’ fears “the price we pay,” and takes it in stride. Since 9/11, he has built strong connections with local Jewish, Christian and other religious leaders and helps organize an annual interfaith Thanksgiving dinner.
“I built up good relationships with many people after that just because they called and we had lunch together,” he said. “It’s a process of education that we have to really put out there for the community to see who we are.”
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Location: Masjid Al Furqan, 3861 Ernest W Barrett Parkway Southwest,
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10/10/15
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8/30/15
SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008587503434
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8/30/15
SUFFA DAWAT MOSQUE
During the past week signage for the Mosque has been added to their 2750 Jiles Road location. Although a donation of land was made less than half a mile away it is unlikely that the proposed $800,000 new Mosque will be built there.
The current facility has had a hard time getting donations to keep it afloat.
Several of the founding Mosque members are multi Millionaires and could easily afford to build the new Mosque but they didn't get to be multi Millionaires by spending their own money.
So unless those running the Mosque can find a few suckers to donate money, it is likely that they will remain where they are and may well spend some funds to expand to an adjacent unused space next to the Mosque.
8/28/15
The Friday mid day service of the Suffa Dawat Mosque attracts far more people than any of the other services and nearly fills the strip mall parking lot.
Welcome to the new Kennesaw Mosque, a new one costing $800,000 is coming.
More info about Suffa Dawat Mosque is at: http://www.masjidsuffah.com/
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MUSLIM ACTIVIST AND MULTI MILLIONAIRE, ABDUL KAREEM AMER is at it again.
This time he is pushing for a Fall opening of his 6-7,000 plot, 13.5 acer Muslim cemetery on Macland Road in Powder Springs and local members of that heavily black community are up in arms about how it was snuck in with no notice to area residents.
Well Kennesaw residents already know that Mr. Amer is a pretty sneaky guy. Perhaps you remember him from the Suffa Dawat Mosque problem in the down market Kennesaw strip mall at 2750 Jiles Road?
Mr Amer is called 'the engineer' and was the self described man behind the new Kennesaw Mosque. He and a few others decided they wanted their own boutique mosque in Kennesaw.
This is the guy who got Kennesaw resident, Mr. Mufti Fakhir Islam, to put in the application for a 24 month waiver of the Kennesaw zoning regulations so a store front Mosque could be put into a down market strip mall behind the Publix store on Cobb Parkway.
Mr. Mufti Fakhir Islam put in writing the bogus Suffa Dawat claim that there were no other Mosques within a 20 mile radius when there are at least 7, one as close as 8 miles away. This claim later got an apology from Mosque attorney Dillard, but you won't likely have heard about the apology as it was given in an (illegally) closed session before the start of the Dec. 1st regular Council meeting.
Even their lawyer was appalled by the lies told by his Muslim clients. He wasn't all that sorry though as he threatened to sue the City for at least $1,000,000 for enforcing the City zoning regulations. They did in fact later sue and got $18,000. see: http://suffadawatsuit.blogspot.com/ andhttp://suffadawa.blogspot.com/
Let's look a bit closer at Mr. Abdul. Kareem Amer:
He is a multi millionaire. He lives in a gated estate at 2467 Sewell Mill Rd, in Marietta with a Fair Market Value, last year, of $795,000. This residence is just a 2 minute drive from the East Cobb Iislamic Center, which is now behind establishing the new Muslim cemetery on Mackland Road.
Abdul Amer is listed in Cobb County Tax records as having a boat with a FMV (Fair Market Value) of $728,640 and an airplane with a FMV of $66,640 and just in Cobb County the Georgia Secretary of State site says that he owns 4 companies:
A&R ENGINEERING INC.,
LILY ESTATES, LLC,
ROBINSON ESTATES, LLC
THE SHOPS AT HICKORY GROVE, LLC.,
an 11 unit strip mall at 2639 Hickory Grove Rd, Acworth, Ga. 30101, FMV of $2,074,900.
Just over 2 years ago Amer was butting heads with Kennesaw for his boutique mosque, today he is spear heading the 7,000 burial sites in his Powder Springs Muslim cemetery.
What will he be up to next year?
That snowball has already starting to roll downhill for Kennesaw with a proposed $1,000,000 mosque on an oddly shaped 3.62 acer plot (161,000 sq ft) at 6045 Pine Mountain Road, which is near North Cobb Parkway and is about half-a-mile away from the Kennesaw Commons shopping center where the Suffa Dawat mosque is now.
This heavily wooded property recently sold for $95,000, with it going from the estate of Mary Estelle Holcombe, who had owned it and its 6 room 1,484 sq ft, dilapidated ranch style house (built in 1900), to the new owner Kashif Rashid Rana of Kennesaw. (Parcel ID is 20027902450).
It was in turn donated to the Suffa Dawat Mosque for its future location.
Neighbors of this property, directly abutting the new Mosque, will be some of the owners at The Village at Pine Mountain, with 17 of their homes affected and the Cedar Creek Professional Center at Pine Mountain and Cobb Pkwy.
When Amer is finished with his cemetery project Kennesaw will be seeing him again.
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for 2750 Jiles Rd #111
Plans by: A and R Engineering, Inc, 2160 Kingston Ct, Marietta, 30068. Contact Person: Naser Omer.
This is one of at least 4 firms owned by Abdul Kareem Amer of Marietta.
Men's Prayer Hall, 1311 sq ft, Maximum Occupancy 187
Women's Prayer Hall, 468 sq ft, Max Occupancy 67
See the below construction drawings at:
http://www.masjidsuffah.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Suffa-Dawat-Center-6-03-15.pdf
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