I find slightly odd reviewing a Masjid considering most reviews are about consumer products and services. Honestly, I'm writing this review to offset and respond to the negative review posted by "Jbravie H." Before I address his criticism, I'll describe the Masjid and the general atmosphere.
The Masjid is fairly new. I'd say it's about two (2) years old since it became an officially dedicated Masjid (before then it was a church). It's spacious and has enough room to accommodate hundreds of people. There are hallaqas (Qur'an recitation circles) for both young and older Muslims alike. Every Saturday there is an excellent lecture series after Maghreb, given by Shaykh Hasan Radi, on various topics such as purification of the soul, the names of Allah, etc. If you would like some recordings, please send me a message.
Friday Khutbahs are given by alternating Shaykhs (Shakyh Hasan Radi, Dr. Imad Bayoun and others). After the Khutbah, lunch is provided in the adjacent building. We used to eat in a separate room in the Masjid but mashaa'Allah the number of attendees have grown.
During Ramadan, iftar is provided everyday as well as taraweeh prayers which includes a short lecture on the Qur'an. Iftar is provided by various members of the community and anyone can participate or help out. Also, Eid Al Fitr (small Eid) and Eid Al Adha (big Eid) are major events here, so check it out if you're in the area.
The Muslims that attend this Masjid are very friendly and are quite a diverse bunch of people. This Masjid is an excellent place to make friends and get to know people. I have many friends that I wouldn't have otherwise known in some other venue.
There is some room for improvement and progress, however. Considering this Masjid is fairly new, there aren't a whole lot of activities youth can participate in. Furthermore, there aren't any indoor youth facilities such ping-pong tables, computer lounges, etc. You may say that it's odd for a Masjid to have these things, especially if you're an immigrant, but Masjids in the U.S. are much more than prayer halls; they're community centers.
Now, to address the criticism of our brother "Jbravie H." The Masjid is open for Maghreb and Ishaa prayers and I believe for Fajr. For Dhuhr and Asr prayers, the Masjid is not consistently open. The reason is that the Masjid volunteers have day jobs, so they're not always available to open the Masjid during those times. However, as I mentioned above, during Maghreb and Ishaa prayers you can expect the Masjid to be open.
In conclusion, I hope that anyone reading this review visit this Masjid if they're in the area, especially during Ramadan or on Fridays.
Ramadan Mubarak. read more
