Days of Ramadan

Prophetic Relationships: One Interaction at a Time

Beloved ISBCC Community,

Assalaamu Alaikum waRahmatullah waBarakaatuh,

Alhamdulillah! We are about to welcome one of Allah’s greatest favors to His Ummah: the sacred month of Ramadan. May it be a month of blessings, forgiveness, and salvation for us all.

Two Ramadans ago, we came to know that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the essential servant (‘abd) of Allah (swt) through our theme “In the Footsteps of our Beloved”. Last Ramadan we came to know that he ﷺ is the essential knower of “Asma’ Allah Al-Husna (Allah’s Names and Attributes)”, and he exuded and connected to them on a human level in the most profound way. For this year, during the days and nights of Ramadan, we will continue to explore, learn, and internalize his ﷺ perfect character by coming to know his ﷺ Prophetic Relationships: One Interaction at a Time.

Our intention, as Muslims, is to beautify our own relationships and interactions by learning about those of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. Insha’Allah, this Ramadan, the Friday Khutbahs, Taraweeh Khatiras and weekly classes will be means to beautify our relationships and interactions. When we realize the content of his ﷺ character and manifest it in ourselves, we will have the ability and tools to transform ourselves into a Prophetic Community. May Allah (swt) make us a people who realize Prophetic Relationships: One Interaction at a Time.

May Allah (swt) bless us in this month of Shabaan and allow us to witness the month of Ramadan. We ask Him (swt) by all of His Names & Attributes to make the month of Ramadan a means for us to realize a Prophetic ethos within our community. May He (swt) allow us to foster strong relationships through sincere interactions. May He (swt) bless our scholars and teachers. And may He (swt) send an abundance of prayers and peace upon our beloved ﷺ.

Community Iftars

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person”.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Ramadan is the love and harmony that is shared among family, friends, and community members who come together to break their fast - known as iftar. Some of our community members are blessed to be close to family and friends and are able to experience that love regularly. But for people new to the area or new to the faith - those separated from family and friends or those who are alone - the initial joy that comes with breaking the fast can be marred by feelings of loneliness and isolation.

In order that every Muslim may experience the joy and blessings of Ramadan, the ISBCC invites all community members to join us in our communal Iftars. Together, we can connect ourselves to each other by build relationships over the breaking of fast.

Beginning Friday, May 10th we will host Community Iftars every Friday and Saturday night. During the Last Nine Nights of Ramadan, we will be holding Community Iftars every night. Visit the calendar at the top of this page for exact dates and join us and bring a friend, Insha’Allah!

Earn double the reward by contributing towards our community iftars. For just $11 per Iftar, you can be a part of what makes this month have such a positive impact on your fellow brothers and sisters in Islam. Remember, whether it is one Iftar you decide to sponsor or many, every sponsorship you make both strengthens the bonds of our wonderful community and is an amazing expression of gratitude to Allah (swt) for His Generosity towards you!

Greening Our Ramadan

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. (The Heights : 31)

Over the past few years, we have tried to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We have purchased composting bins, recycling bins, and invited team members to participate in learning about, and using, the different ways of disposing of refuse.

This year, we have decided to challenge ourselves to further decrease our footprint. Shaykh Yasir has reminded us that we are the stewards of this earth, and we are empowering each community member to take on that stewardship.

How to use the Compost, Recycle, Landfill waste bins this Ramadan

• Use a reusable water bottle throughout the month of Ramadan (purchase one in the cafe for just $3).
• Carpool or take the train to the ISBCC.
• Reduce the amount of food you expect to consume, so less food is thrown away.
• Avoid plastic, and recycle if you do use it - such as disposable water bottles, straws, and coffee lids.
• Use less water during wudu

There are many more ideas in the calendar below!

Itikaf

The Messenger ﷺ said: “He who observes the ten days Itikaf during Ramadan will obtain the reward of two Hajj and two Umrah.”

Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whosoever for Allah’s sake did even one day's i’tikaf, Allah would keep him away from Hellfire by trenches.”

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, (about him who engages in itikaf), “that he is safe from sin and he also gets that reward which everyone (outside i’tikaf) gets for pious deeds.”

One particular form of worship in the last ten nights of Ramadan is particularly blessed: Itikaf. Itikaf is a spiritual retreat in the house of Allah. It is a time to minimize the external stimulation and distractions and focus the heart on its relationship with Allah. Join your brothers and sisters in this deeply spiritual act of worship.

Itikaf will begin on Saturday, May 25th, at Maghreb time. To sign up for Itikaf at the ISBCC, register below.

On Saturday, May 25th, at 7pm there will be an orientation for all those who intend for itikaf at the ISBCC, During this orientation, we will cover the details of space of itikaf, programming, ground rules, and some intention setting. Please attend if you plan for itikaf!

Please keep in mind, if you wish to park at the ISBCC, you must register, cars left in the Roxbury Community College lot are subject to tow.

Kids of the Ummah (Ages 4 to 8)

2nd Floor
Isha Prayer until the End of Taraweeh
On days we serve iftaar - see schedule
Free for all children ages 4 to 8

During the blessed month of Ramadan, the ISBCC strives to guide our community on meaningful inner and outer journeys to a state of Ihsan. An essential component of this guidance is programming that engages our children in the beauty and significance of this sacred month.

Children will be divided into small age-compatible groups and participate in different activities through the night. For example, on one night children will experience the theme of Generosity.

• 30 minutes of Board Games and Puzzles
• 30 minutes of Balloon Games
• 30 minutes of a Halaqah on the Generosity in the life of the Prophet (s)
• 30 minutes allocated for snacking

We are urging all community members to use this an an opportunity to foster better relationships with one another and build a stronger community through our own and our children's positive experiences. We strive to afford parents the opportunity to focus on their Taraweeh prayers, secure in the knowledge their children are safe and engaged in Islamic activities.

If you find that this program will benefit your ability to worship, or will help a parent with their access to worship - please support this program. Sponsoring a child for the entire Ramadan is only $20.

When you sponsor a child, please ensure you type in "Kids Program" in the "Notes" field.

Ramadan Club (Ages 9 to 13)

Brothers & Sister - Meet at the Malik Academy - 3rd Floor Right Side Classrooms (updated)
From after Isha Prayer until the End of Taraweeh
On days we serve iftaar - see schedule
Free for all youth aged 9 to 13 - brothers and sisters have separate programming

During the blessed month of Ramadan, the ISBCC strives to guide our community on meaningful inner and outer journeys to a state of Ihsan. An essential component of this guidance is programming that engages our youth in the beauty and significance of this sacred month.

This year, we are excited to launch Ramadan Club, a program designed to have varying activities throughout the month of Ramadan to enrich our brothers and sisters who have grown out of baby sitting, but don't feel ready to pray taraweeh.

The program and its contents will vary from night to night, but it will focus on a few core themes:

• Connecting our young community members with our young professionals and building out strong, solid relationships.
• Offering a space for young community members to be themselves
• Offering a space for young community members to explore themselves through various activities such as a paint night, self-expression night, writing letters to Muslim prisoners, random Q&A & ice-breaker sessions, etc.
• Offering a program which young community members can opt in and out of based on their interests.

For more details about what happens every night, please join the program!

Ramadan Club will run from after the time of isha until the end of tarweeh. During that time, young community members are encouraged to attend this program. This is not a babysitting program, rather it is an open program that allows for young community members to join or leave at their interest or leisure.

We have developed this program to solve a need in our community of connecting our younger community members with the house of Allah. We ask that you support this program for their sake and so that the ISBCC community will continue to flourish in years to come, insha'Allah.

When you contribute to this program, please ensure you type in "Ramadan Club" in the "Notes" field.