ALL Masjid and School activities are suspended effective immediately (as of Thursday March 12 at 8 pm) until further notice

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This includes:
• The weekend School (closed immediately)
• No Jummah prayers held effective Immediately
• Daily congregational prayers held will be suspended effective immediately. The musallah will be LOCKED during this time.

We understand that these measures seem drastic, but we are working with community, local and state officials to be fully up-to-date on all the facts. As you are aware, a state of emergency, has been declared by the Governor and we feel we should be safe rather than sorry in this regard

Please be assured we are enacting these decisions to ensure the safety of our community.

FYI - There is a 14-day delay before symptoms are seen and we should be very cautious before we assemble in large numbers again.

It is clear from what we have seen around the world and from the measures that major organizations around this country are implementing that this is the best course of action.

From the news we know that over 200 religious congregations in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area have already shut down. Many universities, museums, Sports Arenas and places that attract large crowds have have also closed. Many mosques across the country and around the world are also pursuing similar actions

Dr.(retd) Muhammad Farooq (pres)

May Allah Subhannahu Wa Ta’aala provide us with calm hearts, good health, and strong imaan. Ameen.
We are reminded of the following ayah from the Glorious Qur'an Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our Protector. (9:51). Therefore, we must put our trust in Allah (swt), be grateful to Him, and pray for forgiveness and relief.

Allah (swt) also tells us in the Glorious Qur'an: O you who have believed, obey
Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. (4:59)
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (OWBP) said: "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place." This is not limited to the plague' It is also not limited to another country, but could be another state, city, or community in the country other than where one resides.

In addition, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (OWBP) once directed the Mu'athin to call the Athan and say, "Pray in your homes," instead of "Come to Prayer!"
That decision was made for the sake of the people, so they would not struggle and suffer through the muddy streets during heavy rain to go to the masjid.
This also applies to diseases where an individual or a community well-being would be at risk to become sick.

You are directed to the following websites for reliable and current information on COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/

https://health.maryland.gov/pages/home.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC4soCjxSOQ

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Assalamu Alaikum My Dear Brothers and Sister of the Jumu’a Project, I pray this message finds you all in the best of iman and health. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication in delivering khutbahs and supporting the entire jummah project at ADAMS. Without you, this endeavor would not be possible at all. May Allah SWT reward you for all your hard work and dedication.

Inshallah, a separate message will go out to the larger community, but I wanted to explain the forthcoming decision in greater detail to you all first. For at least the next two weeks, ADAMS will be cancelling all jumu’a prayers conducted under its auspices. This is due to the ever growing and escalating threat of the coronavirus. This decision was made based on the following the considerations:

The tradition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ““If you hear that there is a plague in a land, do not enter it; and if it (plague) visits a land while you are therein, do not go out of it.” (Bukhari) By this tradition we learn that it is not permissible to knowingly expose ourselves and others to disease The tradition of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Ibn Majah) By this tradition we learn that it is not permissible to knowingly harm others, not reciprocate harm.

The legal maxim (قاعدة فقهية) that “necessity makes permissible prohibited acts.” By this we learn that situations of necessity make impermissible acts permissible.

The governor has declared a state of emergency, meaning that the virus’ rate of infection has the potential to exponentially increase. It is incumbent to obey the people in charge in matters of health and security, as they have more information than we do.

The CDC has advised cancelling or postponing all large gatherings Given all of the above, it is Islamically most appropriate and responsible to suspend jumu’a until that time that we can be sure we will not be causing harm to our congregants by holding it. In the meantime, I also wanted to share with you some initiatives in which ADAMS will be engaging in order to maintain its educational and spiritual responsibilities with its congregants:

Regular virtual teaching on Mondays and Fridays Regular virtual youth programming Educational programs are exploring virtualization Regular Imam’s office virtual communication during the COVID-19 epidemic The Imam’s Office at ADAMS understands that this is an extraordinary moment for our community, our nation, and the world at large, and we are committed to ensuring the fulfillment of the spiritual needs of our community during this time. May Allah SWT reward you all for all your efforts and protect you and your families during this time.

Sincerely Yours,

Imam Mohamed Magid

Executive Imam, ADAMS Center

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With Allah's Name: The Merciful, The Mercy Giving

Suspending Congregational Acts of Worship Because of the CoronaVirus

Over the last few days, several institutions and mosques asked me about suspending jumar prayers due to the CoronaVirus. AMJA has an excellent paper written on the subject that offers clear advice. I encourage folks to read it. More importantly, however, I encourage people to stay in touch with their local public health providers, Imams, and fiqh councils.

That being said, I thought to share some justifications from religious texts and scholarly works for suspending large gatherings, Juma, and even the congregational prayers, during this difficult time. This is no simple matter. Years ago, in Boston, we had to suspend Juma because the state government asked us to. Decisions like this are sensitive, but I hope the logic of Islamic law on this issue is clear.

Suhaib Webb

A Foundational Principle

A primary principle of Islam is that "preventing harm takes precedent over the acquisition of benefits." For that reason, alcohol and gambling are prohibited, even though Allāh recognizes their benefits:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

"They ask you about alcohol and gambling. Reply that in both is a great sin, and a benefit for people, but the sin is greater." (Quran 2:219)

The Books of Usūl al-Fiqh

In the books of Usul Al-fiqh, we find dispensation for things when there is a threat to the health and well being of people:

Imām' Izz al-Din 'Abd al-Salām explained this dispensation when he wrote,

فصل في بيان تخفيفات الشرع، وهي أنواع: منها تخفيف الإسقاط: كإسقاط الجمعات والصوم والحج والعمرة بأعذار معروفات The section on shari'a dispensations and their types. One is the dropping of an act, like congregational prayers, fasting, hajj, or 'Umra due to a shari'a approved reason." (Qawa'id al-Ahkam fi Masalih Al-Anam, Vol. 2, Pg. 9)

Thus, there are times when acts can be modified to prevent considerable, often public, harm.

Illness and the Threat of Illness

Ibn Rushd mentioned a consensus that Illness allowed people to miss congregational prayers:

أما المتفق عليهما: فالذكورة، والصحة، فلا تجب على امرأة، ولا على مريض باتفاق What scholars agree on is that gender and health determine if a person should attend prayers. Thus the consensus is that Juma is not an obligation upon women and the sick." (Bidaya al-Mujtahid wa Nahaya al-Muqtasid, Vol. 1, Pg. 224)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم excused those who were sick from attending congregational prayers:

مَنْ سَمِعَ الْمُنَادِي فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ مِنَ اتِّبَاعِهِ عُذْرٌ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ مِنْهُ تِلْكَ الصَّلاةُ الَّتِي صَلاهَا" قَالُوا: مَا عُذْرُهُ ؟ قَالَ: خَوْفٌ أَوْ مَرَضٌ "Who hears the caller to prayer, but finds no excuse not to respond, his prayer that he prayers (alone) will not be accepted." The companions asked, "What is an 'excuse.'" He responded, "Fear or sickness." (Al-Sunna al-Saghir, Hadith 241.)

Fear of Potential Harm is Recognized by Islam

An axiom states,

ما اقترب الشيء يعطى حكمه

When something is near to something, it is given the latter ruling.

And,

الظن الغالب معتبر شرعاً

A strong assumption is considered in Shari'a.

I say that because the most excellent defense against this disease is social isolation. Public health experts in China, Italy, and other parts of the world discourage large gatherings, and as of now in Italy, the entire country is under quarantine. Thus, in this situation, legitimate fear of sickness, based on the opinions of experts, should be treated as sickness, especially with such a contagious virus. This is the advice of experts in the field. It's a pandemic.

Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified before congress,

"We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means not having any people in the audience as the NBA plays, so be it."

Commands & Capacity

It is well known that the orders of Allah and His messenger are conditioned on ability.

Allah says,

فاتقوا الله ما استطعتم

"Be dutiful to Allah as best you can." (Quran 64:16)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

وَمَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ "When I command you do do something, do it to your ability." (Bukhari in his Sahih and Muslim)

A Mistaken Notion

I've heard some folks contend that this is "not a big deal; I'm young, and I'll be fine." While that may be true, the danger is that a person may be asymptomatic, but he may engage with or sit next to older people, or he may even infect a younger person who has elders at home. Our approach to this virus should not be rooted in selfishness. It is going to take us as a community to defeat it, inshallah.

If You've Tested Positive

First, lots of prays and thoughts your way. I ask Allah to cure you and make this a means of your forgiveness. Second, it is not allowed for you to attend community events or congregational acts of worship.

The Fatwa Council of Iraq wrote,

"It is not allowed for a person who tests positive for the virus to attend public gatherings such as the Friday prayers and congregational prayers. He should pray at home on in isolation until he is cured."

And, The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لا يُورَدُ مُمْرِضٌ على مُصِحٍّ

A sick person should not mix with a healthy one. (Bukhari in his Sahih collection)

Inshallah, this pandemic will continue to grow, so I suggest suspending jumu'a and large gathering as well, especially if public health officials warn against them, and of course, if local governments request the same. This answer rests on the shoulders of those two entities, as well as local Imams, local fiqh councils and leadership. It is essential to engage them and heed their advice. My hope here was to show the leeway and mercy Islam provides in this situation.

Allah knows best,

(Imam Suhail) Suhaib

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