I was among the 8,000 people who attended the funeral of Imam W.D. Mohammed at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park on September 11, 2008. The weather was perfect, with a nice breeze. The air was fresh, and the earth was soft. The community in its great diversity was present: African Americans, South Asians, White Americans, and Arabs, men and women, old and young, all came to pray for and pay tribute to the man who paved the way for all of us.

It was a powerful scene of unity. I wished that my children were there to experience the power of the moment and to actually feel what we usually only boast about. Next day at the Friday Unity prayer in Homewood, I felt at home among Imam W.D. Mohammed's community. I felt the true brotherhood of Islam, a bond that connects me, an Arab immigrant, to the thousands of America's indigenous Muslims. The community was welcoming, hospitable, sincere, pure and proud of its identity. I wished that all Muslims in the Chicago area were present to feel the energy and the spirit of the community.

Warith Deen Mohammed was born Wallace Dean Muhammad, the son of Elijah Muhammad, who was the leader of Nation of Islam until his death in 1975. Imam W.D. Mohammed, in a courageous and decisive move, brought tens of thousands of the followers of the Nation of Islam to mainstream Islam based on his lifelong study of the Quran and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. He turned away from his father's theology of black nationalism and any deviations from traditional Islam. Under his leadership, tens of thousands of African Americans were introduced to Islam and became part of the larger global Muslim community. He advocated self-reliance, personal responsibility, building Islamic knowledge, learning Quran, moral excellence and interfaith dialogue.

He helped build many grassroots organizations, mosques, schools, community centers, businesses and newspapers throughout the U.S. More importantly, he built a strong, vibrant and proud community.

Imam W.D. Mohammed gave the first invocation in the U.S Senate ever by a Muslim. And in 1993, he gave the Islamic prayer during the first Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service of President Bill Clinton. He met with many world leaders and was well respected throughout the world.

At the time of his death, he was leading a new project, The Mosque Cares. The purpose of the project is to establish a comprehensive Islamic community complex in the Southside of Chicago.

We are all indebted to Imam Warith Deen Mohammed for being a courageous pathfinder. Without his contributions, and other leaders in the African American Muslim community, it would have been very difficult for any of us to stand up with pride and say we are American Muslims.

It may take the death of a leader to bring the community together, but the vision of Imam Mohammed and his work remains alive, and it is up to us to prove our appreciation of his enormous contribution to Islam in the U.S.

Dr. M. Zaher Sahloul 

Every year during the blessed month of Ramadan, the Mosque Foundation hosts an Iftar for our non-Muslim neighbors.  For the past thirteen years, representatives from local area school districts, local government and civic agencies, churches, synagogues, and various other establishments have gathered together in the Mosque Foundation to learn the quick basics of Islam, as well as to observe the breaking of fast and Maghreb prayer.  The guests would then commence to Aqsa School cafeteria for a simple dinner and program.

This year's Community Iftar took place on September 16, 2008, and moved to the Paradise Banquet, due to an unexpected flood in Aqsa School's cafeteria.  Sh. Jamal Said delivered a brief but inspirational speech relevant to this blessed month of Ramadan, followed by Mosque Foundation president, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, who spoke about Interfaith Relations and Civic Engagement. 

Annual Recognition awards were presented to: CAIR-Chicago for its relentless effort in defending American Muslim Civil Rights; Faith in Place for its pioneering work to protect the environment and promote healthy habits within faith groups and; Attorney Kalman Resnick for his courageous stance in support of the Palestinian people under occupation.  Awards were also presented to Village of Bridgeview officials Joseph Kaput and the late Dan Green. 

To keep the great momentum of Ramadan going-its blessings and graces-we are advised to volunteer days of Fasting during the year as much as one is able to. Fasting is an outstanding form of worship that is beloved by Allah and praised by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Its benefit is seen in this life. And in the Hereafter, there is special reward known only to Allah. People who fast will enter a magnificent gate in Paradise called Rayyan. Below is a list of some recommended times of the year, month, and week which one may fast.

· Month of Shawwal
The month immediately following Ramadan is Shawwal. There is enormous benefit in fasting six of its days (consecutively or otherwise). The Prophet said that for whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he or she has fasted for the entire year.

· Month of Dhu'l-Hijja
Dhu'l-Hijja is the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, two months after Ramadan. The Prophet said about the first ten days of this month: "There are no other days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days." He also said, "So say plentifully [during these days] tahlil (la ilaha illa'llah: there is no God but Allah), takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is great), and tahmid (al-Hamdulillah: All praise is for Allah)." From these ten days, one may fast the first nine, the tenth day being Eid al-Adha, which one must not fast. If one decides not to fast all nine days, then one should at least fast the ninth day, which is the Day of 'Arafat, and who fasts this day (said the Prophet ) his or her sins for the two past years shall be forgiven. The Prophet also said, "There is no day on which Allah frees people from the fire as He does on the Day of 'Arafat."

· Month of Muharram
Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to Madinah and saw the Children of Israel fasting on the tenth day [of Muharram]. The Prophet said, 'Why is this?' They said, 'This is a righteous day; it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies [Pharaoh and his folk], so Musa fasted on this day.' The Prophet said, 'We have more right to Musa than you.'" So the Prophet fasted on that day and recommended that others do the same. The Prophet also recommended that people fast the ninth day as well.

· Month of Sha'ban
'Aisha said that the Prophet did not observe voluntary fasting in any month as frequently as he did during Sha'ban, which is the month immediately before Ramadan. In one narration found in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet fasted most of the month of Sha'ban with the exception of a few days.

· The "White Days" of Each Month
The Prophet recommended that we fast three consecutive days of the month when the moon is the fullest (hence "white days"), that is, the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each month of the Muslim lunar calendar.

· Mondays and Thursdays
'Aisha said that the Prophet fasted Mondays and Thursdays. Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) would fast Mondays and Thursdays. When he was asked about this practice, he said, "The deeds of people are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who desert one another."

· The Fast of Dawud
Fasting every other day is known as the "Fast of Dawud" (David), which the Prophet said was a beloved act of worship to Allah. It is a difficult regimen, but one that obviously has great benefit.  

After fasting the 30 blessed days of Ramadan, the Mosque Foundation celebrated Eid Al Fitr on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008.  The Eid Prayer was held outside, in accordance to the Islamic tradition if weather permits, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

Thousands of men, women and children attended the Eid celebration in the windy stadium under beautiful sunny skies.  Mosque Foundation Imam, Sh. Jamal Said, led the Eid Prayer and delivered an inspiring sermon following the prayer.  Mosque Foundation President, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Sh. Kifah Mustapha, and Safaa Zarzour also addressed the worshippers prior to the prayer.

The crowds were in no hurry to leave after the prayer concluded, as families lingered outside the stadium to enjoy shopping in the bazaar, rides for the children, and socializing with family and friends on this blessed and joyous occasion.

May Allah accept our fasts, our prayers, and our deeds, and let us live to see the next Ramadan.  Ameen.