Dar al-Hijrah

Infobox religious building
building_name=Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center


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location= United States
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religious_affiliation=Islam
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address= 3159 Row St, Falls Church, VA 22044
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status=Mosque
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website= www.daralhijrah.net
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architecture_type=Mosque
architecture_style=Islamic
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year_completed= 1991
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capacity=5,000 (inside)
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minaret_quantity=1
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The Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center ( _ar. مركز دار الهجرة الاسلامي, _en. Land of Migration) is a masjid and Islamic Center located in Falls Church, Virginia. Founded in 1982, it is one of the first masjids [ [http://www.pbs.org/thecongregation/churches/daralhijrah.html The Congregation: About Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center (pbs.org) ] at www.pbs.org] to be established in the multi-cultural Northern Virginia area and has since become one of the largest and most influential mosques in the United States. Weekly Friday prayer attendance at Dar al Hijrah exceeds 3,000 people [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14497-2004Sep11.html Facing New Realities as Islamic Americans (washingtonpost.com) ] at www.washingtonpost.com] and the center is known for its community service [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/12/AR2008061204165.html Va. Mosque Reaches Out, Joining Immigrant Fabric (washingtonpost.com) ] at www.washingtonpost.com] and outreach in Fairfax County and the Washington, DC area.

Background

The mosque is situated at the corner of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Row Street around which there are a number of apartment units and single family homes in which numerous Muslim families are living within close proximity to the mosque which is near Washington, D.C.. Numerous halal restaurants, grocery stores and other Muslim businesses are also located close to the center

The mosque was established in the 1983 in a house that is still on the Center's campus and currently serves as a Food Bank. The current facility was finished in 1991.

Activities

Activities at Dar Al Hijrah besides daily prayers include youth recreation and outdoor activities such as camping and field trips, lectures, women's classes, community outreach, financial assistance, health fairs and conferences. During Islamic month of Ramadan, Dar Al Hijrah serves over 800 free meals every night [ [http://www.muslimlinkpaper.com/mybo2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1173&Itemid=0 10 Cooks, 21,000 Dinners, 30 Nights ] at www.muslimlinkpaper.com] to everyone who wants to come eat whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Also during Ramadan, Dar Al Hijrah sponsors several interfaith and civic iftar dinners with several different faith groups throughout the month in its mission to promote mutual understanding. Tens of thousands of dollars in zakat is also distributed by the center every Ramadan.

Dar Al Hijrah has a social services department that provides food, clothing and other household items weekly to needy families of all faiths in the local community. The center also operates a Youth Center as well as an Islamic School called the Washington Islamic Academy in Northern Virginia. Dar Al-Hijrah also co-sponsors an annual civic picnic [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081602046.html Muslim Voters Meet Candidates, Officials at Picnic (washingtonpost.com) ] at www.washingtonpost.com] along with other Northern Virginia organizations in which candidates for local office meet Muslim voters

Dar Al Hijrah is open for group tours

Outreach

Dar Al Hijrah is active in community outreach and promoting mutual understanding in Northern Virginia. As part of its outreach, Dar Al Hijrah has participating in several community food drives, organizing back to school supply drives for needy children, is actively engaged in several interfaith projects in Fairfax County as well as participates in civil rights work, and community clean up drives

Leadership

Dar Al Hijrah has a committee of 7 members (3 of 7 members are elected every two years while the other 4 are appointed by MAS/Board). The current Imam is Shaker Elsayyed

ee also

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center

Notes

External links

* [http://www.daralhijrah.net Official website]
* [http://daralhijrah.wordpress.com Dar Al Hijrah's Blog]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/12/AR2008061204165.html Virginia Mosque Reaches Out]