The Ramadan Series Project: Week Four

By Laura Fawaz, Contributing Reporter

Imam Masmari of Bloomfield’s Muslim Unity Center. Photo by Laura Fawaz

Bloomfield Hills, MI–For the last visit of The Ramadan Series Project, the Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield Hills was visited for one of their nightly Ramadan programs.

Upon entering the mosque, is a beautiful large stone with the crescent moon at the top of it, with Qur’an verses scripted below from Chapter three, Aal-e-Imran, verse 84

“Say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and what was given to Musa and Isa and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims submitting to Him.” 

This sign is surrounded with picturesque flowers, and has lights beaming on it, truly showing the essence of their name, Unity. 

This Qur’anic verse may sound familiar, and that is because it is the same verse written above the main entrance doors of the American Islamic Community Center, The Muslim Observer’s week four- mosque visit.  Unity seems to be a large part of these Islamic Centers, especially those located in primarily non-Muslim areas.  This is important to note for this series because Unity is one of the themes of this project, but it is especially important theme for the month of Ramadan.  With Ramadan being highest valued month in the Islamic Calendar, Unity is an important theme in Islam as well.
Immediately upon entering the Muslim Unity Center, it is easy to see that the focus is on the teens, and on the Islamic Upbringing of the children.  This is evident with the gymnasium for the kids, the Unity Tree Café as a hangout, and from the classrooms used as Islamic Sunday school.  Which then is no surprise that out of the hundreds of attendees at the Muslim Unity Center tonight, teens were the overwhelming majority, which is not an easy accomplishment for any religious institution.

When the call to prayer was made, every man, woman, teen, child, all rushed to the prayer hall with one purpose: to speak to God through one of the prescribed daily prayers. 

Talking to Imam Mohammad El Masmari, he emphasized the picture of unity and peace among the diverse people living in America, and the significant role the coming generation will play.

This week being the last week of the holy month of Ramadan is the end of our mosque visits.  But stay tune to a conclusion of the project, which will include a few photos of the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr that will be taken at local Islamic Centers.  Also, the webcast will be coming back the Thursday after Ramadan, and can be seen on www.MuslimObserver.com.  Also, all of the footage will be compiled into a documentary and will include all the mosques visits, photos of attendees, and interviews with a few of the Imams.  This will be played at The Muslim Observer’s 3rd Annual Fundraising Dinner being held on Sunday, September 23rd at the Sheraton Hotel in Novi.  For more information or for tickets, contact 248 426 7777 or 248 933 1479 or e-mail: tmofoundation@gmail.com.

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