Muslims around Puget Sound Region in the United States, like many around the globe, concluded Ramadan fasting yesterday, June 3rd, 2019. The end of Ramadan fasting is marked by Eid al-Fitr celebration today. Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important days in the Muslim calendar. This year’s fasting, which began on May 6th, 2019, lasted for twenty-nine days.
Thousands of Muslims, among them Gambians, in the Seattle Suburbs of Shoreline, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Everett, Mukilteo, Marysville, etc., converged for the Eid prayer at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. The Eid prayer services was organized by the Islamic Center of the Puget Sound (ICOPS) an organization that has also rented a prayer hall from The Unity Church for members of the community to observe the Ramadan Taraweeh prayers.
In his sermon to the congregation today, Imam Abdullah said that Ramadan is a blessed month for Muslims to worship Allah by indulging in more intimate forms of worship which include observing all prayers in congregation. He said he has seen many people who observed Fajr prayers in the mosque during the Holy month. He appealed to the faithful to continue the intimate worship they have become more accustomed to during the Ramadan. He called on Muslims as they enjoy the feast to continue to help the weak and provide for the poor in their communities and around the globe.
During the Ramadan, on May 26th, ICOPS organized an Iftar dinner to play host to members the Unity Church in a rare show of inter-religious cooperation and tolerance between the world’s two major religions of Islam and Christianity. Nearly one hundred members headed by Rev. Dr. Richard Loren Held of Unity Church attended the Iftar dinner and many stayed late in the night to pray four Rakahs of Isah Salat, eight Rakahs of Taraweeh Salat, and three Rakahs of Witr salat.
The ICOPS, which currently does not have a facility to observe regular congregational prayers, had bought approximate 1.8 acres of land in Lynnwood at the cost of $2.7 million. The center is under construction which is delayed by permitting and licensing issuance from the Alderwood Water District, Snohomish County, and Washington State Department of Transportation (WADOT).
“We started ICOPS in 2012 because there was a need in the community. All the community were using (the Masjid in) Lynnwood and it was becoming too crowded on Fridays and Taraweehs. So, we felt the need to start a place and we started mobilizing people, and then people started contributing. So, when we had seen the interest, we rented a place in Mukilteo which Alhamudillah we were able to have for three years. But the last year the owner said he needed his place and we had to leave. That’s why we bought this other location to go with it. This is why we are encouraging the community to do as much contributions so we can get this place going and running, and then Inshallah we will not repeat this kind of gathering again. We are asking support from the community as much as possible,” Lamin Janneh, the Amir (Chairperson) of the Board of ICOPS told The Gambia Times in an exclusive interview at the sideline of the Iftar dinner in the Hall of Unity Church in Lynnwood.
ICOPS announced that it has hired a new contractor and work has commenced at the facility. It plans to start regular prayers and operations in August. The organization is calling on members of the community and Muslims to support, through contributions and donations, its construction project and complete payment for the purchase of the property.