Announcements

Assalamu Alaikum and Eid Mubarak

Dear brothers and sisters,

Alhamdulillah, consistent with our policy of moon-sighting, the hilal (new moon) has been sighted with the naked eye in multiple locations across the continental U.S. and other countries. As such, Eid al-Fitr will be observed tomorrow Sunday, March 30 InshaAllah.

We congratulate all of you on completing the blessed month of Ramadan and ask Allah (SWT) to accept our fasting, prayers, and acts of worship. We also want to take this opportunity to encourage the revival of the Sunnah of moon-sighting by watching the skies ourselves, and we will continue to support our brothers who will go out this evening to practice this beautiful Sunnah.

Eid Prayer Location and Details:

Due to limited venue availability, Eid prayer and festivities will be held at the Masjid.

Please note: there will be NO general parking at the Masjid. Only a small number of spaces will be reserved for volunteers running errands, drop off of the elderly and for registered vendors.

To accommodate the community:

   •   Free parking is available at the University of Hawai‘i, behind the Kennedy Theatre located at 1770 east-west road
   •   A shuttle service operated by VIP will run every 12–15 minutes starting at 8:00 AM, transporting attendees between the front of Kennedy Theatre and the Masjid.

  •   We strongly encourage everyone to use this shuttle, or to park legally in the surrounding neighborhood, being respectful to neighbors and avoiding any blocked driveways.

If you plan on looking for street parking near the Masjid rather than parking at UH, we suggest that you drop off elderly family members or loved ones at the Masjid entrance first, then find parking. Please allow yourself extra time, and plan for the possibility of a 10-minute walk, as nearby parking may not be available.

Schedule:
   •   Takbirat will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by the prayer and khutbah. This portion of the program should end by approximately 10 AM.
   •   A community breakfast and lunch, along with activities for children, refreshments, and snacks will be provided throughout the day.
   •   The event will conclude with the Asr prayer.

Let us come together in joy, unity, and gratitude on this blessed occasion. May Allah accept from us and from you, and may He bring peace and relief to our brothers and sisters around the world.

Eid Mubarak!

The Muslim Association of Hawaii (MAH)

Assalaamu Alaikum Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we enter the remaining few nights of Ramadan, we invite you and your families to join us for a special community program on Wednesday, March 26th, leading into the auspicious night of the 27th of Ramadan, inshaAllah.

This is one of the most spiritually significant nights of the year, as we seek Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, about which Allah says: “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) And in another narration, he said: “Seek it in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Our program will begin with Maghrib prayer, followed by Iftar, which will be provided for everyone. The evening schedule is as follows:  

•   8:15 PM – Isha prayer, followed by 8 rak‘at of Taraweeh

•   9:30 PM – A short 30-minute talk

•   10:00 PM – 4 additional rak‘at of prayer, concluding the first portion of the night  

•   10:30–11:00 PM – Break for refreshments and time for those who wish to leave    

•   11:00–11:45 PM – Resumption with Tahajjud prayers    

•   11:45 PM–3:00 AM – Free time and midnight snacks provided

•   3:00 AM – Tasbih and Adhkar    

•   3:30 AM – Additional Qiyam prayers followed by Shafaa and Witr prayers.    

•   4:30 AM – Suhoor (pre-dawn meal), which will be provided

•   5:35 AM – Fajr prayer ( not the usual 6AM)

Let us come together on this beautiful night to worship Allah with sincerity, reflect deeply, and make heartfelt du‘a for ourselves, our families, and the Ummah.

May Allah accept our fasting, our prayers, and our good deeds in this blessed month. May He allow us to witness Laylat al-Qadr and leave Ramadan purified, forgiven, and renewed in faith.

Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anna. "O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love to forgive, so forgive us".

Jazaakum Allahu Khairan,

The Muslim Association of Hawaii (MAH)

Assalaamu Alaikum Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we enter the blessed last ten nights of Ramadan tonight, Thursday, March 20, we pray that Allah (SWT) grants us all immense mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from the Fire.

1. Tahajjud Prayer Added to Our Program
   Starting tonight, we will be holding Tahajjud prayer from 4:30 AM to 5:00 AM. These last ten nights contain Laylatul Qadr, which is better than a thousand months:
   
   “Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
   (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-3)
   
   We encourage everyone to increase in worship, du’a, and good deeds during this blessed time.
2. Iftaar at the Masjid
   Alhamdulillah, we are pleased to announce that iftaar will be provided this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Masjid. In addition, on Wednesday, the night of the 27th, both iftaar and suhoor will be provided.
   
   A full program for the 27th night will be sent in a separate email, so please stay tuned for details.
3. Zakat al-Fitr – $15 Per Person
   A reminder that Zakat al-Fitr is due before Eid and should be paid as soon as possible so it can reach those in need. The amount is $15 per person.
   
   The Prophet ﷺ said:
   “The fast remains suspended between Heaven and Earth until the Zakat al-Fitr is paid.”
   (Ibn Abbas, Abu Dawood)
   
   Please fulfill this obligation early to ensure it reaches the intended recipients in time. Also, if you know of anyone who qualifies to receive Zakat, please let us know so we can add them to the Zakat recipient list.
4. The Masjid’s Annual Fundraiser – Friday, March 28
   As we approach the end of Ramadan, we also prepare for our once-a-year fundraiser to support the Masjid’s operations, activities, utilities, renovations, and services for the community.
   
   Allah (SWT) reminds us in the Qur’an:
   “The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, give zakah, and do not fear except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.”
   (Surah At-Tawbah 9:18)
   
   This is a golden opportunity to invest in the Akhirah. We encourage everyone to start preparing, calculating their Zakat, and setting aside their contributions. If you would like to donate in advance, you are welcome to do so.    

May Allah accept our fasting, prayers, and charity, and allow us to witness Laylatul Qadr with sincerity and devotion.

Jazaakum Allahu Khairan,
Muslim Association of Hawaii (MAH)

Asalaamu Alaikum

Dear brothers and sisters,

Alhamdulillah, the blessed month of Ramadan is upon us! The crescent moon has been confirmed in multiple states, and therefore, the first day of fasting will be tomorrow, Saturday, March 1st.

Taraweeh prayers will begin tonight at 8:15 PM following Isha prayer, and the program is expected to conclude around 9:45 PM.

To ensure a smooth experience for all:

• If you do not plan to stay for the entire Taraweeh prayer, please park outside rather than in the inside parking lot to avoid disturbing others.
• We have a special program for children, which has already been shared.
• As Islam teaches us the importance of caring for our neighbors, we kindly remind everyone not to park illegally, block driveways, or create disturbances in the surrounding area.

Iftar will be provided on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend for the community, so we encourage everyone to join in the spirit of brotherhood and togetherness.

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may attain taqwa.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

May Allah (SWT) accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds in this blessed month. We ask Him to grant us sincerity, mercy, and forgiveness. Ramadan Mubarak!

Jazakum Allah Kheiran,

Muslim Association of Hawaii

Assalamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,

As we prepare for the blessed month of Ramadan, we are pleased to introduce the Kids & Youth Taraweeh Program, which will provide a structured and engaging environment for children while their parents pray. This program ensures that young children are cared for and occupied in a meaningful way while encouraging older children to participate in the prayers.

The program is divided into two components, each designed for a specific age group:    

1.    Taraweeh Childcare Program (Ages 3-6)

This program is designed to engage young children in a safe, supervised environment while their parents perform Isha and Taraweeh.

   •   Location: Da’wah Center (primary location) & Classroom (overflow if needed)

  •   Time: Drop-off at 7:45 PM (before Isha), pick-up at 9:30 PM (after the eighth rak‘ah of Taraweeh)

  •   Nights of Operation: Every night of Ramadan

  •   Capacity: Limited to 25 children (on a first-come, first-served basis)

  •   Activities: Children will enjoy snacks, coloring, age-appropriate toys, and Islamic children’s videos.

  •   Supervision: Two volunteers per night are needed to ensure proper care (one volunteer for every 12 children).

  •   Check-in Process: Parents must sign in their children each night and provide emergency contact information. Once the 25 spots are filled, no additional children can be accommodated for that night.

Since demand is expected to be higher on group iftar nights (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays), we anticipate reaching full capacity on those evenings.    

2.    Taraweeh Reward Program (Ages 7+)

This program is designed to encourage older children to participate in Isha and Taraweeh by creating a rewards-based incentive system.

  •   Goal: To motivate children to pray by rewarding them for participation.

  •   Structure:

  •   1 star for praying Isha

  •   1 star for praying 4 rak‘ahs of Taraweeh

  •   1 star for praying an additional 4 rak‘ahs (totaling 8 rak‘ahs for the night)

  •   Tracking Rewards: Stars will be recorded on a chart by a designated volunteer.

  •   Prizes: Children with the highest number of stars will receive a gift every Friday night.

  •   Supervision: One volunteer per night will be responsible for recording and tracking participation.

   •   Additional Activities: To keep older children engaged between prayers, they will have access to Ramadan-themed reflection sheets, trivia activities, and Islamic books.

 What We Need from You

For this program to succeed, we need dedicated volunteers each night of Ramadan. The following roles are essential:

   •   Two volunteers for the Childcare Program (to supervise children ages 3-6)

   •   One volunteer for the Reward Program (to track children’s stars and participation)

   •   Volunteers to help prepare and clean the Da’wah Center & Classroom before Ramadan

If you can help, please sign up using the link below or email us to confirm your availability:

Volunteer Sign-up Form

Your support is crucial in making this program possible for our families. Let’s come together to make Ramadan a meaningful experience for our children while ensuring that parents can focus on their worship. May Allah reward you abundantly for your efforts.

Jazaakom Allahu Khairan,

Muslim Association of Hawaii

Dear Respected Brothers and Sisters,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

The Muslim Association of Hawaii is pleased to announce that Imam Ismail Najim will be joining our community for the coming months, including the blessed month of Ramadan. As we prepare for this sacred time, we are reminded of the words of Allah SWT:

 “شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ”

“The month of Ramadan, in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Imam Ismail comes to us from the UAE with extensive experience in leading prayers, teaching, and memorization of the holy Quran. With over 12 years of experience as an Imam and a strong background in Tajweed and Quran memorization, we are truly fortunate to have him lead us in worship and learning during this blessed season.

Special Ramadan Program

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

 To help us maximize the rewards of this month, Imam Ismail will be leading daily prayers and the following programs:

   •   Daily Quran recitation & teaching after Fajr and Asr prayers

   •   Weeknight Taraweeh, followed by Witr

   •   Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Taraweeh, with a special talk after the first 4 Rak‘ahs by brother Musa

 We will also be sharing details soon on a special Ramadan program for children, designed to instill the love of Quran and Ramadan in their hearts.

Ongoing Pre-Ramadan Programs

As we prepare our hearts and minds for Ramadan, we remind you of the nightly talks on a variety of topics after Maghrib and Fajr, running until March 2nd. These sessions are a great opportunity to strengthen our faith before the arrival of the blessed month.

 We encourage everyone to take advantage of these blessed opportunities to strengthen their connection to the Quran, seek knowledge, and engage in acts of worship.

May Allah bless our efforts, accept our deeds, and grant us all a Ramadan filled with mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.

Jazaakom Allahu Khairan,

Muslim Association of Hawaii