2020: A Year in Review

Assalamu alaikum,

One of the most optimistic Ayahs in the Holy Qur’an states, “Indeed what is to come will be better for you than what has gone by.” Qur’an 93:4

It is with genuine gratitude that I greet you at the end of this year. In a year that was globally challenging, I am overwhelmed with hope, thanks, and encouragement that the future looks promising and bright.

On behalf of the ICGT Council, I am extremely honored and proud to share your fellowship. As we look back on the year that is about to end, I would like to thank you all for the outpouring of love, compassion, and support that you have shown, thus making our tasks as leaders, easier and more enjoyable. Almighty Allah has been, as always, exceptionally generous to us as a Masjid family and for that, we give Him all the glory and praise. We also look forward to the future, more confident than ever, that we can trust His guidance and benevolence.

For the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many masjids to seek alternative means of delivering worship and nurturing faith and spirituality in Muslims by utilizing the necessary technology to achieve this. The Islamic Center was at the forefront of this effort. With pre-recorded nightly Ramadan services uploaded to YouTube, and worship services live-streamed on the internet through Facebook, Zoom, and other platforms, we have broadened the scope of our reach to the community. While all this technology may seem scary to a lot of people, in many instances, it has helped us to grow together as a faith family.

Many of our brothers and sisters shared with us that this year they experienced a ‘back to the basics’ Ramadan, where spirituality and the core tenets of prayer, reflection, patience, and charity became more essential than ever. Social distancing, in fact, presented an opportunity for us to deepen our spiritual life, and we are humbled that we were able to be a part of this growth, Alhamdulillah.
We went into 2020 with many goals and aspirations, and we did not let the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to those hopes and dreams. We instead adapted and converted programming into a virtual nature. Fortunately, not everything had to be virtual, as we are blessed with spacious grounds that we were able to use to our advantage. Although the Center was closed for most in-person services, this did not stop us from still holding programming both virtually and outdoors on our beautiful hill. Here are some examples of programming that happened throughout the year.

Lastly, as I call to mind the beautiful Ayah 94:5 of the Holy Qur’an in which Allah Taala states, “For indeed, with every hardship there is ease, indeed with every hardship there is ease,” it strengthens my faith and trust in the blessings that await us in 2021.

I wish you and your loved ones continued blessings of good health, renewed hope, and fresh beginnings and look forward to welcoming you back to your Masjid soon, Insha’Allah.

Yours Faithfully,

Ahmad Taouil, ICGT President

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