From the Imam’s Office

Dear beloved community,

Assalamu alaikum, and Eid Mubarak to all of you. I cannot express how grateful I am to be a part of this exemplary American Muslim community.

What we’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish together is truly inspiring. Many across the country and world have looked upon our center as a model Masjid, from our spiritual and religious programming to our initiative towards our vaccine clinic effort with our beloved health commissioner Ben Robison. In fact, multiple families have moved to Perrysburg just to be part of it and some on their way. Our Masjid continues to be a place for not just the holistic development of Muslims in the area, but an institution committed to the betterment of its city and all those who reside within it—whether they be Muslim or not.

Ramadan was about cultivating a mindfulness of God, as well as a sense of continuous gratitude. I highlight our accomplishments because God told us “and announce the favors of God upon you.” This is one of the ways we cultivate gratitude; by remembering Allah’s favors and celebrating them together.

And tomorrow, we celebrate. We celebrate our perseverance and resilience in the face of an unprecedented pandemic. We celebrate our ability to keep community alive in a time of unprecedented loneliness. We celebrate having been given the honor of completing another Ramadan, with faith, seeking God’s reward, despite all the challenges and heartbreaks we all have experienced in these last two trying years.

Allah has truly blessed us. Nothing I have been able to do in service was possible without my dedicated council who put their trust in me to lead with them, and my elders who have supported me every step of the way.

As many of you know, I am off to my yearly sabbatical following Eid. It is essential for me to keep growing in knowledge in order to be the best leader I can be for you every year. I cannot express the gratitude I feel for being part of a community whose leadership not only understands this, but supports it. In fact, I type this with tears of gratitude in my eyes.

I request your duas as our vision for the future is immense, because our members—you and your families—deserve only the best. There are undoubtedly many more mountains to climb and many more tests to face. Yet that’s what community is about: helping each other see the light through the darkness, and walk towards it with grace and courage.

Lastly, please don’t forget to support your Masjid on this blessed night of Eid and to pay your Zakat al-Fitr if you haven’t. And remember, takbeerat begin 9:30 am. Bring your prayer rugs and something warm, and know that it is not permissible to fast tomorrow because the command on Eid is to celebrate.

I ask Allah to accept from all of you. I ask Allah to make your everyday joyful. I ask Allah to be with our beloved brothers and sisters in #Palestine, and with all who are resisting oppression and difficulty across the world and here at home. And I ask Allah to make us a community that inspires hope everywhere we are to deal with those challenges.

Sincerely and with love,

Your servant

Imam Ahmad Deeb