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Coordinates: 38°51′41″N 77°08′49″W / 38.86150°N 77.14685°W / 38.86150; -77.14685
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{{POV-check-section|Neutrality dispute|date=November 2009}}
{{POV-check-section|Neutrality dispute|date=November 2009}}


Major [[Nidal Malik Hasan]], the sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, [[Fort Hood shootings]], attended the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque at the same time in 2001 as [[Nawaf al-Hazmi]] and [[Hani Hanjour]] (two of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 hijackers]]) became regular attendees,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ojJ-xoABpgoC&pg=PA56&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Helms, Harry, ''40 Lingering Questions About The 9/11 Attacks'', p. 56 (2008), [[ISBN]] 1438295308, 9781438295305, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> during a period when [[Anwar al-Awlaki]] was imam there.<ref name="Telegraph 2">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6521758/Fort-Hood-shooting-Texas-army-killer-linked-to-September-11-terrorists.html Fort Hood shooting: Texas army killer linked to September 11 terrorists, ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', November 7, 2009]</ref><ref name="NYT 6">[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/08/us/politics/AP-US-Fort-Hood-Muslims.html Alleged Shooter Tied to Mosque of 9/11 Hijackers, ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 8, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Dw1mHo6zjKwC&pg=PA121&dq=%22Dar+al-Hijrah%22+Virginia&lr=&ei=qWb6SrHnOJzuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22Dar%20al-Hijrah%22%20&f=false Sperry, Paul E., ''Infiltration: how Muslim spies and subversives have penetrated Washington'', Chapter 12: "The 9/11 Mosque: Dar al-Hijrah," p. 110, [[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson Inc]] (2005), [[ISBN]] 1595550038, 9781595550033, accessed November 11, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Awgp3H5mBXgC&pg=PA172&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Thompson, Paul, ''The terror timeline: year by year, day by day, minute by minute : a comprehensive chronicle of the road to 9/11--- and America's response'', p. 172, [[Harper Collins]] (2004), [[ISBN]] 0060783389, 9780060783389, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> The mosque has issued a statement condemning the Fort Hood shootings and al-Awlaki's praise of them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hijrah.org/|title=Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Repudiates Prise for Fort Hood Killings|author=Imam Johari Abdul-Malik|publisher=Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center|date=November 9, 2009|accessdate=November 10, 2009
Major [[Nidal Malik Hasan]], the sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, [[Fort Hood shootings]], attended the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque at the same time in 2001 as [[Nawaf al-Hazmi]] and [[Hani Hanjour]] (two of the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 hijackers]]) became regular attendees,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ojJ-xoABpgoC&pg=PA56&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Helms, Harry, ''40 Lingering Questions About The 9/11 Attacks'', p. 56 (2008), [[ISBN]] 1438295308, 9781438295305, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> during a period when [[Anwar al-Awlaki]] was imam there.<ref name="Telegraph 2">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6521758/Fort-Hood-shooting-Texas-army-killer-linked-to-September-11-terrorists.html Fort Hood shooting: Texas army killer linked to September 11 terrorists, ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', November 7, 2009]</ref><ref name="NYT 6">[http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/08/us/politics/AP-US-Fort-Hood-Muslims.html Alleged Shooter Tied to Mosque of 9/11 Hijackers, ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 8, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Dw1mHo6zjKwC&pg=PA121&dq=%22Dar+al-Hijrah%22+Virginia&lr=&ei=qWb6SrHnOJzuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22Dar%20al-Hijrah%22%20&f=false Sperry, Paul E., ''Infiltration: how Muslim spies and subversives have penetrated Washington'', Chapter 12: "The 9/11 Mosque: Dar al-Hijrah," p. 110, [[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson Inc]] (2005), [[ISBN]] 1595550038, 9781595550033, accessed November 11, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Awgp3H5mBXgC&pg=PA172&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Thompson, Paul, ''The terror timeline: year by year, day by day, minute by minute : a comprehensive chronicle of the road to 9/11--- and America's response'', p. 172, [[Harper Collins]] (2004), [[ISBN]] 0060783389, 9780060783389, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> There is no evidence that Hasan ever knew them or conspired with them. The mosque has issued a statement condemning the Fort Hood shootings and al-Awlaki's praise of them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hijrah.org/|title=Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Repudiates Prise for Fort Hood Killings|author=Imam Johari Abdul-Malik|publisher=Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center|date=November 9, 2009|accessdate=November 10, 2009
}}</ref> [[Ahmed Omar Abu Ali]], who was convicted of providing material support to [[al Qaeda]] and conspiracy to assassinate President [[George W. Bush]], taught Islamic studies at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center and also prayed at the mosque around that time.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E7DF153DF934A15751C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Dao, James, and Lichtblau, Eric, "Case Adds to Outrage for Muslims in Northern Virginia," ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 27, 2004, accessed November 11, 2009]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/06/bush.plot.ap/index.html|date=June 6, 2008|title=Conviction upheld in Bush assassination plot
}}</ref> [[Ahmed Omar Abu Ali]], who was convicted of providing material support to [[al Qaeda]] and conspiracy to assassinate President [[George W. Bush]], taught Islamic studies at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center and also prayed at the mosque around that time.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E7DF153DF934A15751C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Dao, James, and Lichtblau, Eric, "Case Adds to Outrage for Muslims in Northern Virginia," ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 27, 2004, accessed November 11, 2009]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/06/bush.plot.ap/index.html|date=June 6, 2008|title=Conviction upheld in Bush assassination plot
|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/politics/23terror.html?pagewanted=2 Lichtblau, Eric, "American Accused in a Plot to Assassinate Bush," ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 23, 2005, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> In addition, the phone number for the mosque was found in the Hamburg, Germany, apartment of one of the 9/11 planners, [[Ramzi Binalshibh]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=VJj8voB723YC&pg=PA287&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Gaubatz, Dave, and Sperry, Paul, ''Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America'', pp. 62-63, [[WND Books]] (2009), [[ISBN]] 1935071106, 9781935071105]</ref>
|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/politics/23terror.html?pagewanted=2 Lichtblau, Eric, "American Accused in a Plot to Assassinate Bush," ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 23, 2005, accessed November 12, 2009]</ref> In addition, the phone number for the mosque was found in the Hamburg, Germany, apartment of one of the 9/11 planners, [[Ramzi Binalshibh]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=VJj8voB723YC&pg=PA287&dq=%22dar+al+hijrah%22&num=100&ei=srn8StDaJ5zuygTgucWODw#v=onepage&q=%22dar%20al%20hijrah%22&f=false Gaubatz, Dave, and Sperry, Paul, ''Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America'', pp. 62-63, [[WND Books]] (2009), [[ISBN]] 1935071106, 9781935071105]</ref>

Revision as of 13:56, 13 November 2009

38°51′41″N 77°08′49″W / 38.86150°N 77.14685°W / 38.86150; -77.14685

Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusMosque
LeadershipImam Shaker Elsayed
Location
LocationFalls Church, Virginia, US
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleIslamic
Completed1991
Specifications
Capacity5,000 (inside)
Minaret(s)1
Website
www.daralhijrah.net

The Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center (Arabic: مركز دار الهجرة الاسلامي, English: Land of Migration) is a masjid (mosque) and Islamic Center located in Falls Church, Virginia.

Background

Founded in 1982 by a group of mostly Arab college students,[1] it is one of the first masjids to be established in the Northern Virginia area, near Washington, DC.[2] The mosque was established in 1983 in a house that is still on the Center's campus, and now serves as a food bank. The current facility was finished in 1991. It has become one of the largest and most influential mosques in the US.

It is situated at the corner of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Row Street, near a number of apartment units and single-family homes in which many Muslim families live. Numerous halal restaurants, grocery stores, and other Muslim businesses are also located nearby.

Activities

The mosque holds prayers five times daily, and Friday prayer attendance exceeds 3,000 people.[3][4]

Activities in addition to prayers include lectures, conferences, youth recreation and outdoor activities (such as camping and field trips) through its Youth Center, women's classes, health fairs, and financial assistance. It also operates an Islamic School called the "Washington Islamic Academy in Northern Virginia". Dar Al-Hijrah also co-sponsors an annual civic picnic, along with other Northern Virginia organizations, at which candidates for local office meet Muslim voters.[5]

Dar Al Hijrah is open for group tours.

Outreach

Dar Al Hijrah is active in community outreach and service,[6] and promoting mutual understanding in the local area. It participates in community food, back-to-school supply, and clean-up drives, is engaged in interfaith projects, and participates in civil rights work. It's social services department provides food, clothing, and other household items to local needy families of all faiths.

During the Islamic month of Ramadan, Dar Al Hijrah serves everyone who wants to come eat, whether Muslim or non-Muslim; over 800 free meals every night.[7]. Also during Ramadan, it sponsors interfaith and civic iftar dinners with different faith groups to promote mutual understanding. It also distributes tens of thousands of dollars in zakat every Ramadan.

Leadership

Dar Al Hijrah has a committee of seven members; three are elected by its membership every two years, while the other four are appointed by the board of directors.[8] It has about 250 voting member families.

The Iman since June 1, 2005, has been Shaker Elsayed, who was born in Cairo, Egypt.[9] From 2000-05 he was the Secretary General of the Muslim American Society (MAS).[10]

Sheikh Mohammed Adam El-Sheikh served as Imam between August 2003 and May 2005. Commenting in 2004 on the beheadings of American hostages Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, he said:

"beheadings are not mentioned in the Koran at all. According to Islamic penal law, killers will be sentenced to death, but the means of execution are not mentioned. ...we don't condone this. They are not following Islam. They are following their own whims."[11]

Anwar al-Awlaki, who was Imam at the mosque between January 2001 and April 2002,[12] is now wanted in Yemen on suspicion of al-Qaeda links.[13] Supporters of the mosque say that Aulaqi publicly condemned the 9/11 attacks and was not known to give radical speeches at the time.[14]

Controversy

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood shootings, attended the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque at the same time in 2001 as Nawaf al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour (two of the September 11 hijackers) became regular attendees,[15] during a period when Anwar al-Awlaki was imam there.[16][17][18][19] There is no evidence that Hasan ever knew them or conspired with them. The mosque has issued a statement condemning the Fort Hood shootings and al-Awlaki's praise of them.[20] Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, who was convicted of providing material support to al Qaeda and conspiracy to assassinate President George W. Bush, taught Islamic studies at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center and also prayed at the mosque around that time.[21][22][23] In addition, the phone number for the mosque was found in the Hamburg, Germany, apartment of one of the 9/11 planners, Ramzi Binalshibh.[24]

Jeffrey Goldberg, in his 2008 book, characterizes Dar Al-Hijrah as an openly political mosque that has conducted militant Friday sermons, especially prior to the September 11 attacks.[25] The Washington Post reported that its leaders have strongly criticized U.S. law enforcement actions against Muslims and U.S. policies in the Middle East.[26] The Washington Post also reported that the mosque is closely affiliated with the Muslim American Society, which has been linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.[27]

See also

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center

Notes

  1. ^ Stewart, Nikita, "Muslims Find Room to Grow in D.C.'s Outer Suburbs," The Washington Post, August 1, 2005, accessed November 12, 2009
  2. ^ The Congregation: About Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center (pbs.org)
  3. ^ Facing New Realities as Islamic Americans (washingtonpost.com)
  4. ^ Masters, Brook, "Sept. 11 witness languishes in jail; Volunteering information on hijackers led to lengthy incarceration," The Washington Post, May 5, 2002, accessed November 12, 2009
  5. ^ Muslim Voters Meet Candidates, Officials at Picnic (washingtonpost.com)
  6. ^ Va. Mosque Reaches Out, Joining Immigrant Fabric (washingtonpost.com)
  7. ^ 10 Cooks, 21,000 Dinners, 30 Nights
  8. ^ Caryle Murphy (September 12, 2004). "Facing New Realities as Islamic Americans". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  9. ^ "Guest CV, Shaker Elsayed". Islam Online. Retrieved November 12, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Elsayed, Shaker". The American Muslim. Retrieved November 12, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Peronet Despeignes (June 20, 2004). "Koran doesn't call for beheadings, Islamic cleric says". USA Today. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  12. ^ Imam Johari Abdul-Malik (November 9, 2009). "Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Repudiates Praise for Fort Hood Killings". Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  13. ^ "US imam wanted in Yemen over al-Qaida suspicions". Associated Press. November 10, 2009.
  14. ^ Spencer S. Hsu and Carrie Johnson (November 9, 2009). "Authorities scrutinize links between Fort Hood suspect, imam said to back al-Qaeda". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Helms, Harry, 40 Lingering Questions About The 9/11 Attacks, p. 56 (2008), ISBN 1438295308, 9781438295305, accessed November 12, 2009
  16. ^ Fort Hood shooting: Texas army killer linked to September 11 terrorists, The Telegraph, November 7, 2009
  17. ^ Alleged Shooter Tied to Mosque of 9/11 Hijackers, The New York Times, November 8, 2009
  18. ^ Sperry, Paul E., Infiltration: how Muslim spies and subversives have penetrated Washington, Chapter 12: "The 9/11 Mosque: Dar al-Hijrah," p. 110, Thomas Nelson Inc (2005), ISBN 1595550038, 9781595550033, accessed November 11, 2009
  19. ^ Thompson, Paul, The terror timeline: year by year, day by day, minute by minute : a comprehensive chronicle of the road to 9/11--- and America's response, p. 172, Harper Collins (2004), ISBN 0060783389, 9780060783389, accessed November 12, 2009
  20. ^ Imam Johari Abdul-Malik (November 9, 2009). "Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Repudiates Prise for Fort Hood Killings". Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  21. ^ Dao, James, and Lichtblau, Eric, "Case Adds to Outrage for Muslims in Northern Virginia," The New York Times, February 27, 2004, accessed November 11, 2009
  22. ^ "Conviction upheld in Bush assassination plot". CNN. June 6, 2008.
  23. ^ Lichtblau, Eric, "American Accused in a Plot to Assassinate Bush," The New York Times, February 23, 2005, accessed November 12, 2009
  24. ^ Gaubatz, Dave, and Sperry, Paul, Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America, pp. 62-63, WND Books (2009), ISBN 1935071106, 9781935071105
  25. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey, Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, pp. 286-87, Random House, Inc. (2008), ISBN 0375726705, 9780375726705, accessed November 11, 2009
  26. ^ Murphy, Caryle, "Facing New Realities as Islamic Americans," The Washington Post, September 12, 2004, accessed November 11, 2009
  27. ^ Sheridan, Mary Beth, "Leader Named at Mosque; Falls Church Site Selects Activist," The Washington Post, June 11, 2005, accessed November 12, 2009
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