Muslim community: Do you dream of going back to the times of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his dignified friends, and living there? That dream is difficult to achieve indeed; as we can’t turn back time, right?

Well, we can’t go back to their time, but maybe we can bring their times to us. A beautiful dream indeed, except that it has come true in many Muslim communities.

But what is a Muslim community, anyway? The term might seem very simple, yet it doesn’t refer to a simple meaning.

What is a Muslim community?

A Muslim community refers to the organized groups of Muslim people who stick together at once within a larger non-Muslim community. These Muslim people are not related to each other through blood, or family relationships, yet they form a true extended family.

These mini-communities are driven by two beliefs: the mutual belief in the oneness of Allah, and a common ground of religion-based discrimination that they face in their community.

Their belief in the oneness of Allah, and devoting their hearts to Allah and Islam is the common ground that brings them all together, regardless of their ages, genders, colors, countries of origin, or anything else that stirs chaos in our world. 

The discrimination Muslims face in Western communities drives them further to bond with one another, seeking safety, peace, acceptance, and trust with people they can trust. These oppressive patterns also form a mutual space of resistance that unites their goals.

What are the purposes of a Muslim community:

A Muslim community has several purposes that all aim at serving the bodice of Muslims, and the Muslim cause:

1- Strengthening our faith and Iman:

The Muslim community is able to strengthen your Iman; by being surrounded by pious Muslims, who constantly urge you to follow the true path of Allah, and encourage you to be pious and always strive to become a better Muslim by setting an example themselves would help keep you from losing your path.

2- Protection against going astray:

A Muslim community can be your protection against going astray. In a Muslim community, all members are brothers and sisters who look out for each other and try to help each other not to go astray. 

In Islam, advice is golden word that seek out the best in you, and if any of the community’s members notice you slipping away, they will strongly advise you to do otherwise, and will help you overcome that moment of worldly weakness,

3- Belonging to a Muslim community that feels like home:

Many Arab Muslims who migrated to Western communities feel homesick, and many Western Muslims can’t feel the same deep sense of belonging to their communities due to the breakage of belief systems, especially during the Islamic month of Ramadan, and the two Islamic Eids.

As a result, belonging to a Muslim community eases their pain, and offers them solace, and with time a true deep feeling of home towards that Muslim community might thrive in their hearts.

4- Being surrounded by people with the same principles and beliefs:

In a Muslim community, you are surrounded by people who share your same set of principles and beliefs, which makes it a lot easier to get along with them; as you will more likely have common interests and self-disciplining rules, and you would understand the life choices based on a religious rule that the other makes.

5- Having Muslim services:

Having Muslim services in a Muslim community becomes significantly easier for Muslims who live in non-Muslim communities and countries to find Islamic services such as Zakat, Nikah (getting married), burying the dead according to Muslim tradition, and holding Janazah (holding funerals).

Therefore, many Muslim communities have focused on providing Muslims with such services, to facilitate their lives in their communities, while holding on to their beliefs at the same time.

6. Worship and Devotion:

Facilitating collective acts of worship, such as congregational prayers (Salah), to strengthen the spiritual bond among community members.

7. Education and Learning:

Providing a platform for the dissemination of Islamic knowledge, promoting lifelong learning, and nurturing a community of informed individuals.

8. Support and Solidarity:

Fostering a sense of unity and brotherhood, where community members support and care for one another in times of need, creating a strong social support system.

9. Community Outreach and Service:

Engaging in charitable activities, social initiatives, and community service to contribute positively to society and embody Islamic values of compassion and generosity.

10. Moral and Ethical Development:

Encouraging ethical conduct, moral values, and adherence to Islamic principles, thereby promoting a community characterized by righteousness and virtue.

11. Preservation of Islamic Culture and Identity:

Safeguarding and preserving Islamic traditions, culture, and identity, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their faith and heritage.

12. Family and Social Stability:

Providing a supportive environment for families, with an emphasis on marital harmony, parenting, and fostering a sense of belonging for all members.

13. Conflict Resolution:

Establishing mechanisms for resolving disputes and conflicts in accordance with Islamic principles, promoting peace and harmony within the community.

14. Propagation of Islam:

Actively participating in the spread of Islam by sharing its message with others, engaging in dialogue, and dispelling misconceptions about the faith.

15. Civic Engagement and Responsibility:

Encouraging active participation in civic life, advocating for justice, and contributing positively to the broader society while upholding Islamic values.

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What are the Examples of a Muslim community:

There are many activities that are provided by Muslim communities, especially at Muslim community institutions. 

There are several examples of Muslim community institutions; such as the Muslim Community Center (MCC), the Muslim Community Masjid, the Muslim Community Association, and the Sahlah Academy.

1. The Muslim Community Association (MCA):

The MCA is an institution based in California, USA. Its primary goal is to unite Muslims under the umbrella of an institution that provides them with all the services they need and offers them a variety of activities.

It provides Muslims with different Islamic services; such as Zakat services, marriage contracts, funeral services, daily Iftar during the month of Ramadan, Udhiya dedication, and different educational courses that aim at helping Muslims read and memorize the Quran accurately while adhering to the rules of Tajweed.

If you wish to join them, you can contact them from here.

2. The Muslim Center Mosque (MCM):

The MCM is located in Phoenix, USA, determined to become a welcoming safe haven for All Muslims. It was designed to fit different Muslims’ needs.

It’s not just a Mosque in its most rigid traditional meaning; an empty space dedicated for praying, but a real home that witnesses laughter, and tears, and a great deal of sympathy growing in everyone’s hearts.

Besides the men’s and women’s separate praying halls, it has a library, in which you can forget the whole world and dive into a book, a kitchen, that transmits heightened feelings of joy and belonging in everyone's hearts, and a feeding room; a safe space for women, where they can tend to there little children, or relax for a bit.

You can learn more about their services here.

3. Muslim Community Center (MCC):

The center is located in New York City, and many people visit it repeatedly; as it holds a wide range of programs and activities that are all designed to serve the Muslim individual. 

The Muslim Community Center offers Youth Groups that target the spiritual protection of young adults, Weekend School, Intensive Courses, and Sisters' Quran Classes, and each of them aims at teaching Muslims something important about their religion. 

MCC holds different activities as well; such as: arranging fun family nights, arranging Itikaf nights during Ramadan, holding celebrations during the two Islamic Eids, and arranging Hajj and Umrah groups.

To know more about this interesting Muslim community center, visit them here.

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There is nothing better than the feeling of belonging to a loving family, that looks out for you, protects you, and is there for you during your good days and bad days, and that is the heart of a Muslim community.