Trip 1: Masjid Al-Aqabah

As we drove up to Masjid Al-Aqabah, hunger was distracting our thoughts and thirst coveting our conversations, anticipation of such a new experience was only adding to the fatigue of an already exhausting day full of fasting.  We had no idea what to expect.  This was the first time that anyone of us had ventured out of our comfort zone and visited a community we have never heard of and where we hardly knew anyone.  But all that uncertainty changed the moment we parked our cars into that parking lot when an entourage of smiling and excited brothers awaited us at the door with the energy.  As we greeted the brothers of Masjid Al Aqhaba, our anxiety and uncertainty was extinguished by the warmth and sincerity that these brothers displayed.  It was as if we had been friends since we were kids and we are now just seeing each other after a few years.  At that moment we knew this wasn’t just another iftaar with a local community, it was going to be an experience, a memory, and a bond that was going to mean much more than that.

As we were welcomed into the masjid, everyone dispersed into different groups.  Some brothers were playing chess, others were talking, and some were spending time with their parents.  After spending a few minutes in the prayer hall, a young brother walked up to me and we began to talk.  I asked him what his name was and he was hesitant to answer the question.  I suspected that he might be nervous so I jokingly asked him, "Did you forget your name or something?"  He laughed and then responded, "No I remember you from Camp Al Hilal!"  (Camp Al-Hilal is a local community camp that I volunteer for.)  Camp Al-Hilal? I was astonished.  The last thing on my mind while driving up to this Masjid was that I would run into someone affiliated with the camp let alone a camper.  It made me appreciate so much more the fact that when one has the ability to interact with Muslim youth, that interaction must be used to the fullest potential because the impact could be far reaching and long lasting.

Growing up we are often taught about the benefits that comes from barakah.  That if there is barakah in something we would experience things from a completely different perspective.  Unfortunately, I have never really had an experience to demonstrate exactly what that barakah meant, or what it truly felt like, until that is, we visited Masjid Al Aqhaba last Friday.  To illustrate this experience of barakah, our iftar consisted of a single date, half of which we shared with our brothers, but yet we weren’t hungry. Our hunger was suppressed by the taqwa that was illuminating the room.  Our thirst was quenched by the love and comerodery we were enjoying.  The feeling of content that we experienced that night is something that was unlike ever before.  Standing shoulder to shoulder and feet to feet in prayer with no more then 7-8 rows for salaat, we were praying together for the first time but it felt like we have been a community for much longer then that.  It was at that moment we truly experienced the benefits that came from sincere barakah.  Subhanillah.

After Salaat, the room was filled with smiling faces and eager stomachs.  Being that the resources and amenities we so take for granted (simple things like tables, chairs, plates and eating utensils) were not in abundance, we as guests were uncertain about the arrangement for eating.  But, these young brothers pulled out the sheets to lay on the ground for us to all sit around.   As they began to serve food, we realized we were running low on the number of plates available.  Consequently, some of us had to share from the same plates.  Afterwards, when we were reflecting from our experiences, we realized that we didn’t care at all.  In fact, we appreciated that we were able to experience something so unique to our normal habits.   What I mean is that we didn’t care about whether or not we had the right number of plates, or that we were in a community that until that day never knew existed (which is our fault for not knowing).  The most important thing was that night we were truly together as one community and one ummah; where race and socially economic backgrounds didn’t matter.  What mattered was that you are my fellow Muslim brother and I am yours.  Allah's blessings come in ways that we could never fathom to even ask of Him.

If you have any questions you can email either Mubeen Qureshi at mubeenq786@gmail.com or Babar Qadri at bqadri@gmail.com.  Also, if you are interested in doing something similar to this, we highly recommend that you make the intention to do it this Ramadan.  Its not to late and all it takes is a simple phone call.  Lastly, I humbly request that you keep the communities that we visit, as well ourselves, in your duas.  Next stop, Masjid Al-Falah.

 Jazakallah Khair,

Mubeen Qureshi & Babar Qadri

 Iftar tips: on a much lighter note, if you haven’t tried dipping a date into cream cheese I strongly suggest that you do it.  A brother was kind enough to share his this recommendation with us and we happily obliged.  His daughter also seemed to love it as well.