The Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) is a vibrant and inclusive community hub located in Naperville, Illinois, dedicated to serving the religious, educational, and cultural needs of Muslims in the Naperville area and its surrounding cities and towns. Established in 1991 as a non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, ICN has grown into one of the most prominent Islamic centers in the Midwest, welcoming individuals and families from diverse backgrounds.

Historical Background

The roots of ICN trace back to the 1970s and 1980s when a group of far-sighted Muslims established the Naperville Islamic School as an affiliate of the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Chicago. Initially, the weekend school was held on Friday nights at Naperville North High School and later at Woodridge School in Lisle to save costs.

By 1983, the community had raised $15,000 to acquire a building for a masjid but postponed their plans when the Islamic Foundation purchased a building in Villa Park. In 1984, members of this group, along with others, formed the Qur’anic Study Club at Bell Laboratories, a prominent local employer. Regular Jumu’ah prayers began at Bell Laboratories during this time, while Isha’ prayers and Taraweeh were held in community members’ homes.

By the late 1980s, the need for a dedicated physical space became undeniable. In the early 1990s, the community purchased a building on Olesen Drive, formerly owned by a religious group, to establish the Islamic Center of Naperville. Since then, ICN has experienced rapid growth, particularly during Ramadan and Eid prayers, when the community often outgrows its current facility and seeks larger venues to accommodate the increasing numbers. Today, ICN holds two Jumu’ah prayer sessions each week, with both sessions often filled to capacity.

Mission

The mission of the Islamic Center of Naperville is to grow into a masjid-centric community dedicated to the obedience of Allah (SWT), the Creator, the Provider, the Most Beneficent, and the Most Merciful. ICN focuses on:

• Raising Muslim generations grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and practiced by his companions.
• Providing a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for Muslims and interested non-Muslims of all ages.
• Serving as a second home and extended family for the community, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.

Vision

ICN envisions a vibrant community where its centers serve as a second home and extended family, especially for the youth. The center aims to achieve this through:

• Religious services and education, including daily prayers, Jumu’ah, Taraweeh, and Islamic studies.
• Youth programs and leadership development to engage and empower young Muslims.
• Charitable work to support those in need locally and globally.
• Full-time and weekend schools to provide quality Islamic and academic education for children.
• Interfaith activities to promote communal harmony and mutual understanding.

Facilities and Services

ICN boasts a range of facilities, including a spacious prayer hall, classrooms, a library, and multipurpose spaces for community events. The center also provides separate areas for men and women, ensuring a comfortable and respectful environment for all worshippers.

Programs and Activities

ICN offers a wide range of programs catering to all age groups:

• Religious Services: Daily prayers, Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers, and Taraweeh during Ramadan.
• Educational Programs: Quran classes, Islamic studies for children and adults, and Arabic language courses.
• Youth Activities: Youth groups, leadership development, and recreational activities.
• Community Outreach: Interfaith dialogues, open houses, and charitable initiatives.
• Social Events: Family gatherings, cultural celebrations, and community dinners.

Interfaith and Community Engagement

ICN is deeply committed to building bridges with the wider community. The center regularly hosts interfaith events, collaborates with local organizations, and participates in civic activities to promote mutual understanding and cooperation. Through its outreach efforts, ICN aims to dispel misconceptions about Islam and highlight its message of peace and compassion.

Charitable Initiatives

Guided by the Islamic principles of charity and service, ICN actively supports local and global humanitarian causes. The center organizes food drives, fundraising campaigns, and volunteer opportunities to address issues such as poverty, homelessness, and disaster relief.

Leadership and Volunteers

ICN is led by a dedicated team of imams, board members, and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the center’s success. Their efforts are driven by a shared commitment to serving the community and upholding the values of Islam.

Visit ICN

Whether you are a Muslim seeking a welcoming community or someone interested in learning more about Islam, the Islamic Center of Naperville invites you to visit and experience its warm and inclusive atmosphere. Join ICN in its mission to inspire faith, foster understanding, and make a positive impact in the world.

Contact Information

• Address: 2844 W Ogden Ave, Naperville, IL 60540, USA
• Phone: +1 (630) 426-3335
• Fax: +1 (630) 428-3737
• Email: info@icnmasjid.org
• Website: www.icnmasjid.org

Physical and Mental Readiness

Before children begin fasting, it’s important to ensure they are physically ready. You can consult with a healthcare professional to determine if your child is physically prepared to fast.

In addition to physical readiness, mental preparation is also key. Children should understand why Muslims fast during Ramadan. Explaining the significance of fasting and its rewards can motivate children to participate.

Healthy Suhur Meal

A healthy and balanced suhur meal is essential during Ramadan. This meal should include proteins, carbohydrates, necessary minerals, vitamins, and plenty of water. A nutritious meal can provide the energy needed to sustain the fast and it will keep their bodies strong and hydrated.

Distractions and Positive Reinforcement

Keeping children distracted during fasting hours can make the process easier. This could involve engaging them in activities, games, or reading. It’s also beneficial to provide positive reinforcement when they successfully complete a fast. This could be words of encouragement, small rewards, or even make them their favorite meal.

Enough Sleep

Adequate sleep during Ramadan will prevent excessive fatigue in children. Allow children to rest a little more during the day and avoid too many activities that make them tired.

Participation

Let your children participate in the virtues of Ramadan. For instance, let them help you during the process of preparing iftar. This will make them more excited for the moment of breaking the fast and will also feel more connected to this month.

Iftar, the evening meal signifying the conclusion of daily fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, has been included in UNESCO’s catalog of cultural treasures.

The application to recognize this sociocultural tradition was jointly submitted by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan to UNESCO.

“Iftar (also known as Eftari or Iftor) is a significant observance for Muslims at sunset during the month of Ramadan, following the fulfillment of all religious and ceremonial practices,” stated UNESCO.

The meal, which follows the sunset call to Maghreb prayer during Ramadan, is associated with gatherings “strengthening family and community ties and promoting charity, solidarity and social exchange,” it said.

This age-old communal tradition gained recognition from the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently convened in Botswana.

The UN body said that “the iftar practice is typically transmitted within families and children and youth are often entrusted with preparing components of traditional meals.”

Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Hijri Islamic calendar. It commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad.

As the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a month of giving as well as fasting.

Source: The Daily Star

The announcement follows President Emmanuel Macron’s 2020 decision to end the presence of around 300 imams sent by countries such as Algeria, Turkey, and Morocco, and promote the training of imams within France. Macron said the move was designed to combat “foreign influences” on Islam in France, including “Islamist separatism”.

In a letter sent to concerned countries, Darmamin emphasized that after April 1, 2024, imams already in France under this status will no longer be able to maintain their presence.

Existing imams will be required to transition to a different status, and a unique framework will be established from April 1, 2024, allowing religious associations to independently recruit and directly employ imams.

The letter said that the objective is to have these imams receive at least partial training within France.

BFMTV reported that the decision does not impact the presence of foreign imams during Ramadan.

The measure aims to ensure that no imam is paid by a foreign state, of which he is a civil servant or public official.

The announcement by Darmamin has sparked controversy and criticism. Critics argued that the decision to halt the appointment of foreign imams perpetuates a perception of Islamophobia, especially in light of France’s history of controversial policies, such as the ban on wearing hijab in public spaces.

The country has faced scrutiny in recent years for its restrictive measures targeting aspects of Islamic practice.

Source: Morocco World News

The network says despite multiple requests, Twitter has refused to delete the account and replies to its posts that “vilify” Muslims. These include comments such as “Ramadan means killing infidels” and claims that the Qur’an should be referred to as the “terrorist handbook”. Comments cited in the complaint refer to the Qur’an as “this satanic memoir” and to Islam as “the most violent and sexually perverse cult”.

The network has accused Twitter under Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act of inciting hatred as a publisher of third-party accounts, as well as discrimination for refusing to take action against hateful content. Its complaint also says Twitter has engaged in indirect discrimination by failing to apply Australian standards to content on its platform.

The network says it engaged with Twitter between July 2020 to July 2021. Aman says it asked the platform to remove several accounts that were inciting hatred but Twitter refused to act, saying the accounts were assessed to be “consistent with their policies”. The complaint before the Commission contains 419 items, including 29 tweets it claims incited hatred and 390 comments and quotes on those tweets.

Source: The Guardian

On Orthodox Christian Easter (April 24), 70 or so passengers took that ride on the Interfaith Trolley, a tour of sacred spaces inspired by this month’s convergence of Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Vaisakhi (celebrated by Sikhs), Ridvan (observed by Baha’is) and Ram Navami (a Hindu holiday).

Perhaps more reminiscent of speed-dating than a comparative religion course, the tour made brief stops at five religious sites across southeast Chicago, hearing from a series of faith leaders and lay people from different religious groups.

Sponsored by local faith institutions such as American Islamic College, the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary, the Parliament of the World’s Religions and the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, the trolley was intended to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation.

Continue reading at: Religion News Service (RNS)

The calendar, which lists world-famous mosques, was being sold on Morrisons’ website ahead of Ramadan, which begins in April.

It states that Jerusalem, Israel, is the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque is considered to be in Palestine. Morrisons confirmed on March 2 that they had removed the item from sale after it was brought to their attention.

The issue was raised by campaign group Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), a UK based non-profit NGO ‘concerned with defending the human rights of Palestinians and protecting the sacred al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem’.

The group had called for the calendar to be removed, stating: “Morrisons are selling a Ramadan calendar which says Al-Aqsa Mosque is in Israel. Al-Aqsa Mosque is in illegally occupied Palestine, NOT Israel. Demand Morrisons immediately remove the calendar.”

In a letter to Morrisons, FOA said: ‘By allowing this item to be sold in your stores and online, Morrisons is complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, which Amnesty International has now described as apartheid. Your sale of this item is an attack on Palestinian rights’. Shamiul Joarder, Head of Public Affairs at FOA, remarked, “Today’s victory shows that the British public is increasingly aware of Israeli apartheid and will increasingly hold companies to account for their complicity in the illegal occupation of Palestine”.

According to UN resolutions, East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian land.

Source: muslimnews.co.uk

As of now, this permission is only for Ramadan. Muslims will listen to the Azaan through loudspeaker throughout Ramadan.

When asked about permanent permission, Sheeraz Mohammed, Imam of Madina Masjid, Toronto, said first they will have to see the reaction of neighbours over this. He added that they are trying to seek permanent permission to use loudspeaker for Azaan but he hoped that there would be some conditions. He said first they will see the response of the public for the month, if it goes well with them, they would seek permanent permission for Azaan on loudspeaker.

Source: siasat.com

Many Canadian Muslims are also using this opportunity to give back. Various Islamic charity groups have stepped up to make a difference in the lives of all Canadians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of their race or religion.

According to CBC News, Penny Appeal Canada in Toronto has donated over 4,000 relief kits to help families during these trying times, while Imam Sayyid Rizvi’s mosque (Jaffari Community centre) donated $25,000 in personal protective equipment (PPE) to aid Canadian hospitals.

Canadian Islamic business owners are also doing their part to help frontline workers. Fredericton local restaurateur, Naz Ali, has taken to preparing and offering delivery from a special Covid menu from his Caribbean Flavas restaurant to anyone in need. These are just some of the many acts of kindness that the Canadian Muslim expat community continue to exhibit daily during the holy month of Ramadan.

Source: MDC Canada

Ed Davey, a Liberal Democrat leader and MP of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton, took part by abstaining from food and drinks from sunrise until sunset and then shared his experience online.

The goal was to show solidarity with the UK’s Muslim community, who have been forced to come to terms with a Ramadan behind closed doors, unable to congregate in the homes of friends and acquaintances for Iftar or to visit the mosque.

In this regard, Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) Secretary-General Harun Rashid, who also took part in the activity, said: “It was a pleasure to join the virtual Iftar with Ed Davey… and his colleagues who were all fasting in solidarity with Muslims. “It was heart-warming to witness their commitment to fast the entire day to appreciate how Muslims carry out their duty to abstain from food and drink whilst continuing to go about their daily business.

Source: thenews.com.pk