Ramadan Message from the President of the (ICUC)

Ramadan Message from the President of the Islamic Center of Union County (ICUC)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, dear brothers and sisters,

As we welcome the blessed month of Ramadan, I extend my warmest greetings to our beloved ICUC family. Ramadan Kareem!

This sacred month brings us together in faith, reflection, and compassion — an opportunity to renew our connection with Allah and strengthen the bonds within our community.

We are delighted to welcome Sheikh Mahmoud Mahdy from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt, who will be leading Taraweeh prayers throughout Ramadan. We also thank Sheikh Said Alkassabi and our dedicated ICUC Board for preparing an inspiring lineup of programs for both Ramadan and Eid.

Our vibrant ICUC Youth — both boys and girls — have organized wonderful activities this year. May Allah protect and guide them as they continue to shine as the future of our community. Babysitting services will also be available each night to ensure that all families can attend comfortably.

For convenience, please use the Union School parking lot across the street, it offers ample space for everyone.

As we journey through the last ten nights, we invite you to participate in I‘tikaf and to sponsor Iftars during these blessed days. The Zakat al-Fitr this year is $20 per person.

Insha’Allah, during Ramadan, the ICUC Board will share exciting news about our center’s expansion, a project that reflects our commitment to providing gold-standard programs for our youth, students, and the entire community. We ask you to save a portion of your Zakat and donations to support this milestone for ICUC’s future.

Together, we build the foundation for our children’s success.

Together, we safeguard their faith, elevate their education, and empower them to reach their fullest potential.

Together, we are the pillars of ICUC — each one of us plays a vital role in its success, and united, we will continue to grow and thrive.

The first night of Taraweeh will be Tuesday, February 17th, and the first day of fasting will be Wednesday, February 18th, Insha’Allah.

Ramadan Mubarak to you and your families.

May Allah fill your hearts with peace, your homes with blessings, and your lives with mercy and joy.

كل عام وأنتم بخير

Dr Wail Rasheed

President, Islamic Center of Union County (ICUC)

Another year of progress, unity, and blessings.

ICUC President’s Message to the Community

As we come to the close of a truly remarkable 2025, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you. Your dedication, generosity, and involvement have been the foundation of our success this year at ICUCNJ.

Because of your support, our masjid has thrived — becoming not just a place of worship, but a home for learning, growth, and unity. Together, we achieved incredible milestones:

• Over 400 students in our Quran Weekend School, led and inspired by our youth programs.

• Multiple youth i‘tikāfs, women’s Quran classes, and special gatherings strengthening sisterhood.

• Sports programs and wellness activities encouraging a healthy community lifestyle.

• Daily Quran recitations, Wednesday classes, and weekly community events enriched by your participation.

• Saturday community lectures, college and university outreach, and New Muslim classes welcoming new hearts to Islam.

• A blessed Ramadan, beautiful Eid celebrations, summer camps, and inspiring field trips.

• Alhamdulillah, major facility improvements  including new blacktop parking, digital transformation, and ongoing masjid maintenance  all made possible by your donations.

• Three Jumma prayers each week serving our growing community with love and care.

None of this could have been achieved without you. Every volunteer hour, every donation, and every prayer has made a difference. Your generosity is not just support, it’s the heartbeat of our mission.

As we look ahead, we invite you to continue standing with us. Every dollar counts, every act of giving sustains our momentum and ensures that our programs continue to enrich lives for years to come.

From all of us at ICUCNJ

Jazakum Allahu Khairan for another year of progress, unity, and blessings.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and more inspired community.

Warm regards,

Wail Rasheed Ph.D.

President, ICUCNJ

Appreciation Message to Our Community, 15 years anniversary

Dear ICUCNJ Community,

As we celebrate 15 incredible years of the Islamic Community of Union County New Jersey (ICUCNJ), we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for each and every one of you. It has been an amazing journey to witness our community grow alongside our Masjid activities and achievements.

Over the years, we have seen the flourishing of numerous programs and initiatives, including:

- **Quran Schools** that nurture our children’s spiritual growth

- **Weekend Schools** that provide valuable education

- **Women’s Classes** that empower and inspire

- **Community Gatherings** that strengthen our bonds

- **Community Welfare Activities** that support those in need

- **Camps** that create lasting memories

- **Youth Clubs** for both boys and girls that foster leadership and friendship

- **Quran Competitions** that encourage learning and excellence

- **Weddings** that celebrate love and unity

- **Togetherness in Good and Bad Times** that builds resilience

- **Job Training** that equips individuals for success

- **School Tutoring for High School Students** that guides our youth

- **Job Fairs** that connect talent with opportunity

- **College Application Support** that paves the way for future scholars

- **Reverts Program** that welcomes new members into our community

- **Eid Celebrations** that bring joy and festivity

- **Ramadan Observances** that deepen our faith

- **Picnics and Field Trips** that foster community spirit

- **Family Support** that strengthens our ties

- **Fajr at the Beach** that offers a unique spiritual experience

- **Sports Activities** that promote health and camaraderie

In addition to these initiatives, we have also united with other organizations, such as the Muslim Federation of North New Jersey, to enhance our collective impact. Our involvement in **interfaith activities** has allowed us to build bridges and foster understanding within our diverse community. We have proudly represented Union Muslim as speakers at the **9/11 town hall**, and we have served as a vital voice on the **Human Relations Committee for Union Township**. Furthermore, our community has been actively engaged as an advisory body for the **Union County Human Relations Commission**, advocating for inclusivity and harmony.

All of these successes are a direct result of your unwavering support and commitment. We are truly thankful and grateful for your involvement, which has made ICUCNJ a vibrant and thriving community.

As we look to the future, we encourage your continued contribution and engagement. Together, we can achieve even greater heights and create more opportunities for our community to flourish.

Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of growth, unity, and shared blessings!

With gratitude,

Wail Rasheed Ph.D.

President, ICUCNJ

Message from the President of the Islamic Center of Union County

Message from the President of the Islamic Center of Union County

Salam alykum

As we return from our summer vacations, I extend my warmest wishes for peace and safety to all members of our beloved community. The Islamic Center of Union County (ICUC) stands as a vital hub for our children, adults, men, and women, fostering a sense of belonging and unity among us.

Our Masjid is not just a place of worship; it is a cornerstone for education and personal growth. Through our programs, we strive to educate our community, offering valuable resources for all ages. Our supplementary schools—Al-Mizmar, Al-Mishkat, and Al-Thahabiya—play a crucial role in nurturing the minds and spirits of our youth, ensuring they grow into knowledgeable and responsible individuals.

Leadership and consultation are essential for our community's development. By actively participating in local government at the city, county, and state levels, we can advocate for our needs and contribute to the betterment of our society. Our involvement in New Jersey First and the Board of Education is vital for bringing economic opportunities and business growth to our community and state at large.

Empowering our youth to become leaders is a priority for us. Through daily prayers, women’s programs, and adult education, we create an environment where everyone can thrive. Our Masjid activities inspire both children and adults, providing a space to celebrate our joys and successes, as well as a support system during challenging times.

As Muslims, we are an integral part of New Jersey's fabric, and our voices matter. Together, we can build a brighter future for our community. As your president, I am committed to continuously improving and enhancing our center, ensuring that we take full advantage of every opportunity to uplift our community.

I encourage everyone to check our social media for updates on daily activities and events at the Masjid. Your engagement is vital to our collective success!

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your donations and support. Each member plays a vital role in building ICUCNJ, and together, we can achieve great things.

Let us continue to work hand in hand, fostering a spirit of collaboration and empowerment as we build our future together.

Peace and blessings,

Wail Rasheed Ph.D.

President, Islamic Center of Union County

Ramadan is Back, Are you ready?

A Letter from the President of the Islamic Center of Union County

Dear Community Members,

As we approach the blessed month of Ramadan in 2025, I would like to extend my heartfelt welcome to each of you. This month is a time of reflection, devotion, and community spirit, and I wish you all an abundance of blessings, good health, and meaningful collaboration.

At ICUC, we are committed to enriching our community through our daily Ramadan programs. I encourage everyone to participate in these initiatives as we come together in worship and fellowship.

This Ramadan, we also hold in our hearts the families in Palestine who are enduring immense hardship. Our prayers are with those who have lost loved ones—children, women, and men. We fervently pray for a lasting ceasefire and for peace to return so that Gaza can be rebuilt. Many families within our community have also suffered losses, including homes and structures that have only recently been established.

As we engage in acts of charity and solidarity this Ramadan, I remind you that ICUC is dedicated to serving our community. We rely on your generosity to continue our initiatives. Please consider committing to support ICUC through daily donations.

In addition, I would like to highlight the importance of Zakat al-Fitr, which is essential in meeting the needs of those among us. It is also a noble act to donate Zakat al-Mal, which is 2.5%, to help feed those in Gaza who are in dire need.

May Allah accept our prayers and grant us the ability to support one another during this blessed month.

Jazakum Allah Khair for your continued support and commitment to our community.

Warm regards,

Dr Wail Rasheed

President

Islamic Center of Union County (ICUC)

Ramadan Mubarak 2024!

Dear ICUC community,

Salam Alykium

Ramadan Mubarak 2024! During these challenging times, as we find ourselves in the midst of turmoil and conflict in Gaza Palestine, it is important for us to come together as a community and find solace in the blessed month of Ramadan.

First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Gaza who are facing the brunt of the conflict. We pray for their safety, well-being, and for an end to the suffering they are enduring. It is in times like these that we must remember the true spirit of Ramadan - a month of compassion, empathy, and unity.

Ramadan serves as a reminder for us to be grateful for the blessings we have in our lives and to extend a helping hand to those in need. Despite the difficult circumstances, let us use this holy month as an opportunity to come together and support one another, both locally and globally.

Here are some ways we can make a difference during Ramadan:

1. Donate: Consider contributing to organizations that are providing humanitarian aid and support to those affected by the conflict in Gaza. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant impact.

2. Share Resources: Use your social media platforms to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza and share verified information from reputable sources. Encourage others to donate and support relief efforts.

3. Pray: Dedicate a portion of your prayers during Ramadan to remember and pray for the people of Gaza, that they may find strength, peace, and relief from their suffering.

4. Seek Knowledge: Take this opportunity during Ramadan to educate ourselves about the historical and political context of the conflict in Gaza, as well as the experiences of the Palestinian people. Understanding their struggle can help us better advocate for justice and peace.

5. Support Local Initiatives: Look for local initiatives and organizations that are working towards aiding those affected by the conflict. Offer your time, resources, or skills to help these efforts.

Remember, as a community, we have the strength to make a difference. Let us stand together in solidarity, guided by the values of compassion, kindness, and understanding that are at the core of Ramadan.

May this month bring us closer to Allah's mercy, and may peace and justice prevail in Gaza and beyond.

Ramadan Kareem,

Dr Wail Rasheed

Happy Islamic New Year!

Happy Islamic New Year!

Dear community
Salam alykum
كل عام وانتم بخير
The 1st Muharram 1445 and beginning of the hijri new year will occur on the 19th July 2023.

Happy Islamic New Year! As the Hijri year 1445 begins, I pray that each day will be full of Allah’s blessings and mercy!

Smile, because life is beautiful ❤️

When we start the day with a smile, our stress is reduced, our mood is good, and it makes us more attractive, helping us to stay young and positive, and we will find many reasons throughout the day to smile. And even if something goes wrong, and things do not happen as planned, having a positive mindset will allow us to quickly recover and continue the journey.

There are so many reasons to smile, and the benefits are amazing. Here are some of the reasons we should smile every day:

Smiling slows the heart and relaxes the body, and people who smile and laugh often are less likely to develop heart disease. Smiling also reduces stress because when we smile the body releases endorphins that reduce stress hormones, and stress not only removes our happiness, it eventually gives some serious health problems. The endorphins (happy hormones) released when we smile not only help relieve stress, they improve our mood and lift our spirit. If we are feeling down, all we have to do is stop thinking, and look up and smile, and something this simple can change our day. The endorphins released from smiling and laughing also reduce pain, so if we have pain not only will we feel happier, but our pain will also decrease.

People who smile appear more confident and tend to have more success in life because someone who smiles is seen as more approachable and friendly. Smiling means we are more relaxed and happier, the immune system is boosted, stress is reduced, our health increases, and we even live longer.

A beautiful smile is the language of kindness. It not only warms the hearts of others; a smile is the most beautiful and sexiest curve of our body.

If we start the day with a frown and start focusing on the one thing that upsets us, then our day is wasted. Life can be full of joy and laughter, or it can be full of regret and negativity, the choice is ours. So, let’s begin the day with a beautiful smile, feeling blessed and happy, because life is not always perfect, but life is always beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

اللَّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْهُ  1445عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ، وَجِوَارٍ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَرِضْوَانٍ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ


“O Allah, bring this (1445 year) upon us with security and faith, safety and Islam, protection from shaytaan and with Your Pleasure.”

Wail Rasheed

Ramadan is a beautiful journey ❤️❤️❤️

Ramadan is a beautiful journey ❤️❤️❤️

Time is flying, We just completed the 1st 10 days of fasting.
Month of Ramadan can be an amazing and exciting experience, each day a brand new day unfolding before us.
When we look at life, and how we feel emotionally each day, it is a collection of many things that happen.
Fasting, prayers , Iftar, tarweeh, enjoying Laughing with friends, spending time with family, something we see that puts a smile on our face, the beauty of our faith and nature, the list is endless. But if we are too focused on the future, or worried about the past, we risk missing many happy moments in the journey of month of Ramadan.
We need to cherish each moment of our life especially in the holy month, because a happy life is really a collection of happy moments each day, and happiness means less stress and better health. Focusing on what we want and making plans for our future is good, but we must never forget that it is the journey itself that matters. “Faith” tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Faithfulness satisfaction happiness is not a destination; it is a way of life. It isn’t about getting what we want all the time, it is about loving and being grateful for what we have, and having gratitude and a positive outlook on life will always allow more to enter.

Charity Kindness also gives our life meaning and purpose. Compassion in helping others is always rewarding, it makes us feel good, and when we can make someone smile we also smile, and smiling makes us feel and look more youthful, refreshed, and happy.

Our faithfulness life is about how we choose to live it, and if we choose to feel blessed, to feel grateful, to feel excited, to feel happy, to enjoy life, then our life will mostly be blessed and full of happiness. There will always be good and bad days, but making these choices each day will lead to a mostly rewarding and contented life. Yes life can be beautiful ❤️❤️❤️
Our massjid is our future to build and protect our future generations.
Please be the reason the icuc is excited by donating money to support massjid projects and monthly expenses!
Your donation helps us make the community better and help us build our future.
Zakat El fitr this year $15 a person
Zakat ElMaal make appointment with shiehk Said to help you to calculate your 2.5%.

Send it today
Zelle = icuc@icucnj.com
Venmo = icucnj
https://services.madinaapps.com/donation/clients/ICUC

Jazakum Allah Khair
Br Wail Rasheed

Reflection on Ramadan

ICUC Reflection on Ramadan

As-salamu alaikum is a common greeting among Muslims, meaning "Peace be with you."

My favorite month is here, which is the holiest month of the year for Muslim known as Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, it is a period marked by focused reflection, introspection and self-improvement. It is observed by more than two billion Muslims around the world. The Islamic calendar is based on a 12-month lunar year, and since a lunar year ends 11 days earlier than a solar year, Ramadan starts on a different day every year in a 33 year period. This year, the holy month of Ramadan begin this Wednesday evening, March 22nd  , and ends on the evening of Friday, April 21st

Ramadan celebrates the revelation of the Quran, Islam’s holy text. It is believed that on the Laylat al-Qadr, or “Night of Power,” (which usually falls around the 27th day of Ramadan) God revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad as “guidance for the people.” During this period, Muslims emphasize greater devotion to Allah as they spend more time reading the Quran and performing special prayers. 

Fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an important Ramadan tradition. Depending on the time of year Ramadan occurs, Muslims fast between 11-16 hours for 29-30 days. They wake up before dawn to have a large meal, suhur, and break their fast at sundown with iftar. The observance of a fast from sunrise to sundown every day of the month cultivates self-control, gratitude and compassion for those less fortunate. I feel that fasting cultivates gratefulness. It's a month I get to connect to people that are less fortunate than me. When I'm hungry, I think, there's people out there that do not get food like me, fasting during Ramadan is mandatory for all Muslim adults except the elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and those of poor health are exempt.  Each member in my family has to pay Zakat ul Fitr which is charity donation suggested minimum ~$15 which is given for poor families to boost their income before Eid holiday.

Fasting is not only physical purification; it is also a symbol for the spiritual purification that Ramadan encourages as well. During the month, Muslims are also expected to avoid engaging in any wrongful behavior that may hurt others or themselves, including gossiping, lying and arguing. Muslims who are married also abstain from sexual activity during these hours. 

Muslims view Ramadan as an annual opportunity to actively pursue moral excellence and bring themselves closer to God. Central to this idea is the concept of taqwa, an Islamic term in Arabic that has been defined as “God consciousness.” Muslims are encouraged to gain taqwa and to inculcate a constant awareness of God. Muslims attempt to read the Quran in its entirety, and it is recited during the special nightly “tarawih” prayers. 

Many Muslim families, meet for iftar “ break fasting at sunsets”. Most of the time my family invite other people's to our houses for breaking fast together. It is almost like having 30 thanksgiving dinners for a month with 30 different authentic delicious meal meals, then go the Mosque for night prayers. My daughters typically go the extra step and make us the menu of night iftar. I think overall, knowing that other people are also doing the same thing as me – fasting and praying – emboldens solidarity and community among Muslims. Some of challenges I personally sometimes face during Ramadan. “Normally, work itself is a lot – the work, the daily life.” But Ramadan can make it more difficult. “I need to go to sleep Two hour later than normal, I need to get up an hour earlier than normal, and then maybe try to go back to sleep again for an house after preform the 1st prayer before sunrise. So I'm naturally really tired throughout the day, in addition to the fact that I can't eat or drink. But the benefits of Ramadan are worth the hours of fasting. Month of Ramadan gave me the opportunity to move away from my busy lives and connect with God and my loved ones. Working for Merck for the past 30 years has made me feel especially grateful for the community and support of my fellow colleagues. Merck has allowed me to develop devices support programs that has saved many lives and for that I am beyond grateful.

Ramadan comes to an end with the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr. On the morning of Eid, families attend special prayers at the mosque and later exchange gifts, eat food and socialize. Eid Mubarak is the traditional holiday greeting, so be sure to wish your Muslim friends Eid Mubarak on April 21st!

Ramadan Mubarak

Life choices “we” make…

Salam Alykum

Dear community, peace and love

Look up and Smile, because life is Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

ICUC board, teachers,volunteers and Imam are very thankful for our community on ICUC 13 years of anniversary🙏.

Imagine all the people living over 100 years ago, we do not know them, we do not know what they did, what they were thinking, who they loved. They had family, friends, joy and sorrow, possessions, dreams, desires, thoughts, and they would have worried about things, worry about how they look, what someone said, gossip, just as we do now. But more than 100 years later, who knows and who even cares.

The life of these people, all their dreams and thoughts, are gone forever. But the legacy and the massjid’s they built stands tall to show our generation their hard work and determination toward their faith and Islamic education.

There is a moral to this story.

We might be annoyed or angry with someone, maybe they said something we did not like, or did something we did not agree with. Now we harbor feeling of negativity, leading to stress and maybe even anger. But does it really matter, will we still be angry in a year, and what about 100 years, who will know or even care about something so small that is making us angry now.

Is this really worth creating stress and worry, leading to anger?

Also constant stress is only going to give us future health problems anyway.

Life will be a mixture of good and bad over our lifetime, but the biggest single thing that will happen is... we are going to die. So, all those little things we worry about cannot be worse than this. What would stay is the massjid’s and the knowledge, education and our legacy.

No matter what happens to us during our life, we really only have two options: we can handle life well and be Happy, or we can handle life poorly and be Miserable.

The short time we are alive we need to live our life to the best of our ability, if we focus on our problems then the problems will only pull us down. Instead we are better to focus on our possibilities because this will lift us up. Better to live our life with laughter and happiness, follow our dreams, take a chance, go forward with passion rather than live with regret.

Life can be full of joy and laughter, or it can be full of regret and negativity, the choice is ours. So, let’s begin the day with a beautiful smile, feeling blessed and happy, because life is not always perfect, but it is always beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

Please consider donating to continue build icuc community and massjid!

Thank you for supporting icuc the last 13 years  , May Allah grant you the highest of the rewards and honor.

Link to donate:

https://services.madinaapps.com/donation/clients/ICUC

(https://services.madinaapps.com/donation/clients/ICUC)

Jazakum Allah Khair

Dr Wail Rasheed

Happy and Blessed New Year

Happy and Blessed New Year

Salam Alykum

Dearest beloved community!

2021 has lots of memories successful time and challenging and sad time.

Time never stops, but memories last forever 😀😁😍

What is plans for 2022 InShAllah ? May Allah accepts your nyaah fee sabeel Allah “Sallah, fasting, Quran, Zakat, umrah, Hajj, education, marriage, volunteers at you massjid, help a youth on right path , protect women and children, help animals, and help others to succeed the list is long “ together we can”

How you can help yourself with shifting your mindset ,stop getting stuck because one day is bad it doesn't mean tomorrow would be bad to . Enjoy the present moment be grateful what you already have in life and what is coming in your way by the well of Allah!

Subhann Allah Time is like a river; we cannot touch the same water twice because the river is flowing and once the water has passed it can never pass again. Time is priceless, we can never buy time, no matter how much money we have, yet time is also free. But when we have lost time it is gone forever. So, we should always try to find time for the things that make us feel happy, because happiness is not measured by time, but by moments, all the different moment in life that make us feel blessed and happy. Alhamduillah

Time is more valuable than money, we can always make more money, but we can never get more time. We should allow time to make our soul happy, because no matter how much we achieve, and how successful we become, it will not matter on our death bed.

What will matter will be the relationships we have made, and the beautiful memories we cherish, rather than the wealth we have created. So instead of dwelling in the past or worrying about the future, we are better to live now, in the present, enjoying life and everything in our life, because life is too short to be anything but happy. Please include your time with Allah during 2022 visit Massjid halaqa, Quran and Sallah more importantly volunteers at your massjid on your free time.

It is better to walk away from negativity, gossip, drama, and the people who create it, and surround ourselves with people who make us happy, laugh, and care about us. People who help us in times of need, and who never take advantage of us. If we look at life honestly, our life is mostly good, so we should stop wasting time remembering the bad, and focus on the good. The days we spend focusing on mistakes, on past hurts, or worried about the future, is time wasted.

Yes, time is short, and happiness is everything. Life can be full of joy and laughter, or it can be full of regret and negativity, the choice is ours. So, let’s begin the day with a beautiful smile and a heart full of loving kindness, feeling blessed, happy, and grateful for life and everything in our life, because Alhamduillah life is beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

We Wish you all health, happiness, safe. Peaceful 2022!!!

Dr Wail Rasheed

ICUC wishes you Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak

Happy EID!

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,

Dear brothers and sisters,my ICUC families!

The blessed month of Ramadan is coming to an end. Let us pray that Allah (swt) accepts our deeds in this month, and wish you all an Eid Al-Fitr Mubarak on behalf of the Islamic Center of Union County 

Please remember to pay Sadaqatul Fitr before the day of Eid. This way our needy brothers and sisters would be able to enjoy the Eid with their family and children. You can make your Fitrah donation of $15.00/person in the family at 

donate https://services.madinaapps.com/donation/clients/ICUC

I urge you in the final moments of this month to continue support ICUC mission.

As we prepare for the Eid tomorrow InShAllah , please remember to pray for all the people around the world.

we must remember the people effected by COVID 19 and ask Allah (swt) to ease their pain. Ameen.

Finally, I want to personally thank you on behalf the board and the community for your donation to your ICUC.

May Allah honor you and accept your generosity during the month of Ramadan!

Donations like yours make a big difference in the work our massjid is doing in the community.

This year we did not call many of our community, family and friends as we know they will donate their commitment to icuc as they have done for last 10 years.

Without givers like yours, your massjid can’t have an impact or influence in our community Or even keep the doors open since there is no income for the last 18 months.

Together, we can make a difference.

Because we’re a tax-exempt nonprofit, you also get to write this donation off on your taxes. 

Please keep supporting ICUC with recurring monthly payment following the link donate 

For tomorrow event due to Covid township of union restrictions, the activities reduce to minimum

Please bring your chair, praying rugs, water , masks, sunglasses, hats , all your personal needs to have a comfortable safe event

Parking in union high school lot

Park behind the school.

See you tomorrow InShAllah

Please pay your commitment today

https://services.madinaapps.com/donation/clients/ICUC

Your brother in Islam,

Dr Wail Rasheed 

President

Eid Mubarak

Ramadan Message from The Islamic Center of Union County

Ramadan Message

from The Islamic Center of Union county

Asalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (peace be upon you)!

Dear Brothers, Sisters and beloved youth,

The month of Ramadan is arriving, Insha'Allah!, the blessed month of fasting and prayers. It is the month of performing good deeds and giving in charity.

May Allah (swt) make it a month of blessing to fill us with mercy and forgiveness, to renew in ourselves the meaning of empathy and compassion and to live through the Islamic core values as we are contributing to our society.

As we welcome this holy month with happiness and hope, we recall the Prophet's (salah allah alaihe wasallam) saying to his companions congratulating them on Ramadan, 'O people, a blessed month comes. Allah orders you to fast. A month when the doors of paradise are open; the doors of hell are closed; and demons are chained.'”

We are pleased to share that ICUC will be having Taraweeh everyday insha Allah (assuming safe conditions prevail), but will be very limited and restricted to individual arriving on time, due to increasing number of Covid in Union county and NJ at large. ICUC will participate in limited activities and it will be shorter than typically taraweeh prayer daily.

Finally, we pray to Almighty Allah to help us in fasting and performing prayers, to forgive us, to bless our souls, and accept our fast and duaas. Ameen.

Friendly reminder of Massjid Covid rules to attend

1. You don’t have any Covid symptoms including (but not limited to) sneezing, coughing, fever or loss of taste/smell and others.

2. You have not been in close contact with a Covid affected person and are following all State laws regarding Covid safeguards and exposure.

3. You will wear a face MASK at all times no matter of your vaccine status. (You will be escorted out if you don’t wear a mask). Masks will NOT be provided at the Masjid.

3. You will use you Own prayer rugs

4. You will maintain at least 6 feet distance at all times and not be loitering or socializing before, during and after prayer.

5.There will be NO food service during Ramadan and Eid.

6. No kids under the age of 13.

7. There are No Wudu facilities open at this time

8. Massjid will close 5 minutes after prayers

9. no Itqaf for your safety

Jazakum Allah Khair

Dr Wail Rasheed

What do you miss the most?

What do you miss the most?

Salam Alykum Dear community InShAllah this message find you in best of health! It's been 6 months since Covid changed our lives completely what do you miss the most? Many asked me this. Will I get COVID? I know It’s exhausting to live daily life helping your family with fear shopping,school,doctor visits... And it feels like these last six months of “COVID” time have lasted forever, effected Jummah prayers, Ramadan, Eid, Hajj, friends and family visits, darkened by racial divisions, fake peace games injustices around the globe 🌎, no human values, Muslims struggles, record wildfires and smoke that paints the sky...... But We have Allah that what counts therefore please Look up and smile, because life is beautiful 😀😁😍 The gift of life is a blessing, and all we have to do is open our eyes, there is beauty everywhere. The wonderful sunshine making everything sparkle, the beautiful glow of the afternoon sun, distant storms in the horizon, rain drops hitting the ground, trees, forests, flowers, nature in all its glory. So, never look down feeling depressed, instead look up and feel blessed, and also grateful; grateful we can listen to and appreciate music, hear birds sing, listen to distant thunder, the wind, children singing, enjoying laughter and good times with family and friends So, let's focus on what we love, where we want to go, on solutions and possibilities. "If you're talking about getting back to a degree of normality which resembles where we were prior to Covid, it's going to be well into 2021, maybe even towards the end of 2021." Life is so much brighter when we focus on what really matters, and when we fill our hearts with gratitude and loving kindness, we are blessed with happiness. Yes, life is beautiful 😍😍❤️ معاً نصل وائل رشيد

Yours Wail Rasheed

“ I can breathe. And as long as I can breathe I will stand for those who can’t breathe”

Peace and love Dear community!

“ I can breathe. And as long as I can breathe I will stand for those who can’t breathe”

We stand in love and solidarity with the friends, families, and communities of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Yassin Mohammed, Ahmed Arbery, Steven Taylor, and every Black person who has been murdered by law enforcement. We stand in love and solidarity with every Black person who has experienced an altercation with police that occurred because of a system and culture entrenched in anti-Blackness.  We stand in love and solidarity with every Black person who was ever excluded, ignored, or made to feel unequal within our Muslim organizations, masjids, Islamic schools, or businesses.   We stand in love and solidarity with Black movements, organizations, and efforts to stand up for the rights of Black people, including Black Lives Matter. Between a killer virus, crippled economy and racial inequalities our nation is in crisis. If leadership local and nationwide does not rise up to such challenges with real solutions away from scoring political and election gain points, things will grow more ugly and any incident in the future can trigger more anger and uncontrolled reactions and both public with law enforcement agencies will be victims. On another note, the wealth of any country if sealed in the hands of the few while the rest are struggling to barely survive on a daily basis; all will be victims blacks, whites, brown and any other minority. Financial justice to all is the road-map for the quality of life to all. Respecting the dignity of the human being regardless of color, faith or ethnicity is the recipe for a civilized nation. We pray for the safety of all and for the well being of our communities next to praying for the preservation of our civil rights, freedom and equality to all. We pray for the victims of racism. May The Almighty God grant you justice and solace. We pray for the racists. May The Gracious God open your hearts and minds so you can see that we are all of the human race. We pray for the people at the rallies. May The Responding God responds to your demands. We pray for those who perpetrate violence in rallies. May The Peace of God ascend upon your hearts so you can see that violence is not the way to solve institutionalized racism. We pray for our Nation. God You are Unity. Unite our hearts. Amen.

Peace and love Blessings

Dr Wail Rasheed

There is a Rainbow of hope at the end of every storm 😍

There is a Rainbow of hope at the end of every storm 😍

Darkness, thunder, lightning, it feels like it will rain forever. But no matter how long the rain lasts, there will always be a rainbow after the storm, and soon the sun will shine again. Life can be like the weather, happy sunny days, threatening storms, beautiful sunsets. When we are upset, worried, stressed, this will pass just as the sun shines after a storm. No matter how sad or difficult life might be, happiness is just around the corner.

Everyone has good days, bad days, good health, bad health, so instead of thinking and worrying, creating stress, we need to understand that whatever is upsetting us will also pass. Just as we take shelter from a storm, we also need to allow our mind to take shelter by removing stress and negative thinking, and understand that nothing is permanent, everything is temporary. When things are good, we should enjoy every minute, and when things become bad, this will not last. So, replace the stress and worry with a smile, because good times are just around the corner.
Remember, dark skies are just clouds passing over, soon the sun shall return.

Our beautiful Ummah is definitely being tested right now; our faith, our steadfastness, our patience, our tawakkul, our resilience, our desires, and our priorities are all being tested.⁣
⁣
It will be avoiding reality if we fail to recognize the panic, doubt and fear that our Ummah is experience as a whole right now.⁣
⁣
We are witnessing unprecedented events in our lifetime unfold, the questions that Muslims are grappling with cover a wide spectrum of Islamic theology and Islamic law. ⁣
⁣
To tackle this and answer everything, our team has put together a series of online events that will cover all your questions impacted by the #CoronaVirus. ⁣
⁣
We are happy and thrilled to announce our new daily reminder r events and current news.
⁣
Stay connected with ICUC live-streaming check our website and Facebook for the event time.Tue women class, Wednesday Quran class, Friday 1:15 shiehk messages, Saturday halaqa. Quran class one on one call with shiehk Reda, youth guest speaker, Facebook advice...your suggestions also welcome
⁣
Allah says:⁣
📚 ❝....And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.❞⁣
{Surah Al Isra 17: Verse 12}⁣
⁣
There is nothing in our lives that we will experience that Allah has not explained clearly to us. This series is our effort to educate details of these issues to you and to help you navigate Faith & Fiqh in times of uncertainty.⁣
⁣
🤲 May Allah guide us through these times and help us with presence, sincerity, compassion, hopefulness and deep rooted eeman and tawakkul. ⁣

Yes, life is a mixture of sunshine and rain, teardrops and laughter, pleasure and pain. Sometimes is seems like it is raining forever, but soon the storm passes and the sun shines again. Always remember, there was never a cloud the sun could not shine through, no matter how dark the storm, there is always light. So let's rise above the storm and find the sunshine, feeling blessed, grateful, and filling our souls with love and happiness, because life is always beautiful ❤️

Oh Allah, extend our lives so much, that We enter the month approaching us,
So that we can have our share of the blessings therein showered by Thee For it is only Your will that does to a life bring an end
Or grant it time to live, to regret, to repent and make an amend.

Oh Allah, the month of blessings every year passes by your slaves And by the end for few more days of it the heart craves
You know Your Creations better than anybody anywhere Let not the coming Ramadan pass leaving me in despair

Ameen 

Yours
Dr Wail Rasheed

Promoting unity and love towards each other!

promoting unity and love towards each other!

Dear community!

Thank you 🙏 all for making icuc community night a success and promoting unity and love towards each other. Quick reminder about the love among us!

‎تقبل الله طاعتكم❤️.. ‎ الله يتقبل منكم جميعا يارب The culture at Icuc is really and truly what makes the difference in our children daily life. So proud to be part of such an amazing massjid with incredible community!

‎كلمة الخير كنز، تبقى ذخرا لأبنائك ولو انحرفوا، سيذكرون ما قلت ولو بعد حين.. ‎{وكان أبوهما صالحا} The greatest gift we can give is unconditional love and acceptance ❤️ Acceptance is an important part of love and also very important for a happy and long lasting relationship. No one is perfect, we all have faults, but someone who truly loves and cares about us, will accept us for how we are, including all our faults. It is recognizing the other person for who he or she is without judgement, without bias, and without the need to control. There are also situations where acceptance in a relationship allows us to decide is this relationship is what we really want. For example, we might be in a relationship where our partner often explodes in anger and rage, and most of the time we are the target of this anger, giving us terrible hurt and suffering. By accepting this is how our partner is, allows us to decide if this relationship is what we really want, and allows us to make the decision to leave. By not accepting, sticking it out and hoping our partner will change, means the suffering shall continue. Emotionally most people do not change, and accepting this is how it is, allows us to make a decision and move forward. Not accepting means staying, hoping, and suffering. Accepting does not mean approving in this situation, it means facing reality and allowing us to decide our future. Acceptance is an important part of happiness, and this also means accepting ourselves for who we are, and loving ourselves, not by ego but by understanding ourselves. This is important because it allows us to be positive, to make better decisions, and to live a happier life. Acceptance is also needed to resolve anything we might be holding onto from the past. The past cannot be changed, but by accepting and understanding this is just how it is, allows healing, allows us to move forward, and allows recovery. Acceptance is also very different to tolerance. Tolerance means we are still being judgemental, and this is a negative emotion. By tolerating someone, or a group of people, in our mind there is still resistance and dislike. The key here is rather than have tolerance, instead have acceptance. By accepting means letting go, creating happiness. We are accepting the rights of someone else to make different choices to us; a different belief system, a different culture, wear different clothes, eat different food, we are accepting rather than having an opinion creating stress. Acceptance brings an inner peace and allows the mind to be free and happy. This then allows us to focus on more positive things in our own life, increasing our own happiness. Love is about acceptance, it means we are accepting someone with all their imperfections, because we accept this and through imperfection we can see perfection. Acceptance is a part of being human and is something every person needs, because we all need to feel loved, to feel needed, and to be accepted. So for a more positive and happier life, accept and forgive, show compassion and understanding, and when we fill our soul with loving kindness, we will be blessed with happiness. Happiness is life, and life is beautiful

😍😍😍

Sincerely yours Dr Wail Rasheed

Happy Veteran Day to all my community and friends of our community.

Dear Community Salam Alykum

Happy Veteran Day to all my community and friends of our community.

Today we celebrate Veteran’s Day, a day to honor and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country in times of both war and peace. It is a day to be thankful for and reflect on all the freedoms we have and the privilege of living in a democracy which allows us to choose how we are governed. To the veterans among us, thank you for keeping us free.

But it isn’t only the veterans that serve, it is also their families. There are anniversaries, birthdays and holidays spent apart and multiple moves as they are reassigned. So, to all those who are part of a military family, thank you for serving too.  Military families keep us strong.

On behalf of the ICUC community , Happy Veteran’s Day. The liberties we all enjoy are because of our veterans’ and their families’ sacrifices. 

Dr Wail Rasheed

“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

 -Elmer Davis, American Journalist, director of the U.S. Office of War Information during WWII.

The first step towards change is Awareness

Sallam Alykum 

My beloved community 

The first step towards change is Awareness  😍😍😍

When we are feeling positive, happy, and self-confident, life is easier, but to achieve this we need to also have awareness. Aware of what we are doing, what we are saying, and what we are thinking, and how our thinking affects how we feel. The day we decide that being aware of our thoughts, and how our thoughts influence our emotions and behaviour, that is the day when our life shall begin to change. Even just breathing in and being aware we are alive; the feeling of gratitude will come over us and we shall feel blessed.

Awareness doesn't stop us from making mistakes, what it does is make us aware when we make mistakes and allows us to learn, to improve, and become better. Without awareness we risk stress and worry, and if we complain or blame, all we are doing is making ourselves a victim, and we risk making the same mistakes over and over. This can be any situation from work to relationship. The better our awareness, the better choices we shall make, and making better choices leads to a happier and more productive life.

Awareness means being aware of what we are doing at all times, our actions, and how we influence others. By being aware of what we say and what we do, and how our actions can affect other people, as well as ourselves, means we are taking responsibility for our actions. Being aware allows us to see the results; did our words and actions help, or did we create distress. By being aware of our thoughts, our words, and our actions, will create less problems in life. This will then change our life, putting us in a better position to help, to give and receive love, and to gain a happier life. 

Having awareness allows us to look at ourselves, how we think, and how we feel, rather than just having an emotional response to what we are thinking. If we are worried and creating stress, awareness will show us this. If we are blindly reacting to something that happened or what someone said, gaining awareness allows us to see this, we are aware our actions are harming ourselves or others, and this allows us to learn to let go, to stop reacting, to change, and become better and happier. Depression is often from self-thinking, all we can see is the bad, all the good in our life no longer exists. But if we are able to detach ourselves from our thinking, as if we are looking at ourselves as a third person, we can ask ourselves why are we feeling like this. Having awareness will show us we are creating our own stress, it will tell us we need to let this go, to breath in and out and to stop the thinking, allowing clarity to return to the mind.

Everyone will over think at times, we are all human, but when we gain awareness we quickly know we are doing this, and able to stop. At first it will be difficult, but the more our awareness increases, the quicker we can respond, and the happier our life will become. Awareness is showing us we are creating our own stress, it allows us to identify and control our emotions. This is an important step in changing who we are. When we begin to let go and instead choose to be positive and grateful, our happiness will increase.

Being aware of our thoughts and emotions shall lead to a calmer, more positive, and loving person. Understanding our thoughts and emotions means we are better at understanding ourselves, allowing us to better manage our thoughts, our emotions, and our behaviour. Understanding our emotions means we will tend to act consciously, rather than blindly reacting, giving better psychological health and a more positive outlook on life, as well as being a more compassionate and accepting person. Having a positive mindset gives more clarity and creativity, increased energy, and leads to a beautiful and mostly happy life. Yes, life is beautiful 😁😊😀❤️❤️❤️

Your’s

Wail Rasheed 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Congratulations to the recent graduates and to all who completed their final exams. May Allah grant you gratitude, happiness, and success in this life and the next. Congratulations as well to the parents, educators, and mentors. 

May Allah grant us success on the exam of all exams - and allow us to attain the objective of existence.  

Hard work pays off, in this life and especially in the next life. People who work hard for Paradise don't regret their hard work; if anything, they might wish to have worked harder. Use the opportunities of achievement in this world to reflect on the ultimate objective and continue pursuing it with perseverance and steadfastness. 

May Allah grant us the ultimate success and guide us to align all of our worldly ambitions towards Him.  

"And they will be told: 'This [Paradise] is a reward for you, and your efforts have been appreciated [by Allah].'" (Qur'an 76:22)