Welcome To ICMC

The Islamic Circle of Mercer County in Lawrenceville, is a non-profit religious/social organization that was initiated and established in 1999/1420. The current property and building were acquired and first time congregational (Maghreb) prayer was conducted in October 2000 /Rajab 1421 Hijra.

Latest News & Events

Assalamu Alaikum:

This announcement is for those who follow The Islamic Circle of Greater Trenton (ICGT) – local/regional actual moon sighting. ICMC is a member of ICGT, and ICGT decision is binding on ICMC.

Since there was no verified moonsighting on Tuesday, we will be completing 30 days of Sha’ban and begin the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The first nightlyTaraweeh prayer will be on Wednesday evening after Isha.

SINCE THERE WAS NO VERIFIED MOON SIGHTING ON TUESDAY EVENING, WE WILL BE COMPLETING 30 DAYS OF SHA'BAN AND BEGIN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN ON THURSDAY, AUG 12, 2010.

ICMC FIRST NIGHTLY TARAWEEH WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY.

AUGUST 11-ISHA PRAYER WILL BE AT 9:30 PM FOLLOWED BY TARAWEEH PRAYER.

Here are few important announcements:

1. As in the past, we are blessed to have our Shaikh Hafidh Mamdouh Selim to lead the Isha and Taraweeh prayers at ICMC during this Holy month of Ramadan. Some of his students will also be leading few Rakath during this month.

2. Since there is no confirmed sighting of the new moon, we will complete 30 days of Sha'ban, and will start the Taraweeh prayer on Wednesday evening. Please note that from Wednesday, Iqama for Isha prayer will be @ 9:30 PM.  On Aug 15 (Sunday), Iqama for Isha will be at 9:20 PM. After August 22, the Iqama time will be 9:10 PM until end of Ramadan. Ramadan prayer calendar will be available by Wednesday.

4. As you all are aware of, after 10 years of existence, Alhamdu Lillah, we are blessed to have our expansion project approved by the township this year.  In order to start the ground breaking for the new Masjid, we need the support of the entire community and the surroundings. Insha Allah, we will have our annual Ramadan Iftar and Fundraising dinner for the ICMC Expansion project on Saturday Aug 21. Guest speaker will be Br. Mansha El-Sujairi. Please make sure you mark your calendar and attend with your family and friends, and contribute to build this new Masjid.

5. We are soliciting sponsors for Iftar @ ICMC. Alhamdu Lillah, we already have many families signed up to host Iftar on weekends. We recommend a minimum of $100 per family to host a share of Iftar. If you wish you can host the entire Iftar for $1000 or you can form your own group of 5 or 10 to host an Iftar. Please sign up at the Masjid. Please contact Dr. Ahmar Shakir of Iffaaz Salahudeen. We encourage all community members to come together to break the fast on weekends and spend sometime to get to know each other, and listen to our Sheikh Mamdouh's beautiful recitation.  

HERE IS THE DETAIL ABOUT THE ICGT MOON SIGHTING INFORMATION:

The Islamic Circle of Greater Trenton (ICGT) comprises of many Masaajid in South Jersey and PA. As in the past, the ICGT does not depend on calculation, but depends on actual moon sighting information provided by previously identified 4 reliable organizations in North America (The Central Eid Committee of Greater Chicago, Hilal Sighting Committee of North America based in New York, Hilal Committee of Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, and Zaytuna Institute in California). Each one of them has qualified prominent scholars, and we accept any positive confirmation by anyone of them as reliable.

The policy adopted by above 4 groups to confirm the sighting is that if the sky is clear in certain area, where someone reported seeing the crescent moon, then, they should receive similar confirmations from many other groups in the same region- if many Masaajid or local communities went out to sight the moon. Most of these groups also have their local representatives to confirm the sighting. Also, if anyone in the east coast sighted it, then, obviously, the people in the west of them (west coast) should be able to see it clearly, since the moon will be few hours older by the time it appears in the west coast.  If it is cloudy, there is a possibility that only few people in the area can see the moon and not everyone. Then, the scholars will interview the witnesses to confirm, if it is acceptable or not.

Those who follow this procedure of sighting the moon among the ICGT members are ICMC Masjid, Lawrenceville; Islamic center of Ewing; Masjid As-safat, Trenton; Masjid Taqwa, Trenton; Al-Furqan Academy, Hamilton; Zubaida foundation, Yardley, PA; and Masjid Shuhada, Mt. Holly. 

Based on the above criteria, and the information received as of 11:40 PM, a decision was made by the Ameer of the ICGT Shura, Imam Qareeb Bashir that there was no verified new moon sighting on Tuesday evening, and therefore, we will complete 30 days of Sha’ban and begin the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The first nightly Taraweeh prayer will be on Wednesday evening after Isha. 

Since it may be too late for some, ICGT encourages everyone to check with their Masjid Shura members, websites or Masjid phone voice messages at the Suhoor time on Wednesday to get the latest information about the Ramadan.

Though there are different ways in determining the Islamic months, sighting the moon by naked eye is one of the oldest and preferred methods, as it has been practiced from the time of Prophet (SAW) until this day. By going out to sight the new moon, we will be reviving one of the Sunnah as well. Though ICGT Shura does not force anyone to follow its policy, it highly recommends its member Masaajid to follow its decision in uniting the community during the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid.

Alhamdu Lillah, we have many neighboring Masaajid, who follow different groups in determining the Ramadan and Eid. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each family or community to follow whatever they are comfortable with. However, one needs to follow the same method for both beginning and end of Ramadan. Also, for the sake of unity among the families and communities, it is preferable that every member in the family follows its community. 

Approved by ICGT Shura

Islamic Circle of Mercer County
Celebrates 10th Anniversary This Year!

ICMC Expansion Project

Thank you for your continued support and financial contributions for the ICMC Expansion Project.
ICMC is in the process of obtaining approval from Lawrence Township to expand its current 800 sq. ft. facility to a two-story, 8,000 sq. ft. building. The estimated cost of this project is $1,800,000 of which $1,200,000 must be raised within the next 6-8 months in order to secure a contract for the expansion effort.     

If you wish to contribute, please send your check with the following information to Islamic Circle of Mercer County (ICMC)
c/o Syed M Wasti, 419 Klockner Avenue, Trenton NJ 08619
or make an online Donation at www.islamicircle.org

First Name ________________________ Middle Initial ________
Last Name___________________________
Street Address_________________________________________
City, State, Zip ________________________________________
Home Phone (         ) _____________       Cell Phone (         ) _____________
E-Mail ________________________
(Note: Make all checks payable to ICMC)

• Enclosed is my contribution of $ _________
• I pledge a total amount of $ ______________
• I pledge a total amount of $ ______________ to be paid monthly.
• Mail me a form for monthly withdrawals from my bank account.                  

For more information please email icmcshura@googlegroups.com
Or call ICMC: 609-586-3165, Syed M. Wasti: (609) 462-1496 or Selim Sheikh: (609) 750-7323

Some Important Links:

PAST EVENT AT ICMC

Click Here

Interesting Articles

• Article 01
• Article 02
• Article 03
• Article 04