Eid Mubarak – Wednesday the 10th of April insha Allah

Al Salam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah wa barakatu

The Letterkenny Islamic Association wishes all Muslims in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and all around the world a blessed Eid Mubarak on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr which is confirmed for Wednesday the 10th of April God willing.

May God accept all our deeds during the holy month of Ramadan from us and from you.

It has been a great Ramadan with Sheikh Adel. All praise is to God!

Of course, our hearts are broken for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Please keep praying for them and continue to support them.

We remind all that Zakat ul-Fitr/Fitrana needs to be paid before Eid prayer is offered. You may like to donate online to any number of Islamic charity websites. Two such sites are One Ummah and Islamic Relief. Zakat ul-Fitr is €9 per person. You may also like to donate your Zakat ul-fitr via our bank account and we will forward it on to a charity for you. Please put “zakat ulfitr” or similar in the payment reference to help us identify the payments. Details of our account is on our donations page.

There will be Eid prayer on Wednesday God willing.

To accommodate numbers, there will be two prayer sessions. If the hall is full for the first session, please wait until the second session begins. Please cooperate with the ushers. Jazakum Allah khairan.

Session 1:
Hall open and takbeer begins at 7 am. Prayer at 7:15 sharp God willing

Session 2:
Takbeer begins at 8 am. Prayer at 8:15 sharp God willing.

Venue: The Vestry Hall (Eir Code: F92 TD92)

Jazakum Allah khairan.

Eid Mubarak to one and all.

Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/WLPpLzB1UjerUWFy9

Ramadan Mubarak – from Monday the 11th insha Allah

Bismillah

The Letterkenny Islamic Association would like to wish all Muslim brothers and sisters in Co. Donegal and all around the world a blessed month of Ramadan. The first day of Ramadan will, God willing, be on Monday the 11th of March. May God accept the best deeds from us and from you. Ameen.

Timetables

Please find below the Ramadan timetables in PDF format for both Letterkenny and Donegal town. Please use the timetable for the location closest to you.

Here are images of the LIA Ramadan Booklet for those would like a digital version.

Don’t forget there’s also an app – PrayerTimes Ireland – for both Android and iPhone with daily prayer times. You can specify your location and it will display the prayer times for you. Unfortunately, prayer times for Donegal town are not available in the app.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ie.farend.prayer
Apple iOS: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/prayer-timetable/id1505376171

Taraweeh Prayers

Taraweeh prayers will start tonight (Sunday the 10th of March) directly after isha which is at 8:30 insha Allah. They will take place at the Isa ibn Maryam community centre as last year.

Below is a picture of the masjid. It’s on the raised ground floor.

We pray that God accepts our acts of worship from us and from you and that we come out of the end of the month closer to Him insha Allah. Ameen.

Let us all remember our brothers and sisters in Palestine and around the world who are suffering and cannot experience Ramadan like we can. Please remember them in your prayers.

We wish you all a blessed and merciful Ramadan insha Allah.

Eid Mubarak – Friday the 21st of April insha Allah

Bismillah

Al Salam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah wa barakatu

The Letterkenny Islamic Association wishes all Muslims in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and all around the world a blessed Eid Mubarak on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr which is confirmed for Friday the 21st of April God willing.

May God accept all our deeds during the holy month of Ramadan from us and from you.

It has been a great Ramadan with Sheikh Abdalla and Sheikh Yusha and the opening of the Isa ibn Maryam masjid on the High Road! All thanks and praise are to God.

We remind all that Zakat ul-Fitr/Fitrana needs to be paid before Eid prayer is offered. You may like to donate online to any number of Islamic charity websites. Two such sites are One Ummah and Islamic Relief. Or, if you still can, you could send the money to your other home country. The Irish Council of Imams has agreed last year that Zakat ul-Fitr should now be €9 per person. You may also like to donate your Zakat ul-fitr via our bank account and we will forward it on to a charity for you. Please put “zakat ulfitr” or similar in the payment reference to help us identify the payments. Details of our account is on our donations page.

There will be Eid prayer on Friday God willing.

To accommodate numbers, there will be two prayer sessions. If the hall is full for the first session, please wait until the second session begins. Please cooperate with the ushers. Jazakum Allah khairan.

Session 1:
Hall open and takbeer begins at 7 am. Prayer at 7:15 sharp God willing

Session 2:
Takbeer begins at 8 am. Prayer at 8:15 sharp God willing.

Venue: The Vestry Hall (Eir Code: F92 TD92)

Jazakum Allah khairan.

Eid Mubarak to one and all.

Google maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/WLPpLzB1UjerUWFy9

Ramadan Mubarak – from Thursday the 23rd Insha Allah

Bismillah

The Letterkenny Islamic Association would like to wish all Muslim brothers and sisters in Co. Donegal and all around the world a blessed month of Ramadan which will, God willing, start on Thursday the 23rd of March. May God accept the best deeds from us and from you. Ameen.

Timetables

Please find below the Ramadan timetables in PDF format for both Letterkenny and Donegal town. Please use the timetable for the location closest to you.

Here are images of the LIA Ramadan Booklet for those would like a digital version.

Don’t forget there’s also an app – PrayerTimes Ireland – for both Android and iPhone with daily prayer times. You can specify your location (including Letterkenny and Donegal town) and it will display the prayer times for you.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ie.farend.prayer
Apple iOS: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/prayer-timetable/id1505376171

Taraweeh Prayers

Taraweeh prayers will start tomorrow night (Wednesday the 22nd of March) directly after isha which is at 8:30 insha Allah. All thanks and praise to God, we shall be performing taraweeh prayers in our new community centre on High Road opposite the Honeypot cafe.

Below is a picture of the new masjid. It’s on the raised ground floor.

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/3gyb61Lqtq35jtCs7

We pray that God accepts our acts of worship from us and from you and that we come out of the end of the month closer to Him insha Allah. Ameen.

We wish you all a blessed and merciful Ramadan insha Allah.

Ramadan Mubarak – from Friday insha Allah

Bismillah

The Letterkenny Islamic Association would like to wish all Muslim brothers and sisters in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and all around the world a blessed month of Ramadan which will insha Allah start on Friday the 24th of April. May God accept the best deeds from us and from you. Ameen.

Please find below the Ramadan timetables for both Letterkenny and Donegal town. Please use the timetable for the location closest to you.

This year, Ramadan will be different under these current circumstances. We pray to God that He makes this disease pass quickly and helps all of mankind to get through this as quickly as possible and with the least suffering. And we pray for all the front line medical staff helping all those who are sick and all those people who are keeping our essential services running. Ameen.

We urge everyone to please follow the guidelines as laid out by the HSE and the government regarding social distancing over the holy month of Ramadan. Even though we can’t pray taraweeh in congregation, we can still pray with our families thank God. And we can have iftar with our families. But we urge people not to go to each other’s houses and to keep with social distancing God willing.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

Ramadan is the month of Quran, worship and charity giving. We can still do these things thank God.

We wish you all a blessed and merciful Ramadan insha Allah.

Friday Prayers Cancelled Until Further Notice

Bismillah

Al Salam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu

In light of the announcement made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Thursday and along with the main mosques in Dublin (South Circular Road, Clonskeagh etc) and others in Ireland, the Letterkenny Islamic Association announce that there will be no Friday prayers in Letterkenny until further notice.

People may pray Thuhr in their homes or jumaa in very small groups (e.g 3 to 5 people) in their homes/place of work.

We encourage everyone to keep up-to-date with the HSE’s recommendations on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on their website.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

We pray to God that He keeps us safe and makes these days pass quickly. Ameen.

Eid Mubarak – Tuesday the 4th insha Allah

Bismillah

Al Salam Alaykom wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu

The Letterkenny Islamic Association wishes to congratulate all Muslims in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal and all around the world on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr which is confirmed for Tuesday the 4th of June insha Allah.

May God accept all our deeds during the holy month of Ramadan from us and from you.

Eid prayers will start at 8:15 sharp in the Letterkenny Community Centre insha Allah. Please come early to join in the takbeer before prayers insha Allah.

As with other Eid prayers, the whole family is encouraged to come so sisters and children can enjoy the occasion as well.

Zakat ul-Fitr is €7 per person.  Please remember to pay this before praying Eid prayers.  There will be a box provided in the hall if you don’t manage to pay this before then. But please do remember to pay it before the prayer.

Please try and bring your own prayer mat if possible.

Eid Mubarak! 🙂

Eid ul-Fitr Dish Party Sunday the 9th of June from 2 to 5 pm insha Allah

Bismillah

In celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, there will be an Eid dish party in the Letterkenny Community Centre insha Allah.

As we’ve done in previous Eid parties, this will be a dish party where everyone is encouraged to bring food and sweets so that we can all share our international tastes.  There’ll be food from Sudan, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh, India and lots more countries so don’t miss out on the chance to taste them all! 🙂

Plates, cutlery etc will be provided.

We intend to ensure that the food is separated so that everyone gets a good helping.

There will be a bouncy castle and play area for children as well and maybe a few other surprises for the kids 😉

It’s always a fun occasion for all the family.  Both adults and children enjoy the occasion. So don’t miss it!!

Venue: Letterkenny Community Centre

Date: Sunday the 9th of June

Time: 2 – 5 pm

Looking forward to seeing you there insha Allah!!

LIA Condemns Sri Lankan Attack

It is with great sadness that we heard the awful and tragic news of several attacks on worshippers in Churches across Sri Lanka recently.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May God bring peace and stability to Sri Lanka and to the world. Amen.

The Letterkenny Islamic Association completely condemns the actions of the perpetrators and the evil ideology they followed. This ideology is far away from the true message of peace that Islam teaches. We pray that those who are misguided and follow this evil ideology are rightly guided towards the right path. And that those responsible either directly or indirectly are held accountable.

Second Annual Charity Fasting Challenge – Support Your Local Food Bank!

Last year, we raised €1,300 for the local We Care Letterkenny Food Bank thanks be to God.

This year, we’re looking to raise even more!

We’re currently in the month of Ramadan where Muslims who are physically able are required to fast from daybreak to sunset every day for a month.  This means no food or water during these hours.  But it’s not as hard as you think!

We’re encouraging our non-Muslim friends and neighbours to get involved again this year and take the second Annual Charity Fasting Challenge!  If you think you won’t be able to do it, think again!  People who took part last year told us it wasn’t as hard as they thought it would be.  Of course it was a challenge but they did just fine.

So, the Letterkenny Islamic Association would like to extend an invitation to all non-Muslims to take part in the second Annual Charity Fasting Challenge.

What’s this sponsored fast about?

We’re inviting people to try fasting the way Muslims do for one day during Ramadan on Saturday the 2nd of June.  All money raised will be given to the We Care LK Food Bank.  People below the poverty line often rely on food banks to be able to feed themselves and their children.  Please help them out!

Ways to Donate/Take Part

Here’s a downloadable sponsorship form so you can get your friends and family to sponsor you and show them you’re up for the challenge! 🙂

You can either open and print or Right Click -> Save as…

Fasting Challenge 2018 Sponsorship Form

Come Break Your Fast With Us

We’d love you to come and break your fast as our guest and sample some delicious ethnic food.  We regret that places are limited so if you’d like to join us, please fill out the Google form at the link below and come along to the Letterkenny Community Centre on Saturday the 2nd of June at 9:30 pm.  Just bring yourselves and an empty stomach.  We’ll take care of the rest!

We regret that places are limited so if you’d like to come along, don’t delay!

Breakfast Registration

What’s this Ramadan all about?

Ramadan is one of the holy months in the Islamic calendar.  Kinda like lent but for Muslims.  Muslims fast from dawn to dusk every day for a month.  Whilst fasting, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking (even water), sexual relations and generally try extra hard to be a better person.  That means trying extra hard not to lose their temper, gossip, backbite or anything else.  It’s a form of worship where the idea is to get better at self-restraint (it’s like a workout for the soul) and to feel empathy for and really understand what it’s like for people around the world who may have a lack of food or clean water.

Muslims believe that fasting is a commandment from God.  The same God that Christians and Jews believe in.  Muslims view Islam as a continuation of the message of previous messengers of God who are shared in Islam (e.g. Jesus, Moses, Abraham etc).

For how long do they fast for exactly?

Ramadan starts approximately 10 days earlier each year.  This year, it started in the middle of May and will go on till the middle of June.  That means the longest day of fasting this year will be from just before 3 am to just after 10 pm.

What?!!  19 hours without even water?!

Yep.  Though it’s easier than you might think.  People prepare by making sure to drink plenty of water the night before and eat foods that give a slow release of energy and water (like beans and cucumber).  If someone is feeling dangerously faint then they really must and are expected to break their fast.  You’re not supposed to hurt yourself!  

If you are planning on fasting, please be sure to eat a good meal full of protein and carbohydrates late the night before.

Who fasts?

Generally, anybody from the age of puberty onwards fasts.  Those who don’t have to fast include children, people travelling and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

IMPORTANT: Who DEFINITELY shouldn’t fast?

There are certain categories of people who should not fast for medical or other reasons.  These include people who have an illness or a condition that would prevent them from fasting or where fasting would be dangerous for them.  If someone is not feeling well for any reason or is experiencing something that may make it particularly difficult to go without food or water, they shouldn’t fast.

Be safe!

If you are feeling unwell or dangerously faint – please break your fast!  We don’t want anybody getting hurt!  Muslims who are fasting and feel faint are expected to break their fast and the same goes for anyone taking on this challenge.

Good luck and thanks for taking part!