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ADAMS Center
Sterling, VA

by Wanda Morell
November 19, 2002 

My Islamic Encounter 

Monday at lunchtime I called the ADAMS (All Dulles Area Muslim Society) Center in Sterling. I knew they were close to my house, and I really wanted to observe the prayer time. A very nice lady on the phone said it was perfectly fine if I wanted to come, but be sure to dress covering everything, and to wear a scarf. Prayer was to start at 8:00 pm Friday.

Friday came, and I was excited. My friend Nehal was going with me so I wouldn¹t feel so strange. We met there about five minutes before 8:00, but there was a sign on the door... prayer had started at 7:30, and there was another one starting at 9:00. We debated briefly, then, putting on our scarves, decided to go in anyway. Some children were playing in the hallway, and let us in. We could hear the prayer going on, and saw dozens of shoes by a doorway. That¹s where we left ours, and proceeded in. 

The men's area was first, so we tiptoed past and went to the women's entrance (this reminded me of the South during segregation, and made me feel a little "second class"). I saw a woman sitting in a small office. She smiled at us and said we could get closer if we wanted. Nehal and I peeked in from the alcove, and saw there was no room in the back. The hall was packed with devotees, praying during Ramadan. We sort of craned our necks and watched and listened. 

The first thing Nehal pointed out was the Imam in the niche (it appeared to be a portable wooden one). His back was to us, but we could hear him on the speaker and watched him as he bowed and knelt. All the prayer was in Arabic, so we weren¹t sure what he was saying, but as he would say something, the people would bow, kneel, or prostrate themselves. While standing, most of the men held their arms crossed over their abdomen, and the women mostly crossed their arms over their chest. Sometimes a few of the women held their arms in front of them, elbows bent and palms up, as if expecting something to fall into them (similar to the way some Charismatic Christians lift their arms when they pray). Then there would be silence and the people would either pray or recite or read the Quran silently. We noticed the three-foot-high partition that separated the men from the women. Nearly everyone wore a head covering, and most were in traditional robes. Some of the ladies' scarves matched their robe, some were plain. The room was just blank walls in a commercial type building, with the glaring exception of a huge 7 foot by 3 foot banner that read, "Recommended Daily Donation... $10." I remember thinking that was pretty crass, but must be how they got some of the money to build the new Mosque in Herndon that is almost finished. 

After about 20 minutes of observing, it looked like there was a break, and some people left the prayer room. We thought it was time to go, too, but soon heard the prayers resume. Since we were already near the exit, we looked around to see if there were any flyers or information bulletins. I saw something posted on the wall, that said something about feeding a person coming off a fast at Ramadan and thereby receiving the same blessing as if you had fasted...  the cost was $7.00. (Again that crassness thought passed through my mind.) Children still were in the hallways - young boys looking at trading cards, and preteen girls chatting in groups. There was lots of laughter and noise, and I wondered why this was allowed to go on while people were praying. 

We did not have an opportunity to ask any questions, since most were still praying, and we were too embarrassed to go back in. So, we decided to write our questions down and ask a Muslim colleague of mine about our perplexities. (I have attached these questions and answers as an addendum to this paper.) 

Overall, my most prominent impression was a great deal of respect for the dedication these people gave to prayer. They prayed more than any Christian I have ever encountered. The preparation and serious planning to pray was all part of it, too. The list of things to do before prayer, and what must be said and how many times, just amazed me. Though it was difficult to relate, since every word of the prayers was in Arabic, I was tired merely at the thought of how much study it would take an average American to become a Muslim! First study to learn Arabic so one could understand what was being said and read the Quran, then to study the Quran, Sunah and Hadith. The Quran alone is huge, so the task of reading that during Ramadan must be quite dolesome - somewhat like facing page one of War and Peace. 

If at any time I had felt that Catholicism was rigid and ritualistic, it must have been because I never was exposed to Islam. It is by far the most ritualistic and rule oriented religion I have ever encountered. The intent is good, the objective (to praise God and follow a great prophet) honorable, but it is definitely not for me. Christianity has me spoiled. I can pray to God all day, even about the little things. I don¹t have to be in a certain position or facing one direction to pray, for He is everywhere. II Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" and Galatians 5:1 reads, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherein Christ has made us free..." and I stand liberated in Him. 

November 18, 2002 (Ramadan 13, 1423) 
Interview with Mohammed Nader after the visit to ADAMS center: 
(Please note that proper spelling of the things we talked about may not be correct in all cases) 

1. Why do Muslims tilt their heads from left to right or vice versa as a part of their prayer? Moe was not familiar with this movement , unless they were taking a break. He said his experience is that one is to always look straight ahead at the spot where they will put their head when they are prostrate, unless they are closing their eyes for concentration or reading the Quran silently between prayer lines, always focusing on what the Imam is saying and calling them to do. It is even acceptable for a man to correct the Imam if he makes a mistake in the prayer content, count or order. (Probably a woman should not do this.) 

2. Do they recite different verses from the Quran in their everyday prayer or is it a standard verse that they recite? The first thing they say in prayer is called a "nya", which basically says, "I am facing Mecca and please accept me for I have prepared myself" or something to that effect. Then they say the Arabic equivalent to "God is Great", Then the Imam starts with a short passage from the Quran, then says the equivalent of I believe in God and in the day after (hereafter). Then it varies from prayer time to prayer time. (See 5) 

3. Do they close their eyes at any time while praying? I saw some people closing their eyes and some did not. Closing of the eyes or not is not part of the worship. If one desires to do so it is OK, but the main objective is to remain focused on the Imam, what is being said, and being sincerely active in what is said. 

4. Do children have separate prayer meetings or Quran classes at the Adams mosque? Children are not required to pray until puberty. Children go to the Mosque with the parents, but mostly do not participate. Sometimes there is a type of Sunday School. 

5. Are the prayers always the same? There are different prayers for different times of the day. But first one gets prepared to pray. Here is the order of preparation during ablution: 

• Wash hands up to the wrists, a total of 3 times to make sure you are clean 

• Wash mouth by rinsing or brushing teeth, again, 3 times 

• Wash out the nose

• Wash the face in a manner called ³musah² (he demonstrated this that one gets the water on the hands, then puts thumbs in the ears and starting at the forehead, rotate the hands backward to the nape of the neck) 

• Wash arms up to the elbows 

• Wash feet up to the ankles 

Prayers consist of "rakas" (one raka is the cycle of positions starting with standing, then kneeling, then prostrate, back to kneeling, then standing). There are 3 different prayers that are said in rakas: 

• Farz-The portion of prayer said to Allah, in praise thanksgiving and supplication 

• Sunna-the portion prayed about the Law and Muhammad, that asks for the clean heart and ability to follow in the footsteps of the prophet 

• Wajjib-the prayer said only the last prayer of the day, and focuses on the angel Gabriel as the highest of the angels, partially a prayer of protection for the night. 3 rakas of this prayer are performed at the last prayer. 

Morning Prayer consists of 4 rakas- 1st 2 are Sunna, 2nd 2 are Farz 
Noon prayer consists of 10 rakas (non-Fridays)- 1st 4 are Sunna, 2nd 4 are Farz, last 2 are Sunna. On Friday, this is started with the Imam preaching before prayer, then 4 Sunna, 2 Farz, 4 Sunna, and 2 Sunna, and the Imam speaks briefly again. 
Mid-afternoon is 4 rakas-4 Farz 
Sundown (dark) is 5 rakas-3Farz and 2 Sunna 
Last prayer of the day (anywhere from 8-bedtime) 9 cycles of prayer- 1st 4 rakas are Farz, then 2 Sunna, then 3 Wajjib. During Ramadan, 20 rakas of Sunna are added after the other 2 Sunna. 

6. Are all Mosques as plain as the ADAMS center building? All Mosques are unornate, though not that plain. They may have tiles or arches, and the names of Allah and Muhammad done decoratively in Arabic, and Quran verses possibly. The structure of a dome on top says to all around "This is a Mosque"

7. Are songs ever sung by the group worshipping? Not as others sing, and not really a song, but prayers are chanted and Quran recited in a "singing sort" of way. Call to prayer (Azan) is sung from minarets to call all to come to the Mosque to pray. 

8. Is there "penance" to pay if you miss a prayer time? Yes, you should make it up at the very next session. 

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