FAQ
Q: Do yall offer jummah?
Answer: Yes! Every week, we offer two (2) Friday Prayer services (a.k.a. Jummah) for the community, inshaAllah. Sermons generally do begin on time - both sermon and prayer will be concluded within 30 minutes, so please plan to arrive accordingly! Our times do stay consistent year round and do not change. All are welcome.
First Jummah starts a 1:00pm
Second Jummah starts at 2:00pm
Q: I recently attended an event. At the start you guys went over a set of ground rules called, Community Agreements. What are they again, and what do they mean?
Answer:
Old Friend Mentality - Whether this is your first time or if you are a regular, engage with folks like you’ve known them forever. Hop in conversations, include those sitting around you, help each other catch up to speed, and don’t make people feel bad for not coming in a while.
Don’t Yuck my Yum! - People have different ways of doing things; Disagreements are expected, but should be done with love and in a way that interrogates ideas, not people.
“Break it Down” - Be conscious of using terms not everyone understands. If someone says something in Arabic (or another language) or uses a word that you are unfamiliar with, feel free to ask them to break it down. We make sure speakers embody this when they speak, too!
Step Up / Step Back - Be mindful of how much space you take up in gatherings. If you find yourself always raising your hand or commenting, make space for others to speak. If you have things to say but usually keep them to yourself, try and challenge yourself to share more so others can benefit from you.
Vegas Rule - “What happens here, stays here”. This is a reminder to keep the personal things folks share confidential and to use non-attribution when sharing your own take-aways.
Safe(r) Spaces - It’s important to pay attention to and honor the boundaries that people set and hold - that means your own personal boundaries AND the boundaries of others. If at any point you feel uncomfortable at one of our events by something that is said or done, please email saferspace@centerdc.org to start the conversation with our volunteer team of professionals who run our community accountability and restorative justice process, called Safe(r)Spaces, which you can read more about here. We’re here to support you and help hold folks accountable for engaging in a way that’s in line with our shared values, and support you navigating interpersonal challenges! Reach out. We’re here for you.
We’re all at different places - At any given moment, everyone in the space is at their own unique point in their own spiritual journey. Everytime we gather, there’s an opportunity for growth and connection. This happens best when we are present with each other. It’s always okay to ‘pass,’ but we encourage you to turn your video on, share your voice, and respond to others with empathy.
WWPMD (pbuh)? - That’s shorthand for “What would Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) do?.” It’s a reminder that our space is a semi-sacred one, and that the reason we engage with folks the warm way we do is rooted in prophetic tradition. That looks like welcoming the stranger, abundant kindness, honesty/truth-telling, gentleness, mindful speech, God-consiousness, forgiveness, generosity, doing no harm, etc. If ever you’re in doubt about how to engage, just ask yourself this question: WWPMD (pbuh)?
As an additional note: Online can be tough. It’s important that you take care of yourself - feel free to eat & drink on screen! If you need to turn off your camera or ‘step-back’ today, that’s also okay. You can always opt out of breakout groups or ‘pass’.
Q: I heard you have a space. Where are you all located?
Answer: Alhamdulillah! You heard right! We are now located at our own dedicated space at 1426 9th St NW, Washington DC 20001, 2nd floor. Look for our *NEW* Front door on 9th St., which will take you directly up into our home on the 2nd floor (no need to buzz in - when we are open, so is our big new heavy door! Just look for the Center DC logo and come on in).
For events happening in our space, pay attention to the location listed: we now have several possible meeting spaces: The Main Hall (North/South Wings), The Lounge, The Room of Remembrance, The Consultation Room, and our Team Office. While we will occasionally have concurrent events, we are overjoyed to now be able to offer folks some alternative quiet spaces should you need to step away from the main gathering.
For now, we’ll be open for guests 30 minutes before and after each gathering. Unfortunately, our space is NOT open during regular business hours. We do occasionally partner with other communities and host events elsewhere (and have some regular online offerings!): Keep an eye on the flyer and event page to see WHERE we’ll be at and please do keep us in your prayers as we settle into our new home together!
Q: Is Center DC ADA accessible?
Answer: Yes! Our space is ADA accessible - While the main street-facing entrance to our space on the 2nd floor has a steep flight of stairs up, our building does have an elevator. When you arrive, you can dial 100 on the callbox outside or call us at 202-290-1641 and someone can support helping you access the space. Depending on where the event is hosted, you may be joining us on the 2nd floor elevator exit (for the Room of Remembrance or Lounge) or 3rd floor elevator exit (Main Hall + Consultation Room + Team Room).
Our space has a wheelchair accessible restroom, with a changing station for whoever needs it. We also have a place where you can sit to take off your shoes if needed.
If you have any questions about this or want help planning, please email info@centerdc.org. We’re excited to accommodate you and are always open to feedback on how to make our physical space user friendly for all, inshaAllah.
Q: I’m outside of your space right now for an event. How do I get in?
Answer: Welcome! We aim to have doors open 30 min. before the start of every event. If you’re stuck outside, give us a call on our main line 202-290-1641 and we can send someone down to help. If you aren’t a fan of stairs, you can also dial 100 on the callbox (the one under the black 1426 owning), and we can buzz you in so you can hop on the elevator and come on up to meet us.
Q: What about prayer?
Answer: When the five-daily prayers intersect with event times we will pause the event and pray within the timeframe of the prayer. However, we are in the practice of delaying the start of the Magrib prayer, to include brothers and sisters who are accustomed to praying it later, based on their school of thought. If you come late to an event or need space to pray on your own, please ask one of our team members - we have prayer mats + modest garments + turbahs and a private nook if you need! Please note that our space is NOT currently open for the 5 daily prayers, unless we have have an event during prayer time.
Q: I’m not Muslim. Can I still attend an event? What can I expect?
Answer: Come through! We welcome all who would like to join us, as our space is open to those who have an interest in what we do. We pause events for the five-daily prayers and we close events with a community supplication to God. Feel free to participate or observe. If you would like more information or would like to speak further prior to your visit, please email us at info@centerdc.org. We also have a monthly in-person convert support group (+ a separate monthly online version) for folks who are interested in or considering embracing Islam, and are 100% hype and ready to facilitate/celebrate with you in the event that you’re ready to embrace the faith. Just ask in your email!
Q: Do I need to wear a head scarf when entering your space?
Answer: Not unless you want to! We do have scarves and modest garments available for borrowing if doing so would make you feel more comfortable.
Q: What about my shoes? Do I need to take them off like I do at the mosque?
Answer: Please do take your shoes off when you enter. There are shoe racks at the top of the stairs and near the elevator exit and ask that you do your part to line your shoes up neatly on the racks, out of the way of others to keep our space lovely!
Q: What are seating arrangements for men and women at events?
Answer: Our seating is open. Feel free to sit where you are most comfortable! It is highly likely that breakout groups will be mix-gendered (and you can always opt out!). Our space features several types of seating options for your comfort.
Q: Can I bring my children?
Answer: Absolutely. Children are often at our events. We do welcome children (and babies) at our events and have a community toy basket in the lounge to help keep little ones engaged, and a baby gate we can set up in the main hall to keep our tiniest members from going down the steps. Our 2nd floor family restroom has a changing station and we are happy to accommodate mamas with a quiet space for nursing/pumping/feeding (just ask someone from our team to unlock the consultation room for you). We hope to be rolling out childcare offerings during select events to make it easier for parents to be more fully present, inshaAllah!
Q: How do you all describe your perspective when it comes to Islam?
Answer: Center DC affirms normative Sunni and Shi’a beliefs and practices. We do so in a non-aggressive or imposing way in order to create a space that is welcoming for anyone who identifies as a Muslim or is interested in Islam whether or not their particular beliefs are congruent with normative Sunni and Shi’a beliefs. When in doubt, we default to our advising scholar, Sh. Suhaib Webb, our board and/or our local masjid, Masjid Muhammad.