Dates and Events to Remember

Event	Time	Day	Contact
Board of Directors Meeting	10:30 a.m.	Sunday, day after the Monthly dinner	810-566-7820
Jummah Prayer (1st Jamaat)	Look on flash News on First page	Fridays	248-852-5657
Jummah Prayer (2nd Jamaat)	Look on flash News on First page	Fridays	248-853-2874
Bazme Khawateen	11:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m.Every 2nd Saturday at Masjid		810-264-4986
Hifz Classes	9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.	Monday -Friday	248-853-2874
Sisters Halaqaa	11:00 am - 1:00 pm	Every Wednesday	248-524-1032

Daily IAGD Activities :

Jamaa for all five daily prayers
Hifz Classes
Tajweed class for elementary level (Monday - Thursday, except summer 5:30pm) 

Weekly IAGD Activities :

Wednesday: Sisters Halaqaa Class (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
Tajweed class for adults and also beginners (Wednesdays after Maghrib)
Thursday: Fiqh Class 8:00 pm)
Friday: Jumaa’ Salaat (Two Jamaa’ – see details in the newsletter and on the website)
Tafseer lecture and discussion (8:00 PM)
Saturday: Mathematics and ACT/SAT tutoring classes (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
Saturday and Sunday School (10:00 AM - 1:45 PM) (September - May) 
Arabic Classes for Beginners thru Advanced levels (9:00 AM)
Urdu Classes (9:00 AM)
Tafseer Session in Urdu (Before Zohr)
Tajweed Class (After Zuhr)

Monthly IAGD Activities :

Newsletter - IAGD News.
IAGD Dinner (first Saturday of each month)
Board of Directors Meeting (first Sunday of the month)
Bazme Khawateen - sisters gathering (second Saturday of the month)
Tahajud Salaat (second Sunday morning two hours before Fajr Salaat)

Annual IAGD Activities :

Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha prayer congregation and celebration
Taraweeh prayer during Ramadan
Fund raising dinners (May and October)
Picnic (late Summer)
Family Fair (during summer)
Al Hilal Youth Camp (during summer)
Dinner for International Relief (as needed)
General Body meeting (1st Saturday in December)

Special IAGD Activities :

Nikaah (Wedding)
Marriage counseling (strictly confidential)
Zakat collection and distribution
Gift Certificate programs
Cars Donation

HISTORY AND MOTIVATION

The Islamic Calendar, which is based purely on lunar cycles, was first introduced in 638 C.E. by the close companion of the Prophet and the second Caliph, `Umar ibn Al-KHaTTab (592-644 C.E.). He did it in an attempt to rationalize the various, at times conflicting, dating systems used during his time. `Umar consulted with his advisors on the starting date of the new Muslim chronology. It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the _Hijrah_. The actual starting date for the Calendar was chosen (on the basis of purely lunar years, counting backwards) to be the first day of the first month (1 Muharram) of the year of the Hijrah. The Islamic (Hijri) calendar (with dates that fall within the Muslim Era) is usually abbreviated A.H. in Western languages from the latinized _Anno Hegirae_. Muharram 1, 1 A.H. corresponds to July 16, 622 C.E.

The Hijrah, which chronicles the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madinah in September 622 C.E., is the central historical event of early Islam. It led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history.

To Muslims, the Hijri calendar is not just a sentimental system of time reckoning and dating important religious events (e.g., Siyaam (fasting) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)). It has a much deeper religious and historical significance.

Courtesy of http://www2.cs.pitt.edu/~tawfig/convert/introduction.html

The Islamic (Hijri) year consists of twelve (purely lunar) months.
They are:

(1) Muharram
(2) Safar
(3) Raby` al-awal
(4) Raby` al-Thaany
(5) Jumaada al-awal
(6) Jumaada al-Thaany
(7) Rajab
(8) SHa`baan
(9) RamaDhaan
(10) SHawwal
(11) Thw al-Qi`dah
(12) Thw al-Hijjah