Ansar-Ud-Deen (AUD) Washington

The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Washington, DC Branch (ADS-DC) was the earliest offshoot of the organization in the United States. It was established on July 18, 1992 by a group of young Muslims interested in continuing the principles and values upon which the parent body, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, was founded. Its establishment was further motivated by the desire to have a forum where young Muslims in the area can congregate and practice the tenets of the Islamic religion at a time when there was a dearth of Islamic organizations in the area.

The founding and growth of the branch was the result of a vision mutually and passionately shared by two prominent members of the branch, Alhaji Mohammed Tajudeen Kayode Gbajabiamila and Architect Kamardeen Alade Muse-Ariyoh. They saw the need for a dynamic Islamic organization in the Washington, DC area and sought to build upon the legacy established by the founding fathers of the parent organization, the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria. It took them a year of crusade prior to 1992 when they actualized their vision by inviting other well-meaning Muslims in the community to join them in establishing a branch of the organization, and the first of its kind, in the US.

The branch started its activities in the basement of the home of Architect Alade Muse-Ariyoh and has grown in bounds since then. It has gone from the "basement," and had been through the phase of renting space to conduct its weekly services, to purchasing its own property at its present location in Riverdale, Maryland.

The first executive team of ADS-DC included Hakeem Fahm (Vice Chairman), Alhaji Gbajabiamila (Secretary), Ibrahim Adetona (Assistant Secretary), Lateef Abassi (Treasurer) and Layi Afinnih (Social Secretary) who made great strides and progress in channeling the course of the association through its infancy. During the same period, Alhaji Gbajabiamila had the unique accomplishment of serving the Branch concurrently in two significant capacities: first as the Branch's Secretary for three consecutive terms and also as its first Imam (a position he has held from the inception of the society to date), and performed meritoriously in both roles. Their executive team started AL-ANSAR, a newsletter production that informs the community on the knowledge of Islam and as well showcase the progress of the society. Its distribution all over the world enabled a quick recognition of this branch far and wide.

The next administration was that of Mr. Lateef Abassi (Chairman), a reputable and accomplished accountant, who once contested for the governorship of Lagos State, Nigeria against a former governor of the state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2003. His executive team comprised of Alhaji Rasheed Adebohun (Vice Chairman), Alhaji Adetona (Secretary), Alhaji Kola Balogun (Treasurer), and Alhaji Sodiq Lawal (Social Secretary). It was during this administration that the association acquired the property where it conducts its activities to date.

The third administration of ADS-DC was headed by Alhaji Rasheed Adebo Adebohun, an experienced and accomplished certified physical therapist, whose executive team had the opportunity of running the affairs of the branch from 2002 - 2015. While the branch and its members believe strongly in the ideals and tenets of democracy, it speaks volume for the confidence and trust that the association has in the administration of Alhaji Adebohun in that his executive team, of which were Alhaji Soddiq Lawal (Vice-Chairman), Alhaji Ibrahim Adewale Adetona (Branch Secretary), Alhajj Teslim Adetoro (Assistant Secretary), and Alhaji Kolawole Adeshina Balogun (Treasurer) served the association longest with significant achievements to show for the long tenure..

Executive Council

A fourth and current administration took helm of the organization in 2015 with an executive team consisting of:

1. Alhaji Kola Isiaq-Balogun - The Chairman

2. Dr, Ishmail Abayomi Jaji - The secretary

3. Dr. Teslim Adetoro - The general secretary

4. Alhaji Hakeem Adesope - Assistant secretary

5. Barrister Rahman Kunle Taiwo - Welfare officer

6. Accountant Fuad Aregbe - The treasurer

This group of highly capable individuals is continuing the strong legacy established by the previous administrations and they have defined clear vision and strategies to take the ADS-DC to higher levels of success.

Mission Board

The spiritual aspect of the organization is currently led by a 5-member Mission Board:

1. Headed by Alhaji Imam Tajudeen Gbajabiamila

2. Supported by Alhaji Sobur Opebiyi

3. Supported by Alhaji Rasheed Adebohun

4. Supported by Alhaji Nurudeen Sanni

5. Supported by Alhaji Kabir Lawal

6. Supported by Brother Alfa Tohir Almaroof.

May Allah give them the wisdom and energy to achieve the ambitious goals they have established for our beloved organization.

Programs & Events

  • Our Asalat services, i.e. prayer meetings, are conducted on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., during which time we also offer Islamic educational classes for our youths so they can learn the tenets of religion at a very early stage in their lives.

  • We hold Tasfeer of the Quran, Lailatul Quadri, Iftar and Tarawih prayers during Ramadan. Tafsir (Arabic: تفسير‎, translit. Tafsīr, lit. 'interpretation') is the Arabic word for exegesis, usually of the Qur'an. An author of a tafsir is a mufassir (Arabic: مُفسّر‎; plural: Arabic: مفسّرون‎, translit. mufassirūn). A Qur'anic tafsir attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, or commentary for clear understanding and conviction of God's will.

  • We have special prayers that are held on the first Sunday of every month as part of our usual Asalat service and "Tahjud" prayers held on the third Friday of the month. Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر ) variously rendered in English as the Night of Decree, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Destiny, or Night of Measures, is in Islamic belief the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is one of the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.

  • Iftaar and tarawih are organized during Ramadan in celebration of the Holy Nights, as well as lectures by visiting Imams from around the world. Tarawih (Arabic: تراويح‎) refers to extra prayers performed by Sunni Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan.

  • In Islam, marriage is a legal contract between two people. Both the groom and the bride are to consent to the marriage of their own free wills. A formal, binding contract is considered integral to a religiously valid Islamic marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and bride. There must be two Muslim witnesses of the marriage contract.

  • `Aqīqah (Arabic: عقيقة‎), aqeeqa, or aqeeqah is the Islamic tradition of the sacrifice of an animal on the occasion of a child's birth. It is widely performed by Muslims and it is considered sunnah to slaughter a sheep for the baby and distribute the meat to the poor.

  • Funerals in Islam (called Janazah in Arabic) follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, sharia (Islamic religious law) calls for burial of the body as soon as possible, preceded by a simple ritual involving bathing and shrouding the body,[1] followed by salah (prayer). Burial is usual within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues, except in the case of a person killed in battle or when foul play is suspected; in those cases it is important to determine cause of death before burial. Cremation of the body is forbidden.

  • We continue to strive for Islamic excellence and unity amongst the various Islamic organizations in the area and across the country. We are an active participant in the annual Islamic conference for Muslim youths in the country, popularly known as "Platform," ensuring that our children attend in large numbers so as to foster interactions and relationships between them and other Muslim children across the country. Platform is one of the activities of the National Council of Nigerian Muslim Organizations, USA (NCNMO). And on a social note, we collaborate with other Islamic organizations in the area to organize an annual picnic where our members interact and socialize with members from other organizations outside a mosque/religious setting.