IN THE SPIRIT

-- Michele Marr

* Address: 3194-B Airport Loop Drive, Costa Mesa

* Telephone: (714) 432-0060

* Web Site: o7 https://www.iecoc.orgf7

* Denomination: Islam

* Year established: 1996. The building was inaugurated in December

1999.

* Worship service times: Thursday at 7 p.m. for Maghrib (evening) and

Isha’ (night) prayers, Du’a Kumail prayer of supplication in Arabic and

Koranic commentary in English and Farsi; Friday at noon (fall and winter)

or 1 p.m. (spring and summer) for prayers with an English-language

sermon; Friday at 8 p.m. for a youth session, ages 15 to 30

* Leader: Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini

* Staff: Mrs. Fatma Saleh, Mr. Maki Al-Nooh

* Size of congregation: 350. During special functions, as many as 800

attend services.

* Child care: Available only during worship services

* Description of worship: Daily prayers and supplications. Prayers are

said facing Mecca. During services, men sit on carpet-covered floors.

Women usually sit in chairs.

* Description of sermon: Thursday night sermons are commentaries on

the Koran in English and in Farsi. At noon on Friday, there are two short

English-language sermons on Islamic ethics.

* Recent sermon: Understanding Islam

* Upcoming sermon: An introduction to Ramadan

* Appropriate dress: Conservative dress for men and women. Women

usually prefer to cover their heads with a scarf, wear long sleeves and

skirts.

* Visitor information: The center is open five days a week. Muslims

can come to say their prayers at any time. Visitors may come to the

center by appointment or during services. The office hours for the center

are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The center is also open during

services and for special events.

* Programs for members: Friday night Koranic recitation lesson from 7

to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday Islamic schools for teaching Farsi and

Arabic languages; family and youth counseling; Islamic lectures in Arabic

and Farsi; celebrated events including Ramadan, Muharram Commemoration,

Hajj pilgrimage group, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Eid al Ghadir, the

Prophet Muhammad and the 12 imams’ birthdays

* Community outreach: Half-hour weekly television program titled

“Discovering Islam” is broadcast every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on Cox Cable

Channel 96.

* Mission statement: The center strives to enlighten the minds and

hearts of people through the message of Islam by establishing religious,

social and educational institutions.

* Vision statement: To establish an ideal Islamic American community.

* Objectives: To develop and maintain a mosque, a weekend school,

summer school, full-time school, an Islamic university, a library, a

media center, youth programs, an activities center for social programs,

no-interest loan institutes, medical and other professional programs, and

a cemetery

* Interesting notes: The month of Ramadan begins today and will

continue through Dec. 16. The Islamic Center will host a special nightly

program from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 5 to 8 p.m

Sunday. The program will include the night prayers, recitation of the

Holy Koran, and Koranic commentary by Imam Al-Qazwini. Visitors are

welcome.