Shia Association of North America
Shia Association of North America, also known as SANA is a non-profit, charitable organization, located in Delran Township (Burlington County, NJ) promoting the thoughts and practices of Twelver Shia and conduct religious, educational, charitable and cultural activities according to the Ithna-ashari Shia faith under the Ja'fari School of thought throughout the Tri-State area.[1]
History
Shia Association of North America was established in the 1970s as an Ithna Ashari Shia Islamic centers in the United States. Beginning with a help of Shi'a families in the area, the facilities of the center, Bait ul Qayem, and the services offered to the community have gradually flourished into a society that encompasses a broad membership of Shias from the Tri-State area.
The Islamic Center has grown from a 2-bedroom house into a multi-functional center with two congregation halls. Its latest addition, completed in fall 2010, expands the current center and features a new men's congregation hall, a reconfigured ladies' congregation hall, as well as two dining halls, separate restrooms, and a fully-equipped, professional kitchen.
Services
The Shia Association Of North America provides the facilities for various Islamic services. Services of SANA are mainly conducted in English and Urdu, but sometimes are also conducted in other languages to accommodate people of all backgrounds. The main services of the organization are as follow:
- Bait ul Qayem mosque which is open every week for the following programs throughout the entire year: Thursday nights at Maghrib; Dua al-Kumayl ceremony; Friday Prayers.
- Dar-ul-Ilm Islamic School, which started as a fledgling operation under the auspices of the SANA, and now is a burgeoning institution of religious learning.
- Marriage ceremonies
- Birthday parties
- Bismillah / Ameen parties
- Seminars
- Funeral Services
Notes
- ↑ Who We Are?, Official website, Retrieved October 4, 2015