Suhaib Webb Leaving Boston for Not DC

• published: 27 Oct 2014
• views: 71

I recently read that Suhaib Webb, the Imam and spiritual leader over at the Islamic Society of the Boston Culture Center is leaving Boston in Jan 2015. On my Facebook feed someone posted that he's coming down to DC. I'm thinking there are two major mosques in Washington DC, one being Masjid Muhammad which as I understand it has been around since the Civil Rights era. The other being the "The Islamic Center" over on Massachusetts Ave on Embassy Row, which as I understand it is administered by ambassadors, I think. So I inquire, where in DC is he coming to? The response: Arlington, VA to MakeSpace. That's like saying you're going to NYC, but turns out it's actually North Jersey :P The dynamics for NYC area is similar to that of the DC Metro area. Manhattan folks, pretty much stay on the island. Long Islanders will come into Manhattan, but really have no business in NJ. However, NJ folks will go anywhere. DC is similar in that regard. Folks in DC pretty much stay in DC. They might occasionally they'll cross the Potomac into Arlington. Folks from Southern Maryland will regularly go into DC, but most don't have any business in Virginia. But, Northern Virginia folks will drive everywhere. When talking with outsiders, typically folks from Norther Virginia will say they're from DC. Even if they live outside the 495 beltway. However, folks from Southern Maryland will usually say they're from Maryland. There is a major difference in the movement dynamics however. In New Jersey, it's fair to say that if something is 15 miles away, it's safe to say that it's 15 minutes away. But, in the DC Metro area, if something if 15 miles away, it's about 45 minutes to an hour away. Maybe more if during rush hour. Considering Arlington, VA is about three miles from DC, it'll take about 15-20 mins to get there. But, during rush hour hour it can easily get to be about 30-45 minutes. I think Make Space is an interesting social project. Considering that most major Muslim mosques across the US are communities of two types. The first being that of families that formed around the idea of their children's education, applied mainly through weekend schools or full-time Islamic schools. The other being of university students typically formed around Muslim Students' Associations in colleges across the US, or like the Islamic Center of NYU in New York City. However, for folks like myself that are young professionals, young couples, transplants into a city which they didn't grow up, and converts are pretty much left by themselves. Consider that Make Space seems like a community hoping to cater to these folks, I think this will be an interesting setup. The fact that you have someone who's traditionally educated, but have been born and raised here, and is a convert, being the face of such a social project will be interesting to see develop. Imam Suhaib, Welcome to Not-DC :P Considering you're going to be in Arlington, VA, welcome to the DC Metro Area! I look forward to benefiting from you and your presence here. I look forward to seeing you soon! #ArtofConnection