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Tanwir Institute’s mission is to serve the DMV Muslim community with an environment of sacred knowledge, devotion, and service by providing a prayer space and educational institute which includes full-time, part-time, youth, and community programming.
Tanwir Institute envisions a community of believers in the DMV area who are grounded in their knowledge of the foundations of Islam, and who regularly and confidently participate in public gatherings of remembrance.
We aim to be the premier Muslim educational institution in the DMV, assisting in the dissemination of sacred knowledge and providing regular gatherings of remembrances in a welcoming and easily accessible location in hopes that community members of any race or age can experience true Prophet Light and embrace Prophetic Living.
Our learning methodology is based upon al-Maqasid al-Thalatha: Knowledge (‘ilm), Devotion (suluk), and Service (da’wa).
Tanwir Institute was established primarily to serve the educational and spiritual needs of the Muslim community living in the DMV area. At its outset in 2018, there was no institution in the DMV area that offered Muslims the opportunity to partake in the formal part-time pursuit of sacred knowledge at a basic and intermediate level. Tanwir also found a pressing need to establish consistent circles of remembrance open to all, where Prophetic Invocations are recited and advice is shared.
Tanwir (tan-weer) or تنوير means to illuminate or spread light. Allah sent his Messenger Muhammad ﷺ with The Quran for the purpose of guiding us toward light away from darkness.
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) would ask Allah to increase him in Light.
O God, increase me in light, bestow upon me light, and make me light. (Bukhari)
Our scholars teach us that Knowledge is Light.
“I complained to my teacher Waki’, about my poor memory:
“Give up your sins!” was his advice to me.
“For knowledge is a Divine light, and the Light of God is not given to a transgressor.” (Imam ash-Shafi’)
Tanwir Institute believes that in the Pursuit of Sacred Knowledge and the Remembrance of Allah and His Messenger (saw) resides the key for all people to access, preserve, and help spread this Light.