Mclean Islamic Center (MIC) had its final hearing with the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) in Fairfax County on Dec. 12, 2018 and was granted approval of their application to permit modifications of development conditions.
The modifications previously requested were: allowing Fajr prayer to be reinstated with no limit on the number of worshippers allowed (the previously limit was 10 worshippers), permitting congregational worship between 4-7 p.m. weekdays, including Asr and Maghrib prayers, allowing MIC to extend the time permitted for evening services for holidays and special events, which would allow for Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan (the previous closing time for the masjid was 10:30 p.m), and lastly, MIC has requested to hold community services that conclude by 11 p.m., as well as overnight activities for the youth.
All of the modifications to the development conditions were approved by the BZA, and there is no longer a 10-person limit for Fajr prayer. Fajr is now permitted from the hours of 4-9 a.m, in accordance with seasonal changes in the time of sunrise. In addition, there is a stipulation that an authorized attendant must monitor and identify any potential noise generated from those coming to pray, and quickly resolve the situation before it becomes a disturbance to the surrounding neighborhood.
The last hearing on Nov. 14, 2018 was deferred in order to determine if the impulse noise generated in the MIC parking lot was substantial enough to impact the neighbors in the Carrington community nearby. Based on reports and studies conducted, however, the BZA has determined that although some impulse noise may be generated in the parking lot in the early morning hours-by car doors closing, it was less intense than standard impulse noise sources, such as a jackhammer. The noise generated was not strong enough to indicate a continuous violation. Thus, this conclusion allowed the BZA to move forward and approve the application.
Sultan Chaudhry, President of MIC, attending the hearing and was excited to reinstate the fajr prayer. He says 9 months had passed from the time since MIC was forced to suspend the fajr prayer until they got this verdict. This decision was a long time coming, but he say’s he “feels very pleased with the decision that the board made and grateful to Fairfax County for interpreting the law properly and applying it correctly and fairly to MIC and other houses of worship.” According to him, this verdict is not a win for MIC and a loss for the opposition, but rather “an opportunity to reach out and be good neighbors to those surrounding them, a positive force in Fairfax County, and an exemplary house of worship that can set the bar very high.” Going forward, he says MIC plans to continue to be upstanding members of the community and continue their interfaith and community service work. He also hopes to work hard to foster a positive relationship with the surrounding neighbors.
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