"Remember me and

I will remember you"

(The Quran, 2:152)

Imam Fode Drame realized in the year 2005 that the best way to share what God had blessed him with would be to establish an independent platform to disseminate his teachings globally. This conviction led him to found Zawiyah Foundation in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Since then, the Canada-based Foundation has been working to fulfill his vision and year by year his message has been reaching more and more individuals across the world.  Given Imam Fode’s increasing base of interest, enthusiasm and support among communities throughout the United States, Imam Fode decided in late 2019 to establish a U.S. based Zawiyah Foundation to continue to expand and build upon the work he started in Canada.  Imam Fode established Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV on the 4th day of Sha’ban 1442 (March 18, 2021) as a separate, legally independent and parallel U.S. based entity to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful who live in the U.S., and in particular, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (“DMV”) area. Imam Fode serves as the Executive Director and President of Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV.

As an Islamic religious organization, Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV’s purpose is to advance the spiritual and educational needs of Muslims throughout the DMV area.  We are dedicated to spreading love and happiness, to building a three-dimensional relationship between the individual and his/her Creator, between the individual and his/herself, and between the individual and the entire creation.  This three dimensional relationship consists of remembrance (dhikr), "Remember me and I will remember you" (The Quran, 2:152), love "He loves them and they love Him" (The Quran, 3:31; 5:54), and happiness, "He is happy with them, and they are happy with Him" (The Quran, 58:22).  The Absolute Citizen is the one who is immersed in remembrance of God, one who has a beautiful character, and one who finds happiness in Service to humanity.  Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV aims to facilitate the achievement of this vision by creating a conducive environment whereby relevant guidance and instructions are made available to all those who are seeking to become absolute citizens of an absolute universe.

To fulfill this purpose, Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV will focus on writing and publication of scholarly works, creating an open space for individuals to come and feel at home, offering online and in-person classes and seminars, creating opportunities for individuals to seek and obtain spiritual healing, engaging in charitable endeavors to feed, clothe and support underprivileged and disadvantaged persons, and organizing gatherings and activities that help fulfil this purpose.

Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV is a non-profit corporation treated by the IRS as a mosque that operates exclusively for religious, educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code. Contributions to Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV (EIN 86-2761049) are tax deductible under U.S. tax laws.

Under Islamic law, Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV may collect Zakat funds for distribution to Zakat eligible recipients. No Zakat funds collected by Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV shall be used for the operation or administration of the Zawiyah Foundation of the DMV.