Islamic Society of North America
6555 S County Road 750 E
Plainfield, IN 46168
Phone: (317) 839-8157
Fax: (317) 839-1840
Friday Service: 1:30 pm
www.isna.com/
Institutional History
The ISNA headquarters is located in Plainfield, IN. The Muslim
Students Association (MSA), established in 1963, is the parent
organization of ISNA. This organization decided to create a central
headquarters in order to better unite their work for the Islamic
faith. The building for headquarters was designed in 1979 by two
architects, Gulzar Haidar and Mukhtar Khalil.1
ISNA provides leadership programming and opportunities for
Muslims all across the United States. ISNA also supports American
Muslims by facilitating social events as well as educational
programs including Imam training and leadership, youth involvement,
and community outreach programs. Another program offered by ISNA
promotes the sharing of ideas in addition to the education of the
diversity of Islam within the U.S. In offering a unique variety of
classes and programs, the goal of ISNA is to reach out to and
encompass individuals of all religions and ethnicities in the
community.2
Demographics
At the ISNA mosque, there are generally 30 attendees for the
Friday afternoon service that includes the Dhuhr, or mid-day
prayer. The ethnicity of this mosque is quite diverse. Among the
twenty three members of the executive board, sixteen different
countries of origin are represented. The ethnicities range from
indigenous African, African American, South American, Arab,
Euro-American, and Bangladeshi. At this mosque the attendance of
families was very prevalent. There are many couples with young
children as well as older individuals. The economic status of these
families is quite diverse, but seemed on average, from the middle
class with employment in a variety of professions.
Service Style
The Islamic Society of North America building is large and tall,
with modern architecture but a distinctive Muslim style. Images of
Allah and other important religious figures, such as the prophet
Muhammad, Abraham or Jesus Christ, are not present in the mosque
because Muslims fear that the incorporation of these images may
lead to forms of idolatry. Members from the community affiliated
with the mosque sit up front on the carpet, while those who are
visitors sit near the back of the facility. Although the building
houses the headquarters of ISNA, the largest Muslim organization in
America, the mosque itself retains a sense of a small-town
experience. Guests who attend a Friday afternoon prayer service
will hear the mosque's leader, known as an imam, give a message
from the Qur'an, in English, for about 20 minutes. (During this
time, people sit quietly and meditate on what is being said.) After
the message is delivered, people will stand and face the direction
of Mecca and another person, known as a muezzin, will call them to
prayer, and the Imam will then lead them in prayer, in
Arabic.4 Called salat, the prayer always has a
set order, and is conducted in cycles (called rakat). Each
cycle contains several poses: standing erect, bowing with one's
hand on one's knees, kneeling with head up, and kneeling with one's
forehead on the ground. These poses are accompanied by ritual
phrases, among them the takbir (Allahu Akbar -
"God is Great") and passages from the Qur'an. Depending on which of
the five daily prayers they are conducting, Muslims will complete
2-4 of these cycles and will end by turning to their right and left
and saying salaam ("Peace") to their neighbors. Each cycle
takes a few minutes to complete.
After prayers are offered, the imam will come forward and share
announcements with the people. Finally, after the service, people
will mingle among one another and talk about prayer concerns, as
well as life in general.
What To Expect
Anyone wishing to visit an Islamic mosque can expect to be
warmly welcomed by both the staff and the members of the mosque
community. One will find that many Muslims are excited to have the
opportunity to educate others about their religion and beliefs. For
many Muslims, sharing the story and history of Allah and Prophet
Muhammad is an act of faith in itself. For this reason, visiting an
Islamic mosque can be an incredibly rewarding and enriching
experience for those who wish to gain a better understanding of
Islamic faith through first-hand experience.
Tours of the ISNA mosque are given almost every week to various
groups of students and individuals. With a single phone call, one
can effortlessly take part in an educational tour, personal
consultation, and even attend their Friday prayer service. The
staff members are enthusiastic about their opportunity to answer
questions, share personal experiences, and explain the details of
Islamic ritual and service to the public. The ISNA headquarters
mosque is a very large and modern structure that, unlike many other
mosques, has its own minaret which is used to call the community to
prayer.
It is most appropriate to wear conservative clothing to the
mosque. Long pants are worn by all the men of the community.
Although many women wear a prayer shawl, it is not required for
visitors to partake in this custom (however, visitors may want to
bring and wear one to be respectful). Visitors enter the mosque in
a common area and will remove their shoes. The practicing members
then go to a hand and foot-washing station to complete their
ablutions before the start of the service. During the prayer
service, men and women sit in separate sections, all facing Mecca.
Mothers with young children generally spend the service in a
special room on the upper level, instead of on the main floor.
Visitors should sit with members of their own sex and face the
direction of Mecca as well. They can also choose whether they want
to participate in the prayers or simply sit quietly and
respectfully throughout the service.
For more information and photos, visit the About
Islamic Society of North America web page
Sources
1Khalidi, Omar. "
Approaches to Mosque Design in North America"
2Islamic
Society of North America
3Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's
Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 4th Ed. New York:
McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2008