Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)

GLIMPSES OF HISTORY

The genesis of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) lay in the establishment of its predecessor organization, the Muslims Students Association of the United States and Canada (MSA). Sparked by the vision and determination of a dozen international Muslim students gathered on the campus of University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana on January 1, 1963, MSA was founded and fueled by limited resources but unbounded energy. The founding members of MSA met in a spirit of egalitarian partnership. They represented a great diversity of national, linguistic and even jurisprudential background among themselves. At the same time they shared a yearning for a future in which they and those who come after them will be torch-bearers and practitioners of a way of life they had committed themselves to. They spoke as equals and launched their collective endeavor through a democratic process of decision-making that has set the standard for ISNA of today. From the 1960’s to the 1980’s, the Muslim population in North America grew rapidly.

Students from college campuses graduated into communities and sought to explore and celebrate their growing Muslim and American identities. Community based Muslim organizations grew across the country. In 1981, MSA collaborated with the three associations of Muslim professionals that had grown with it to constitute the Islamic Society of North America. In this new order, ISNA took up the role as an overall continental membership and community organization with MSA focusing its leadership and service on university campuses, as a constituent of ISNA.Al-Amin Masjid in Gary, Indiana served as headquarters with limited space and mostly volunteer staff until a fully functional headquarters was established in Indianapolis, IN in 1975, which moved in 1977 to temporary buildings on the newly acquired land in Plainfield, IN.

The new graceful building on that property came on line to become the seat of ISNA’s general secretariat in 1981.ISNA has maintained an unbroken and deeply entrenched culture of democratic elections and decision-making, electing its leadership through a process of members nominating and then voting to elect its officers.