Today, the Islamic Center of America is one of the most recognizable buildings in Metro Detroit, a landmark for Dearborn and a source of great pride for all American Muslims who worship and learn at the largest center of its kind in the United States. 

A group of interdenominational religious leaders and their supporters gather outside the Islamic Center of America mosque to rally for peace in Dearborn on April 21, 2011. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

The organization is celebrating its 50th Golden Anniversary this weekend, which kicked off with a Black Tie Gala on Thursday, May 17 and was expected to continue with Friday prayer, a carnival for families on Saturday, and a fund-raising dinner on Sunday evening to conclude the festivities. 

Finding a spot to park and a place to pray is no obstacle now at the ICA, but prior to the opening of the center in May 2005, an overflow problem at its original location on Joy Road and Greenfield in Detroit forced the old Islamic Center of Detroit’s administrators to get creative.

“Due to space limitations, especially for major occasions such as Ramadan and Ashura, we often had to rent a separate hall in Fordson High School or Bint Jebail Banquet Hall to accommodate both (the English and the Arabic) congregations,” said Imam Hassan al-Qazwini, the current spiritual leader of the ICA, who moved to Michigan in 1997 to take the position.

While many area Muslims have fond memories of the old center, which was built in 1962 in order to give many immigrants their first central place to practice their faith, the new center, which serves about 10,000 local families and includes a youth academy, organization and women’s club, became a testament to the accomplishments and strength of the community when it opened, leaving members who saw it built from the ground up into its current form awestruck.

“There was a sense of awe in the community when they saw the center, and also a sense of admiration among non-Muslims as well, to see this building being erected next to three or four churches and actually facing the road for a harmonious interfaith community for Muslims and Christians living in peace was more than a building, it was a message,” Qazwini said.

Imam Chirri, the original spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of America, speaks at a press conference abut civil rights for Arab Americans in 1986.

The mosque follows the Shi’a teachings but Muslims of all denominations are welcome and Shi’a and Sunni worshipers alike pray at the center, Qazwini said. 

Similar messages of  peace and harmony have also been conveyed through ongoing interfaith events and meetings with other religious institutions in hopes of dispelling myths held by members of communities who haven’t had a chance to interact with Muslims in their everyday lives, or to learn about the faith. 

The biggest interfaith gathering at the center happened in 2011, however, when Qur’an-burning extremist pastor Terry Jones’ plans to protest in front of the center were met with one of the largest such gatherings in American history as several hundred people from all faiths gathered in front of the center in an iconic demonstration that Qazwini called his most memorable day at the center. 

“That was the most memorable event for me, last year, when Terry Jones came to Michigan attempting to provoke anti-Muslim sentiment, after defying all of the appeals from the president on down not to burn the Qur’an,” Qazwini said. 

“The Qur’an says that you may dislike something and something good could still come out of it, and that’s what I saw coming out of the bigotry of Terry Jones, the entire interfaith community came out to the Islamic Center to show their support for our community…You really feel flattered that there are so many good people in society who do not share your religion but share your human values and they show their sympathy with you.” 

The original center on Joy and Greenfield, while beloved by those frequented it, didn’t have near the same “wow” factor as the current mosque with its golden domes and towering minarets, but the original spiritual leader and founding member, Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri, always envisioned the potential for building a center, and a community, that would become prominent both locally and nationally. 

This aerial photo shows the original location of the Islamic Center of America, then called the Islamic Center of Detroit, which was located on Joy Road and Greenfield. The original location recently reopened as the Alzahraa Islamic Center.

“Imam Chirri’s dream was bigger than building an Islamic Center for the Detroit area only, he was dreaming of building a center for all of America,” said Hajj Nassib Sweidan, 84, who came from the village of Yater in south Lebanon and is currently a board member at the ICA. He noted that Chirri visited with top American leaders like Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger as his vision began to become true.  

The original ICD was funded in part by former Egyptian President and pan-Arabist leader Gamal Abdel-Nasser, and the ICA was funded by a board of community members working in tandem to raise funds for the construction of a center that would become a beacon of spirituality and a community hub for area residents. 

“Imam Chirri’s dream came to be true when he changed the name of the center…No matter what, I cannot give Chirri enough credit, he is my master, my imam, my teacher, my father,” Sweidan said. 

Hajj Hussein Makled, 87, who hails from Tibnin, south Lebanon, also was with Chirri when he started the project. He vividly remembers the day when Chirri, who passed away in 1994, told him about the purchasing of the land on Ford Road that would become the Islamic Center of America, which used to be home to a YMCA facility. 

“I worked with Chirri from the early beginning, I was like his right hand but there were many people who helped us too,” he said. 

“I still remember the night when he came to my house in Highland Park and told me we bought the land,” he said. “Those days were different, no one imagined that the community would grow this fast.” 

Years later, the American Muslim community in Metro Detroit has grown to around 300,000, about a 100-fold expansion from the heyday of the original mosque on Joy Road according to Qazwini. 

The ICA continues to host delegations from government organizations, colleges, churches and more to educate others about Islam and the vibrant community. 

Future expansion plans include more bilingual services, an add-on to the center, and renovation of the school, all made possible by the community commitment to Chirri’s vision. 

“Imam Chirri left a place no one can fill, but he once told me after I asked him what is his will, before he died, he answered, ‘Take care of the center, don’t let anyone take it from you,'” he said. 

Years later, community leaders from all backgrounds preached the same message as they stood hand-in-hand, calling on those present to protect the mosque as Jones attempted to spread his message of hate in Dearborn. 

The 50th anniversary weekend of the ICA kicked off with a Black Tie Gala on Thursday, May 17 as community leaders and members showed their support for the center. 

Judge Charlene Elder served as Mistress of Ceremonies, presenting a ‘Friend of the Community’ Award to Congressman John D. Dingell. His wife Debbie accepted in his place, as he had a House vote to prepare for at the time. 

“This award means more to us than most people would know,” she said, saying that the center stands for the same ideals her husband emphasizes including unity and love, and pledging to fight Islamophobia. 

“I know a lot of things have happened in this country in the last couple decades we never thought we’d see, but we will continue to fight hatred and intolerance, and hatred and intolerance will never, ever win.” 

State Reps George Darany (D-Dearborn) and Bob Constan (D-Dearborn Heights) presented a ‘State of Michigan Tribute’ to the ICA on behalf of Gov. Rick Snyder as well. 

“I hear from people in Lansing all the time who congratulate us on what we’re doing in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, on having a community that works together,” Darany said. 

“Congratulations on 50 years…I’m proud you’re in my community of Dearborn.” 

Also in attendance were Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko, Building Islam in Detroit curator Sally Howell, Dearborn Heights City Clerk Walter Prusiewicz, Community and Economic Development Department Director of Dearborn Heights Ron Amen, Dearborn Judge Mark Somers, and Thomas Tafelski, the City Council President of Dearborn who presented an award to the ICA on behalf of Mayor Jack O’Reilly. 

The original living board members of the first mosque on Joy Road were given special recognition including: Hajj Walid Harb, Hajj Abdallah Harp, Hajj Atif Jawad, Hajj Khalil Kadouh, Mohamad Majed, Hajji Nabiha Makki, Hassan Makled, Hajj Noureddine Saab, Sayyed Issa Safiedine, and Charles Kalil, while the deceased board members were also given a moment of silence by the sell-out crowd. 

Executive Committee Chairman Hajj Jamal Dakroub also spoke, saying he appreciated the support of the community while also speaking about his respect for the late Imam Chirri, who he said “helped to plant the seeds of Islam in this great land.” 

Qazwini related a story about a small masjid he visited in Turkey that was created by a tailor in 1921, and was only capable of holding about 30-40 worshipers. 

He noted that the tailor was able to preserve a special legacy by creating the small but now well known and cherished masjid inside his tailor shop, part of a story demonstrating that legacies can be created even without a large financial commitment. Those who donate funds to the mosque, and even more importantly their time, build their own legacies, he said. 

Dakroub spoke about Chirri’s own legacy, and thanked all those who helped make his dream a reality. 

“Thanks to you, we have realized our lofty goals,” he said.