A presentation used in one of the planning sessions of iCAN (Islamic Circle of Australia and New Zealand) WA Chapter.

1. ICNA Case Study
CAN WE LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS MODEL

3. https://www.masconvention.org/

4. ISNA
 Stages of formation:
 Muslim Doctors Association
 Association of Muslim Scientists and so on
 All willing to make an effort
 Ultimately led to formation of ISNA
 Later on other groups or Arab and Malaysian roots
joined ISNA too

5. ISNA
ISNA served as an umbrella for various
organizations working underneath its banner
Key focus:
Building organizations and Islamic centres
Islamic Fund established to sponsor Islamic
projects
A legal organization established to deal with
property related cases for Islamic projects
Established a publishing house which
translated and published a number of books
(largest books distributor in the Western
World – 2500 titles)
Head Quarter established in 80s
Muslim Youth of America (1985)
Conventions;
Established a number of schools More
than 300 schools
Muslim Trade Fair (muslims business
from around the world come and join)
Annual Scholarships
Endowment fund established in 1996;
20% of organizations earnings go to
the fund
56th annual convention in 2019
A number of other developmental
initiatives

6. MAS
 Initially of Arab descent
 Became open to broader society in 1999
 Published magazine
 350 study circles every weak
 MAS Youth Centre
 Islamic American University
 Closely work with ICNA as the two share the same objective
 In 2000, ICNA and MAS unified their educational programs; members of
both organizations go through same training

7. Roots
 Formed by students who came from South Asia
 In the 1950s, many Muslim youth started coming to the U.S. for higher
education. When they arrived, they did not find very many organized
Islamic groups here. The largest national organization of Muslims –Nation
of Islam — was not an authentic Islamic organization. It was led by a self-
proclaimed prophet, Elijah Muhammad, who had mixed some Islamic
tenets with his own distorted beliefs. The only other national organization
was the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIA). It was a loose association
of a few Islamic centers that held an annual convention to provide an
opportunity for Muslims, especially Muslim youth, to socialize. Many
Islamic norms were violated in that process.

8. 1
1968
Formation:
Mainly South Asian;
Urdu language;
Work on self-
development and
Islamic education
2
1977
Incorporation:
Decision to work in
broader community;
English Language to
ensure inclusion and
diversity; Aim to
establish a place for
Islam in broader
community
3
80s
Expansion projects:
Divisions were formed to fulfil needs of broader
community; Head Quarters established in
various metros;
Institutions: Why Islam; Young Muslims; ICNA
Relief; Muslims Alert Network; National Shura
Council; Muslim Investments;
ICNA Sisters Wing, The Message (magazine)
and so on
5
4
1985
First Annual Convention:
In addition, Regional
Annual Conferences;
NeighbourNets (for the
regular meetings of
members in close-by
suburbs)
1993
Chapters and by-laws:
Approved and adopted
by various chapters
6
1985
Increased outreach:
Family Day (50,000 participants);
All major scholars linked; Annual
conferences; ICNA Council for Social
Justice formed to raise Muslim voice on
issues of concern; JV with other
organizations (including non-Muslim
ones); Helping Hand USA; Video
Productions; ILF Foundation;
Muslim family services. Sound Vision

9. 42 Annual Conventions Held
 Attended by between 18K to 20K people
 Lectures provide not only to the local community but also those who live
overseas

10. ISNA or ICNA
 ISNA: Focussed on Islamic Centre Development
 ICNA: Focussed on community activities and development of scholars and
activists

11. Core focus
 More than 100 study circles across US each month
 Quranic Education is the key focus

12. Members commitments
Time Commitments:
 Min 1 hour daily on learning and organization responsibilities
 Min 2 hours on weekends for any good cause
Around 6000 members nationwide

13. Community services
 Soup kitchens for the poor
 School bags project
 Community clean-ups
 Efforts against drug addiction

15. All groups focus on youth

16. Criticism
 Islamophobes
 Muslim Youth sometime criticise them for being too desi (even the desi
ones)
 ISNA’s charity wing in America was stripped from the tax-exempt status
after it supported ‘Relief Organization for Kashmiri Muslims’. There were
concerns about record-keeping standards and supporting other
organizations with no control on where they spend the money; Mosque
donations were also taken as charity donations allowing the donors to
claim the tax refund for what they pay for the mosque