Mosque Foundation

VISION STATEMENT Our vision is to be the leading mosque in the United States in providing Islamic guidance and services to the community. MISSION STATEMENT The Mosque Foundation serves the spiritual, religious and communal needs of area Muslims by means of nurturing their faith, upholding their values, and fostering the well-being of the surrounding community through worship, charity, education, outreach, and civic engagement. HISTORY & TIMELINE A Masjid in Chicago: From Dream to Excellence More than half a century ago, the seed of the Mosque Foundation was planted. This quietly took place in 1954 when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President and the population of the United States stood at 163 million. It was a time when immigration to America was high, and when Chicago was a central welcoming hub, especially for families from the Middle East and North Africa. Like other immigrants, newly arriving Muslims from this region were immediately confronted with the harsh reality that their values and beliefs would not automatically carry on from one generation to the next without a concerted effort. In 1954, in response to this realization, a handful of Arab immigrants on Chicago’s famous Southside established the Mosque Foundation of Chicago with the dream of one day building a structure to house the religious and cultural activities of their growing families. Soon after, that dream became a reality as the Mosque Foundation became one of the busiest mosques in America, serving a community of more than 50,000 Muslims. Early on, Chicago area Muslims rented various sites around the south side of Chicago to hold congregational Eid Prayers and celebrations. Friday prayers were held in storefront properties of Muslim-owned businesses. As the population of the Muslim community grew, the need was realized to purchase a property. So, in 1963, a church located at 6500 S Steward Avenue was purchased and converted into a prayer hall and school for the community of more than a hundred