The Islamic Center of Nashville

Vision Statement

Stronger Communities through Awareness, Education, and Action

Mission Statement

I.C.N. is the organization whose mission is to provide for the religious, social, educational and other community needs of the Muslims throughout Middle Tennessee, to provide comprehensive and accurate information on Islam to Non-Muslims throughout Middle Tennessee, and to participate in the general welfare of the Nashville community through community services.

The Historical Background

In the early 1970s, there were only a few Muslims residing in Nashville. The weekly Friday Congregational prayers (Jumu'a) were held at the Afro House (now known as the Black Cultural Center) at Vanderbilt University. As time progressed, attendance at the Friday (Jurnu'a) Prayers gradually increased from 5 to 40. By 1978, a few individuals gathered together to form the Islamic Center of Nashville. Shortly thereafter, in 1979, with a collection of $30,000 including a generous donation from Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) of England, the Islamic Center of Nashville purchased an old house located on the corner of 12th Ave South and Sweetbriar Ave. The community continued to use it as a Masjid (Mosque) until 1989 when the old house was demolished and a new Masjid was built. Until today, the ICN is one of the main centers for all religious, social and community activities for the Muslims of Nashville.

The Demography, Diversity, and Unity of the Community

The Muslim population in Nashville is estimated to be around 20,000. The Muslims in Nashville are well diverse with ethnic representations from around 40 nations including Somalia, Kurdistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Morocco, Algeria, Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States. Yet, the community is quite cohesive, well organized and closely tied together.

1978 - The Islamic Center of Nashville was founded.
1979 - The house on the existing site of the Masjid (Mosque) was purchased.
1989 - Constructed a new Masjid that accommodates more than 400 worshipers.
1991 - Purchased the house next to the Masjid on Sweetbriar Ave.
1995 - Bought a 10.6 acres land on a prime location for a full-time school, masjid
and community center.
1995 - Started a full-time school in temporary facilities on the newly purchased
property.
1997 - Purchased a 5 acre graveyard for Muslim burial.
1997 - Established the newsletter Da'wah for the ICN.
1997 - Completed the extension of the Masjid.
1998 - Instituted a monthly social/religious gathering for the whole community.
1999 - Hired a full-time Imam (clergy), Abdulhakim Mohamed.

• Participated in Habitat for Humanity Project last June. Worked with the Temple and the Belle Meade United Methodist Church.
• Gathered Money for the Red Cross and gave blood after 9/11
• Crop Walk to raise money for those who are in need
• Nashville Peace & Justice Center
• NES Green Power
• Rounded a group to help clean up after the tornado of 1998
• Free winter coat & clothes drive last year to provide for the community
• Scaritt Bennett Center Dialogue on Diversity
• Interfaith Alliance
• Mayor's Celebrating Neighborhoods Conference
• Night out Against Crime
• Police Diversity Training
• Monthly Free Medical Checkup
• Offered Job Readiness classes
• M. S. Walk
• Great American Cleanup (2004)
• Provide education & awareness on Islam to those who inquire about it through our center, such as churches, classes, universities, etc.