ASSALAMU ALAIKUM, HOLLYWOOD
The first mosque in Los Angeles was established as “a group of guys who wanted to get together to pray,”...
Islamic Center History
Click Quran above for link to Arabic and recitation.
From its humble beginnings in 1952 to its place in history as architects of the American Muslim identity, the Islamic Center of Southern California owes its success to the blessings of God and the tireless efforts of its members and volunteers.
From the leaders and visionaries who left their day jobs to serve and guide the community, to the moms who cooked homemade meals for hundreds of families each night in Ramadan … From the spiritual and civic leaders who inspired us with their moving sermons, to the volunteers who set up prayer rugs at dawn for thousands anxiously awaiting Eid…
This timeline pays tribute to all the founders, leaders and volunteers—too many to mention—who have helped make the Center a vibrant community where diversity, pluralism and the American Muslim identity thrive.
May God bless you for your contributions, leadership and guidance.
ESTABLISHING ROOTS
According to minutes of the April 1966 Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved bylaws, organized an Islamic library, purchased...
ICSC HIRES FIRST DIRECTOR
The Islamic Center hired Dr. Mohsen El-Biali, then the Director and Imam of the Washington D.C. Islamic Center, to lead...
GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The Islamic Center moved from Fountain Avenue in Hollywood to a newly purchased building located on City Terrace Drive in...
YOUTH GROUP BEGINS 50-YEAR FELLOWSHIP
As the Islamic Center community grew and more families flocked to Southern California, the Muslim Youth Group (MYG) became a...
SETTLING IN AT 434 VERMONT
The community continued to burst at the seams with the influx of new families every year, making the St. Andrews...
“HOME IS WHERE MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE RAISED”
After moving to Los Angeles in 1978, Dr. Maher Hathout began a 40-year tenure with the Islamic Center as chairman,...
MUHAMMAD ALI “SWINGS” BY CENTER
The country’s most well-known American Muslim was a frequent visitor of the Islamic Center when he often stopped for prayers...
NEW HORIZON SCHOOL OPENS
As the community settled in Southern California and their families grew, the challenge arose of how their children would be...
MPAC FOSTERS MUSLIM IDENTITY IN AMERICA
In response to the growing misunderstanding about Islam and Muslims, the Islamic Center launched the Muslim Political Action Committee in...
RENOWNED SCHOLAR JOINS ICSC
When renowned Islamic thinker Dr. Fathi Osman moved to Los Angeles in 1987, he became a resident scholar at the...
PEACEMAKING VIA PIECEMAKING TO HONOR 9/11 VICTIMS
Three weeks before the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Islamic Center along with the Muslim Public Affairs Council...
FIRST WOMAN SERVES AS BOARD CHAIR
The Islamic Center has long welcomed women in participation and leadership roles throughout the organization’s history, with Betty Jean Alsabery...