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The Birmingham Islamic Society is the largest organization for Muslims in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Founded in the 1970s in a building near [[UAB]], the society later moved into the former Rosedale School building in the historic [[Rosedale]] community of [[Homewood]]. This building is the site of the [[Islamic Academy of Alabama]], an accredited school with additional instruction in the Qur'an and the Arabic language.
[[Image:BIS.png|right]]
The '''Birmingham Islamic Society''' is a religious organization comprised of more than 750 members of the Muslim faith. Primarily serving Sunni Muslims, it is the largest organization for Muslims in the Birmingham metropolitan area. The Society's president is [[Khaled Sakalla]]. [[Ashfaq Taufique]] is president emeritus.


Friday prayers are held at the Rosedale center and at a rented facility in Hoover. Eid services (on the two major annual Islamic holidays) are held jointly with all of the city's Muslim congregations, often at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]].
The organization grew out of the [[Muslim Student Association]] at [[UAB]] which was formed in the early 1980s. The society was formed in [[1990]] as an unincoporated assoication. Initially it oppperated a 3,000 square foot masjid (i.e., mosque) near UAB. In 1996 it moved into the former [[Rosedale School]] building in the historic [[Rosedale]] community in [[Homewood]]. This building (approximately 40,000 square feet) also became the home of the [[Islamic Academy of Alabama]], an accredited school with additional instruction in the Qur'an and the Arabic language.


To accommodate the rapid growth of the local Muslim community, the BIS in 2006 purchased the former [[Point of Grace Church]] on [[Hackberry Lane]] in [[Hoover]]. On May 15 the [[Hoover City Council]] approved the expansion of the facility into a mosque.  
Friday prayers are held at the Homewood Masjid in Rosedale, the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center, and the West End Masjid in Fairfield. Eid services (on the two major annual Islamic holidays) are held jointly with all of the city's Muslim congregations. These have often been at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]]. In 2019 they were at the Finley Center in Hoover.


The BIS provides a variety of services for Muslims, including emergency financial assistance, educational and social events for the community, marriages, and burials.
The BIS provides a variety of services for Muslims, including emergency financial assistance, educational and social events for the community, marriages, and burials. Each year during the Islamic month of Ramadan, the Society invites groups of non-Muslim guests to the Homewood center for evening meals, tours, and open discussion.
 
In February [[2008]] the Society opened the doors on the new [[Hoover Crescent Islamic Center]] in the former [[Point of Grace Church]]. The mosque, also termed masjid, serves mainly as a location for prayers and youth activities, complementing the Rosedale facility. A [[Red Crescent Clinic]] operates there on Sunday afternoons. The Islamic Academy remains in Rosedale.
 
The BIS also operates the [[West Side Masjid]] in [[Fairfield]], which opened in early 2010, the [[Muslim Garden]] cemetery within [[Oakland Cemetery]] in [[Ensley]] and a mosque in [[Jasper]].
 
==References==
* Bryan, Kim (October 21, 2006) "Christians, Jews find faiths linked at Islamic center." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (October 13, 2007) "Muslims looking forward to new Bluff Park mosque." {{BN}}
* Velasco, Eric (February 17, 2008) "New mosque in Hoover opens its doors for an open house." {{BN}}
* DeVries, Annalise (September 1, 2012) "[http://b-metro.com/the-faithful/7253/ The Faithful: The city's Muslim community finds a home]" ''B-Metro''
 
==External links==
* [http://bisweb.org/ Birmingham Islamic Society]
* [[Karim Shamsi-Basha]] and Ann Walton Sieber. [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200606/birmingham.9.to.5.htm "Birmingham 9 to 5."] ''Saudi Aramco World'' 57 (6) (November/December 2006): 33-43.
* [https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamIslamicSociety/]


[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Mosques]]
[[Category:Mosques]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Religious organizations in Jefferson County]]
[[Category:Rosedale School]]
[[Category:Hackberry Lane]]
[[Category:1990 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 17:00, 12 November 2023

BIS.png

The Birmingham Islamic Society is a religious organization comprised of more than 750 members of the Muslim faith. Primarily serving Sunni Muslims, it is the largest organization for Muslims in the Birmingham metropolitan area. The Society's president is Khaled Sakalla. Ashfaq Taufique is president emeritus.

The organization grew out of the Muslim Student Association at UAB which was formed in the early 1980s. The society was formed in 1990 as an unincoporated assoication. Initially it oppperated a 3,000 square foot masjid (i.e., mosque) near UAB. In 1996 it moved into the former Rosedale School building in the historic Rosedale community in Homewood. This building (approximately 40,000 square feet) also became the home of the Islamic Academy of Alabama, an accredited school with additional instruction in the Qur'an and the Arabic language.

Friday prayers are held at the Homewood Masjid in Rosedale, the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center, and the West End Masjid in Fairfield. Eid services (on the two major annual Islamic holidays) are held jointly with all of the city's Muslim congregations. These have often been at the Alabama State Fairgrounds. In 2019 they were at the Finley Center in Hoover.

The BIS provides a variety of services for Muslims, including emergency financial assistance, educational and social events for the community, marriages, and burials. Each year during the Islamic month of Ramadan, the Society invites groups of non-Muslim guests to the Homewood center for evening meals, tours, and open discussion.

In February 2008 the Society opened the doors on the new Hoover Crescent Islamic Center in the former Point of Grace Church. The mosque, also termed masjid, serves mainly as a location for prayers and youth activities, complementing the Rosedale facility. A Red Crescent Clinic operates there on Sunday afternoons. The Islamic Academy remains in Rosedale.

The BIS also operates the West Side Masjid in Fairfield, which opened in early 2010, the Muslim Garden cemetery within Oakland Cemetery in Ensley and a mosque in Jasper.

References

External links

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