The Worcester Islamic Center (WIC), or the Worcester Mosque, is a
mosque
A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard.
Originally, mosques were si ...
located in
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...
. The center started its operations in Oct 2005 (Ramadan 1426). There is also a
madrasa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes Romanization of Arabic, romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any Educational institution, type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whet ...
housed in the same building on the first floor. The website for the school i
Alhuda Academy
The center was built to replace the earlier mosque in the city, officially called ISGW (Islamic Society of Greater Worcester). The ISGW building was not adequate for the size of the congregation during the Friday and Eid prayers.
Leadership
From 1998 to 2007, Hamid Mahmood served as the mosque's imam. Imam Mahmood earned an undergraduate degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the
University of the Punjab
The University of the Punjab (UoP) is a public university, public research university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded in 1882, its international influence has made it one of the most prestigious universities in South As ...
. During his tenure, the members of the mosque community began to engage in interfaith activity in the area, and the imam initiated frequent visits to the mosque by other area religious communities. Mahmood resigned from the mosque when visa complications required him and his family to return to Pakistan.
*2007–2018: Imam Abdulkarim Hassan
*2018–current: Imam Dr. Asif Hirani
See also
*
List of mosques in the Americas
*
Lists of mosques
*
List of mosques in the United States
References
External links
*
Mosques in Massachusetts
Mosques completed in 2005
Religious buildings and structures in Worcester, Massachusetts
2005 establishments in Massachusetts
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