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{{Short description|Non-profit organization}}
{{Short description|Nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.}}
{{For|the ministry of W. Deen Mohammed|American Society of Muslims}}
{{For|the ministry of W. Deen Mohammed|American Society of Muslims}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox organization
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Muslim American Society
| name                = Muslim American Society
| native_name        =
| image              = Muslim American Society logo (2021).png
| native_name_lang    =
| alt                = Muslim American Society Logo
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| abbreviation        = MAS
| image              = File:Muslim American Society logo.png
| formation          = {{start date and age|1993||}}
| image_size          = 240px
| type                = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]]
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| formation          = {{start date|1993|||df=y}}
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| status              =  
| status              = [[501(c)(3) organization]]
| purpose            =
| headquarters        = [[Washington, DC]]
| headquarters        = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| location_country    = [[United States]]
| location            = [[United States]]
| leader_title        = Executive Director
| coords              = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} -->
| leader_name        = Ayman Hammous
| region              =  
| affiliations        = [[Dar Al-Hijrah]]
| services            =  
| website             = {{URL|https://muslimamericansociety.org/}}
| products            =
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| owner              = <!-- or | owners = -->
| sec_gen             =  
| leader_title2        = Chairman
| leader_name2        = Nadeem Siddiqi<ref name="muslimamericansociety.org">{{cite web |title=MAS condemns the terrorist bombing in Boston and offers prayers to the families of the victims |url=https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/mas-condemns-the-terrorist-bombing-in-boston-and-offers-prayers-to-the-families-of-the-victims/ |website=www.muslimamericansociety.org}}</ref>
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| website            = {{URL|muslimamericansociety.org}}
| remarks            =
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}}
[[File:Muslim American Society of Queens 3523 23 Av jeh.jpg|thumb|Muslim American Society of Queens]]
The '''Muslim American Society''' ('''MAS''') is a [[nonprofit]] organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] MAS describes itself as a grassroots [[Islam|Islamic]] movement.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nimer |first1=Mohamed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oL3ywNT--d4C&q=%22Muslim+American+Society%22+muslim+OR+-+OR+brotherhood&pg=PA71 |title=The North American Muslim resource guide: Muslim community life in the United States and Canada |year=2002 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780415937283 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007060722/https://books.google.com/books?id=oL3ywNT--d4C&q=%22Muslim+American+Society%22+muslim+OR+-+OR+brotherhood&pg=PA71 |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> It has more than 50 chapters across the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Ahmed-Ullah |first1=Noreen S. |last2=Roe |first2=Sam |last3=Cohen |first3=Laurie |date=September 19, 2004 |title=A rare look at secretive Brotherhood in America |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/chi-0409190261sep19-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101041250/https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/chi-0409190261sep19-story.html |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
The '''Muslim American Society''' ('''MAS''') is a [[nonprofit]] organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] MAS describes itself as a grassroots [[Islam|Islamic]] movement.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oL3ywNT--d4C&q=%22Muslim+American+Society%22+muslim+OR+-+OR+brotherhood&pg=PA71|title=''The North American Muslim resource guide: Muslim community life in the United States and Canada'', Mohamed Nimer, Taylor & Francis, 2002, ISBN 0415937280|isbn=9780415937283|last1=Mohamed|first1=Nimer|last2=Nimer|first2=Mohamed|year=2002}}</ref> It has over 50 chapters across the United States.<ref name="aboutpage">{{Cite web|url = http://www.muslimamericansociety.org/about/|title = About The Muslim American Society|access-date = December 16, 2015|website = Muslim American Society}}</ref>
 
== Aims ==
According to its website, the society is a “dynamic charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational, organization” aiming for a virtuous and just American society. Its mission is to "move people to strive for God consciousness, liberty, and justice, and to convey Islam with utmost clarity." It describes its core values as godliness, just balance, comprehensiveness, positive citizenship, justice, development, cooperation, diversity, and commitment.<ref name="aboutpage"/>


== History ==
== History ==
MAS was founded by a small group of [[American Muslims]] who wanted to have a Muslim organization in the United States that would allow them to "organize and integrate Muslims to be a contributing part of American society, to see themselves as Muslim Americans."<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/faq/ |website=muslimamericansociety.org |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>
Muslim American Society (MAS) was founded by a small group of [[American Muslims]] who wanted to have a Muslim organization in the United States that would allow them to "organize and integrate Muslims to be a contributing part of American society, to see themselves as Muslim Americans."<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/faq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309182458/http://www.muslimamericansociety.org/faq/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |website=Muslim American Society}}</ref> According to its website, the society is a "charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational organization" aiming for a virtuous and just American society. Its mission is to "move people and nurture lifelong, God-centered agents of change”.<ref name="aboutpage">{{Cite web |title=About The Muslim American Society |url=https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416192909/https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/about-us/ |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Muslim American Society}}</ref>


MAS has grown into one of the largest Muslim organizations in America and offers a range of programs and services ranging from youth programs to a yearly convention held in [[Chicago]].<ref name="masyouth">{{cite web |title=Youth Department |url=https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/departments/youth/ |website=muslimamericansociety.org |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MAS-ICNA Convention |url=https://www.masconvention.org |website=masconvention.org |access-date=28 December 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Muslim American Society of Queens 3523 23 Av jeh.jpg|thumb|Muslim American Society of Queens]]
 
MAS was incorporated in Illinois in 1993<ref name=":1" /> and established its headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]], in 1998.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Branigin |first=William |date=October 7, 2002 |title=A Union of Muslim, American |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/10/07/a-union-of-muslim-american/54bfdfa2-35b7-490a-932d-bfb316094c4e/ |access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Nimer |first=Mohamed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OdemAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 |title=The North American Muslim Resource Guide: Muslim Community Life in the United States and Canada |date=January 21, 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-35523-4 |pages=69–71 |language=en}}</ref> Founding members of the organization were involved in the [[Muslim Brotherhood]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Adam |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Why the U.A.E. is calling 2 American groups terrorists |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/17/why-the-u-a-e-is-calling-2-american-groups-terrorists/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> an organization started in Egypt in 1928. The Muslim American Society acknowledges its early connection to the Muslim Brotherhood,<ref name=":1" /> including on its website,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gjelten |first=Tom |date=March 24, 2017 |title=Push To Name Muslim Brotherhood A Terrorist Group Worries U.S. Offshoots |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/03/24/520299701/push-to-name-muslim-brotherhood-a-terrorist-group-worries-u-s-offshoots |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204051735/https://www.npr.org/2017/03/24/520299701/push-to-name-muslim-brotherhood-a-terrorist-group-worries-u-s-offshoots |archive-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> but says that it has moved "beyond that point of conception" and "has no connection with the Brotherhood and disagrees with the international organization on many issues".<ref name=":1" />
Towards this end, and often in cooperation with other organizations, MAS provides opportunities to engage U.S. Muslims to participate into a variety of social experiences including community service, interfaith and youth programs, civic and political activism.<ref name="aboutpage"/>
 
== Publications and projects ==
The Muslim American Society advertises on its website a number of publications produced by MAS’ prominent members and affiliates or deemed essential for the educational purposes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = MAS Projects|url = http://www.muslimamericansociety.org/what-we-do/mas-projects/|website = Muslim American Society|access-date = 2016-01-08|language = en-US}}</ref>
 
Among the publications currently sponsored by MAS are:
* Sincerity: The Essential Quality, a book on the value of that virtue originally authored by the Egyptian Sunni preacher [[Yusuf al-Qaradawi]] translated and published in 2007 by MAS Youth;<ref name=":1" />
*Rising Soul, a translation of Al-Mukhtasar Al-Mufid fee Tarbiyat An-Nafs by Dr. Muhammad Mansur, which focuses on replacing bad habits with good qualities and revitalizing the soul with worship.
* Ma’thurat, a short book compiled by the founding father of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood movement [[Hasan al-Banna]] consisting of supplications and Qur'anic verses based on the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.<ref name=":1" />
MAS also promotes several projects:
* the video series “InTheShadeOfRamadan.tv” produced by MAS Youth on a yearly basis featuring “educational and motivational reflections on the month of Ramadan;"<ref name=":1" />
* an online community of American Muslim women, “GrowMama.com,” providing “a supportive, friendly, and non-judgmental space for women to share experiences, support one another, grow in their spirituality, and inspire each other;”<ref name=":1" />
* “40HadithNawawi.com,” a comprehensive compilation of hadith that attempt to convey the real essence of Islam;<ref name=":1" />
* “MAS Immigration Justice Clinic” (MAS IJC), providing a variety of services in the legal field.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = MAS Immigrant Justice Center|url = http://www.masijc.org/|website = MAS Immigrant Justice Center|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>
MAS helps students to read, understand, and memorize the [[Quran]] through its Quran Institute.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Quran Institute|url = http://www.muslimamericansociety.org/what-we-do/quran-institute/|website = Muslim American Society|access-date = 2016-01-08|language = en-US}}</ref>
 
== Affiliations ==
MAS also has an affiliate, the MAS Freedom Foundation,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp |title=Muslim American Society, Retrieved 2007-10-21 |access-date=October 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013041932/http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> whose executive director is [[Mahdi Bray]]. For a number of years, [[Esam Omeish]] was its President.


MAS has participated in interfaith dialogue with the [[U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs]].
In 1999, the organization began publishing a bimonthly English-language magazine, ''The American Muslim''. The following year, the MAS Youth Center opened in [[Brooklyn]], and MAS helped start the [[Islamic American University]], based out of [[Southfield, Michigan]], and [[Kansas City, Missouri]], as a distant-learning program for classical Islamic studies.<ref name=":3" /> In response to anti-Muslim hate following the [[September 11 attacks]], MAS organized events such as Muslim American Heritage Day in [[Washington, D.C.]], where 150 Muslims gathered on October 5, 2002, to pray together on [[Freedom Plaza]].<ref name=":2" /> The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a public policy division led by [[Mahdi Bray]] as executive director,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Michael E. |date=February 9, 2006 |title=U.S. Muslims react to furor with deft diplomacy |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11239054 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204055626/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11239054 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> also offered seminars on how to positively change the perception of Islam among Americans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2003 |title=U.S. Muslims struggle to put new face on Islam |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/04/06/us-muslims-struggle-to-put-new-face-on-islam/28745842007/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Controversy ==
In 2002, the Muslim American Society held its first joint conference with the [[Islamic Circle of North America]] (ICNA).<ref name=":3" /> The MAS–ICNA conference has since been held annually in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ullah |first=Syed Khalil |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Thousands join MAS-ICNA Convention at McCormick Place |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20211228/thousands-join-mas-icna-convention-at-mccormick-place |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Daily Herald |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2016, at a point when representative [[Keith Ellison]] was the leading contender to become Chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]], it was discovered that in a speech at a 2010 Muslim American Society fundraiser, Ellison had asserted that United States foreign policy is "governed by" Israel.<ref name="CillizzaEllison">{{cite news|last1=Cillizza|first1=Chris|title=Keith Ellison's coronation as DNC Chair is over|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/04/keith-ellisons-coronation-as-dnc-chair-hit-a-major-hurdle-this-week/|access-date=6 December 2016|work=Washington Post|date=4 December 2016}}</ref>


In 2019, the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] unveiled a video of children in a Philadelphia MAS center singing about the "blood of martyrs", "We will defend Palestine with our bodies. We will chop off their heads", and "We will lead the army of Allah fulfilling his promise, and we will subject them to eternal torture". The [[Anti-Defamation League]] said that portrayed events were "extremely disturbing" and that "Children should not be indoctrinated to hate". The national MAS organization said in response that "This was an unintended mistake and an oversight in which the center and the students are remorseful. MAS will conduct an internal investigation to ensure this does not occur again". It also said that the organizer of the program at which the event occurred had no affiliation with the organization, and was only renting the space from MAS.<ref>[https://www.philly.com/news/muslim-american-society-philadelphia-children-investigation-20190504.html Muslim American Society investigating ‘oversight’ following controversial video at Philly Islamic center], Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 May 2019, Kristin E. Holmes</ref><ref>[https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/05/04/muslim-american-society-video/ Muslim American Society Investigates Controversial Video At Philly Islamic Center], CBS, 4 May 2019</ref>
In November 2014, MAS was designated a terrorist organization by the [[United Arab Emirates]],<ref>{{cite news |date=November 17, 2015 |title=UAE Includes 2 US Muslim Groups on Terror List |newspaper=Voice of America |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/uae-terror-list-us-muslim-groups/2523980.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082706/http://www.voanews.com/content/uae-terror-list-us-muslim-groups/2523980.html |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}<br />{{cite news |author=Nafeesa Syeed |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Two U.S. Islamic Groups Called Terrorist by U.A.E. |newspaper=Bloomberg |url=http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-17/two-u-s-islamic-groups-called-terrorist-by-u-a-e-.html |access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Adam |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Why the U.A.E. is calling 2 American groups terrorists |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/17/why-the-u-a-e-is-calling-2-american-groups-terrorists/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804150441/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/17/why-the-u-a-e-is-calling-2-american-groups-terrorists/ |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> with 84 other organizations including the Muslim Brotherhood and its regional and local affiliates, and other regional and international groups. MAS, [[Council on American–Islamic Relations|CAIR]] and similar European groups were listed due to their alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties.<ref name="GulfNews20141116">{{Cite web |last=Salama |first=Samir |date=November 16, 2014 |title=UAE addresses root causes of terror |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-addresses-root-causes-of-terror-1.1413289 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910125723/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/uae-addresses-root-causes-of-terror-1.1413289 |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Gulf News |language=en}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] subsequently released a statement saying that the department "does not consider these organisations to be terrorist organisations".<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2014 |title=US Rejects Label of Two American Muslim Groups as Terrorist |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/state-department-rejects-terrorist-group-label-american-muslim-groups/2525418.html |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=VOA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ibrahim |first=Arwa |date=February 13, 2015 |title=US rejects UAE terrorist designation of American groups |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-rejects-uae-terrorist-designation-american-groups |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref> Muslim American Society stated that it had had "no dealings with the United Arab Emirates" and were "perplexed by this news".<ref name=":0" />
=== Alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood ===
Legal proceedings related to the trials of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), eventually designated by the U.S. authorities as a terrorist front providing material support to Hamas included some people allegedly connected to MAS.<ref name=":5">''USA vs Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, et al'', 3:04-CR-240-G (TX ND), List of Unindicted Co-Conspirators and Joint Ventures</ref> FBI agent Laura Burns, who was involved in the HLF investigation, testified that a phonebook found at the home of an unindicted co-conspirator and former assistant to Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzook, Ismail Elbarrasse, included the names of the three founding incorporators of the Muslim American Society, [[Ahmed Elkadi]], Jamal Badawi, and Omar Soubani, among the contact information of Muslim Brotherhood leaders in the United States.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url = http://counterterrorismblog.org/site-resources/images/1992_Phone_Directory.pdf|title = 1992 Phone Directory|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> Ahmed-Ullah, Roe and Cohen also claimed that Muslim Brotherhood leaders both in the U.S. and in Egypt campaigned for the founding of the Muslim American Society in the early 1990s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = A rare look at secretive Brotherhood in America|url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/chi-0409190261sep19-story.html|website = chicagotribune.com|access-date = 2016-01-08|quote=Shaker Elsayed, a top MAS official, says the organization was founded by Brotherhood members but has evolved to include Muslims from various backgrounds and ideologies...Now, he says, his group has no connection with the Brotherhood and disagrees with the international organization on many issues.}}</ref> The authors claimed that the goal of the organization was to promote the same ideological goals as the Muslim Brotherhood, namely the reformation of American society through the spread of Islam towards the final establishment of Islamic rule on American soil.<ref name=":2" /> Abdurrahman Alamoudi, an influential lobbyist and fundraiser and once advisor to Bill Clinton’s administration who pleaded guilty in 2004 to charges including engaging in illegal financial transactions with the Libyan government and facilitating a Libyan plot to assassinate then-Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title = The Boston Globe's Paean To Boston's Jihad Enablers|url = https://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2015/08/05/the-boston-globes-paean-to-bostons-jihad-enablers/|website = Center for Security Policy|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> testified in court in 2012 that MAS was a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.<ref name=":4" />


In an article published by the controversial "Counterterrorism Blog" in 2007, Mohamed Habib, a Cairo-based senior Muslim Brotherhood official, reportedly ascribed the reasons for MAS’ simultaneously espousing the Muslim Brotherhood ideology and distancing itself from the global movement to “security inconveniences” experienced by the organization after 9/11 in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Counterterrorism Blog: Muslim Brotherhood Phonebook Confirms that MAS is Brotherhood's Baby|url = http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/08/muslim_brotherhood_phonebook_c.php|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070816165109/http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/08/muslim_brotherhood_phonebook_c.php|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2007-08-16|website = counterterrorismblog.org|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>
MAS started the “Know your Muslim neighbor" program in January 2016 in response to growing anti-Islam sentiment. With the first event held in [[Metro Detroit]], the program includes opportunities to learn about Muslim culture and traditions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Mark |date=January 16, 2016 |title='Know Your Muslim Neighbor' event planned Saturday |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/religion/2016/01/16/know-muslim-neighbor-rochester-hills/78887748/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> Similar events were held in [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]], in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burney |first=Melanie |date=February 2, 2018 |title=Cherry Hill wants residents to 'Know your Muslim neighbor' |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/new_jersey/cherry-hill-meet-a-muslim-neighbors-event-20180202.html |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Galveston Bay Area]] in 2019, following the [[Christchurch mosque shootings]] at a mosque in New Zealand and [[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings|Easter bombing attacks on churches]] in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orozco |first=Yvette |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Clear Lake 'Meet Your Muslim Neighbor' event seen as timely |url=https://apnews.com/article/856d1177188a40d483551241d42843d2 |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>


MAS has responded to the accusations by saying that although some people involved in the founding of the organization were connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, it does not have any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood or any international organization.
In 2019, the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] published a video of children in a Philadelphia MAS center singing about the "blood of martyrs".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Kristin E. |date=May 4, 2019 |title=Muslim American Society investigating 'oversight' following controversial video at Philly Islamic center; event organizer 'dismissed' |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/muslim-american-society-philadelphia-children-investigation-20190504.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505061944/https://www.philly.com/news/muslim-american-society-philadelphia-children-investigation-20190504.html |archive-date=2019-05-05 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Muslim American Society Investigates Controversial Video At Philly Islamic Center |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/muslim-american-society-video/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=May 4, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> Two young girls recited a revolutionary anthem popular among Islamists, with one saying of Israeli Jews:  "We will chop off their heads, and we will liberate the sorrowful and exalted Al-Aqsa Mosque."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-06 |title=Philadelphia City Commission Probing 'Disturbing' Video At Philly Islamic Center - CBS Philadelphia |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-city-commission-islamic-center/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>


=== Alleged Terrorism ties ===
In September 2019, the Muslim American Society of Minnesota co-organized a protest along with the Council on American–Islamic Relations and Anti-War Committee to “condemn human rights abuses and security crackdowns under India's Hindu nationalist-led government". The protest was in response to Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s appearance with U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] at a rally in [[Houston]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ibrahim |first=Mukhtar M. |date=September 22, 2019 |title='I'm here to stand up against oppression': Minnesotans protest divisive rhetoric, security crackdown in India |url=http://sahanjournal.com/democracy-politics/im-here-to-stand-up-against-oppression-minnesotans-protest-divisive-rhetoric-security-crackdown-in-india/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Sahan Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the [[murder of George Floyd]], members of MAS of Minnesota participated in the protests calling for justice for the African American man who was killed by police.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Jack |date=May 29, 2020 |title=In Minneapolis, faith groups rush to aid demonstrators as they decry racism |url=https://religionnews.com/2020/05/29/in-minneapolis-faith-groups-rush-to-aid-demonstrators-as-they-decry-racism-protest-floyd/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2014 MAS was designated a terrorist organization by the [[United Arab Emirates]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/uae-terror-list-us-muslim-groups/2523980.html|title=UAE Includes 2 US Muslim Groups on Terror List|newspaper=Voice of America|date=17 November 2015|access-date=24 January 2015}}<br />{{cite news |author=Nafeesa Syeed |title=Two U.S. Islamic Groups Called Terrorist by U.A.E. |url=http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-17/two-u-s-islamic-groups-called-terrorist-by-u-a-e-.html |newspaper=Bloomberg |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=24 January 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Wapo20141107">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/17/why-the-u-a-e-is-calling-2-american-groups-terrorists/ Washington Post: "Why the U.A.E. is calling 2 American groups terrorists" By Adam Taylor] November 17, 2014</ref><ref name="wam.ae">{{cite news|url=http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395272478814.html|title=UAE Cabinet approves list of designated terrorist organisations, groups|date=15 November 2014|newspaper=[[WAM Emirates News Agency]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224100916/http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395272478814.html|archive-date=December 24, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Perry Chiaramonte |title=US group CAIR named terrorist organization by United Arab Emirates |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/17/us-group-cair-added-to-terror-list-by-united-arab-emirates/?intcmp=latestnews |newspaper=Fox News |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=24 January 2015 }}</ref> with 84 other organizations which included [[Al Qaida]], [[Daesh]], the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and its regional and local affiliates, and other regional and international groups. MAS, CAIR and similar European groups were listed due to their alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties.<ref name="GulfNews20141116">[http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/uae-addresses-root-causes-of-terror-1.1413289 UAE addresses root causes of terror], Gulf News, Samir Salama, 16 Nov 2014</ref>


Jamal Balawi, one of the three MAS founders, is listed among the “unindicted co-conspirators” in the trial of the Holy Land Foundation, a charity for which he allegedly fundraised.<ref name=":5" /> Balawi also notoriously endorsed “combative jihad” and suicide bombings, and publicly celebrated Hamas terrorists as “martyrs.”<ref>February 2009, lecture on "Understanding Jihad and Martyrdom," Chebucto Mosque in Halifax, Nova Scotia.</ref> A former MAS Communications Director, Randall Royer, was arrested in 2003 by federal agents and charged of conspiring with Lashkar-i-Taibi (Army of the Righteous), a Pakistani Wahhabi terrorist group to engage in terrorist operations in Chechnya, Kashmir and elsewhere.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title = #225: 04-09-04 RANDALL TODD ROYER AND IBRAHIM AHMED AL-HAMDI SENTENCED FOR PARTICIPATION IN VIRGINIA JIHAD NETWORK|url = http://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2004/April/04_crm_225.htm|website = www.justice.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> Royer was a member of the “Virginia Jihad Network,” a network of jihadists centered in North Virginia, and he acknowledged supporting several members of that circle to access Lashkar-i-Taibi training camps.<ref name=":6" />
During [[2020 United States presidential election|the 2020 U.S. elections]], Ismahan Abdullahi, executive director of the Muslim American Society, said that the organization made 185,000 calls and texts to Arab and Muslim communities in eight states including Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Lauren |date=November 7, 2020 |title="This is a powerful moment": Arab, Muslim community votes in record number |url=https://www.fox17online.com/news/election-2020/this-is-a-powerful-moment-arab-muslim-community-votes-in-record-number |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=WXMI |language=en}}</ref> Abdullahi is also executive director of MAS PACE National, a policy advocacy division of MAS.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mansoor |first=Sanya |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Cautious Welcome For Biden's Reversal of 'Muslim and African' Travel Ban |url=https://time.com/5932143/biden-ends-muslim-african-ban/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref>


Finally, a significant number of advertisers in MAS publication The American Muslim, which often contain references to suicide bombings as martyr operations, were later uncovered by the U.S. authorities to be involved in terror financing.<ref>''American Muslim'', June 2002, pp. 37-38; ''American Muslim'', June 2002, pp. 31-32; ''American Muslim'', September 2001, p. 36; ''American Muslim'', July 2003, p. 21.</ref> It is worth mentioning in particular:
Asad Zaman, executive director of the MAS of Minnesota, said in August 2020 that the organization's food distribution program run at its three Minnesota mosques was up 500% due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Jean Hopfensperger Star |title=Faith groups grapple with economic fallout of COVID-19 |url=https://www.startribune.com/faith-groups-grapple-with-economic-fallout-of-covid-19/572195482/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Star Tribune|date=August 23, 2020 }}</ref> In early April 2021, Zaman helped organize a COVID-19 vaccination campaign based out of 16 mosques in Minnesota which succeeded in vaccinating 7,000 people in the lead up to the month of [[Ramadan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopfensperger |first=Jean |title=Minnesota mosques prepare for Ramadan —with COVID-19 vaccines |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-mosques-prepare-for-ramadan-with-covid-19-vaccines/600044870/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Star Tribune|date=April 12, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Global Relief Foundation]], which had its assets frozen in 2002 for providing funding to al-Qaeda;<ref>''American Muslim'', January 2001 and December 2001.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Treasury Department Statement Regarding the Designation of the Global Relief Foundation|url = https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/po3553.aspx|website = www.treasury.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>
* [[KindHearts for Charitable Humanitarian Development]], which the U.S. authorities qualified has “the progeny of Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation, which attempted to mask their support for terrorism behind the façade of charitable giving;”<ref>''American Muslim'', November 2002, May 2003, July 2003, August/September 2003, November/December 2003, January 2004, December 2004/January 2005, April/May 2005, January/February 2006.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Treasury Freezes Assets of Organization Tied to Hamas|url = https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/js4058.aspx|website = www.treasury.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>
* Islamic African Relief Agency, now Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA), which the U.S. Treasury qualified as a specially designated global terrorist organization for its support of Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the Taliban in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Treasury Designates Global Network, Senior Officials of IARA for Supporting bin Laden, Others|url = https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/js2025.aspx|website = www.treasury.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref><ref>''American Muslim'', January 2001, September 2001, December 2001, March 2002, November 2002, May 2003, July 2003.</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090803033628/http://muslimamericansociety.org/main/ Muslim American Society]
* {{official website|https://www.muslimamericansociety.org/}}
* [http://www.masyouth.net/ MAS Youth]
 
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Islamic organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Islamic organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Islamic political organizations]]
[[Category:Islamic political organizations]]
[[Category:Muslim Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Kansas]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Kansas]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist in North America]]
[[Category:Organizations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood]]
[[Category:Organizations based in North America designated as terrorist]]

Latest revision as of 02:05, 9 April 2025


For the ministry of W. Deen Mohammed, see American Society of Muslims.
Muslim American Society
Muslim American Society Logo
AbbreviationMAS
Formation1993; 33 years ago (1993)
TypeNonprofit
Legal status501(c)(3) organization
HeadquartersWashington, DC
Location
Executive Director
Ayman Hammous
AffiliationsDar Al-Hijrah
Websitemuslimamericansociety.org

The Muslim American Society (MAS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. MAS describes itself as a grassroots Islamic movement.[1] It has more than 50 chapters across the United States.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Muslim American Society (MAS) was founded by a small group of American Muslims who wanted to have a Muslim organization in the United States that would allow them to "organize and integrate Muslims to be a contributing part of American society, to see themselves as Muslim Americans."[3] According to its website, the society is a "charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational organization" aiming for a virtuous and just American society. Its mission is to "move people and nurture lifelong, God-centered agents of change”.[4]

Muslim American Society of Queens

MAS was incorporated in Illinois in 1993[2] and established its headquarters in Washington, DC, in 1998.[5][6] Founding members of the organization were involved in the Muslim Brotherhood,[7] an organization started in Egypt in 1928. The Muslim American Society acknowledges its early connection to the Muslim Brotherhood,[2] including on its website,[8] but says that it has moved "beyond that point of conception" and "has no connection with the Brotherhood and disagrees with the international organization on many issues".[2]

In 1999, the organization began publishing a bimonthly English-language magazine, The American Muslim. The following year, the MAS Youth Center opened in Brooklyn, and MAS helped start the Islamic American University, based out of Southfield, Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri, as a distant-learning program for classical Islamic studies.[6] In response to anti-Muslim hate following the September 11 attacks, MAS organized events such as Muslim American Heritage Day in Washington, D.C., where 150 Muslims gathered on October 5, 2002, to pray together on Freedom Plaza.[5] The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a public policy division led by Mahdi Bray as executive director,[9] also offered seminars on how to positively change the perception of Islam among Americans.[10]

In 2002, the Muslim American Society held its first joint conference with the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).[6] The MAS–ICNA conference has since been held annually in Chicago.[11]

In November 2014, MAS was designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates,[12][13] with 84 other organizations including the Muslim Brotherhood and its regional and local affiliates, and other regional and international groups. MAS, CAIR and similar European groups were listed due to their alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties.[14] The U.S. State Department subsequently released a statement saying that the department "does not consider these organisations to be terrorist organisations".[15][16] Muslim American Society stated that it had had "no dealings with the United Arab Emirates" and were "perplexed by this news".[13]

MAS started the “Know your Muslim neighbor" program in January 2016 in response to growing anti-Islam sentiment. With the first event held in Metro Detroit, the program includes opportunities to learn about Muslim culture and traditions.[17] Similar events were held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in 2018[18] and the Galveston Bay Area in 2019, following the Christchurch mosque shootings at a mosque in New Zealand and Easter bombing attacks on churches in Sri Lanka.[19]

In 2019, the Middle East Media Research Institute published a video of children in a Philadelphia MAS center singing about the "blood of martyrs".[20][21] Two young girls recited a revolutionary anthem popular among Islamists, with one saying of Israeli Jews: "We will chop off their heads, and we will liberate the sorrowful and exalted Al-Aqsa Mosque."[22]

In September 2019, the Muslim American Society of Minnesota co-organized a protest along with the Council on American–Islamic Relations and Anti-War Committee to “condemn human rights abuses and security crackdowns under India's Hindu nationalist-led government". The protest was in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appearance with U.S. president Donald Trump at a rally in Houston.[23] Following the murder of George Floyd, members of MAS of Minnesota participated in the protests calling for justice for the African American man who was killed by police.[24]

During the 2020 U.S. elections, Ismahan Abdullahi, executive director of the Muslim American Society, said that the organization made 185,000 calls and texts to Arab and Muslim communities in eight states including Michigan.[25] Abdullahi is also executive director of MAS PACE National, a policy advocacy division of MAS.[26]

Asad Zaman, executive director of the MAS of Minnesota, said in August 2020 that the organization's food distribution program run at its three Minnesota mosques was up 500% due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] In early April 2021, Zaman helped organize a COVID-19 vaccination campaign based out of 16 mosques in Minnesota which succeeded in vaccinating 7,000 people in the lead up to the month of Ramadan.[28]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Nimer, Mohamed (2002). The North American Muslim resource guide: Muslim community life in the United States and Canada. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415937283. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ahmed-Ullah, Noreen S.; Roe, Sam; Cohen, Laurie (September 19, 2004). "A rare look at secretive Brotherhood in America". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Muslim American Society. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  4. ↑ "About The Muslim American Society". Muslim American Society. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Branigin, William (October 7, 2002). "A Union of Muslim, American". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Nimer, Mohamed (January 21, 2014). The North American Muslim Resource Guide: Muslim Community Life in the United States and Canada. Routledge. pp. 69–71. ISBN 978-1-135-35523-4.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Adam (November 17, 2014). "Why the U.A.E. is calling 2 American groups terrorists". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Gjelten, Tom (March 24, 2017). "Push To Name Muslim Brotherhood A Terrorist Group Worries U.S. Offshoots". NPR.org. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ Ross, Michael E. (February 9, 2006). "U.S. Muslims react to furor with deft diplomacy". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Muslims struggle to put new face on Islam". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. April 6, 2003. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ Ullah, Syed Khalil (December 28, 2021). "Thousands join MAS-ICNA Convention at McCormick Place". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "UAE Includes 2 US Muslim Groups on Terror List". Voice of America. November 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
    Nafeesa Syeed (November 17, 2014). "Two U.S. Islamic Groups Called Terrorist by U.A.E." Bloomberg. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Taylor, Adam (November 17, 2014). "Why the U.A.E. is calling 2 American groups terrorists". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ Salama, Samir (November 16, 2014). "UAE addresses root causes of terror". Gulf News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ "US Rejects Label of Two American Muslim Groups as Terrorist". VOA. November 18, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ Ibrahim, Arwa (February 13, 2015). "US rejects UAE terrorist designation of American groups". Middle East Eye. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  17. ↑ Hicks, Mark (January 16, 2016). "'Know Your Muslim Neighbor' event planned Saturday". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  18. ↑ Burney, Melanie (February 2, 2018). "Cherry Hill wants residents to 'Know your Muslim neighbor'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ Orozco, Yvette (April 25, 2019). "Clear Lake 'Meet Your Muslim Neighbor' event seen as timely". AP News. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ Holmes, Kristin E. (May 4, 2019). "Muslim American Society investigating 'oversight' following controversial video at Philly Islamic center; event organizer 'dismissed'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Muslim American Society Investigates Controversial Video At Philly Islamic Center". www.cbsnews.com. May 4, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Philadelphia City Commission Probing 'Disturbing' Video At Philly Islamic Center - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. May 6, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ Ibrahim, Mukhtar M. (September 22, 2019). "'I'm here to stand up against oppression': Minnesotans protest divisive rhetoric, security crackdown in India". Sahan Journal. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ Jenkins, Jack (May 29, 2020). "In Minneapolis, faith groups rush to aid demonstrators as they decry racism". Religion News Service. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  25. ↑ Edwards, Lauren (November 7, 2020). ""This is a powerful moment": Arab, Muslim community votes in record number". WXMI. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  26. ↑ Mansoor, Sanya (January 21, 2021). "Cautious Welcome For Biden's Reversal of 'Muslim and African' Travel Ban". Time. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ Tribune, Jean Hopfensperger Star (August 23, 2020). "Faith groups grapple with economic fallout of COVID-19". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  28. ↑ Hopfensperger, Jean (April 12, 2021). "Minnesota mosques prepare for Ramadan —with COVID-19 vaccines". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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