The Islamic Society of Augusta was formally incorporated on May 14, 1976.
For over five centuries, Muslims have been in the Americas (long before the United States of America was formed).
“Muslims first arrived on the shores of the Americas at the turn of the sixteenth century, yet their long history in the western hemisphere has been largely forgotten. For centuries Islam was the second-most widely practiced monotheistic religion in the Americas, after Catholicism; some Muslims came from Spain to escape persecution at the hands of the Inquisition for continuing to practice their religion, while others were taken captive and forcibly crammed into the hulls of ships on the West African coast and transported across the Atlantic…” Urus, Arianne. Harvard University History & Literature Course “Islam in Early America” (https://histlit.fas.harvard.edu/class/hist-lit-90ei-islam-early-america)
“Georgia’s trustees allowed slavery in the colony after 1750, enslaved African Muslims made their first arrival in the colony.“
Hepworth, Jonathan. “Islam and Muslims in Georgia.” New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified November 1, 2024.
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/islam-and-muslims-in-georgia/
Muslims have long been an integral part of the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area), significantly contributing to its cultural fabric and community spirit. Their enduring presence and meaningful contributions have shaped the region. Building upon this rich history, a dedicated group of Muslims took action in the spring of 1976, establishing the Islamic Society of Augusta. Today, this organization proudly serves and supports hundreds of individuals, continuing the legacy of inclusivity and service within the Muslim community and to the CSRA.
ISA was a founding member of Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta (IFFA).
ISA members founded the Muslim Community Services of Augusta (MCSA) to help the needy in the community at large and operate a bi-weekly food pantry.
ISA members founded Shifa Care Clinic Inc. offering a free medical clinic to uninsured.
| Brief History of the Islamic Society of Augusta | |
| 1975 | The establishment of ‘Islamic Society of Augusta’ (ISA) as a Not-for-Profit Corporation was first envisioned in 1975 by five families living at the time in Augusta. A constitution and by-laws were developed, approved by the members and submitted to Georgia Secretary of State. |
| 1976 | Certificate of Incorporation was issued in the name of Islamic Society of Augusta in May, 1976. |
| 1979 | Land for the Center located at 3416 Middleton Drive, Augusta was purchased in September 1979. |
| 1984 | Construction for the new mosque and the center began in June, 1984. |
| 1985 | After nearly a year of construction and fund raising, the new Center was inaugurated in March. Tax exempt status as a charitable organization was granted by IRS on 12/03/1985, (under IRS file Folder Number 580066330). Not for Profit Tax ID or EIN # is 58-1566513. |
| 1990 | A discussion for “Mosque Expansion” project was initiated in December 1990. |
| 1994 | Construction for the mosque expansion began, June 1994. |
| 1995 | An existing house (adjacent to the Center) on ‘120-Davant Road’ was purchased for the Imam’s residence in April. |
| 1996 | The expansion and other improvements of the Center were completed in August 1996, increasing the covered area of the Center from 3,200 to 9,250 sq. ft. |
| 1998 | The attendance at ISA increased from 20 participating families in 1985 to nearly 120 families. The weekend Islamic school has almost 80 children enrolled in grades I-VI. Besides five times daily prayer and Dawa activities, other important programs such as Quranic Tafseer, seminars, Seerat conferences, youth activities, etc. continue throughout the year. |
| 2005 | The concept of constructing a new Islamic Center was discussed over several meetings and approved. Plans for the Center, type of facilities including community hall, sports and gymnasium were discussed over several meetings. Fundraising events were conducted annually. |
| 2006 | Panacea Development Company comprised of four ISA members donated 7.97 acres of their property on Old Evans Rd in Martinez, GA to ISA for construction of the new Center on 3/8/2006. A plan for grading and site works was developed. |
| 2007 | Mitigation of approximately 1.5 acres of wet land was approved by Columbia County. Site work was completed. |
| 2008 | Several special meetings of ISA General Body were conducted to solicit the needs/wishes of community members for the new Center. Fundraising events continued to be conducted to raise funds. |
| 2009 | More fundraising events and meetings to discuss the structures and design of the new center. |
| 2010 | Funds continued to be collected. A sketch for the design of the new Center was drawn and approved by the General Body. Approximate cost of the project was estimated. A construction committee was appointed by the Islamic Center Committee (ICC). When the funds collected exceeded approximately 50% of the estimated cost, an architectural firm was hired to begin making the drawings. Request for construction bids were solicited. One of ISA members was chosen to be the general contractor. Another member was hired to be a supervisor of the project. The Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta (IFFA), an interfaith group was established in a meeting called for by ISA and attended by 45 clergy from different congregations. |
| 2011 | Building Permit was issued on 1/2/2011. Ground breaking of the new Center was held on 2/27/11 and construction began earnestly and continued as well as fundraising. Mitigation over the creek was approved 8/12/11 and work started. |
| 2012 | The funds were still short. Several members loaned $725,100.00 as ‘Qard Hasan’ to ISA to complete the new Center project while others donated smaller amounts on a regular basis to a special account for the repayment of the loans to the first group of donors on an annual basis over a 5-year period. Construction of the new Center completed. Certificate of occupancy awarded. First prayer in the new Islamic Community of Augusta was held on 9/12/2012. Panacea Company donated another 1.58 acres to ISA, June 2012. |
| 2013 | An Open House event for the new Islamic Community of Augusta (ICCA) was arranged in Feb 2013. |
| 2014 | A political forum was pursued wherein the Democratic and Republican party candidates for the 12th Congressional district addressed our community and the general public, and explained their respective views, followed by question and answer session. A leadership Columbia County conference was arranged and held at the Islamic Community of Augusta. |
| 2015 | A project for covering the creek and grading the land behind the existing building which will have the effect of adding approximately 3 acres of usable land was approved and was called ‘Phase 2 Expansion’ project. |
| 2016 | The final payment of the loan for the completion of ICCA was paid on 5/13/2016 one year earlier than initially scheduled in 2012. An open house was held to celebrate 40 yrs. of ISA. A monthly program “Lift the Veil” was initiated in July to inform the general public about Islam and to dispel some of the myths propagated about it. Several GB meetings were conducted to explain and discuss the merits of Phase 2 expansion. It was approved by the GB on 7/10/16. Bids were initiated, and the contract was awarded to Site Master. Permit was obtained on 12/12/16. An interfaith panel was held to discuss how to deal with strangers in response to the influx of Syrian refugees. Muslim Community Services of Augusta (MCSA) was established to help the needy in the community at large. It began operating at 120-Davant Rd. on 2rd & 4th Saturdays of each month. Shifa Care Clinic Inc. was established in March, 2016 offering a free medical clinic to uninsured. Both, MCSA and Shifa Care Clinic are independent organizations, fully supported by ISA for the cause they serve and for the good of humanity. Columbia Leadership conference was held in December. |
| 2017 | Funding for Phase 2 expansion was started in a GB meeting on 1/19/17. There were donations as well as pledges for loans. Work started shortly thereafter and continued thru 2018. BOT initiated a “Student Scholarship Fund” for our students to further their Islamic education. Shifa Care Clinic held its first clinic on March 18, 2017 at University Hospital, 820 St. Sebastian Way, Suite 2A, Augusta, GA 30901. Its schedule of operation is 3rd Saturday of each month. BOT appointed a committee to establish a full time Islamic School. The committee became the school board and named the school “Augusta Islamic Academy” (AIA). The board was able to start the school in August, selecting and hiring a Principal and 2 teachers from amongst current members. The school used GA Cyber educational curriculum along with Qu’ran and Islamic Studies. The renovation of the old Masjid that began in 2016 was completed and it was named the ‘First Islamic Center’. In addition to offering daily prayers, the First Islamic Center became available on rental basis to hold meetings, conferences, or social gatherings suitable for up to 125 persons. |
| 2018 | Phase 2 construction was completed at the end of July. Panacea Development Co. donated the remaining 9.5 acres to ISA for residential development. An outside individual who made several threatening vulgar phone messages to our community was arrested and convicted for interference in religious freedom. That individual was sentenced, as announced on 7/24/2018, to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Shifa Care Clinic, under the umbrella of the BOT, began its operations at the 2nd location on July 21, 2018 at the First Islamic Center located at 3416-Middleton Dr., Augusta GA 30907. The name of full time school was officially changed from AIA to ASA-Augusta Science Academy. A new full-time principal was hired. |
| 2019 | Augusta Science Academy received accreditation for grades K-5. |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2025 | |
| 2026 | Grading and infrastructure work started on residential project adject to the ICCA campus. |
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