The Islamic Foundation North (IFN) was established in 1977 at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. It has been in its current location in Libertyville, Illinois since 2004. The group offers religious, social, and civic activities to the Muslim community, promotes Islam to non-believers, and furthers cooperation between Muslims and non-Muslims. ¹ In 2021, it began a massive expansion project that included a school, a sports center, and a non-sport social activity center. ²

Notable Events

In 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 clubgoers during an event meant to celebrate LGBT pride. Islamic Foundation North’s leadership joined over 100 other Muslim leaders in denouncing Mateen’s crimes and asserting that violence is not consistent with Islam. ³

In 2019, the IFN’s executive committee hosted Linda Sarsour, a controversial left-wing activist who has been accused of antisemitism, for a seminar titled “Building Legal Power for American Muslims.” The same event featured Ayman Aishat, the director of development for the Muslim Legal Fund who was later appointed director of mosque engagement for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). ⁴

In 2020, IFN Imam Azfar Uddin joined dozens of Muslim leaders from around the world asking the Bangladeshi government not to relocate 100,000 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island. The letter laid out corruption and other issues which signers said were prevalent on the island, and which would further harm the refugees who were escaping persecution and genocide. ⁵

In November and December 2023, IFN hosted an ongoing Palestine Emergency Fundraising Dinner, joining Muslim communities around the world in raising funds for relief in Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. ⁶

In March 2024, IFN hosted the 24th Annual Muslim-Catholic Iftar dinner, celebrating the Christian season of Lent and the Muslim season of Ramadan together. Bishop Mark Bartosic and Imam Azfar Uddin both offered keynote remarks on “Healing Through Kindness.” Cardinal Blase Cupich noted that the event was a good opportunity to celebrate both Catholics’ and Muslims’ commitments to prayer, fasting, and charitable works. ⁷ During this dinner, Cardinal Cupich called for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, echoing the statement of Pope Francis. ⁸

IFN also engages in lobbying; in March 2024, members of IFN lobbied members of the Illinois congressional delegation to end the fighting in Gaza and promote peace between Israel and Palestine. ⁹

Leadership

Shaykh Azfar Uddin has served as imam and religious director since 2016. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine University, a private Catholic college. He is also pursuing a master’s degree from the American Islamic College. He lectures widely at mosques, schools, and universities and is the chief executive officer of Concise Advice, a YouTube channel featuring discussions of Islam. ¹⁰ In 2023, Uddin signed a group letter saying that under Islamic law and tradition God only permits sexual relations between a married man and woman, and decrying extramarital and homosexual relations. ¹¹

Taha Suglatwala is the president of the Islamic Foundation North Endowment Fund and finance director of the board. ¹²

Financials

Islamic Foundation North is exempted from filing nonprofit tax returns since it is a religious institution equivalent to a church. The associated Islamic Foundation North Endowment Fund reported revenue of $67,546 in 2022 and $1,358 in expenses that year. It ended the year with $951,664 in net assets. In 2021, it earned $68,609 in revenue and had $1,676 in expenses and ended the year with $885,476. ¹³

1. “About.” Islamic Foundation North. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://ifnonline.com/about
2.  “Expansion.” Islamic Foundation North. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://ifnonline.com/expansion
3. “A Joint Muslim Statement: On the Carnage in Orlando.” IslamiCity. June 16, 2016. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.islamicity.org/10388/joint-muslim-statement-on-carnage-orlando/
4. “CAIR Welcomes Ayman Aishat as New Director of Mosque Engagement.” March 24, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-ayman-aishat-as-new-director-of-mosque-engagement/
5. “North American Imams And Muslim Leaders Letter To Bangladesh Government.” Justice For All, December 22, 2020. https://www.justiceforall.org/burma-task-force/north-american-imams-and-muslim-leaders-letter-to-bangladesh-government/
6. “Palestine Emergency Fundraising Dinner @ IFN Masjid.” November 10, 2023. AllEvents. Accessed March 28, 2024.  https://allevents.in/libertyville/palestine-emergency-fundraising-dinner-ifn-masjid/10000753318705527
7. “Archdiocese of Chicago Will Join with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago to Mark the Breaking of the Ramadan Fast at the 24th Annual Muslim-Catholic Iftar on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville.” Archdiocese of Chicago. March 11, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024.https://www.archchicago.org/news-release/-/article/2024/03/11/archdiocese-of-chicago-will-join-with-the-council-of-islamic-organizations-of-greater-chicago-to-mark-the-breaking-of-the-ramadan-fast-at-the-24th-ann
8. Joyce Duriga. “During iftar dinner, Cardinal Cupich calls for ceasefire in Gaza.” Chicago Catholic. March 18, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.chicagocatholic.com/chicagoland/-/article/2024/03/18/during-iftar-dinner-cardinal-cupich-calls-for-ceasefire-in-ga-1
9. “Rep. Brad Schneider on Instagram…” Instagram. March 5, 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024.  https://www.instagram.com/repschneider/p/C4JGHmIJ-nv/
10. “Religious Director/Imam”. Islamic Foundation North. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://ifnonline.com/Imam
11. “Navigating Differences: Clarifying Sexual and Gender Ethics in Islam.” Navigating Differences. May 23, 2023. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://navigatingdifferences.com/clarifying-sexual-and-gender-ethics-in-islam/
12. “Board of Trustees.” Islamic Foundation North. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://ifnonline.com/IFN-BOARD-OF-TRUSTEES
13. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax.” Islamic Foundation North Endowment Fund. 2022. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/471572329/202341249349300704/full