Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Islamic House of Worship (IHW)

Website:

www.islamichouseofwisdom.com
Location:

Dearborn Heights, MI
Tax ID:

38-3223866
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $419,482
Expenses: $591,957
Assets: $1,661,258
Type:

Religious Community Group
Formation:

1995
Founder:

Mohammed Ali Elahi

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) is a Islamic nonprofit group based in Dearborn, Michigan-that engages in community outreach towards Muslim communities within the greater Detroit area. 1 2

Background

The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) was founded in 1995 by Mohammad Ali Elahi to serve as an educational organization for the Muslim community in the Detroit area. IHW claims to advocate for providing a place for interfaith dialogue and resources for journalists, researchers, and the public on Islamic issues and topics. The IHW has also previously participated in in the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Leadership Symposium organized by the National Conference for Community and Justice in 1998. 3

Detroit-Area Initiatives

The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) claims to organize and provide educational initiatives for Muslim and non-Muslim communities within the Detroit area. In addition to Friday prayer services, the center also operates a Saturday Arabic and Islamic school for pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade to teach about Arabic language as well as Islamic culture and history. 4

IHW also claims to provide community services including homeless outreach programs, food drives, childcare, financial counseling, marriage ceremonies, and foster care. 5 6 7

IHW works with several left-of-center activist groups in the Detroit area including Detroit Metropolitan Interfaith, Common World Alliance, and Michigan United.  8

Activities

Political Advocacy

In 2007, the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) and its Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for conducting a series of raids and investigations into two Dearborn-based Muslim charity organizations as potential financiers of Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. Elahi claimed that the investigations were politically motivated and anti-Islamic. 9

Anti-Israeli Advocacy

In January 2024, IHW was one of several signers of an open letter by the March on Washington for Gaza addressed to President Joe Biden advocating against U.S military support for the State of Israel following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks against it by the terror group Hamas. The letter claimed to oppose what it considered the “Israeli government’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” 2 In May 2024, Elahi made a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account criticizing president Biden for sending $1 billion in arms to Israel. The post called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war-criminal” and alleged Biden providing arms to Israel proved that the U.S believed “genocide is OK.” 10 In a February 2024 sermon at the IHW, Elahi claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is “like a Hitler of the 21st century.” 12

Controversy

Alleged Ties to Iran

In 2015, Elahi allegedly met with Amir Hekmati, an ex-United States Marine being held in Iran on charges of being a CIA spy. 13 In 2017, Elahi met with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, whom he called a friend of nearly 30 years. 14 IHW and Elahi also publicly mourned the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. 15 The center also mourned the death of Hezbollah military leader and advocate of suicide bombing Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah in 2010. 16 17

Leadership

Mohammad Ali Elahi is the imam and director of the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW). Elahi was born in Iran and began seminary at the age of 12. He holds a B.A. in sociology from the University of Michigan and a M.A. from Wayne State University in Detroit. 18 Elahi previously served in the Iranian navy 19 and in 1986, Elahi traveled to London for a year of language and culture studies. By 1990, Elahi was invited as an Islamic scholar to the World Religious Assembly in San Francisco, California. Following the conference, he visited several American states including Michigan, where he was asked to join the Islamic Center of America (ICOA). In 1991, Elahi moved to Michigan and served as religious director of ICOA till 1995, when he founded the Islamic House of Wisdom. 18 Elahi also serves as co-chair of the Imams Council of Michigan. 20

Finances

In 2022, the Islamic House of Wisdom reported $419,482 in revenue, $591,957 in expenses, and $1,661,258 in net assets. 21

In 2020, the Islamic House of Wisdom received a $20,000 grant from the DTE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Detroit-based company DTE Energy company. 22

From 2019 to 2022, the Islamic House of Wisdom also received several donations from Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund. In 2019, the Islamic House of Wisdom received a grant for $8,000, as well as $11,000 in 2021, and $14,500 in 2022.  23 24 25

References

  1. Home. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/
  2. “March on Washington for Gaza Letter to White House – 1-12-24.” CAIR. January 12, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/March-on-Washington-for-Gaza-Letter-to-White-House.pdf
  3. Islamic House of Wisdom (CJ). Harvard University, Pluralism Project Archive. October 29, 2006. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/islamic-house-wisdom-cj
  4. Saturday Arabic and Islamic School. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/register-arabic-islamic-school
  5. Weekly Services. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/weekly-services
  6. Marriage Foundation. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/marriage-foundation
  7. Foster Care. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/fostercare
  8. Outreach. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/outreach
  9. “Muslim Charity Organizations Under Scrutiny.” NPR. July 26, 2007. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/12255734?ft=nprml&f=13129650
  10. Elahi, Mohammad Ali. “Biden advances $1 billion in arms for Israel!!!” Islamic House of Wisdom. May 15, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/publicationsandstatements/2024/5/15/biden-advances-1-billion-in-arms-for-israel
  12. “Dearborn Heights, Michigan Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi Mocks President Biden In Friday Sermon, Adds: Netanyahu Is Hitler Of The 21st Century, Committing A Holocaust Against The Palestinians.” Middle East Media Research Institute. February 9, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.memri.org/tv/friday-sermon-dearborn-heights-michigan-imam-mohammad-ali-elahi-mocks-biden-netanyahu-hitler-holocaust[/note]

    Community Outreach

    The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) has hosted international conferences including the Symposium of Islamic Scholars, which is co-sponsored by the Ahul Bayt Assembly of America, as well as seminars associated with the Organization of North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities (NASIMCO). 11 Islamic House of Wisdom (CJ). Harvard University, Pluralism Project Archive. October 29, 2006. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/islamic-house-wisdom-cj

  13. Warikoo, Niraj. “Michigan imam meets with ex-Marine in Iran prison.” USA Today. September 1, 2015. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/01/michigan-imam-meets-ex-marine-iran-prison/71548700/
  14. Weinthal, Benjamin. “GOP reps raise alarm bells over Iran’s influence in ‘American religious institutions.’” Fox News. August 1, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/world/gop-reps-raise-alarm-bells-irans-influence-american-religious-institutions
  15. Casiano, Louis. “Michigan Islamic center honors ‘Butcher of Tehran,’ other Iranian ‘martyrs’ killed in helicopter crash.” Fox News. May 25, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-islamic-center-honors-butcher-tehran-other-iranian-martyrs-killed-helicopter-crash
  16. Johnston, Susannah. “Michigan Imam Garners Political Favor While Keeping Close with Iranian Regime.” Focus on Western Islam. August 17, 2022. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://islamism.news/research/investigations/michigan-imam-garners-political-favor-while-keeping-close-with-iranian-regime/
  17. Meyer, Nick. “Local Muslims mourn Fadlallah.” The Arab American News. July 9, 2010. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://arabamericannews.com/2010/07/09/Local-Muslims-mourn-Fadlallah/
  18. Bio of Imam Elahi. Islamic House of Wisdom. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/bio-of-imam-elahi
  19. Directory of Iranian Clerics. Central Intelligence Agency. December 15, 2011. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP93T00643R000201700001-8.pdf
  20. Harding, Hayley. “Detroit area imams speak out in aftermath of violence in Israel, Gaza.” The Detroit News. October 11, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/10/11/local-imams-speak-out-in-aftermath-of-violence-in-israel-gaza-detroit/71138457007/
  21.  Islamic House of Wisdom Inc – 2022 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/383223866/202303199349311620/full
  22. Dte Energy Foundation – 2020 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/382708636/202113199349103571/IRS990PF
  23. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund – 2019 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/110303001/202041789349301474/IRS990ScheduleI
  24. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund – 2021 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/110303001/202221339349302787/IRS990ScheduleI
  25. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund – 2022 Federal 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed September 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/110303001/202321309349304807/IRS990ScheduleI
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1996

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $419,482 $591,957 $1,661,258 $0 N $419,473 $0 $9 $0 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $600,732 $441,620 $1,890,585 $0 N $600,721 $0 $11 $0 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $400,561 $411,735 $1,895,139 $0 N $400,512 $0 $49 $0
    2019 Dec Form 990 $534,485 $485,811 $1,899,850 $0 N $516,452 $0 $2,195 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $416,927 $427,445 $1,864,394 $0 N $390,773 $0 $10 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $532,877 $408,728 $1,874,912 $0 N $474,412 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $460,270 $467,796 $1,729,955 $0 N $420,005 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $514,056 $413,525 $1,794,295 $56,814 N $444,111 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $424,472 $552,676 $1,584,550 $56,814 N $373,172 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $490,688 $292,270 $1,712,754 $56,814 N $442,838 $0 $0 $160 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $267,762 $286,577 $1,656,479 $51,023 N $225,073 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $436,943 $421,430 $1,768,433 $51,023 N $292,069 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Islamic House of Worship (IHW)

    22575 Ann Arbor Trail
    Dearborn Heights, MI