Non-profit

Muslim Community Center

Website:

mccmd.org/

Location:

Silver Spring, IL

Tax ID:

52-1072792

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Type:

Islamic Activist Group

Founded:

1981

Board President:

Usman Sarwar

Budget (2005):

Revenue: $573,404
Expenses: $525,297
Assets: $2,120,427

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The Muslim Community Center (MCC) of Silver Spring, Maryland is a religious services and social activist organization operating in the Washington, D.C., area. Founded in 1981, the center claims to serve “all human beings, regardless of faith” while primarily working to create more favorable public perception of Muslims and to “disseminate information on Islamic principles.” The center’s facilities and services include a worship space and a clinic. 1 In addition, one of the center’s clerics secured a position as a chaplain to the Montgomery County, Maryland, police department in 2016. 2

The MCC has collaborated with the Council on American Islamic Relations, a controversial nationwide Muslim advocacy organization that has been repeatedly implicated in ties to extremist movements such as the Palestinian militia Hamas. 3

The MCC receives funding from both the state of Maryland and from the government of Montgomery County, where it is located. 4 5

Functions

In addition to basic facilities including an event hall, bookshop, and library, as well as a worship space, the Muslim Community Center operates several services, some open to the general public and others intended specifically for Muslims. 6 7 It offers healthcare services to adults without insurance at discounted prices at a clinic, through which it also takes donations. 8 At its weekend school, the MCC describes the mission of its child education program as “to develop and preserve the Islamic character of our youth.” Classes are taught by school staff, the center’s imam, and by guest lecturers. 9 And it hosts classes for adult Muslims which are intended to help them “strengthen their identity” as Muslims in the United States. 10

Community Engagement

The Muslim Community Center conducts outreach to other religious communities in its area and represents the interests of its own population to the local government. 11 12 Its interfaith outreach includes promoting “mutual understanding, respect, appreciation, and cooperation” among people of different religions and an “appreciation of religious differences.” 13

Its engagement with the local education system includes efforts to create a way for Muslim students in the Montgomery County, Maryland, school system to opt out of instruction which appears to violate the tenets of Islam. In June 2023, it hosted representatives of the controversial Council on American Islamic Relations for a seminar on engaging with public school systems. 14

Leadership

Mohamed Abdullahi is the imam and religious affairs leader at the Muslim Community Center. 15 He also offers chaplain services to the Montgomery County, Maryland, police department. 16 In addition to his involvement in promoting the local Islamic population as part of the center’s mission, Abdullahi has worked to advance the interests of Somali immigrants in Maryland. 17

Previously, Abdullahi was involved with a variety of Islamic organizations in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. He received a degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, and a diploma in Shariah, or Islamic religious law, from the National Somali University in Mogadishu, Somalia. 18

Financials

The Muslim Community Center has received at least $390,000 in taxpayer-funded grants from the state of Maryland. 19 U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has been a proponent of funding the center. 20 In 2022, the MCC also received a $16,000 grant from Montgomery County for security. 21

References

  1. “About MCC.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/about-mcc/
  2. MCC Maryland. “Last night, Imam Mohamed Abdullahi…” Twitter. June 24, 2016. Accessed September 29, 2023.
    https://twitter.com/mccmdorg/status/746494968315920384?lang=en
  3. “CAIR to Co-Host ‘Navigating Your Rights in Maryland Public Education’ Mosque Events for Muslim Parents.” CAIR. June 22, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-to-co-host-navigating-your-rights-in-maryland-public-education-mosque-events-for-muslim-parents/
  4. “Montgomery County Public Health & Safety Priorities Included In Raskin’s Community Project Funding Requests.” Jamie Raskin – United States House of Representatives. May 21, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.house.gov/
  5. “County Awards Grants Totaling $700,000 to Nonprofit Organizations to Deter Hate Crimes and Support Security Needs.” Montgomery County Update. January 26, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://montgomerycomd.blogspot.com/2022/01/county-announces-total-of-700000-in.html
  6. “Services.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/services/
  7. “Education.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/education/
  8. “MCC Medical Clinic.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/services/mcc-medical-clinic/
  9. “Weekend School.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/education/weekend-school/
  10. Community Education Series.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/education/community-education-series/
  11. “Interfaith.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/services/interfaith/
  12. “CAIR to Co-Host ‘Navigating Your Rights in Maryland Public Education’ Mosque Events for Muslim Parents.” CAIR. June 22, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-to-co-host-navigating-your-rights-in-maryland-public-education-mosque-events-for-muslim-parents/
  13.  “Interfaith.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/services/interfaith/
  14. “CAIR to Co-Host ‘Navigating Your Rights in Maryland Public Education’ Mosque Events for Muslim Parents.” CAIR. June 22, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-to-co-host-navigating-your-rights-in-maryland-public-education-mosque-events-for-muslim-parents/
  15. “Coordinators And Staff.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/about-mcc/coordinators-and-staff/
  16. MCC Maryland. “Last night, Imam Mohamed Abdullahi…” Twitter. June 24, 2016. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://twitter.com/mccmdorg/status/746494968315920384?lang=en
  17. “Montgomery County Council Presented a Proclamation to Somali American Community Association Recognizing their Contributions to Montgomery County, Maryland.” Hiiraan Online. June 30, 2007. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2007/July/3632/montgomery_county_council_presented_a_proclamation_to_somali_american_community_association_recognizing_their_contributions_to_montgomery_county_maryland.aspx
  18. “About The Imam.” Muslim Community Center. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://mccmd.org/services/about-the-imam/
  19. “Montgomery County – 25 Grants.” Maryland Department of Health. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://health.maryland.gov/mchrc/pages/grantee_montgomery.aspx
  20. “Montgomery County Public Health & Safety Priorities Included In Raskin’s Community Project Funding Requests.” Jamie Raskin – United States House of Representatives. May 21, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://www.house.gov/
  21. “County Awards Grants Totaling $700,000 to Nonprofit Organizations to Deter Hate Crimes and Support Security Needs.” Montgomery County Update. January 26, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2023. https://montgomerycomd.blogspot.com/2022/01/county-announces-total-of-700000-in.html
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1977

  • Available Filings

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Muslim Community Center

    15200 New Hampshire Avenue
    Silver Spring, IL 20905-5631