Our History
Attawheed Islamic Center (AIC) was established by graduate students from Saudi Arabia attending University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. It was registered on June 12, 1995 with the State of Pennsylvania as a non-profit religious organization providing religious services for Muslims residing in the western areas of Pittsburgh and the western suburbs. At the beginning, it attracted mostly Arab speaking patrons. Today, with the continuous grace of Allah , AIC has been growing steadily and has a truly multi-ethnic congregation from many countries including Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Egypt, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and others. Our two Friday sermon services, at 12:00 pm and 1:10 pm is attended by about 700 patrons.
Since its inception AIC has operated from various rental facilities on Banksville Road. By the grace of Allah , a permanent building located at 401 Washington Avenue, Carnegie, a suburb about 5 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh was purchased for $690,000. First congregational prayer started in the facility on Ramadan 4th, 1432 (Aug 4th, 2011.) This facility includes a 3-Story building with approx. 19,000 SF. The old section was built in 1890 and renovated in 2003, with prayer halls for men and women and a kitchen, all located in the First Floor and an Islamic library in the Second Floor.
The newer section built in the 1960s with an entrance facing East includes a Banquet Hall in the First floor and an office and classrooms in the Second Floor. The facilities' basement include a kitchen (under construction), dining area, activities area (under construction), and is accessible by a drive-in garage door. AIC also owns a 40 car parking lot paved and lit to the East of the building. The First Floor and the Basement are accessible for the physically challenged through ramps.
Last year AIC purchased the neighboring property at 338 East Main, and it is now part of our facility. AIC property now is the block surrounded by Washington Ave, East Main St, Sansbury St, and Williams Way, plus AIC's parking. We are working to hire an engineering firm to re-structure and renovate the old building. The plan is to have classes for the weekend school and other educational amenities, and a basketball and gym for the patrons.
Through time we had contributions from many individuals that made the presence of AIC a reality. Through everyone who contributed, Allah has provided AIC sustenance, and we are thankful to Allah and to those who put their trust in Allah and in AIC management that their contributions are spent wisely and to the best that pleases Allah. Since every decision is a responsibility and a burden, we ask everyone to keep AIC in their prayers to decide what's best and to grow and serve better.
Since its inception AIC has operated from various rental facilities on Banksville Road. By the grace of Allah , a permanent building located at 401 Washington Avenue, Carnegie, a suburb about 5 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh was purchased for $690,000. First congregational prayer started in the facility on Ramadan 4th, 1432 (Aug 4th, 2011.) This facility includes a 3-Story building with approx. 19,000 SF. The old section was built in 1890 and renovated in 2003, with prayer halls for men and women and a kitchen, all located in the First Floor and an Islamic library in the Second Floor.
The newer section built in the 1960s with an entrance facing East includes a Banquet Hall in the First floor and an office and classrooms in the Second Floor. The facilities' basement include a kitchen (under construction), dining area, activities area (under construction), and is accessible by a drive-in garage door. AIC also owns a 40 car parking lot paved and lit to the East of the building. The First Floor and the Basement are accessible for the physically challenged through ramps.
Last year AIC purchased the neighboring property at 338 East Main, and it is now part of our facility. AIC property now is the block surrounded by Washington Ave, East Main St, Sansbury St, and Williams Way, plus AIC's parking. We are working to hire an engineering firm to re-structure and renovate the old building. The plan is to have classes for the weekend school and other educational amenities, and a basketball and gym for the patrons.
Through time we had contributions from many individuals that made the presence of AIC a reality. Through everyone who contributed, Allah has provided AIC sustenance, and we are thankful to Allah and to those who put their trust in Allah and in AIC management that their contributions are spent wisely and to the best that pleases Allah. Since every decision is a responsibility and a burden, we ask everyone to keep AIC in their prayers to decide what's best and to grow and serve better.