The Islamic Center of Irmo (ICI) a.k.a. Umm Zaher Masjid), and also previously known as the Irmo Musallah, is a South Carolina 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit religious organization that has been established in a geographically convenient location to facilitate the offering of 5 times daily prayers in the proximity of their homes for the residents of Northwest Columbia (Irmo, Lexington, Ballentine, Chapin, and Newberry, SC). ICI was previously also known as the Irmo Musallah, but the property has been donated (WAQF) to the community in the name of the property owner’s deceased mother (Fatimah-Umm Zaher) as of May 2019. The deed transfer to the property was completed on December 19, 2024. This property is officially now owned by the local Muslim community. We request all congregants of ICI to please make special Duaa/supplication for the forgiveness of the deceased mother of Brother Muhammad Zaher and accept this masjid on her behalf as continuous charity from her son and the donor family. ICI will be dedicated to be run as an Islamic Center following all the basic principles of Islam per the teachings of the Holy Quran and the authentic Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad (May Peace and Blessings be upon him).
ICI does not follow any specific Islamic School of thought. ICI congregants are from all schools of thought. Everyone is welcome to ICI for the main purpose of establishing five times daily prayers (Salaah), special worship in the month of Ramadan, establish Zakat/Sadaqah (accepted for disbursement to the poor and needy). ICI is a locally owned and operated Islamic Center with no affiliations with any other US or International Islamic Organizations.
The need of this masjid was determined by neighborhood community surveys that have indicated the need of having a local Masjid in Northwest Columbia for the convenience of the local residents to offer 5 times daily prayers. ICI is located approximately 15 miles or greater from any one of the already established Masajids in the Greater Columbia area. For the Northwest Columbia residents, it takes approximately 40 minutes minimum round trip to visit the other Columbia Masajids for daily prayers or for Jumah. ICI in Irmo is expected to tremendously cut down on the commute time for the local residents for daily prayers.
ICI is a non-profit organization and has approved tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Tax exempt status for ICI has been approved on March 29, 2019 by the IRS.
ICI is a 3,000-sft building space with a main hall and couple of rooms. Parking is very limited to approximately 30 car spaces and will be ideal & adequate for the daily prayer congregants. ICI got started on April 1, 2019. In 2020 and 2021, growth of ICI was limited due to the pandemic COVID-19. ICI is proposed to be a youth center with key focus on Muslim Teen and Youth Development and will plan to offer a socio-religious platform for the Youth of the Greater Columbia Region. We do not have a part time or a full time Imam, but we will eventually plan to have an Imam for the congregation in the future. Currently, the local community members living in Irmo lead the congregational prayers and we attempt to hold five-times daily prayers at ICI every day.
Friday Prayers are held at the Islamic Center of Irmo (ICI) but only as a special arrangement for school kids who cannot offer Friday prayers during school hours. We pray late at 4:15 PM to allow adequate time for parents to pickup kids and bring them to Jumah after school. Imam Malik has endorsed such a late Friday prayer arrangement (for the fatwa/ruling associated with such an arrangement, please contact ICI via email) . Based on demand and convenience for the local residents, we will eventually plan to have a Weekend Islamic School, Quran recitation classes, and Hadith Classes organized at ICI.
Ramadan activities including Iftaar/Dinner hosting and Taraweeh Prayers were organized during Ramadan 2019-2024 and will continue in 2025 and beyond Insha’Allah if resources can be lined up to have a Hafiz/Qari Imam onboard during Ramadan each year.
ICI operations are completed by the local community members and all operational expenses are donated from the local Muslim Community of the Columbia area. Donations are welcomed for operational funds and also for project specific needs as necessary. All donations shall be paid via cash or checks. Checks are made payable to the “Islamic Center of Irmo” or “ICI”. Please always request a receipt for your donations no matter irrespective of the size of the donation.