What were the motivating forces behind the creation of AIF?
The founders of the American Islamic Fellowship felt the diversity of Islam was not being fully represented in their local mosques. They had discovered the issues of gender inequality, culture, language, race, and elitism had permeated the atmosphere and leadership of these places of worship. Consequently, they neither felt completely welcome nor free to worship in these spaces because of their understandings of how to approach Islamic worship. The founders wanted to organize a place that provided both a safe and open space of worship and discussion for Muslims and others who identified with the Islamic community, but who avoided mosques or did not go to mosques as often because of a feeling of the inability to practice their own understanding of Islam. They also hoped to develop a dynamic, diverse and inclusive faith community based on Islamic principles such as faith, fasting, pilgrimage, charity and prayer.
