Our History
Brief History of Al-Azhar Islamic Foundation (AIF)
Established in 1995, Al-Azhar Islamic Foundation was founded by a group of Chicagoland’s Egyptian American Muslims. The name of the organization was inspired by al-Jame’e alAzhar, the 10th century center of Islamic knowledge and learning in Cairo, Egypt. While not affiliated with al-Jame’e alAzhar, the AIF aspires to emulate the historic institution by providing a community platform to better understand and practice Islam. Alhamdullilah the AIF has been growing steadily since it first started. It has been serving its members and many more who reside around it by offering a welcoming place for all: the youth and the older generation, women and men, Muslims and non-Muslims.