History of ISAK

The Islamic Society had its modest beginnings when a group of Muslim students at KSU established a small masjid in their apartment at Rhodes Ave. in Kent, Ohio in September, 1979. Muslims from adjoining communities joined them in June, 1980. The Sunday Islamic School was started shortly thereafter with an initial enrollment of eight (8) children. A house on Williams Street was rented in December, 1980 and the masjid was relocated there. The Society (Islamic Society of Greater Kent ) was formally established in 1981.

In August, 1982, the masjid was moved once again to a rented apartment in Silver Oaks Complex located off Horning Road in Kent. By the Grace of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, the Society was able to purchase an old church located on 325 Crain Avenue in Kent in December, 1985. Extensive renovations were made to the building structure in order to convert it into a masjid; the work was completed in May, 1986 when an open house was held for Muslims and Non-Muslims.

Muslim students of the University of Akron had established a masjid in a rented house on Powers Street in Akron in 1985. Other Muslims from the surrounding communities joined them soon thereafter. Islamic Society of Akron was formally established in June, 1989. In 1991, the masjid was moved to another rented house located on Sherman Street in Akron.

In 1995, the Islamic Society of Akron (ISA) and the Islamic Society of Greater Kent (ISGK) merged to form the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent (ISAK). The rented house on Sherman Street was vacated.

Alhamdulillah, we were able to purchase a 17.4 acre plot of land on 152 East Steels Corner Road in Cuyahoga Falls in June, 1995. Work started on the construction of the new Islamic Center Project in September, 1996. The new center cost approximately $2.5 Million and consists of three parts: the Masjid, Islamic School, and the Multi-purpose Hall.