Twelver Shia Islamic Center

An independent Twelver (Ithna 'Ashari) Shia Islamic center: Muslims who follow the Twelve Imams, descendants of the Prophet through 'Ali and Fatima, the twelfth of whom is in occultation and will return, and the Ja'fari school of law. Its families are Arab (Iraqi and Lebanese above all), South Asian (among them the Khoja jamaats of East African and Indian heritage), and Iranian. Each believer follows a living senior jurist, a marja' (most American centers, Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf), whose rulings bind on prayer, law, and the calendar, but who appoints no one and owns nothing: an elected lay board runs the center and hires its resident scholar ('alim, shaykh, or sayyid, trained in the seminaries of Najaf or Qom; fewer than half of centers have one full time), and guest speakers are booked for Muharram and Ramadan. The week's gathering is Thursday night: Maghrib and Isha, the long supplication Du'a Kumayl, a lecture, and Ziyarat Waritha, about two hours. Friday prayer is held at some centers, small where it is, for in the Imam's occultation the noon prayer may be prayed in its place; the daily prayers may be combined into three times, and nearly two-thirds of centers hold none. The year turns on Muharram: ten to twelve nights of majalis, elegies and matam and a free meal for hundreds, then Ashura, and mourning without weddings through Safar to Arba'een; the season's sponsorships can raise half a year's budget. The building needs an imambargah (a hall for the majalis), a ladies' hall, and a big kitchen as much as a prayer hall; 'alams stand in it, and worshippers prostrate on a small tablet of clay. Khums, a fifth of a year's surplus, is the distinctive obligation: half (sahm al-Imam) goes to the marja's office, which must authorise a center to receive any of it; zakat in Ja'fari law is narrow. The khums here is an approximation: a tenth of what people give leaves for the marja's office, and khums allocated back to an authorised center isn't counted. Months begin by naked-eye sighting, announced for North America by the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars, so the Eids often fall a day after the Sunni mosque's. Practice varies by heritage, from the language of the lectures to whether pictures of the Imams hang outside the prayer hall.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it and what sets its faith apart; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Islam
Its words	Islamic center, center, prayer hall; the resident scholar leads the program; the lecture; Thursday night; the Qur'an
Worship	qibla focus, chanted, moderate formality (0.67 of 1); seated on floor; women behind the men
Music	organ forbidden; gospel organ forbidden; piano forbidden; choir forbidden; band forbidden; brass forbidden; handbells forbidden; recorded forbidden
The room's sound	no strong preference
Its year	shia; full observance; fasts light
Leans	conservative on moral questions, neutral on economic ones
Polity	congregational; leaders come by call; property local
Leaders	one leader, full time, trained by seminary; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, none discipline, admitted by board
Giving	tithing taught; collected by boxes, online
Way of life	alcohol abstinence, dress modest, sabbath relaxed, meat halal, interest forbidden, burial prompt

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Every day but Thursday	Maghrib + 15 min 5:01 pm in January, 8:40 pm in July (Chicago)	Maghrib and Isha (combined prayers, short, and plays quickly: people come 6% as often as to a main service)	the resident scholar	optional
Thursday	7:00 pm	Du'a Kumayl (thursday night program)	the resident scholar	expected
Friday	Dhuhr + 30 min 12:32 pm in January, 1:29 pm in July (Chicago)	Jumu'ah	the resident scholar	optional

Leader: a resident scholar. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the services are still held, but each costs everyone at it 0.10; on sabbatical a supply resident scholar stands in ($800 a month) for a little less. The short daily services go on whether or not anyone leads them, and move no one's satisfaction.
Burial: prompt: the funeral is the next day, or the first after it that isn't a holy day kept free of weddings and funerals.
A halal kitchen: meals cost 1.1× as much; pork is never served.

Rites

Shahada (on response, +0.02 to those there): Someone becomes Muslim by bearing witness, before witnesses, that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God: often after Jumu'ah, in front of the community, who greet the new Muslim with "Allahu akbar" and embraces. No fee, and no course required before it, though new-Muslim classes follow.
Nikah (on request, +0.02 to those there): The Muslim marriage: a contract made with the bride's consent, a gift to her (the mahr), and, in Sunni practice, two witnesses and usually her guardian, conducted by the resident scholar or another knowledgeable Muslim in the prayer hall or a side room, with a state licence for civil effect. The reception (walimah) follows in a hall, often with men and women apart.
Aqiqah (per birth, +0.01 to those there): For a newborn: the adhan whispered in the baby's ear, the child named, and, about the seventh day, the aqiqah: an animal sacrificed (usually ordered from a halal farm or paid for abroad) and a meal for family and friends, at home or in the center's hall.
Janazah (on request, +0.02 to those there): The Muslim funeral, held as soon as it can be: the body washed (ghusl) by family or volunteers of the same sex and wrapped in plain white cloth, the funeral prayer said standing with the coffin before the resident scholar, often straight after a daily prayer or Jumu'ah (four takbirs in Sunni practice, five in Shia), and burial without embalming or cremation, the body laid on its right side facing the qibla. Larger Islamic centers have a washing room and a section of a cemetery.

Joining

Joining: a content regular is received as a member after about 26 weeks.
Joining age: 18.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); the community; received by its board.
What it means: being received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home at each of its great days (at most once a month) for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the donation, by boxes, and giving online. With no plate passed, members give a tenth less at the boxes than they would into one, and visitors give nothing at the service. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Fundraisers: any it allows (below).
Owed above: Khums (sahm al-Imam), 10% of what it takes in, paid by its members, to the Office of the marja'.
No interest: its loans are Islamic financing, at 7.5% where an ordinary loan is 6.5%.

The resident scholar, the staff, and who decides

How the resident scholar comes: advertised and called: the executive committee votes.
Paid: full time.
Candidates: scarce: two apply, and a search takes four months longer; trained at seminary; men; most married.
Tenure: settled, then may be called elsewhere.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Bivocational resident scholar ($22,000–$38,000; cares for 75)
- Resident scholar ($55,000–$85,000 + $18,000 benefits, full time; cares for 150)
- Associate resident scholar ($42,000–$62,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; cares for 100 more)
- Muezzin (unpaid; from the members; leads worship; cares for 20 more)
- Qur'an teacher ($15,000–$32,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Islamic center secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Community outreach director ($25,000–$45,000; cares for 40 more)
- Executive director ($55,000–$95,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once); cares for 30 more)
Its boards: the executive committee (deciding, over everything).
Renovations: The executive committee votes.
New construction: The members vote.
Calling a leader: The executive committee votes.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Funeral committee, Majlis programme, New Muslims' circle, Open house and interfaith, Qur'an class, Zakat committee.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Building campaign, Community bazaar, Laylat al-Qadr appeal, Muharram sponsorships, Ramadan fundraising dinner.
Shared fundraisers it may hold: Auction, Bake sale, Car wash, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Polling place and forums.
Outreach: invitation Thursday night (Community → Evangelism).
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A loan for the new hall, The Ashura procession, The call to prayer outside, The language of the lecture, The sisters' space, Thursday night parking, When is Eid?.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A candidates' forum, A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

required Prayer carpetPrayer is offered standing, bowing, and prostrating, in straight rows on a clean carpet.
required imambargahThe Twelver Shia Islamic Center asks every Islamic center for one.
required wudu roomWorshippers wash before prayer (wudu): a room with low taps and seats beside the prayer hall.
required the prayer hall facing the qibla (the direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca)Prayer faces the Ka'ba in Mecca: the rows must face the qibla, which from America is to the north-east.
forbidden Drum kitThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Hammond organThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Handbell tableThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Upright pianoThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Pipe organThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
expected AlamThe 'alams, the standards of Abbas at Karbala, stand in the imambargah, draped in black for Muharram.
expected MihrabA niche in the qibla wall shows the direction of prayer; the imam leads from before it.
expected MinbarThe Friday sermon, the khutbah, is given from the minbar's steps.
expected Shoe rackShoes come off at the door of the prayer hall, onto racks.
discouraged National flagThis tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
discouraged Oak pewPews leave no room to bow and prostrate: a few chairs at the back serve those who can't.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.028; Modern synagogue +0.046; Gurdwara +0.052; Japanese temple +0.056; Islamic +0.05; Shinto shrine +0.05; Chinese temple +0.044; Dravidian temple +0.038; Nagara temple +0.038; Thai temple +0.038; Jain marble +0.032; Gothic +0.026.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a room between ringing and dry, about 2.2 seconds of reverberation: neither bare stone nor a carpeted low room. Up to ±0.05.
Seasonal decor: in their seasons, the muharram cloths and ramadan lanterns are worth up to ±0.027 (missing them, the minus); out of season, nothing is called for.
Orientation: facing the way it wants is +0.04, and not, −0.04.
The lecture lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the resident scholar's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.
The daily services move no one's satisfaction: no offering, sermon, or welcome; people come one by one, the retired twice as often, those of working age half as often on a weekday from nine to five.

How each lecture lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Sanctity of Life+0.06
Faith & Family+0.04
Faith of Our Fathers+0.04
Family & the Ties of Kinship+0.04
Obedience & Discipline+0.04
Personal Holiness+0.04
Resisting Temptation+0.04
The Lessons of Karbala+0.022
Gratitude+0.015
Honesty in Trade+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Justice (Adl)+0.015
Mercy (Rahma)+0.015
Patience (Sabr)+0.015
Rights of the Neighbour+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Prophet's Character+0.015
Unity of the Ummah+0.015
Zakat & Charity+0.015
Care for Creation-0.02
Healing for All-0.02
Welcome the Stranger-0.02
Social Justice Call-0.03
Interfaith Understanding-0.05
Reading Scripture in Context-0.05
Swords into Ploughshares-0.05
Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.075
Radical Inclusion-0.075

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	+0.333
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit	discouraged Pews leave no room to bow and prostrate: a few chairs at the back serve those who can't.
Prayer carpet	+0.5	required Prayer is offered standing, bowing, and prostrating, in straight rows on a clean carpet.
Row of chairs	0
Liturgical furniture
Columbarium niches	+0.333
Lectern	no fit
Mihrab	+0.5	expected A niche in the qibla wall shows the direction of prayer; the imam leads from before it.
Minbar	+0.5	expected The Friday sermon, the khutbah, is given from the minbar's steps.
Pulpit	no fit
Qur'an stands	no fit
Music
Drum kit	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Electronic organ	-1
Grand piano	-1
Hammond organ	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Handbell table	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Pipe organ	-0.333	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Sound system	-1
Upright piano	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Decor
Alam	+0.5	expected The 'alams, the standards of Abbas at Karbala, stand in the imambargah, draped in black for Muharram.
Banner	0
Calligraphy panel	0
Chandelier	0
Eternal flame	no fit
Great dome	+0.333
Memorial plaque	no fit
Minaret	0
Muharram cloths	0
National flag	-1	discouraged This tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
Ramadan lanterns	0
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	+0.333
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	+0.333
Projection screen	0
Shoe rack	+0.5	expected Shoes come off at the door of the prayer hall, onto racks.
Vestment cabinet	+0.333
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Ghusl table	0
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Wudu station	0
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit

Sources

ISPU, US Mosque Study 2020, Report 2 (link)
ISPU, The American Mosque 2020 (Report 1) (link)
Sistani.org, Islamic Laws: Friday prayer (link)
Islamic Center of America, Dearborn (link)
Al-Mahdi Islamic Center / Shia Ithna-asheri Jamaat of New York (Hicksville): Muharram 1448 (link)
World Federation of KSIMC, Have you paid your khums? (link)
I.M.A.M., Khums Authorized Organizations in the United States (link)
Pew Research Center, Muslim Americans (2011): Religious beliefs and practices (link)