East Plano Islamic Center

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East Plano Islamic Center
EastPlanoIslamicCenter2015.jpg
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Branch/traditionSunni
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusnon-profit religious organization
LeadershipImam Nadim Bashir, Ustadh Mohamad Baajour, Sheikh Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, and Morad Awad.
Location
Location1360 Star Ct, Plano, Texas 75074
East Plano Islamic Center is located in Texas
East Plano Islamic Center
Location in Texas
Geographic coordinates33°00′40″N 96°38′45″W / 33.0110206°N 96.64592379999999°W / 33.0110206; -96.64592379999999Coordinates: 33°00′40″N 96°38′45″W / 33.0110206°N 96.64592379999999°W / 33.0110206; -96.64592379999999
Architecture
TypeMosque
Date established2003
Specifications
Capacity3,200[1]
Interior area33,000 square feet
Dome(s)1
Minaret(s)0
Website
Official Website

The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) is a mosque located in Plano, Texas.[2] The current building of the masjid opened in July 2015, although the mosque started a decade earlier. The current Imam is Nadim Bashir, and the current resident scholar is Yasir Qadhi.[3] The mosque is one of many mosques in the DFW area.

EPIC is a non-profit tax-exempt organization (with Tax-ID: 20–0629612) that has been formed exclusively for educational, religious, and social purposes. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service under revenue code 501(c)(3).

EPIC is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual, non-sectarian, diverse, and open community committed to full and equal participation and involvement of men and women who are community members of EPIC and subscribe to accept its rules, regulations, and procedures. EPIC is committed to civic and civil engagement with communities of other faiths and society at large.

The community, often referred to as Pakistani Beverly Hills , is categorized by multimillion-dollar homes next to the masjid, a $250,000 to $500,000 average household income, a golf course, high end shops and luxurious gyms nearby a great standard of living, and is home to a large number of doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers and IT professionals. The large donations of this wealthy community is what enables EPIC to be one of the leading centers for Islam in North America.

The community mirrors many mosques in DFW, as it mostly consists of South Asians.

History[]

EPIC started with small gatherings in people's garages in 2003 and became a non-profit later that year. The founders would meet up in the Islamic Association of North Texas and would plan its future. After a location in a trailer followed by a location in a strip mall, EPIC moved to a building of about 10,000 square feet in 2008.[1] It moved into a much larger, newer facility in 2015. The mosque had its first funeral service in June 2016, for a high school student who grew up going to EPIC.[4] In May 2021 during the Israeli-Gaza crisis EPIC spoke out on the issue and on Jun 5th 2021 they brought famous author Miko Peled to speak in support of Palestine. Peled's grandfather, Avraham Katsnelson , signed Israel's Declaration of Independence. His father, Mattityahu Peled, served as a general in the Six-Day War of 1967.

COVID-19[]

During the COVID-19 pandemic epic masjid has been more cautious than other masjids in the DFW area in full reopening due its large population of doctors and specialists that saw the pandemic effects first hand. EPIC masjid was the last to open all prayer areas from March 13, 2020, to April 9, 2021, although the main Musalla was closed. It had even more restrictions in Ramadan 2021. Ironically, it had the least restrictions of any masjid during Eid-ul-Adha of 2020 with prayers in the gym area with limited capacity.[5][6] During 2021 Ramadan, the masjid was able to raise close to a million dollars (~$814,500) during its fundraising night.

EPIC-Waqf[]

On October 3, 2021, EPIC announced the EPIC waqf is starting at $3.6 million on the EPIC Waqf fundraiser night they raised $2,420,500 EPIC owns a retail space worth $1 million and another empty plot of land at 4W Campbell Rd & N President George Bush Hwy, Garland, TX 75044

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "East Plano Islamic Center hopes to better serve Muslim community with new facility". Dallas News. May 30, 2014.
  2. ^ Ayman, Menna (September 19, 2017). "7 beautiful photos of mosques in the US". StepFeed.
  3. ^ http://epicmasjid.net/
  4. ^ "Friends Remember Wylie HS Student Who Died Jumping into Lake Lavon".
  5. ^ https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/plano/coronavirus/2020/09/03/east-plano-islamic-center-creates-drive-thru-delivery-options-for-in-house-food-pantry/[bare URL]
  6. ^ https://theconversation.com/nearly-half-of-all-churches-and-other-faith-institutions-help-people-get-enough-to-eat-170074
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