Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said “Al-Ilmu Noorun” meaning “Knowledge is Light”. The Light of Islam stands for the knowledge of Allah, the most Beneficent, the Merciful. Masjid Nurul Islam literally means the Light of Islam mosque.

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; the example of His light is like a niche in which is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as if it were a star shining like a pearl, kindled by the blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west – it is close that the oil itself get ablaze although the fire does not touch it; light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah illustrates examples for mankind, and Allah knows everything (Surat An-Noor 24:35)

On the 8^th day of September 2000, a group of Nigerian American muslims in the South Suburban area of Chicago started converging with their families at each individual’s houses for prayers and teachings of the Holy Quran on a weekly basis. They named this group Light of Islam (L.O.I) in the year 2001 and was incorporated as a not for profit organization in the state of Illinois, became recognized as and awarded a 501C3 statue by the U.S. government the same year.

In the year 2002, L.O.I. rented a space at 2819 W. 167^th street, Markham, Illinois 60426, and performed the first Juma’t prayer on the 1^st of March 2002. In the year 2005, L.O.I. acquired its own property at 46 E. 147^th street, Harvey, Illinois 60426. This is the building we currently occupy as our masjid. All efforts to expand the Islamic center have yielded positive results by the grace of Allah (swt) as we recently acquired a second property next to the current one in 2012. Our intentions and goal is to join both properties and build a first class Islamic center/Masjid. We implore all to assist in donating generously towards the realization of our goal.