North American Islamic Trust
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Islamic charitable endowments, real estate |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada |
| Headquarters | Plainfield, Indiana , United States |
Area served | North America |
| Products | Ownership of Islamic real estate, waqf management, interest-free loans for mosque development |
| Parent | Muslim Students Association (founding organization) |
| Website | nait |
The North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana, holds ownership of Islamic real estate and advocates for the practice of waqf (Islamic charitable endowments) throughout North America. Numerous Muslim organizations established by immigrants who arrived in the United States during the 1960s can trace their origins back to the Muslim Students Association, where these individuals were active as college organizers. During the 1970s and subsequent decades, NAIT played a role in providing worship facilities for students. While NAIT has historical ties to the Muslim Students Association, it does not offer financial backing to this group. Acting as trustee, NAIT oversees approximately 200 Islamic centers, mosques, and educational institutions, managing property holdings valued at several hundred million dollars.
Background
Founded in 1973 in Indiana by the Muslim Students Association (MSA) of the United States and Canada, NAIT was established by some members affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood who were also instrumental in creating the MSA. Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President of ISNA, previously served on NAIT’s board of directors. A counterpart organization bearing the same name was subsequently incorporated in Ontario, Canada.
Mosque and Islamic school financing
NAIT offers protection for mosque properties through waqf, ensuring these assets remain preserved and are utilized according to Islamic principles. A report from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) indicated that NAIT financed roughly 27% of the 1,209 mosques across the United States as of 2000. By June 2003, NAIT held ownership titles to more than 320 properties, representing about one-quarter of all mosques nationwide. Despite this, NAIT does not oversee or administer any mosque, community center, school, or place designated for worship.
The organization supports mosque development efforts such as acquiring land for the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in 1983 and assists Islamic educational institutions through modest interest-free loans provided by its investment arm, the Islamic Centers Cooperative Fund (ICCF). Approximately 8% of ICCF’s annual funds are dedicated to helping local communities purchase and upgrade mosque facilities; the remaining funds are allocated toward investments in real estate and other assets.
Controversy
In 2007, federal authorities charged the Holy Land Foundation with allegedly financing terrorist operations connected to Hamas and other entities. The North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator along with organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and ISNA. Al Ahram Weekly characterized this action as a "smear campaign," emphasizing that these groups represent mainstream Muslim interests in America. In 2009, U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis determined that including NAIT and CAIR on the co-conspirator list violated their Fifth Amendment rights; however, he also recognized there was "ample evidence" suggesting a connection between NAIT and Hamas.
On October 20, 2010, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Department of Justice infringed upon NAIT’s constitutional protections by publicly naming it an unindicted co-conspirator in 2007—a designation that impacted over 300 similarly identified Muslim organizations and individuals. The court noted that this listing was based solely on "an untested allegation" used as part of pre-trial tactics rather than conclusive proof of wrongdoing. In 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder affirmed that after thorough evaluations conducted during both Bush and Obama administrations, DOJ officials concluded that pursuing prosecution was unwarranted.
External links
- Official NAIT website
- Muslim Communities in North America, Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, SUNY Press, 1994
- Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America – Chapter 20: NAIT and the Economic Jihad, P. David Gaubatz, Paul Sperry, WND Books, 2009