History

In 1992, the intellectuals of the Afghan community residing in Virginia and its surrounding areas came together and decided to establish an academic and cultural institution under the name Afghan Academy. For many years, the Afghan Muslim community residing in Virginia and its neighboring regions lacked a suitable place for performing religious duties and promoting Islamic culture and traditions. To address this need, in 1994, the Afghan Academy purchased a plot of land and began constructing the Mustafa Mosque The construction was completed in 1999, and the mosque was put into operation, serving the community under the leadership of the Afghan Academy until 2017.

Since the Afghan Academy is primarily an academic and cultural institution, catering specifically to the Afghan community, while a Mosque is a sacred religious space offering services to all Muslims, in 2017, the leadership of the Afghan Academy and the Mustafa Mosque decided to register the Mustafa Center as an independent entity. This move was aimed at attracting contributions from all Muslims, facilitating administrative processes, and ensuring financial transparency. According to the provisions outlined in MC Bylaws, the boards of both institutions can hold joint meetings when necessary.

A c h i e v e m e n t s

1. In 2012, the leadership boards of the Afghan Academy and the Mustafa Center jointly purchased and acquired a piece of land located adjacent to Braddock Road and across from the Mustafa Mosque for the construction of a funeral home. Construction

began in May 2019, and by 2025, the projectwas completed and inaugurated under the name“MustafaCenter Jenazah (Funeral) Services.”

2. In 2020, the leadership boards of the Afghan Academy and the Mustafa Center, by majority vote, agreed to establish a unified board of trustees to safeguard and manage the documents related to movable and immovable properties of both the Afghan Academy and the Mustafa Center. For this purpose, a seven-member board of trustees was formed.

3. In 2022, the leadership boards of the Afghan Academy and the Mustafa Center, by majority vote, decided to establish a unified management board for both institutions to foster greater unity, coordination, and resolve misunderstandings.

4. In 2023, the leadership of the Mustafa Center purchased a cemetery for the burial of Muslim residents of Virginia and the surrounding areas. many challenges and obstacles were overcome, construction began in September 1997. Within two years, the Mustafa Center was officially opened (November 1999). The total cost of the land and construction was well over a million dollars. With your help, Alhamdulilah, the debt that the Center owed was completely paid off during the blessed month of Ramadan in 2004. We would like to thank all of our brothers and sisters for their generous donations to the Masjid.

The Mustafa Center’s exterior features a light-green dome, two domed minarets on each side, an arch entrance portico supported by columns and tiles with Quranic inscriptions. The interior is adorned with beautiful chandeliers and a lovely Mehrab. The Mustafa Center has two floors. The upper floor is the Musallaa (prayer hall) with separate sections for brothers and sisters. The lower floor consists of an office, classrooms, library, gathering hall and restrooms.

Mission: “To serve, support, unite and strengthen the Muslim community and the community at large in the Washington Metropolitan area by providing and/or facilitating relevant and effective knowledge & Learning (religious and other), social services, and improved communication and understanding based on the principles of the Qur’an and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh).”