Islamic House of Wisdom

The Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW), founded in 1995, is located in Dearborn Heights, Michigan [1]. The website lists the Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi as the mosques spiritual leader and that he has spoken out about building both social and spiritual bridges [2].

Imam Elahi has been involved with numerous interfaith events [3] and has appeared on numerous news shows, including both combative interviews on Fox News, as well as Iranian state operated Press TV [4].

In 2010, IHW also held commemorations and prayer services for Hezbollah spiritual guide, Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah. Fadlallah was a spiritual guide to Hizbullah at its inception in 1982 and was placed on a ‘black list of terrorists’ by the United States. Elahi speaking on Fadlallah’s legacy said, “he was a great scholar with more than one hundred books and thousands of lectures, papers, presentations and conferences, and a man of great wisdom, knowledge, leadership, and spirituality.” [5]

In 2014, Detroit Free Press reporter, Niraj Warikoo noted that while speaking in front of Dearborn City Hall, Elahi accused the U.S. of supporting ISIS in Syria [6].

In 2015, Elahi attended a religious conference in Iran for Shia Muslims, the Ahlul-Bayt World Assembly conference. He said that the grandson of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979, welcomed him and other guests. Elahi described the experience in Iran as “a deeply spiritual and emotional experience … what caused my tears was looking at the magnificent burial sites of the late imam (Ayatollah Khomeini) and his son marhoom Sayyed Ahmad Khomainie.” [7]

In 2017, IHW held a memorial service for Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, following his death. Rafsanjani was a former president of Iran and a founder of the Islamic Republic [8].  Additionally, Elahi posted personal pictures of himself with Rafsanjani on his Facebook page [9].

The Clarion Project has documented in the past that the mosque has received money from the Alavi Foundation, The foundation is a New York-based foundation that serves as a propaganda front for the Iranian regime and accused of funneling money to an Iranian bank linked to the country’s nuclear program [ 10].

The mosque’s website teaches about jihad by referencing Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the theocratic regime, giving him the respected title of “Imam.” [11]

Sources:

[1] The Pluralism Project, “Islamic House of Wisdom (CJ),” Harvard University, Accessed July 11, 2018, https://pluralism.org/profile/islamic-house-of-wisdom-cj/

[2] Islamic House of Wisdom website, “Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi,” Accessed July 11, 2018, https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/bio-of-imam-elahi/

[3] Imam Mohamad Ali Elahi Facebook Page, Accessed July 11, 2018, https://www.facebook.com/187854444731908/photos/a.192701160913903.1073741828.187854444731908/245742398943112/?type=3&theater

[4] Islamic House of Wisdom website, “In the Media,” July 11, 2018, https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/ihw-in-the-media

[5] Meyer, Nick, “Local Muslims mourn Fadlallah,” The Arab American News, July 9, 2010, https://www.arabamericannews.com/2010/07/09/Local-Muslims-mourn-Fadlallah/

[6] Twitter account: @nwarikoo, “In addition to blasting ISIS, Imam Elahi & Siblani, publisher of Arab-American News in Dearborn, said the U.S. was supporting ISIS in Syria,” Twitter, August 25, 2014,

https://twitter.com/nwarikoo/status/504053427841007617 (Archived: https://archive.is/NrWG8)

[7] Warikoo, Niraj, “Dearborn Heights imam meets ex-Marine in Iran prison,” Detroit Free Press, August 31, 2015, https://www.freep.com/story/news/world/2015/08/31/imam-elahi-meets-amir-hekmati-iran/71472004/

[8] Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi Facebook Post, January 10, 2017, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158031784070293&set=pb.550640292.-2207520000.1531351815.&type=3&size=960%2C668 (Archive: https://archive.is/BKxOJ)

[9] Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi Facebook Post, January 8, 2017, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158021443105293&set=pb.550640292.-2207520000.1531351815.&type=3&size=1688%2C2048

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi Facebook Post, January 8, 2017, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158021441845293&set=pb.550640292.-2207520000.1531351815.&type=3&size=2048%2C1429

[10] Svirsky, Meira. (2013). Iranian Gov’t front group funded over 60 Islamic sites in U.S. Clarion Project. Retrieved from: https://clarionprojstg.wpengine.com/iranian-govt-front-group-funded-over-60-islamic-sites-us/

[11] Islamic House of Wisdom Website, “Jihad (Struggle in the way of Allah (swt)),” Accessed July 11, 2018, https://www.islamichouseofwisdom.com/jihad-struggle-in-the-way-of-god