Overview

“He who builds a prayer site (Masjid) for God, God will build a house for him in Paradise.”
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

 

The Prayer Center of Orland Park was established to worship the one and only God, the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the Last Messenger, Muhammad. Peace be upon all of them.

The Prayer Center of Orland Park has been organized as an Illinois non-for-profit corporation under the name THE PRAYER CENTER. The Prayer Center has obtained designation from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a charitable, religious, and/or education organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

On June 21, 2004, the founders received the final approval from the Village of Orland Park to move forward with the project. The ground breaking ceremony took place in October of 2004, and construction of the Prayer Center of Orland Park began in earnest. Throughout the following 18 months, the Founders were responsible for raising the completion funds through the generous contributions of many in the community.  And finally, in June of 2006 the doors of the Prayer Center of Orland Park opened to the public.

The Prayer Center of Orland Park has seen substantial year over year growth and hopes to continue this trend of appealing to more people through diverse programs and services. God has blessed the gifts and talents of this wonderful diverse community to provide a magnificent and beautiful building in which we can pray and worship.  Although we are open to all who want to learn and grow in the Islamic faith, our center will be one of openness and compassion.  We will encourage and support dialogue with all faiths that embrace peace, justice and understanding.

The Prayer Center of Orland Park strives to be the cornerstone for Orland Park and its neighboring communities through activities such as: the Five Daily Prayers, Community Services, Educational Programs, Youth Activities, Philanthropy, Recreational Activities, Social Activities and much more.

Our Mission

To build an Islamic Community and facilitate the needs of a rapidly growing Muslim population in the Orland Park area and surrounding suburbs. To provide a place to worship freely and comfortably, utilizing all avenues of outreach, while providing an Islamic environment to the current and future generations.  Lastly, to build bridges of peace and understanding with non-Muslims by illustrating the true loving image of our Islamic faith.

Imams

Kifah A. Mustapha

(708) 428-1400, ext.101

ImamKifah@op-pc.org

Biography

Sheikh Kifah Mustapha is the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park.

He is the appointed representative for the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Lebanon (Darul Fatwa) on behalf of the Lebanese Community in the USA.

Chairman of the Illinois Council of Imams and Scholars

The Council for the Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation

The American Islamic College in Chicago

Sh. Kifah has served as Imam at the Mosque Foundation; Islamic Cultural Center; and Al-Ansar Mosque

He was a founder of the Council of Lebanese American Imams

He taught Islamic Studies for High School students at Universal School for six years

He also served as a member on the Advisory Boards of the Mission and Spiritual Care for Advocate Health Group in Illinois

He is a well known motivational speaker, youth mentor and active participant in interfaith relations

CAIR-Chicago Mobilizer Award

Arab American Business & Professional Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award

Lincoln Land Legends Scholars for Dollars Award

1. Bachelor’s in Sharia from American Islamic University in VA, USA

2. Diploma of Sharia (Master’s Program) from Beirut Islamic University (Azhar Beirut) in Beirut, Lebanon

3. Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies from Global Theological Foundation (GTF) Indiana, USA

Jafar Ahmad Hawa

(708) 428-1400, ext.105 and ext.120

Imamjafar@op-pc.org

Biography

Sheikh Jafar Hawa is an Imam at the Prayer Center of Orland Park & Director of the Qur’an Academy.

– Imam Jafar Hawa was born in Amman, Jordan.

– By the Age of 14, Imam Jafar had memorized the Quran.

– In 2003 he began leading Taraweeh prayers in Amman. Later on he led Taraweeh in other major cities.

– In 2006 Imam Jafar received “Ijaza”, a certification of reading and memorizing the Quran with a chain leading back to the Prophet (PBUH).

– In 2008 Imam Jafar was assigned to one of the largest mosques in Amman, Jordan, where he served for seven years as an Imam and  Quran instructor. Many students of all ages benefited greatly from his courses.

– During a 2010 national recitation competition titled “The Golden Voice”, Imam Jafar won first place in the entire Kingdom of Jordan.

– In 2014 Imam Jafar recieved his BA in Islamic Banking from Islamic World Science and Education University.

– In 2015 Imam Jafar moved to the Chicago land area with his family to join the Prayer Center of Orland Park (OPPC) as an Imam. Furthermore, in 2016 he was appointed as Director of the Quran Academy.

Haitham Alzamareeh

(708) 428-1400, ext.105

imamhaitham@op-pc.org

Biography

Sheikh Haitham Alzamareeh is an Imam and Director of Islamic Studies at the Prayer Center.

He was born and raised in Halhoul, Palestine, and attended the Islamic University in Medinah, Saudi Arabia where he completed his Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD in Islamic Sharia, School of Usool Al-Fiqh, rating top in his class.

His credentials allowed him to stay in Medinah where he taught in the Islamic University and Taiba University.

Sh. Haitham and his family moved to the United States in 2016 to work as an Assistant Professor for the Graduate Theological Foundation branch in Philadelphia, PA.

He joined the Prayer Center in 2019 as an Imam and Academic Adviser for the new Islamic Studies program, our joint project with Universal School in Bridgeview, to establish a new college of Education, Arabic, and Islamic Studies.

  1. PHD degree (grade of Distinction first class honor): Principles of Jurisprudence (Islamic Law), Islamic University, Medina, Saudi Arabia 2014.
  2. Master’s degree (grade of Distinction first class honor): Principles of Jurisprudence (Islamic Law), Islamic University, Medina, Saudi Arabia 2008.
  3. Bachelor’s degree (grade of Distinction first class honor): Faculty of Sharia (Islamic Law), Islamic University, Medina, Saudi Arabia 2003.
  4. Refugee Studies Diploma: The Academy of Refugee Studies, Britain 2014.
  5. The training program for graduate students, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2010, 2011).
  6. The annual Scientific Session – Ibn Jibreen Foundation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2010, 2011, 2012).

  • Professor of Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF) – Philadelphia branch (2016 – 2018).
  • Visiting Professor and researcher of Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF) – Philadelphia branch (2014 – 2015).
  • Associate Lecturer at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia (2013 – 2014)
  • Associate Lecturer at the Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2011 – 2012).
  • Teacher of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language at the Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2009 – 2011).
  • Social Worker Supervisor at the Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2009 – 2011).
  • Manuscripts Indexer, Researcher and Supervisor in the manuscripts indexing project – Deanship of Library Affairs – Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2005 – 2009).
  • Advocacy Program to Educate Pilgrims – Global Foundation for Reconstruction and Development, Saudi Arabia (2006 – 2009)
  • Quran and Tajweed teacher at the Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2002 – 2005).
  • Hafiz of Al-Quran Al Kareem through the narration of Hafs from Assem and Member of the Holy Quran Society at the Islamic University of the Medina, Saudi Arabia (2002 – 2003).

• Medina Award for Scientific and Academic Excellence (2009).
• Distinguished Professor Award – Graduate Theological Foundation, Philadelphia, PA (2019).
• Distinguished Quran teacher award – Islamic Center of Philadelphia, PA (2018).
• Quran Society award – the Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia (2002, 2003).

Board of Directors

DR MOHAMED KRAD
DR MOHAMED KRADFounder
President
MALIK ALI
MALIK ALIVice President
Treasurer
MOHAMMED NOFAL
MOHAMMED NOFALLegal Counsel
Logistics
BADIE M ALI
BADIE M ALISecretary
Dawah

If you would count up the favors of Allah, never would you be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah An-Nahl 16:18

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage.

The Quran 11:06

And We send down rain from the sky in a measured amount, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are Able to take it away.

The Quran 23:18

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and colors. Indeed, in that are Signs for those of knowledge.

The Quran 30:22

He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward, and He is the Knower of all things.

The Quran 57:03