Q: Salam Alaikum,
My question is: why are all of the masjids now called “Islamic Centers”? i.e. Khadeeja Masjid is now called Khadeeja Islamic Center.

Jazakumullahu Khairen
Time: Tuesday December 28, 2010 at 12:55 am

A: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

You have asked a good question. The plausible reasoning could be as follows:

The concept of a place of worship being called an Islamic center is an attempt to assist with assimilation to mainstream America. Such a naming process could also function as a ploy to make Muslims feel more ‘Americanized’ and less ‘strange’ and ‘foreign.’
Then there are those that merely do it so as to assist ‘friends’ to better spot a place of worship. After-all, it would be more easier for a nonmuslim guest to Google in ‘Islamic center’ then ‘Musjid.’
Allah Certainly Knows Best