Picture this. A sprawling modern building. Gleaming white against the Texas sky. This is the East Plano Islamic Center. EPIC to its community. More than just a mosque. It’s a vibrant hub for Plano’s Muslim community.
The East Plano Islamic Center started humbly. Small gatherings in garages. The year was 2003. A small group dreamt big. They sought a place for prayer. A place for community. Their dream grew. It expanded from a trailer to a strip mall. Finally in 2008 they moved to a larger building. 10000 square feet. It still wasn’t enough.
By 2015 a new larger facility opened. Thirty-three thousand square feet now housed the growing congregation. The current Imam Nadim Bashir leads the prayers. Sheikh Dr Yasir Qadhi is the resident scholar. Many other leaders contribute. They guide the spiritual life of the Center.
The East Plano Islamic Center isn’t just about prayer. It’s about community. About service. It hosted its first funeral in 2016. A young man who grew up within its walls. A testament to the center’s role in the lives of its members.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. The East Plano Islamic Center demonstrated its careful approach. It was one of the last to fully reopen. It prioritized the health and safety of its members. It prioritized the health of its many doctors and specialists. It even implemented strict rules during Ramadan 2021. By Ramadan 2022 all restrictions had been lifted. The community spirit persevered. It even raised close to a million dollars during a fundraising night in 2021.
The East Plano Islamic Center is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to faith and community. It’s a space where people connect. It’s a beacon of hope and service in Plano. A truly inspiring place. A place where history is made. And a future is built. A place worth visiting.