History of IABA
The Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association (IABA) was founded in 1997 and has since become
a flourishing and vibrant community of approximately 300 muslims. Its membership comprises
of a richly diverse yet close knit group of people from various parts of the world
including India, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya,
Qatar, and the United States.
Prior to the establishment of the Islamic Ahlul Bayt Association, the shia muslim
community in Austin gathered for majalis in each others residences. With an increasingly
large community, the need for an organized structure led to the creation of the Islamic
Ahlul Bayt Association in the holy month of Ramadhan, 1417 (1997). The Islamic Ahlul
Bayt Association was formally registered with the State of Texas as a non-profit organization
on February 20, 1997.
The Al-Mahdi Center
The Al-Mahdi Center was purchased by IABA in October of 2002. It is church converted
into an Islamic Center that sits on a beautiful 4.1 acre land in NorthWest Austin.
Currently, the Al-Mahdi Center consists of a main prayer hall that accomodates both
men and women, an office and English and Arabic libraries. Attached to the main prayer
hall is an existing residential structure that serves as an overflow area, and has
several class rooms for the weekend school.
Currently, the building committee is working on future plans to make the Al-Mahdi
Center a full fledged Islamic Center with up-to-date accomodations for various activities.
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