About

The Islamic Society of the Seacoast Area (ISSA) is located sixty miles north of Boston, MA, nestled in the beautiful towns along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. The Society was formed in 1994 and incorporated in 1997 under ISNA (the Islamic Society of North America). In 2004, ISSA was officially registered with the state of New Hampshire as an independent and non-profit organization. We first gathered in Durham, then bought a Masjid in Dover, and as we have continued to grow, masha'Allah, we moved in 2023 to our community's new home: Portsmouth Mosque. The beautiful structure was built in 1964 as a parish house and run by the North Church of Portsmouth up until the pandemic, after which it was sold to ISSA, continuing its legacy as a house of worship, thus becoming our answered prayer and dedicated place of striving, alhamdulillah.

The aim and purpose of ISSA is to serve the interests of the Muslim community in the New Hampshire Seacoast Area and Southern Maine. Toward this end insha'Allah, ISSA shall offer religious and community services while abiding by public principles.

Religious Services

• Hold congregational Islamic prayers, services, and celebrations to develop our connection with Allah subhana wa ta'ala and with each other.

• Provide Islamic education and encourage community members to deepen their Islamic knowledge.

• Foster unity and joint action among Muslim community members to stand strong against injustice and for helping others.

• Strive to strengthen relations with the larger New England community and make Islamic teachings known to non-Muslims.

Community Services

• Provide assistance to Muslim residents, students, visitors, and others during their presence in the area.

• Conduct Islamic marriage ceremonies and officiate marriage contracts. ISSA is licensed by the State of New Hampshire to solemnize marriages for state residents as provided under RSA 457:31.

• Provide funeral services and maintain a Muslim section within a cemetery in the seacoast area of New Hampshire.

Public Principles

• ISSA shall be a religious, educational, and charitable non-profit, non-political organization. It shall maintain a non-profit and tax-exempt status as required by federal law of the United States.

• ISSA shall avoid any practices that are contrary to the teachings of Islam as defined by the Qur'an, the Prophet's tradition (Sunnah), and the understanding of the pious predecessors.

• ISSA shall abide by all applicable laws of the United States, as well as the laws of the state of New Hampshire.