American Religious Affairs Center: The Projection of the Turkish-Islamic Civilization Vision in the USA
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kanca* 1
American Religious Affairs Center (Diyanet Center of America – DCA)The complex is a symbol in the United States of the Turkish-Islamic vision of civilization and the Ottoman social complex tradition. Inspired by Ottoman and Seljuk architecture, the complex meets the religious, scientific, social, and cultural needs of Turkish and Muslim communities in the United States, ensuring their continuity through the foundation civilization approach, and stands out as a groundbreaking living space in this field. While supporting Muslims in the United States in preserving their religious and cultural identities, the center aims to convey the universal message of Islam to a wide audience within the framework of tolerance and peace.
Historical and Philosophical Background: Ottoman Social Complex Tradition and Understanding of Civilization
The tradition of the social complex, inspired by the Prophet's Mosque built in Medina by our Prophet (peace be upon him), is a practical manifestation of the great Islamic philosopher Farabi's understanding of "Madinatul-Fazila." According to this understanding, the inhabitants of a virtuous city live and work together in harmony to attain eternal happiness. This order is a reflection of the divine order of the universe in urban life. Complexes are a kind of "earthly paradise," built with knowledge and wisdom to help people attain both worldly and otherworldly happiness.
Considered like a human body, the mosque, representing the heart of the complex, is a spiritual center that unites Muslims and connects them with God (swt). By existing in an organic unity with the city, it establishes harmony and balance both materially and spiritually. In this respect, complexes constitute the heart of civilization. Built with the philosophy of "unity within multiplicity," all roads within the complex intersect at the central mosque, converging with the prayer rooms leading to the House of Allah (Baytullah), symbolically reflecting the functioning of the universe within divine order. Other structures positioned around the mosque contribute to the functioning of the complex, like organs in the human body. Each structure fulfills a role that complements the complex's holistic function. In this context, the complex is not only a place of worship but also a harmonious composition that brings together education, culture, art, and social solidarity. In this respect, social complexes are holistic living spaces that support the development of individuals and society and combine material and spiritual life.
The Prophet's Mosque, built by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina, became a center for worship, knowledge, education, and social solidarity with its multifunctional perspective. Complexes were built based on this model in Islamic cities, thus creating an intertwined structure for knowledge, worship, and social life. Medina, the city of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is, in fact, the place where religion and civilization were embodied and brought to life. Islam is a religion lived not only in the mosque, but also in the covered bazaar, the soup kitchen, the marketplace, the home, neighborly relations, and every aspect of life. In this context, complexes are designed to ensure harmony between Muslims' beliefs and their daily lives.
The Ottomans further developed this tradition, building cities around social complexes, creating a holistic structure of social and religious life. In addition to being aesthetic structures that reflect society's perception of civilization, these complexes embody Islamic civilization's understanding of science, art, and solidarity, instilling its value system within the city, and imbuing space with meaning through their functional, aesthetic, and symbolic dimensions, becoming an integral part of the urban fabric.
Built in line with the Ottoman social complex tradition, one of the most exquisite architectural reflections of the holistic understanding of Islam that regulates every aspect of life, the Diyanet Center of America serves as a living space that encompasses all these areas of life and responds to the religious, scientific, social and cultural demands of the Muslim community in the United States with its qualified content.
Architectural and Physical Structure of the Diyanet Center of America
American Religious Affairs CenterIn 1993, on land purchased in the DMV region through the modest efforts of Muslim Turks living in America, Turkish American Community Center (TACC) Built by the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Religious Foundation, the center is the first Turkish-Islamic complex in the country that brings together Muslims under the same roof.
President Recep Tayyip ErdoğanThis complex, the foundation of which was laid with the visionary initiatives of during the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Turkey, offers a versatile service by hosting religious, social, scientific, cultural and social activities.
Located 25 minutes from the capital, Washington, DC, and located in a metropolis home to temples of various religions, the Diyanet Center of America is built on 60 acres of land. It also hosts social and cultural events with its magnificent mosque reflecting the 16th-century Ottoman architectural style, a cultural center inspired by Seljuk architecture, high-capacity conference and art halls, exhibition spaces, guest houses, and an indoor parking garage with over 300 spaces.
The center's Ottoman bathhouse, gym, and restaurant, which bring traditional Turkish-Ottoman cuisine to American Muslims, make it a living space that offers versatile services to the Muslim community in America.
Inspired by Safranbolu houses, ten traditional Turkish guest houses are equipped with modern American technology and reflect the harmony of traditional elegance and contemporary comfort in the most aesthetic way.
Our complex, built by combining classical Ottoman architectural style with modern technology, blends tradition and the future. In this respect, it serves as a mosque prototype and an architectural example in America, and it receives the value and importance it deserves. An architectural masterpiece that reflects the aesthetic tastes of Islamic civilization. DCAIt is a structure that symbolizes the wisdom of Islamic civilization.
Educational, Social and Cultural Activities
American Religious Affairs CenterIt is not only a place of worship but also an educational and cultural center. Weekend religious education programs, memorization training, art workshops, and academic events are available for all ages, from children to adults. Cultural heritage is passed down to new generations through programs featuring traditional Turkish-Islamic arts such as marbling, calligraphy, and illumination. With activities encompassing all family members, as well as artistic, cultural, and educational activities, our complex is a center of knowledge and wisdom dedicated to developing individuals endowed with insight and wisdom.
American Religious Affairs CenterThe organization contributes to the intellectual and spiritual development of individuals through academic meetings, weekly and monthly lecture series organized in various fields, values education, language training, and individual or joint lessons and conversation circles for young men and women. In addition, it organizes scheduled visits to Turkey in collaboration with various institutions, organizations, and communities led by American Muslims. In addition to funeral and daily prayer services, it also provides support to those in need through sacrifices, zakat, and donations, and provides professional Hajj and Umrah services.
Social Unity and the Role of the Religious Affairs Center
DCAIt is a center where Muslims from diverse ethnic and sectarian backgrounds come together and foster a spirit of unity and solidarity. A wide range of communities, from African-American Muslims to Muslims of Turkish, Arab, and South Asian descent, American Religious Affairs Center The courtyards are filled to overflowing during Friday prayers, holy nights, Ramadan, and holidays. Our center, which also stands out with its activities for converts, helps individuals newly honored with Islam strengthen their religious and cultural identities.
This center is a place where the community comes together for condolence ceremonies on sad days, weddings and other special occasions on happy days, where they unite around common values by reinforcing the feelings of solidarity and brotherhood and create a spiritual unity.
American Religious Affairs Center The lifestyle it provides encourages individuals to be virtuous, charitable, selfless, and altruistic, fostering a strong culture of neighborliness. Despite the isolating nature of modern life, it becomes a center of social solidarity, bringing people together to share their joys and sorrows and make important decisions together.
American Religious Affairs CenterIt has become a hub for all Muslim communities and has earned a unique place in the multicultural religious life of the United States. It plays a significant role in preserving Muslim religious and cultural values and continues to embrace people of all walks of life with a spirit of mutual tolerance and toleration.
The Concept of Complex and Foundation
Operating as a non-profit organization DCAThe complex is a self-sufficient structure, steeped in the tradition of foundations. Income-generating units within the complex, such as restaurants, a hotel, a market, and a gift shop, as well as revenue generated through corporate sponsorships, ensure the center's sustainability, and it is further supported by donations from the community that owns the complex.
Religious Diplomacy and Its Global Impact
With Türkiye's increasing soft power American Religious Affairs Center, plays a significant role as a center for religious diplomacy. It not only meets the religious, social, and cultural needs of the Turkish-Muslim community or focuses solely on Muslim communities, but also opens its doors to non-Muslim visitors, bringing Islam's message of peace and tolerance to a universal platform. The openness and accessibility of its doors, along with its growing number of non-Muslim citizens, have earned its admiration and appreciation.
Our complex is a hub that connects our cultural and architectural heritage with Americans across the ocean and has become a center of attraction for visitors from within and beyond the city. It functions as a center of religious diplomacy, constantly striving to adapt to contemporary conditions and to renew itself, and to share the wisdom-filled message of Islam with the world.
Our mosque, adorned with Islamic art, soothes the souls of those who come to worship and visit, while the carved stones, marbles, and muqarnas—in short, every object that the faithful can touch and see—offer visitors a delightful opportunity for contemplation as a manifestation of divine artistry. In this context, the Diyanet Center of America is a place that unites not only people but also hearts and minds, strengthening love for Türkiye and Ottoman civilization.
American Religious Affairs CenterAs a significant symbol of Ottoman-Turkish culture and civilization in the United States, it continues to meet the religious, social, and cultural needs of the Muslim community. With its architectural aesthetics, educational, and social programs, our complex represents a unique model in the United States, providing Muslims with the opportunity to cherish their religious and cultural values.
This center, which addresses material and spiritual needs with both symbolic and functional dimensions, represents the universal aspects of Islam and Anatolian lore and is a source of pride for our country. This holistic living space, which offers hope for the future of Islam in the United States, will continue to keep the spirit of the social complex alive and pass it on to future generations.
Our complex aims to host more scientific, religious, and social projects, especially for the younger generations, to learn Islamic values, preserve their cultural heritage, and grow as conscious individuals in a global world; it also aims to expand its scope of activities by reaching wider audiences.