About the Islamic Center of Muncie

The Islamic Center of Muncie (ICM) was originally founded in 1969 by local African American leaders and has evolved from a small group of families into a multiethnic pillar of the Muncie community.

Origins (1969): The center was established in 1969 and was initially located on Ball Street. In the late 1960s, the Muslim community consisted of a few resident families and students. By the early 21st century, this grew to approximately 30 resident families and over 500 Ball State University students. The center eventually moved from its original Ball Street location to its current facility on the northwest side of Muncie to accommodate its growing membership.

The center gained international recognition for a 2009 incident that was later the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Stranger at the Gate. Former U.S. Marine Richard "Mac" McKinney entered the center with the intent to detonate a bomb. Instead of meeting hostility, he was welcomed with an embrace by co-founder Mohammad Saber Bahrami and others. Moved by the community's compassion, McKinney abandoned his plan, converted to Islam, and later served as the President of the Islamic Center of Muncie for two years.

Co-founders Bibi and Saber Bahrami have been instrumental in the center's growth and interfaith outreach. Bibi Bahrami also founded AWAKEN, a non-profit supporting women and children in Afghanistan. As of 2026, the center serves over 200 members and provides various services, including a Sunday School and daily congregational prayers. In 2018, Ball State University's "Muslims in Muncie" project recorded 22 oral histories to preserve the half-century of community building by the city's Muslim residents.