 Initially ICNA was composed of Muslim Americans of Indo-Pakistani descent who had split from ISNA.According to Hossein Nasr, ICNA has been influenced by the ideals of Abul A'la Maududi of Pakistan, and is structured similar to the Jamaat-e-Islami, which Mawdudi founded.However, it is a separate entity from Jamaat-e-Islami.