Examining the Landscape of Today’s American Mosques
This American Mosque is a community-driven initiative that thoughtfully examines the traditional philosophies and contemporary challenges that shape mosques in the United States and explores strategies to make mosques more accessible, inclusive, and conducive to the needs of the communities they serve.
What is a Mosque?
For the purposes of this initiative, a mosque is defined as a permanent physical space where Islamic activities, including Jumuah (Friday) Prayer, are held and that is controlled and operated by a Muslim organization or an organization of Muslims. This does not include rooms rented or reserved as prayer spaces, such as in high school and college campuses, or facilities such as workplaces, stores, and homes that may commonly host local congregations. The term “American mosque” loosely refers to an established mosque in the United States and is not meant to imply or suggest any specific design elements, religious influences, or political leanings unless otherwise mentioned.
Goals
- To identify and examine the landscape of mosques in the United States, including their successes, challenges, and influences, both modern and traditional.
- To establish a more nuanced understanding of the role, functional purpose, and vitality of American mosques using quantifiable and qualified research and anecdotal references.
- To highlight current and shifting attitudes regarding American mosques as expressed by the Muslim communities they serve.
- To propose novel ideas and implementable solutions that address existing and potential problems between mosques and their respective communities, and to optimize the way contemporary mosques serve their communities.
- To encourage and celebrate more accessible, inclusive, and immersive mosque experiences.
Gravity
This American Mosque is a broad and daunting project with potential to benefit the greater Muslim-American community and just as much potential to bring it harm. The gravity of this undertaking does not escape me.
I intend for this project to develop and expand according to the needs, concerns, and interests expressed by readers and the Muslim community at large. I also plan for this project to be informed by the growing academic discourse surrounding mosque history, culture, and architecture in the United States. But because it remains a personal project, my interests, values, and personal biases may be evident.
To be clear, all analyses, surveys, commentaries, and other reflections are intended to introduce, examine, and challenge ideas. They are not intended to impose any particular beliefs or serve as authoritative interpretations of Islam.
Disclosures
I have no financial agreements or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Credit
My greatest gratitude extends to my family, who encourage me to follow my ideas wherever they take me; to the Chicago-area Muslim community for exposing me to diversity of thought and culture; and to M.A. and S.A. who both, individually, remind me of my debt to the congregations that have overwhelmingly served and supported me.