Imam Bilal Ali said that the Center has been at its current Summitt Street location since 1994, when it moved across street from a house it occupied since its establishment in the early 1980s. Membership is now at 160, with more growth expected.
"We're doing some cosmetic work in the front part of the mosque, and in the back of the mosque we are expanding because we are out of room. We have a piece of property directly behind the Mosque where, in the next couple of years, we are going to build a new facility from the ground up," he said, "Hopefully, by the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008 we're going to start on our new mosque."
Ali attributes the recent growth of Islam in part to the exposure the religion has received in the media.
"The more they talk about Islam, the more people are encouraged to learn about it," he said, "Actually since September 11, the community has more than doubled since that time. We have a lot more Muslims here. A lot of people are inquisitive and want to know more things about Islam."
He said that when the American media talks negatively about Islam, it prompts the neighbors of Muslims to ask questions and step to their neighbors' defense. These people often become Muslim themselves, Ali says, based on their experience with the character of their Muslim neighbors.
"A lot of people come constantly asking about Islam and have become Muslim from all different backgrounds. We have a lot of Afro-Americans, white Americans, a lot of people who have become Muslim here," he continued, "We have a lot more people who've come and who've moved into the city, and we're doing a lot of propagation of the religion in the Spanish community. Our community is growing."
In addition to a larger prayer area to serve growing membership and a weekend school for children, Ali says the plan for the new Mosque includes a recreation area for local children of all faiths and a room to establish interfaith religious dialogue.
"People from different religious backgrounds can come here and sit in a comfortable manner, if they don't feel comfortable going into our prayer area," he said.
He invites those interested to come by the mosque to learn about Islam.
"We have our five daily prayers, and they can come by," he said, "The brothers are here; we're here throughout the day at different times, and people can come by the Islamic Center. If not, they can call me at 770-900-9010 or email me."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/9/103287