Friday marks the grand opening of the new mosque and complex. It has a new library and media room, conference rooms and 16 classrooms that teach 600 students of Arabic and Islam.Larger mosque creates a place for old traditions
American Moslem Society raises $1.8 million to expand, renovate center in Dearborn.
The American Moslem Society mosque on West Vernor raised $1.8 million over 13 years to double its size.
"I feel happy. I feel loved -- especially right now, when I see the mosque is big like this," Walid Fidama says.
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DEARBORN -- As the rain drenches the parking lot in front of the American Moslem Society mosque on West Vernor, Muslims in car after car drive up for prayers.
About 50 followers of Islam enter the newly expanded, renovated mosque, the work of 13 years of fund-raising, love and devotion to God. The mostly working-class members of Michigan's oldest mosque raised $1.8 million for construction that doubled its size over five years.
Now, the members proudly say, when as many as a few thousand people gather here from Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Canton, and even outside of Michigan for worship during Islam's great devotions -- the holy month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha -- many will not have to get on their hands and knees in the parking lot to pray.
"Whatever we do for the mosque, we believe that it is not like working for other people, it is working for God -- for forgiveness from God," said Walid Fidama of Dearborn, who moved from Yemen in 1989. "When you see the people here, now, to worship God, I cannot explain, but I feel happy. I feel loved -- especially right now, when I see the mosque is big like this. It makes me very, very happy to see this, in this area, in the United States and in Michigan."
The mosque is redolent with the experiences of devout immigrants. It is an experience shared by newcomers of many faiths who have moved to Metro Detroit to establish their lives in a new world, and to worship God in their way.
Like those before them, the Muslims worked, and sweat, and saved, and then offered much to God.
"It was supposed to be more than $1.8 million, you know?" says Mahdi Ali, the president of the American Moslem Society. "But because of the volunteers who spent their time on the mosque, it cost only that amount.
"They provided their labor," Ali said. "You would not believe how the people worked. I have one picture of people carrying stones on their back. Everyone did what they could."
Established in an old school in Highland Park in 1924 by the families of some of the original Muslims in Metro Detroit, the mosque provided a house of worship for immigrants. Like other newcomers, many built Model Ts for Henry Ford in his nearby plant. When Ford Motor Co. moved its car factory to the River Rouge plant, the Muslims moved, too. And they brought their mosque with them, re-establishing it on a peninsula of south Dearborn that juts into neighborhoods where, even today, residents live side by side with factories.
Now, even as once-vibrant Roman Catholic schools around it close, Islam thrives at the American Moslem Society.
Friday marks the grand opening of the new mosque and complex. It has a new library and media room, conference rooms and 16 classrooms that teach 600 students of Arabic and Islam during two daily shifts -- an increase from 120 20 years ago.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido and a host of other officials and dignitaries are expected to attend.
Much of the celebration will take place in the new activities room, underneath the mosque. It can hold 300 people.
Gathering, too, will be the residents of Metro Detroit who trace their roots to Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and other countries. Many came to the once-small mosque in Dearborn to practice Islam for the first time on American soil. The majority of members are Yemeni.
There will be Shi'a and there will be Sunni, the two great divisions of Islam, and few will note the difference.
"Everyone is accepted, here," said Mahdi Ali, president of the society. "Please tell people that even if you are not Muslim, please come here on any day. And if you are just curious about Islam, come and sit in the new library and read our books in Arabic and English and Spanish for Muslims and non-Muslims and watch some of our videos. You can come and read whatever you want to read, whatever interests you. Tell people."
Jamal Alhiyafi of Dearborn, who is studying for a doctorate at Wayne State, lost his father 15 years ago. Alhiyafi has a photograph of his father standing in the mosque in the 1970s.
"So, you see, I can see that I am in the same place where he used to be -- my father," Alhiyafi says. "My grandfather was here in 1942, and all of my brothers were born here, too -- like me."
You can reach Gregg Krupa at (734) 462-2296 or gkrupa@detnews.com.
A man prays in the new mosque. The expansion will mean no one will have to get on their hands and knees in the parking lot to pray.
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The Detroit News.
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