New study finds significant growth in number of mosques and mosque participants

 
By Rida Fozi
 
Washington D.C. (February 29, 2012) – The number of mosques continues to rise in the United States. A recent report conducted by a group of major American Muslim organizations and academic institutions reveals mosques counted across the country in 2011 totaled to 2,106, more than double the number of mosques in 1994, and mosque participants increased from 2 million in 2000 to 2.6 million in 2011.
 

Growth of American MosquesThe report, entitled “The American Mosque 2011: Basic Characteristics of the American Mosque, Attitudes of Mosque Leaders” is part of the larger U.S. Mosque Survey 2011. The survey was conducted by Dr. Ihsan Bagby, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky, and sponsored by numerous prominent organizations including the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).
The report presents the picture of a thriving institution, noting that the majority of mosque growth occurred in the past decade, with a 74% increase from 2000 to 2011. Dr. Zahid Bukhari, President of ICNA and member of the survey’s research committee pointed out that much of the increase in mosque numbers occurred in suburbs and particularly in the western and southern regions of the United States, with a 109% and 128% growth, respectively. New York had the largest number of mosques, followed by California and Texas.
“The number of mosques has increased despite Islamophobia spread by right wing groups and certain religious and political leaders,” says Bukhari. “This growth in spite of bigotry also reveals the persistence of the Muslim community and inherent fairness of the American system.”
Distribution of Mosques in AmericaBukhari also points out that the data collected through this study indicates that the total number of American Muslims is much higher than reported by other research institutions, which estimate the total amount to be approximately 2.5 million. Bukhari says, “The U.S. Mosque Survey 2011 finds the total amount of mosque-going American Muslims alone is over 2.6 million. This figure does not account for the millions of Muslim women and children who do not regularly attend a mosque for prayers. There is a clear discrepancy between previously reported figures of the American Muslim population and the actual amount.”
The study also provides crucial insight into the views of mosque leaders. A simple majority of mosque leaders (54%) in 2000 found American society to be hostile towards Islam. Recent findings reveal, however, that an overwhelming majority (75%) now feel that America is more accepting of the Muslim faith. 91% of mosque leaders in 2011 also encourage political participation, and nearly all (98%) encourage involvement in American institutions.
Should Muslims participate in the American political process?Along with mosque leaders, the Muslim community feels political and social engagement is extremely important. Bukhari says that this should be a key indicator for public officials and local and national political leaders who wish to reach out to the Muslim community. “The overwhelming majority of adult Muslims want to actively participate in society, and the mosque is the best institution for both local and national representatives to connect with them at a more personal level,” he says.
Mosques are also extremely diverse institutions; a slim minority (3%) is attended by only one ethnicity, and the overwhelming majority houses more than one ethnic or racial group. “Mosques are actually accommodating the diversity of the Muslim population,” says Bukhari. “Our mosques absorb the various ethnic and racial groups of Muslims into one place of worship. Such an example of diversity and unity in a religious institution is rare in the United States, and serves as a model for other houses of worship.”
The report reveals more findings on topics including:
• Demographics of mosques and mosque participants
• Rate of conversion to Islam
• Approaches of American mosque leaders to interpretations of the Quran and Sunnah
• American mosque leaders’ views on American society/culture
Below is the full report:
US Mosque Study 2011


or click here.
The U.S. Mosque Survey 2011 is sponsored by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research (Hartford Seminary), the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of North American (ISNA), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). The report is a part of a larger study of American congregations called Faith Communities Today (FACT); FACT is a project of Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership, a multi-faith coalition of denominations and faith groups.

13 Responses

  1. I really don’t want them(muslims) here. There is no such thing as an American mosque. Your faith is in killing those that don’t agree with your faith. Go away!

  2. Where is the outrage against Islam since there is no separation between mosque and state? Any person barely educated about the basics of Islam knows it can only recognize Sharia law, period, as Islam is a theocratic kingdom on earth, not mere religion, a backward 7th century barbaric political system commanded to conquer the earth and submit it under Islamic law. Therefore, every leader permitting Islam in our country is in fact not an American but traitor to our constitution, enabling the coming of political Islam to overrun our country. SHAME ON THEM ALL! REPENT AMERICA as THIS IS YOUR FUTURE!

  3. Beyond the vastly ignorant comments others left, I would like to say this article is great! As a revert, it has been difficult finding a solid Muslim community (surprisingly for a large city!), and I’ve noticed the growth within the surrounding states. It’s wonderful that our umma is getting larger and more united al humdilillah.

  4. Attention, world muslims, jews and all others that believe it is unlawful to touch pork or allow it into your bodies due to impurities that God purified, Americans eat pig! Pig is in American’s blood and water bodies. Our bodies sweat pig water into the Air. If you breathe in American Air or Drink American Water, You have pig entering into your mind, body and soul already. If you smell bacon, it has already entered your brain and cannot be removed. If you have SEX with an American that eats pig, you are touching pig in their body of water that exumes from our skin. The only way to be saved is to leave the country of America, accept Jesus Christ as God, for Him and His Father, is in us All and Water too, purifying pigs to those that believe in Jesus Christ and BY NO OTHER NAME, SHALL YOU BE SAVED! America’s sweat, water and air, will follow you wherever you go so you had better hurry up and repent from worshipping some other perishing false impurities and false gods and idols for My God IS in the Air, Light and Water and is coming to All, in All, so is pig.
    Who wants a yummy cream filled twinky? Attention All muslims, jews, Christians, Buddhists and Gentiles of America or has ever been here. When you smell bacon being cooked, that is molecules of pork of pig, entering your body and brain and cannot be removed. Restaurants and Americans cook with pig fat. Whomever eats or whos generations past has eaten or smelled pork is also in you now. Whoever’s had any generation that ate fried chicken or any fried food In the past made with lard as All Americans free or in slavery in the beginning of America to now has already, has eaten pig fat and is in you now. Accept Jesus Christ for in and with Him entertaining His righteousness living in Him and His Father with holy spirit of Christ In and through All, with Them in you and nature, then, All things are pure To you. I say as was told Peter, “Do not call common or impure that in which I Have Purified”. Eat pig, pork and cook bacon too for all to smell for food is purified in sanctification and prayer by faith In Jesus Christ, as food Is His Flesh as is drink is His Blood. JOHN 6:50-59. Acts 11:1-18. Titus 1; 15-16, Romans 14. NKJV.

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