Just passing it along. 
NUMBER OF AMERICAN MOSQUES GROWS BY 25 PERCENT
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/26/2001) A national Islamic advocacy group today released
a major study of the Muslim community in the United States indicating that the
number of mosques grew by 25 percent in the past seven years and that mosques
are becoming dynamic centers for social and political mobilization.
That report, called "The Mosque in America: A National Portrait," is the
result of in-depth interviews with a randomized sample of representatives
drawn from more than 1200 American mosques. (This figure is not the total
number of American mosques. Smaller or new mosques may have been missed.
Friday prayers held in places such as businesses and hospitals were not
included in the count.)
During a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) outlined some major findings
contained in the survey: (To view the entire report, go to http://www.cair-net.org)
"Mosques are not only centers for spirituality, they are now bases for
political and social mobilization," says CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.
Awad added that Muslims are having a positive impact on American society. He
cited last year's American Muslim voter registration drive and increased
turnout by Muslim voters.
"One of the most significant findings in this survey is that mosques are quite
ethnically diverse," said Dr. Ihsan Bagby, the report's primary researcher.
Bagby noted that 93 percent of all mosques are attended by more than one
ethnic group.
* There is tremendous growth both in the number of mosques and in the number
of those who take part in mosque activities. On average, there are more than
1,625 Muslims associated in some way with the religious life of each mosque.
The average attendance at Friday prayer is 292 worshipers. Some 2 million
American Muslims are associated with a mosque.
* Report findings support conservative estimates of a total American Muslim
population of 7 million.
* The number of participants has increased at more than 75 percent of mosques
during the past five years. Growth is witnessed across the board but suburban
mosques have experienced the greatest increases.
* Conversion rates are steady. On average nearly 30 percent of mosque
participants are converts. The average mosque has 16 conversions per year.
* Mosques are relatively young: 30 percent of all mosques were established in
the 1990s and 32 percent were founded in the 1980s.
* Four-fifths of mosques are located in a metropolitan area, most often a city
neighborhood.
* At the average mosque, 33 percent of members are of South Asian origin
(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.), 30 percent are African-American, and 25
percent are from the Arabic-speaking world.
* Most mosques are involved in some outreach activities. During the past 12
months, a majority of mosques have done each of the following activities:
visited a school or church to present Islam, contacted the media, contacted a
political leader, and participated in an interfaith dialogue.
* Almost 70 percent of mosques provide some type of assistance for the needy.
* More than 20 percent of mosques have a full-time school.
* More than 90 percent of respondents agree that Muslims should be involved in
American institutions and should participate in the political process.
* In general, mosque leadership does not appear to be highly formalized or
bureaucratic. At the majority of mosques, the leader is a volunteer, works
part-time, and is employed outside the mosque.
* In a majority of mosques, final decision-making authority rests not with the
leader but with a Majlis Ash-Shura (executive committee or board of
directors).
* In most mosques with a board, women are allowed to serve as members.
"The Mosque in America" is the largest and most comprehensive survey of its
kind to be conducted in the United States. It is part of a larger study of
American congregations called "Faith Communities Today" coordinated by
Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Muslim
organizations sponsoring the report include CAIR, the Islamic Society of North
America (ISNA), the Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, and the Islamic Circle
of North America (ICNA).
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper at 202-488-8787
E-Mail: [email protected]

NUMBER OF AMERICAN MOSQUES GROWS BY 25 PERCENT
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/26/2001) A national Islamic advocacy group today released
a major study of the Muslim community in the United States indicating that the
number of mosques grew by 25 percent in the past seven years and that mosques
are becoming dynamic centers for social and political mobilization.
That report, called "The Mosque in America: A National Portrait," is the
result of in-depth interviews with a randomized sample of representatives
drawn from more than 1200 American mosques. (This figure is not the total
number of American mosques. Smaller or new mosques may have been missed.
Friday prayers held in places such as businesses and hospitals were not
included in the count.)
During a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) outlined some major findings
contained in the survey: (To view the entire report, go to http://www.cair-net.org)
"Mosques are not only centers for spirituality, they are now bases for
political and social mobilization," says CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.
Awad added that Muslims are having a positive impact on American society. He
cited last year's American Muslim voter registration drive and increased
turnout by Muslim voters.
"One of the most significant findings in this survey is that mosques are quite
ethnically diverse," said Dr. Ihsan Bagby, the report's primary researcher.
Bagby noted that 93 percent of all mosques are attended by more than one
ethnic group.
* There is tremendous growth both in the number of mosques and in the number
of those who take part in mosque activities. On average, there are more than
1,625 Muslims associated in some way with the religious life of each mosque.
The average attendance at Friday prayer is 292 worshipers. Some 2 million
American Muslims are associated with a mosque.
* Report findings support conservative estimates of a total American Muslim
population of 7 million.
* The number of participants has increased at more than 75 percent of mosques
during the past five years. Growth is witnessed across the board but suburban
mosques have experienced the greatest increases.
* Conversion rates are steady. On average nearly 30 percent of mosque
participants are converts. The average mosque has 16 conversions per year.
* Mosques are relatively young: 30 percent of all mosques were established in
the 1990s and 32 percent were founded in the 1980s.
* Four-fifths of mosques are located in a metropolitan area, most often a city
neighborhood.
* At the average mosque, 33 percent of members are of South Asian origin
(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.), 30 percent are African-American, and 25
percent are from the Arabic-speaking world.
* Most mosques are involved in some outreach activities. During the past 12
months, a majority of mosques have done each of the following activities:
visited a school or church to present Islam, contacted the media, contacted a
political leader, and participated in an interfaith dialogue.
* Almost 70 percent of mosques provide some type of assistance for the needy.
* More than 20 percent of mosques have a full-time school.
* More than 90 percent of respondents agree that Muslims should be involved in
American institutions and should participate in the political process.
* In general, mosque leadership does not appear to be highly formalized or
bureaucratic. At the majority of mosques, the leader is a volunteer, works
part-time, and is employed outside the mosque.
* In a majority of mosques, final decision-making authority rests not with the
leader but with a Majlis Ash-Shura (executive committee or board of
directors).
* In most mosques with a board, women are allowed to serve as members.
"The Mosque in America" is the largest and most comprehensive survey of its
kind to be conducted in the United States. It is part of a larger study of
American congregations called "Faith Communities Today" coordinated by
Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Muslim
organizations sponsoring the report include CAIR, the Islamic Society of North
America (ISNA), the Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, and the Islamic Circle
of North America (ICNA).
- END -
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper at 202-488-8787
E-Mail: [email protected]
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