Islam In America: Mosques See Dramatic Increase In Just Over A Decade, According To Muslim Survey

In the decade since 9/11, American Muslims and mosques have come under a close lens, from congressional hearings on radicalization to campaigns against mosque construction projects and anti-Sharia legislation proposals in dozens of states.

Despite such difficulties, a comprehensive survey of American mosque leaders released Wednesday reveals that the number of mosques in the country has grown tremendously, with more than 900 new centers being established since 2000. Another finding from the survey reveals that compared to the turn of the millennium, fewer Muslims see America as "hostile" to Islam today.

The nation's largest Islamic groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Society of North America and the Islamic Circle of America released the survey that asked hundreds of mosque leaders about the demographics and theological and political leanings of their congregation.

Researchers counted 2,106 mosques in the United States, mostly located in or around big cities, with New York state and California alone having 503 mosques. As more Americans have moved to the suburbs, so has the growth of new mosques. While many mosques have historically been established by South Asian immigrants, the study found that newer immigrant groups such as Somalis, Iraqis, West Africans and Bosnians have began to establish their own mosques since 2000.

"The continued growth of the community is amazing," said Ihsan Bagby, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky who was the primary researcher of the study. Bagby, who is Muslim, did similar surveys of mosques in 1994 and 2000. "It's remarkable the amount of mosques that have been built in the last 10 years. It's kind of counter-intuitive to factors working against them."

Bagby, who worked with researchers from Hartford Seminary and the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, counted Sunni and Shiite mosques, which represent the two main Islamic denominations; leaving out smaller groups, such as the Nation of Islam, Moorish Science Temple, Isma’ili and Ahmadiyya centers. Many Muslim groups, such as those on university campuses, do not have permanent spaces, so only those with a physical building or permanent room that they control were counted. Mosques also had to hold services on Fridays, the main Islamic congregational prayer day, to be counted.

More than 98 percent of mosque leaders, which includes imams or heads of operating boards, said in the survey that Muslims should be involved in American society, while 91 percent said that Muslims should be involved in politics. The survey also found that 87 percent of mosque leaders disagree that radicalism is increasing among young Muslims. Six percent agreed that it was increasing.


Researchers also asked about how Muslim leaders approach their religion. The majority -- 56 percent -- said they believe in a flexible interpretation of the Quran and the Sunnah (the way the Islamic prophet Muhammad practiced the religion) that isn't always literal and takes into account modern life.

On the more conservative end, 21 percent of mosque leaders said they look toward more traditional interpretations of Islam, and six percent said they are Salafi. Salafi is a conservative tradition that sees the early generations of Islam after the religion was established in the 7th century as the most authentic, and shares similarities with Wahhabism, another conservative tradition that is dominant Saudi Arabia.

Bagby's previous survey, conducted a year before 9/11, found that a majority of mosque leaders -- 54 percent -- thought America was hostile toward Islam. Today, a quarter of those surveyed said they feel that way.

The survey was done via phone in English with a sample of more than 500 mosques from across the country and based on self-reporting from mosque leaders. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percent. It's the first of several surveys Bagby will release through the summer. The others will look at the role of women in mosques, the role of imam's at mosques, and educational and social programs offered at mosques.

The survey results are meant for a broad audience, but Bagby says he hopes Muslims will gain insight from them, especially the upcoming surveys.

"The ultimate goal is to bring some introspection and understanding so mosque leaders can improve mosque life," he said.

Bellow are some findings of "The American Mosque 2011: Basic Characteristics of the American Mosque, Attitudes of Mosque Leaders."

The average number membership of an American mosque was 1,248 in 2011, which counts Muslims who at least pray for Eid-al-Fitr, one of two major holidays, at the mosque. That's down from 1,625 in 2000 and is likely because of a growth in the number of mosques.
The total number of mosque participants or “mosqued Muslims” has increased from 2 million in 2000 to over 2.6 million Muslims in 2011. In his study, Bagby writes that "if there are 2.6 million Muslims who pray the Eid prayer, then the total Muslim population should be closer to estimates of up to 7 million." That contrasts with other surveys, such as a 2010 one by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which said there were 2.6 million Muslims in the country. A Pew report from last year said there were 2.75 million Muslims.
Seventy-six percent of mosques were established since 1980.
Shiite mosques are growing. Around 44 percent of all Shiite mosques were established in the 1990s. Approximately 7 percent of mosques identified themselves as Shiite and 37 percent of those are in the West, especially California. Most Shiites at American mosques are South Asians, Arabs and Iranians.
A minority of mosques (3 percent) have just one ethnic group that attends. South Asians, Arab-Americans and African-Americans are dominant ethnic groups among mosque members, but significant numbers of Somalis, West Africans and Iraqis now worship at mosques nationwide.
The number of mosques in urban areas is decreasing, while the number of mosques in suburban areas is increasing. In 2011, 28 percent of mosques were located in suburbs, up from 16 percent in 2000.
The conversion rate per mosque has remained steady over the past two decades. In 2011, the average number of converts per mosque was 15.3. In 2000 the average was 16.3 converts per mosque.
The average Friday prayer attendance was 353 compared to 292 in 2000.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/mosques-in-united-states-study_n_1307851.html

The American culture of tolerance at play. Try telling us of the dramatic increase in churches in places like Iran, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?

my thoughts exactly, Davidylan.

Just type "religious tolerance in the Moslem world" in Google and see interesting results.

^ you must love to follow opinions, rightly or wrongly.

@Davidylan: « #1 on: Today at 02:49:27 PM »
[Quote]The American culture of tolerance at play.[/Quote]Now that America is leading the world. What o you expect a leader to do but set the pace? We will not talk about Slavery and or such conflicts with the many nations of the natives.


[Quote] Try telling us of the dramatic increase in churches in places like Iran, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia?[/Quote]When is America comparable in her religiosity to nations formed with religious underpinning or the one that changed her course to it? I thought America is secular, with complete separation of church from the affairs of the state? Davidylan; these countries could only be compared to Vatican City and I dont see Masjid being build in there soon. Abi, tiarabubu?

@sweetnecta

you guys twist facts when it suits you. When its convenient, America is a "Christian" country; the great satan. At times, like now, its secular and "sets the pace" in religious freedoms. How come middle eastern countries (or predominantly Muslim countries) are not following?

these countries could only be compared to Vatican City and I dont see Masjid being build in there soon

For your information, the Vatican occupies 44 hectares (approximately 60 football fields) and a registered population of 800 people, none is a Muslim yet, and  its not because they are not welcome. The Vatican is open to ALL faiths. Unless you want a mosque to be built inside the Sistine Chapel, or Saint Peter's square, I dont see where in that crammed place. Besides, the pope has shown tremendous tolerance to Islam even to the extent of visiting top Islamic cleric and mosques. Also, hundreds of mosques have been built in Italy, host of the Vatican.

But can you, in all honesty (and God as your witness) tell which predominantly Christian country has emasculated Muslims the way predominantly Muslim countries do to non Muslims (or even Muslims of different sect)?  Even if Saudi is not included .

Don't defend the indefensible.

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you"  Matthew 7:12

it is america i live and i am an american. so great satan is not america. and to your vatican 44 hectares, we could still have a masjid to house occasional stray muslim who curiously find him/herself in vatican city.

hello, davidylan. the video here is for you; http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=JwfITC_H9_U

why not have a chapel for a stray Christian who curiously finds his way to mecca or medina?

No mosque is built in the vatican as no church is built in mecca/medina.

In America, muslims are finding it increasing difficult to build mosques to accomodate the growing population because of opposition by extreme right wing groups.

My community is building a new masjid, we faced opposition from a christian church in the Area. We did however get donations from individual Christians in the interfaith community.

^Salaamualaykum; Where are you in this united states? connect with me; galadimalou at aol dot com

@Tiarabubu: « #6 on: Today at 09:17:05 AM »
[Quote]why not have a chapel for a stray Christian who curiously finds his way to mecca or medina? Undecided[/Quote]I know you will be undecided since you dont know that Quran by Surah Taubah, Allah has forbidden kufr in Makka and definitely by extension Madina. So no chapel for you. But the Bible has not forbidden Masjid for me in Vatican City, except by your own desire.

@OP Alhamdulilah! Its really wonderful to note, kudos to all brothers and sisters committed to the dawah, may Allah continue to streghten them amin.