Exhibit Gallery

Introductory Panel 1

Introductory Panel 1

Minaret and dome, Islamic Center of America.Students at the Muslim American Youth Academy. Photo by Sally Howell.Reading the Quran before prayers, University Islamic Center of Detroit.Floor Mosaic, Muslim Unity Center.
Building Islam in Detroit is a research project that documents the growth ...
Introductory Panel 2

Introductory Panel 2

Detroit skyline. Photo by Philip Greenspun.Detroit AreaAmerican Muslim Center. Photo by Sally Howell.Baitul Islam Jame Masjid.University Islamic Center of Detroit.Albanian Islamic Center. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.
Today, roughly 150,000 Muslims live in greater Detroit, and they worship in ...

Foundations Panel 1

Poster circulated to raise funds for the construction of the Highland Park Mosque. Courtesy of Carl Karoub.The Highland Park Mosque, circa 1927.Pioneer members of the Nation of Islam, 1975. Photo by Shedrick El-Amin.Congregation of the Masjid Wali Muhammad.Masjid Wali Muhammad, 2005.Local imams celebrate the opening of the Highland Park Mosque, 1921. Detroit Free Press.Imam Khali Bazzy (right) embraces Duse Mohammed Ali at Eid al-Fitr services, 1927. Detroit Free Press.Federation of Islamic Associations banquet in Detroit, 1957. Courtesy of Joe Caurdy.
This is the first Moslem mosque built in this land and I ...

Foundations Panel 2

Islamic Center of America, established in 1963.Shaykh Mohamed Jawad Chirri, founder, Islamic Center of America. Courtesy of Hussein Makled.Islamic Center of America, established in 1963.Albanian Islamic Association, circa 1957. Courtesy of Wayne State University.Albanian Islamic Center. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.Imam Vehbi Ismael, founder of the Albanian Islamic Center.Imam Hussein Karoub at the American Moslem Society, circa 1957.American Moslem Society, established in 1938.American Moslem Society, circa 2005.
When US immigration laws were liberalized in 1965, Muslims from the Arab ...
Features Panel 1

Features Panel 1

Al-Islah Jame MasjidAbdul Motlib, President, Al-Islah Jame Masjid.Minbar, Al-Islah Jame Masjid.Imam Shuajb Gerguri discusses the history of the Albanian Islamic Center. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.Albanian Islamic Center. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.Islamic Center of America. Photo by Sally Howell.The first Friday Prayer held at the new Islamic Center of America. Photo by Sally Howell.Hajj Eide Alawan, Islamic Center of America.
Featured Mosques AL-ISLAH JAME MASJID was founded in 2000 by Bangladeshi immigrants, ...
Features Panel 2

Features Panel 2

Muslim Center of Detroit.Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin.Prayer space, Muslim Center of Detroit.Masjid Mu’ath Bin Jabal.Prayer space, Masjid Mu’ath Bin Jabal.Saleh Alghaim, Director, and Abdo Zandany, Secretary, discuss the mosque’s history and its future plans.Masjid Wali Muhammad.Imam Gary al-Kasib discusses the history of Islam in Detroit and the creation of Masjid Wali MuhammadImam Saleem Rahman discusses the history of Islam in Detroit and the creation of Masjid Wali MuhammadPrayer space, Masjid Wali Muhammad.
Featured Mosques Although the MUSLIM CENTER OF DETROIT traces its immediate history ...
Prayer Panel 1

Prayer Panel 1

Al-Fatiha, “The Opening.”American Muslim Center.American Moslem Society.Islamic Center of America.Islamic Center of America. Photo by Sally Howell.Senegalese Mourides. Photo by Mara Leichtman.
In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful Praise be to ...
Prayer Panel 2

Prayer Panel 2

Islamic Center of America, historic.Al-Islah Jame Masjid. Photo by Sally Howell.American Moslem Society.Islamic Center of America.Hamtramck Muslims celebrate election victory, 2005. Detroit Free Press.Masjid Mu`ath Bin Jabal.Al-Islah Jame Masjid.
Before each of the five daily prayers, a mu’adhdhin (“muezzin” or “crier”) ...
Prayer Panel 3

Prayer Panel 3

Al-Islah Jame Masjid.American Moslem Society.American Moslem Society.Prayer beads, Islamic House of Wisdom.Al-Islah Jame Masjid.Al-Islah Jame Masjid.Al-Islah Jame Masjid.
The canonical prayer, or salat, is performed five times daily: in the ...
Prayer Panel 4

Prayer Panel 4

Islamic Center of America. Photo by Sally Howell.Prayer stones, Islamic House of Wisdom.Asymmetrical floor plan, Baitul Islam Jame Masjid.Shoe racks, American Moslem Society.Women's prayer space, American Muslim Center,Old and new qiblas, Albanian Islamic Center.Overflow parking, Masjid Mu`ath Bin Jabal.
Mosques are sacred spaces, and great care is given to maintaining their ...
Media Panel 1

Media Panel 1

Sister Clara Varnada of Detroit with copies of Bilalian News, 1975. Photo by Shedrick El-Amin.Mohammed Karoub and Hussien Karoub. Courtesy of Carl Karoub.Imam Hussien Karoub at work. Courtesy of Carl Karoub.The Moslem Sunrise.Muhammad Speaks.Muhammad Speaks.The Muslim Journal.
From the earliest days of mosque building in Detroit, Muslims have played ...
Media Panel 2

Media Panel 2

Sampling the local Arabic-English press. Photo by Jim West.Osama Siblani, publisher, Arab American News. Photo by Jim West.Book sale, Young Muslim Association, Fordson High School.Library and media center, American Moslem Society.The Ripple EffectBridges TV adThe Muslim ObserverRhythm of IslamAl ImanThe SeekerThe Muslim Commentary
Today, Detroit is a center of Muslim print journalism. The Muslim Commentary, ...
Architecture Panel 1

Architecture Panel 1

Minaret and dome, Albanian Islamic Center. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.Dome interior, Islamic Center of America.Qibla under construction, Islamic Center of America.Wuduu, Islamic Association of North America.Dome, Islamic Center of America.Haram, American Muslim Center.Minaret, Islamic Center of America. Photo by Jim West.Minbar, Masjid Mua’th Bin Jabal.
The QIBLA wall and MIHRAB. These features define the orientation for prayer. ...
Architecture Panel 2

Architecture Panel 2

Children’s play area, Muslim Unity Center.Library and media center, American Moslem Society.Community dinner, Muslim Unity Center.Kitchen with industrial bread oven, Islamic Center of America.Parking lot, Islamic House of Wisdom.Lecture hall, Islamic House of Wisdom.Playground, Muslim Unity Center.Classroom, Islamic Center of America.
ADAPTIVE AND INNOVATIVE FEATURES: Diverse innovations have occurred in mosque design over ...
Aesthetics Panel 1

Aesthetics Panel 1

Interior decoration, American Muslim Center.Prayer space and dome, Islamic Center of America.Painting of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, Karbala Islamic Education Center.Arabic and English calligraphy, Muslim Unity Center.Exterior mural, Baitul Islam Jame Masjid.Floor mosaic, Muslim Unity Center.Window with view of dome, Islamic Center of America.
The Muslim house of prayer is often a beautiful place. It can ...
Aesthetics Panel 2

Aesthetics Panel 2

Mihrab decorated with calligraphy, American Muslim Center.Embroidered calligraphy, Islamic House of Wisdom.Arabesque, American Muslim Center.Decorating the dome, Islamic Center of America. Photo by Sally Howell.Banquet entrance, Islamic Center of America. Photo by Andrew Shryock.Calligraphy, Baitul Islam Jame Masjid.Stone al-Fatiha carving, University Islamic Center of Detroit.
SEEING THE SACRED WORD Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of mosque decoration ...
Futures Panel 1

Futures Panel 1

Eighteen mothers pose with their babies, all born in 1979-80. Photo by Shedrick El-Amin.School and social hall under construction, Masjid al-Burhani. Photo by Andrew Shryock.The Wallace family at a street festival in Dearborn. Photo by Steve Gold.Children celebrating Ashura at the Islamic Center of America.Future site of the Islamic Center of America.
Muslims in Detroit are optimistic about the future. Anti-Muslim prejudice is widespread, ...
Futures Panel 2

Futures Panel 2

Swearing in as new American citizens. Photo by Jim West.Protesting civil rights violations against Muslim Americans. Photo by Jim West.Demonstrating in support of Palestine. Photo by Jim West.Christian, Jewish, and Muslim clergy join together to denounce mosque vandalism. Photo by Jim West.Marketing real estate to Muslims.Muslim section of Rosedale Cemetery. Photo by Mucahit Bilici.Exercising the right to vote. Photo by Jim West.
FUTURE TRENDS ECUMENICALISM: Muslims are creating new ties to Christian and Jewish ...