Northern Durham Islamic Association

Thousands of Muslims from across the United States and around the world have made the Triangle Area of North Carolina their home, often drawn by its renowned academic institutions. As the Muslim population has grown, several mosques have been established in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham. However, this organic growth has left certain areas of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) underserved, particularly in terms of accessible mosques.

As the Muslim community began expanding into the northern part of Durham, the need for a masjid (mosque) became not just a desire, but a necessity. Several years ago, a group of brothers recognized this need and began planning the establishment of the North Durham Masjid to serve the Muslims of this growing area. Using the resources from the Islamic Society of Central Carolina (ISCC), the North Durham Masjid was founded at its current location, 2609 W. Carver St., Durham, NC 27705. The masjid officially opened its doors in time for full-fledged Ramadan activities in 2011, with the first Jumu'ah prayer held in July of the same year.

The leadership of the North Durham Masjid envisions it as a comprehensive community center that serves both the spiritual and practical needs of the Muslim community, while also reaching out to embrace and support the larger communities of both Muslims and non-Muslims. Since its inception, the masjid has already achieved many milestones, including:

• Establishing the five daily Salahs (ritual prayers) in the Musallah (traditional prayer area)
• Hosting community dinners
• Offering a weekend school for children
• Organizing monthly lectures and events
• Providing a playground for children
  

In addition, the masjid has offered programs such as ESL classes, Arabic language courses, and Qur’an memorization classes to help meet the educational needs of the community.

Looking ahead, the masjid's leadership is focused on expanding its services to better support the growing needs of the community. Future plans include the establishment of an afterschool program to accommodate working parents, as well as the creation of a language institute offering certification in Arabic.

All of these programs—and many more—are in development to serve the needs of our community. To enhance these efforts and ensure their success, your support is essential and deeply appreciated.