Here stands Al-Farooq Masjid of Atlanta a beacon of faith and community. Founded in 1980, Al-Farooq Masjid began as The Atlanta Mosque. A name change occurred later due to a conflict with another organization. It stands as one of the largest mosques in the Southeastern United States.
Imagine Atlanta’s growing Muslim population in the late 1970s. South Asian, Arab, and American Muslims needed a central place for worship. Students from nearby Georgia Tech also sought a convenient mosque. Al-Farooq Masjid became that vital center. It was the first majority-immigrant mosque in the city.
Initially, Al-Farooq Masjid served a diverse group. This included Pakistani, Arab, and African-American Muslims. It also welcomed people from various backgrounds. These included Whites, Hispanics, Africans, and Central Asians. Bosnians, Kosovars, Indonesians, and Malays also found a home here.
The original core group of founders included Sheikh Syed Nooraddin and others. These workers sacrificed to ensure that this project was a success. Back then the organization didn’t have a bank account. The collected money was kept in a shoe box by one of the members.
Al-Farooq Masjid quickly expanded its services. In 1990, it established Dar-un-Noor School. This school offers academic and Islamic education for pre-K through 8th grade students. In 1994, The Atlanta Dar-ul-Uloom was founded. It provided a formal Quranic teaching facility.
Recognizing the need for Muslim burial facilities, the Masjid Board acquired land in 1982. This became a Muslim cemetery with a capacity of 2,000 burials. It is one of the few Muslim cemeteries in the country.
By the mid-1990s, the Muslim population had spread to Atlanta’s suburbs. To meet their needs, Al-Farooq Masjid established Masjid Omar Bin ‘Abdul-‘Aziz in Norcross. This community mosque hosts daily prayers and Quranic classes.
In 1999, Al-Farooq Masjid began a series of renovations. Construction of a new building started in 2003 and cost $10 million. Completed in 2008, the new mosque can hold 5,000 people. Its design includes two copper domes. The larger dome is reminiscent of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The building also features a tall minaret and mashrabiya-covered balconies.
Today, Al-Farooq Masjid continues to thrive. It is a center for Islamic activities in the Atlanta area. The mosque hosts frequent discussions and celebrations. It also provides essential community services. Al-Farooq Masjid has become a vital part of Atlanta’s diverse religious landscape. Remember its journey from a small gathering to a landmark mosque. Its story reflects the growth and resilience of Atlanta’s Muslim community.