In a message dated 4/27/2001 6:55:08 AM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful Hijri date: Friday 3 Safar 1422 A.H. ARTICLE DATE: Friday, April 27, 2001 TITLE: Muslim believers growing Metro Detroit is home to one of the largest U.S. communities; Mosques up by 42 percent By Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News As the young community of Muslims continues to grow here and across America, the number of mosques and participants are exploding, according to the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind in the United States. " The findings mirror trends that are unfolding in Metro Detroit, home to one of the largest Muslim communities in America. In the past decade, the number of mosques in the area has grown by 42 percent, from 21 to 30, according to Imam Abdullah El-Amin, executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan. And not all of the mosques are in Dearborn, where a sizable portion of the Muslim community lives. Mosques are located in places such as Bloomfield Hills, Wyandotte, Detroit and Canton. "It's been phenomenal around here in the Metro Detroit area," El-Amin said. "You have so many people coming in for Friday prayers -- they're praying out on the steps." .."To address the need, there is about $30 million worth of investment in projects under way for building bigger mosques and expanding others. The Islamic Center of America, for instance, is building a $15-million mosque on Ford Road while the Islamic Center of America in Rochester Hills is putting up $4-million addition.".. TO VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE, VISIT: http://www.detnews.com/2001/religion/0104/27/d01-217560.htm TO THANK THE REPORTER, WRITE: Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or [log in to unmask] >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------