3 comments | Members of a diverse Muslim group will break ground Saturday on a new Islamic center in Santa Luz.
The eight-year-old Muslim Community Center (MCC) of Greater San Diego, founded by 30 people in 2001, moved this year from its leased space in a Rancho Peñasquitos strip mall - where a rent increase forced worshipers out - to a leased space in Rancho Bernardo.
All the while, though, members were biding their time at the temporary locations; in 2005, the center purchased more than five acres of land in Santa Luz for a new center. While they bounced from one leased space to another, members fund raised and, now, are privately funding the construction of the new community facility. They’re hoping the center is complete by May 1, 2010.
The MCC says it strives for diversity among its membership and its board of directors, allowing non-Muslims to worship, and engaging women in leadership roles within the congregation. Some Muslim centers appeal to one sector of Muslim people - Sunni, Shiite, converted Muslims, etc. - but the MCC says it works to appeal to all followers of Islam.
“In general our religion teaches us to be very tolerant and balanced,” said Anita Tallman, a spokesperson for the MCC.
The groundbreaking will begin at 3:30 p.m. at 14647-14698 Via Fiesta, San Diego, 92127.
More than 400 people have been invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray and former San Diego City Councilmember Scott Peters have confirmed their attendance. Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang will serve as the keynote speaker. Nyang is a professor and former chairman of the African Studies department at Howard University in Washington D.C. He is former deputy ambassador and head of chancery of the Gambia Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and has written extensively on Islamic, African, and Middle Eastern affairs. The event will also feature children’s activities, appetizers and refreshments.
Tags: Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang, Muslim Community Center (MCC) of Greater San Diego, SDNN
Comment by: Johanna Posted: August 8, 2009, 1:27 pm
“allowing non-Muslims to worship”
Which non-Muslim would want to worship in a mosque, I wonder?
This sounds fishy to me.
Comment by: john smith Posted: August 8, 2009, 9:25 pm
We as muslims shouldn’t create innovation in our religion to please the non-muslims. No matter what we do, they are not going to believe anyway. So please don’t innovate in order to please the non-muslims. Fear Allah and strive to please only him. Jazak Allah Kairum
Comment by: umfarris Posted: August 9, 2009, 7:43 am
Nothing is Fishy really..it means that we welcome and not Judge non Muslims to our center.