Plans set for former NE OKC mosque to be torn down, new mosque to be built nearby
Preparations are being made to tear down a building that once housed one of the state's oldest mosques as plans take shape to construct a retail center at the site.
The former Masjid Mu'min building at 2224 N Kate has been a landmark as the house of worship for Muslims living in northeast Oklahoma City and a spiritual haven for countless visiting Muslims who live and work in other parts of the metro area, as well.
Masood Abdul-Haqq, the mosque's president, said the congregation acquired the building in the late 1960s. In addition to religious activities, the building also housed a school for many years where courses in math, science, social studies and other traditional educational subjects were taught, along with Arabic, Quran studies and Islamic studies.. He said the congregation
The building was particularly known for the iconic mural on its exterior that highlighted images of prominent Muslims, including Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. The mural is gone as plans to demolish the building have gained momentum. Abdul-Haqq said the Masjid Mu'min congregation wants to build a retail center once the older building is torn down.
He said the congregation that had been meeting in the building for decades moved into an adjacent new construction building in 2017 where Jummah prayers and other congregational activities are held. That space currently serves as the congregation's house of worship and also houses a clinic that opened in 2021. Abdul-Haqq said the mosque currently has about 50 members but Jummah prayer services often draw up to 300 people, including members and Muslims from other parts of the community-at-large.
He said the congregation hopes to use money made through the retail center to build a new, larger mosque at NE 23 and Fonshill Avenue, which is near the current worship space.
He said once a new mosque is built, the congregation's current worship space will become a community center to help meet the needs of mosque members and people from the surrounding neighborhood.
"The idea is the 6,000 square feet of retail space is going to help build this mosque over here, which will in turn, turn this into a community center," he said. "We want to be able to do tutoring for the kids in the neighborhood. It was built to actually have a gym so we can have sports and things of that nature in there as well."
Abdul-Haqq said long-term, the congregation would also like to build senior housing in the area, particularly because the majority of the mosque's members are 60 and older.
He said those future plans will come closer to reality once the building formerly housing the historic mosque is demolished. Abdul-Haqq said the congregation had to pay about $180,000 for an abatement crew to remove asbestos from the building before it can be torn down.
He said the congregation is simply waiting now for plans to be solidified for the demolition of the building. The congregational leader said he's hopeful that will happen soon.
"I want to be able to I continue to care for the people who sacrificed so much to make sure that these things are here, but at the same time, keep an eye toward the future," he said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former NE OKC mosque to be torn down, retail center considered for spot
