History
Establishment
In the early 1920s, the founders of the American Moslem Society settled in Highland Park, Michigan, where the Highland Park Ford Plant was located. The factory drew some of the first Muslim immigrants from Lebanon, and they built the first mosque in the state of Michigan. Hussein Kharroub was the imam of that mosque. At the end of 1920, Ford moved the plant from the city of Highland Park to the River Rouge Complex in the city of Dearborn, and the Muslim workers relocated as well. In 1938, they founded the American Moslem Society (AMS) in the southern part of the city, which consisted of only the ground floor at the time.
Expansion of 1950s
As the Muslim community grew, so did the mosque. In 1952, the mosque expanded to a second floor, comprised of a prayer hall, a lecture hall, and an administrative office. The dome and two small minarets were added in 1957.
Expansion of 1986
During the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, the Muslim population in Dearborn increased rapidly. The mosque area, around 12,000 square feet, was too small to accommodate all the worshipers, especially during Fridays, holidays and events. In 1986, the American Moslem Society doubled in size, expanding to about 24,000 square feet.
Expansion of 2000
In the early ‘90s, the Muslim community continued to flourish, outpacing the growth of the mosque. During Friday and Eid prayers, people could be seen praying in offices, corridors, stairs, and even the parking lot. The mosque was primed for another expansion, doubling again in size to about 48,000 square feet, and adding a library, meeting hall, and multipurpose hall. It also included the renovation and expansion of the weekend school (Al-Furqan School), and with that expansion, the total area of the structure (including the parking lot) was more than 100,000 square feet.
Grand Reopening Ceremony (2005)
On April 29, 2005, the American Moslem Society held a grand opening ceremony to celebrate the latest expansion. The ceremony was held in the new AMS multipurpose hall and many distinguished political figures attended. The guest list included Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, the late Congressman John Dingell, State Council Member Gino Polidori, and the late Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido. The ceremony was also attended by a large number of community members, representatives of other Islamic centers, and officers of various civil and social services.
The American Moslem Society today
The AMS building currently consists of a large prayer area that accommodates approximately 2,000 worshipers, making it one of the largest mosques in North America. It is also the first mosque in North America to use external loudspeakers to call Muslims to prayer. The Muslim congregation of the American Moslem Society encompasses people from many different cultures, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. With this diversity, they have devoted their efforts to live in peace, cooperation and brotherhood, and to ensure a bright future for their community and society at large. The American Moslem Society prides itself with providing facilities and activities that benefit all mosque attendees, to help them improve their lives and develop their relationships with their Creator and the people around them.
