Mosques are multiplying across the country and their inspiration may come as a bit of a surprise – Christian megachurches.
Similar to many megachurches, new mosques are popping up as extension campuses to a main mosque with the stated goal of making it more convenient for Muslims in an area to worship. These extended mosque sites are sometimes referred to as “mosque chains” and tend to be adopted by more progressive Muslim congregations.
"Because of how streamlined we are, you can get off the highway from anywhere and find a mosque that is well-maintained, well-structured and that will always be open," said Abeer Abdulla, media specialist for the nine mosques owned by the Islamic Society of Central Florida in Orlando, according to Religion News Service.
Besides serving as a place of worship, the campuses sometimes double up as a Muslim community center. Some sites feature gymnasiums, adult education classes, psychological counseling, sewing lessons, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts programs.
One such mosque is operated by the All-Dulles Area Muslim Society in the greater Washington, D.C.-area. It has a main mosque in Sterling, Va., and seven branch locations that offer a range of social activities for the annual membership cost of $30.
The Society’s multi-site mosque organization is similar to several other D.C.-area churches that have recently extended their campuses. McLean Bible Church, one of the largest churches in the D.C. area, announced its vision to launch nine satellite campuses last September. The goal is to have 10 campuses within 10 years to “surround Washington and pound Washington” with the Gospel.
And National Community Church, which is part of the theater church movement, now holds meetings in four locations throughout the D.C. area.
It’s worth noting that seven of the top 10 fastest-growing churches in the United States are multi-site churches, according to Outreach Magazine.
But for multi-site mosques, the satellite campuses help relieve the stress on the main campuses during Friday prayer meetings where thousands of people show up.
"Where do they park? They park on the road, they park here, they park there. The prayer starts exactly on time every day, so it becomes a huge bottleneck of space and time," said Muqtedar Khan, associate professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware, to RNS.
Supporters of the mosque chain deny that the growth is about power, but say it provides better service to congregants and protects worshippers from foreign political agendas that may be attached to overseas funding received by independent mosques.
"If I go into any of the ISCF (Islamic Society of Central Florida) mosques, I know that just like the marketing material, the newsletters and the community announcements are the same, the imam is also following the same policy as all the imams in the other mosques, to have good relations with people of other faiths so we can understand that we are a part of this country," said 18-year-old member Bassem Chaaban.
The multi-site mosque concept is still fairly new and some “megamosques” are considering to go nationwide.
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why is this news? why? are people really lame enough to dib and dabble on news of other religions? I mean... I really would have expected - if any news about Islam - something reporting the immoral death by stoning or radical preaching they do.......... but their architecture?...
For other foundatin can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Let us pray that they come to know who Jesus truly is.
So true. The object of our faith is as important as having faith. We must have faith that God sent Jesus to die for our sins and raised Him up again on the third day.
Worship in Spirit and in Truth.
Many are called but few are chosen.
Size does not make the difference.