A Short History of the Islamic Center of Tucson
The Islamic Center of Tucson is the result of much effort over a period of more than three decades. Before the early 1960s, there were few Muslims in Tucson and almost all were students. They used to meet in homes to perform Friday congregational prayers.
Then in 1966, in response to the growing number of Muslim students at the University of Arizona (UA), the Muslim Students Association (MSA) was formed as a chapter of the national Muslim Students Association of USA and Canada. Thereafter, the MSA used to reserve a room in the UA Student Union Building for Friday congregational prayers. The other daily prayers, however, were done at work, between classes, or in students? homes. On Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan and a month-long fast, the students would pray on the north-side lawn of the Student Union Building, and gather inside the cafeteria for Eid celebrations.
In 1969, the Ramadan schedule was devised with times to start and end the daily fasting. The first Eid celebrations the students celebrated together was held in a hall reserved for the occasion in Christopher City, the old U of A married students? housing facility at Columbus and Ft. Lowell. Also at this time, weekend classes for Muslim children were begun in rooms reserved for the purpose from the UA Department of Geology.
At the beginning of the 70?s, there was an increase in the Muslim student population, some of whom decided to settle in Tucson. So, efforts were begun to raise funds for an Islamic Center. As a result, in 1976 a small building for the first Islamic Center was acquired at 1627 East 2nd Street. However, it soon became apparent that a bigger place was needed when attendance at Friday prayers overflowed into the parking lot.
Still, it was a number of years before a wide scale national campaign was initiated to raise funds for a new Center. Several houses were purchased at the corner of First Street and Tyndall with the help of a Muslim real estate agent, and a building was built with assistance from a Muslim engineer. We have been at the present Center at 901 E. First Street since 1990.
In addition to the large prayer hall, the Islamic Center of Tucson has a small library, offices, and a kitchen.
The Islamic Center of Tucson is managed by an elected Board of Trustees and administered by an elected Executive Committee. It has a fulltime Imam who leads prayers, delivers Friday sermons, teaches classes, and offers spiritual counseling. Additionally, the UA Muslim Students Association has an office on the premises.
With the help of our staff, local volunteers, and visiting scholars from outside we offer lectures and classes for the benefit of the Tucson Muslim community and others on a regular basis. We also maintain an active interfaith relationship with Christians and Jews and these groups often visit us, as we visit their houses of worship.
As members of the Tucson community, you are always welcome here. Please arrange for a visit or stop by during any of the prayer times and say hello.
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