Mountain State Islamic Association (Masjid al-Haq)

Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 15 November 2003.

Phone: 303-296-0948

History

Masjid Al-Haqq is located in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, CO, situated just a few miles north of the downtown district. This neighborhood, in addition to playing a central role in the history of Denver, is known as the heart of the black community of Colorado. As is the case with most African American communities in the United States, Five Points has been home to the emergence of a visible Muslim presence and its resultant impacts; Masjid Al-Haqq takes center stage in this historical trend. Masjid Al-Haqq is a Sunni Mosque with a predominantly African American membership, although a visible part of the community spans various ethnic and national backgrounds. Established in the mid 1970s, Masjid Al-Haqq was formed in the climate of the Civil Rights era. Many of its members, including its leadership, have historical ties to the Nation of Islam, the Pan-African Movement and other major social trends of the time. As such, the community exhibits themes of the era by placing a heavy emphasis on community development by way of fostering services and programs aimed at enriching the lives of its membership. However, none of the ideological positions associated with the Civil Rights era manifest overtly in the community’s activities. Rather, they appear as cultural undertones in the community’s expression of Sunni Islam.

Description

Physically, Masjid Al-Haqq is a residential unit remodeled to function like an Islamic center. It has bathrooms for members to conduct ablutions prior to prayer, large open areas for the congregational prayers to take place, and an audio system that carries the khutba (Friday sermon) on loud speakers throughout the house. On a typical Friday, after the prayer and khutba, the mosque might conduct a fundraiser by providing home cooked meals to its members in return for a donation. Because the congregational prayer for Muslims occurs at approximately 12 p.m. in most communities, this serves as a practical substitute to having lunch elsewhere. Men and women would remain segregated in this instance, but not with the rigidity that one would find, for example, in a Saudi Arabian community.
In addition to having the Friday prayer services, Masjid Al-Haqq regularly offers various courses and seminars as services to the community. These include regular lectures by guest speakers and scholars on particular religious themes, new Muslim classes, Arabic language instruction, or family planning courses for young married couples. The courses and seminars vary in length and frequency in order to meet the demands of the community. They may be taught by either the Imam or other members of the community with experience and expertise enough to conduct the proper training.
The most significant aspect of Al-Haqq rests in its African American based membership. The phenomenon of religious conversion to Islam amongst blacks in America has caught the attention of many over the last few decades. Herein, one can witness the creation of a new cultural and religious social group. This contrasts greatly with immigrant groups who often simply maintain the religious practices of their home countries here in the United States. A consistent and often realized piece of rhetoric in the community is the belief that Islam can and will cure the social ills of the black community in America that have been inherited through the historical process. As such, most members embrace the religion of Islam with a level of commitment and dedication visibly higher than the general Muslim population. Because of its unique background, the Imam of Al-Haqq is frequently requested to speak at public forums and deliver khutbas (sermons) at surround mosques.
The community is currently seeking to expand its services and programs to its membership, while at the same time it seeks to acquire new property to accommodate the growing population. The structure of the community is incorporated as a non-profit entity that is composed of an executive administrative body and shura council, or religious consultation committee. The former maintains the day-to-day operations of the Center, while the latter ensures that the community is moving in a proper religious direction. The two bodies conduct decision-making processes in accordance with one another as some members occupy seats on both bodies. Currently Masjid Al-Haqq’s membership ranges between 115-140 members.