Source: The Toronto Star

On July 31, 1999, The Toronto Star published an article on Dar al Islam, a Muslim village begun in 1977 by American and European converts who wanted to live amid the Native American pueblos in northern New Mexico. The village, which was constructed in Abiquiu, New Mexico, boasts an adobe mosque as its centerpiece. Completed in 1981 and situated on 1,600 acres, the mosque and adjoining madrassah include vaulted ceilings, domes, archways, gardens, courtyards, and a library. The Dar al Islam community of several dedicated families consists of educators, artists, poets, and writers who want to "build bridges between Muslims and the wider North American community by communicating the deep spirituality and beauty of the Islamic tradition by living it." The Dar al Islam Foundation sponsors many projects across the continent to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together to discuss Islam and other related issues. Among its most popular programs is the yearly Teachers' Institute, which has brought together over 200 educators from the United States and Canada to learn about Islam.