RACE, RELIGION + SOCIAL JUSTICE
Local mosque raising money to repair its historic building
Oct 24, 2023, 2:08 PM | Updated: 3:09 pm
Khalid Alhmed prays at Alrasool Islamic Center of Utah in Taylorsville on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Alrasool Islamic Center has received a grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places to help restore the historic building. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — The Alrasool Islamic Center of Utah is asking for help raising money to repair its historic building. The call to action comes after the mosque received a place in a grant-matching program.
The mosque announced last week that it was one of 16 congregations chosen to participate in the National Fund for Sacred Places program. The program helps preserve “community-serving historic houses of worship across America, ” according to its site.
Executive Committee member Hassan Mardanlou told KSL NewsRadio that the program would provide $250,000, but only if the mosque can raise $400,000 first.
The mosque said it has about 18-24 months to raise the necessary funds.
The Alrasool Islamic Center building
The center is inside one of Taylorsville’s historic buildings.
Done in two phases, one half of the building was built in 1894 and the other in 1910. It originally served as a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 2008, the Alrasool Islamic Center said it bought the former meetinghouse to better accommodate its growing community.
But 15 years later, the building needs help. The foundation, party hall and educational center are all in need of repair.
Mardanlou said that in total, the center needs about $1 million worth of renovations.
Raising $400,000 is the first step toward that goal.
An important part of the community
Mardanlou said the center serves as an important place of worship for Shia Muslims and provides a space for community activities.
The mosque also serves those who want to learn more about Islam.
“It is really vital to have this place because time to time, some students come from BYU, or UVU or University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College. [They] come in to know about Shia Muslim background.”
Mardanlou said that he hopes the renovations will help preserve the mosque for generations to come.
Anyone wanting to donate can learn more at the mosque’s website.
