GOLDEN — The Islamic Center of Golden estimates that 80 percent of the Muslims who come to its mosque are Colorado School of Mines students, and that has led to an increase in community involvement.
“There happened to be a lot of like-minded individuals here who said ‘Let’s open our doors,’ ” said Talha Siddiqui, a Mines student and a volunteer at the Islamic center.
The center at 619 19th St. gives tours by appointment and occassionaly hosts a tea on Sundays with the goal of connecting with the community and bridging the knowledge gap about the Islamic faith and what it means to be a Muslim.
“We just decided we wanted to be part of the community,” said Omar Ally, the center’s head of outreach and interfaith relations. “It was time we opened our doors and showed our neighbors we are part of the community.”
The students who come to the center, which serves as a local mosque, volunteer for visitor groups.
“We are taking an active role in speaking for Islam,” said Najeeb Alharthy, a Mines student and a volunteer at the mosque. “There are a lot of people talking for Islam who may not have the complete interests of Islam at heart.”
That outreach will continue to grow as a new mosque is under construction on property next door on Ford Street. It will be much larger than the current center, with conference rooms for community gatherings and discussions. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, but the goal is to have the new mosque open sometime this year.
Ally said about 70 percent of the people who come to tour the mosque have never met a Muslim. They have some correct information about Islam, but many also come with some misconceptions.
“In our tours, you will really see the close ties Islam has with Judaism and Christianity,” Ally said. “So people can see, touch and feel how Islam is practiced by 99 percent of the Muslims around the world.”
That was the takeaway of Evergreen High School senior Mia Donato when she visited the center for a tour. Her visit in April was part of her senior project in which students study different religions and how they align with current social issues.
“From what I learned from going there, they opened my eyes in a lot of ways,” she said. “I think the common misconception right now is that Islam is a very violent religion, and it’s not at all.”
Visitors to the center start with a tour of the mosque, which does not take much time in the small, open space with plush carpet and the smell of incense. Shoes are removed at the door and guests can see the tiled area at the entry where practicing Muslims wash before prayer. Then, they are welcomed to the main prayer space where they may witness a daily prayer and get a presentation of “Islam 101.”
Donato said she was most nervous about offending someone, or not meeting the standards for modesty in dress. By the time she left, she said that discomfort was dispelled.
“Definitely, the people I met were very welcoming and very kind,” she said. “They said to ask as many questions as I wanted and I did, and they helped me understand everything a lot better.”
Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JosieKlemaier
Islamic center of golden
To schedule a tour or to learn more, visit or call 720-989-1888
