After fundraising efforts and months of construction, the Islamic Society of Vermont will open a new mosque and community center in South Burlington to their membership on March 6.
Opening day is scheduled on a Friday afternoon during Jumu’ah, the main service of the week in the Muslim faith.
Nedzad Halilovic, the society’s president, said the organization is moving from a smaller location in Colchester to the new facility which will better accommodate their needs, including more parking and a larger prayer space.
“The building is going to be suitable for us, for our daily prayers, for our Sunday schools, for our holidays and for sports activities, because we have a nice gym inside,” he said.
The Islamic Society of Vermont has a growing membership, with around 300 active members in the Burlington area and many more throughout the state. On the biggest holidays of the year, Imam Islam Hassan said, more than 1,000 people attend the society’s festivities and prayer services. In the past, the society has rented a space large enough to accommodate their full membership on these occasions, but Hassan said that will probably no longer be necessary with the new building.
After opening the facility for member use early next month, Hassan said the society hopes to plan a public open house. However, he said the society has increased safety concerns after recent attacks on places of worship around the world and in the United States.
“If we have a public invitation open to all, that’s when the concern kicks in,” he said. “We’re definitely going to have an open house for the public but we’re not sure when.”
He said he wants to ensure that proper security measures are in place before announcing the open house, but he anticipates it will be planned soon.
The Islamic Society of Vermont’s transition to the new space has been in the works for months. The 19,000-square-foot brick building, which is located at 400 Swift St., formerly housed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The society made an offer on the building last summer for $1.1 million and began to raise money for the purchase.
Halilovic said the society received help with their fundraising campaign from the Vermont Muslim community, other local organizations and national Islamic organizations. This money came in part from a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $500,000, and that raised $54,425 before it was deactivated online.
“There are many people who aren’t part of our community who really helped us through this process and so we are really thankful to them, to all of them,” Halilovic said. “It was really incredible support.”
For the last several months, the society has undertaken renovations to make the building fit for their use, including removing the pews and stage from the sanctuary and putting down prayer rugs, in addition to general improvements. Hassan said the society donated the pews to a church in Winooski.
The society has received welcoming messages from neighbors and organizations in the South Burlington area that are excited to have them move in, Hassan said.
“Especially the neighbors in the Jewish community at Temple Sinai and the First United Methodist Church,” he said. “These two in particular have shown hospitality and generosity since day one when they heard we were moving.”
After the opening day early next month, Hassan said that all the society’s religious, cultural and social activities will take place in the new facility.
