Here are some of the most frequently-asked questions from visitors to our masjid location and website.
Where are you located?
We are located at 545 Oregon Street in Leavenworth.
What time are Friday prayers? How many people attend?
One of the Islamic Center of Leavenworth's main religious activities is the Friday afternoon congregational prayers (Jum’ah), which averages dozens of congregants per week. That compares with between 5 to 10 individuals who attend the daily five prayers.
The Khutbu (Islamic sermon) begins at 1:30 p.m. The service ends at about 2 p.m. with congregational prayers. The Jum'ah prayer time is consistent throughout the year.
The Jum’ah service begins with a call to prayer (Azaan), a sermon in English, individual customary prayers (Sunnah prayers), a sermon in Arabic (Khutbah), and ending in two cycles (rakahs) of obligatory (Fard) prayer in congregation and a supplication (dua) in Arabic and English. Volunteer speakers officiate the services.
What is ICL's history?
For years, Muslims in Leavenworth, Lansing, Kansas City, Kan., and other smaller towns in Northeastern Kansas as well as in St. Joseph, Mo. (which now has its own mosque) gathered for congregational prayers, services, and celebrations in a makeshift masjid in a rented duplex located on Ninth Street.
Plans were in the works for nearly a decade for the area's first purpose-built mosque. Those plans came to fruition when the Islamic Center of Leavenworth opened its newly-built center at 545 Oregon Street in November 2006. The nearly 3,000 sq. foot building has full amenities including a prayer hall that accommodates up to 250 congregants, a 150-person capacity social room, a full kitchen and pantry, full bathrooms with shower (for Qiyam Al Layl), and a large parking lot.
What are the masjid’s demographics?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth (ICL) is made up of an assorted group of lifelong residents, professionals, students, retirees, and business owners in the Leavenworth area.
Many ethnicities attend ICL including those with origins in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Egypt. The languages (besides English, of course) spoken are mainly Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic. The age groups range from infants to elders with the majority of the community members ranging from 40 to 60 years old.
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has also been a religious home to many military officers from Muslim countries across the world. While the officers complete military training at Fort Leavenworth, they and their families are made to feel at home via the mosque. The mosque fits their needs by allowing them to have a place to offer their prayers as well as to use the Center for other social occasions in ICL's 150-person social room that is equipped with a full kitchen. The presence of this mosque has enhanced Leavenworth's image around the world by making accommodating these officers. Many of these officers keep in touch with ICL after they return home.
How often do your members pray at the mosque?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth parallels national statistics on mosque attendance. According to Pew and Gallup polls in 2010, about 40 percent of Muslim Americans say they pray in a mosque at least once a week, nearly the same percentage of American Christians who attend church weekly. About a third of all U.S. Muslims say they seldom or never go to mosques. Also, contrary to stereotypes of mosques as male-only spaces, Gallup finds that women are as likely as men to attend.
One of Islamic Center of Leavenworth's main religious activity is the Friday afternoon congregational prayers (Jum’ah), which averages dozens of congregants each week. That compares with a handful of individuals who attend the daily five prayers.
What is the governance of the mosque?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has no full-time paid Imam (spiritual leader). Its governance is based on a two-tiered administrative structure consisting of a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee. Both bodies are made up of volunteers. The Board performs primary oversight and strategic functions while the Executive Committee is in charge of the day-to-day management of the masjid. The Board and Executive Committee are selected from amongst regular masjid attendees who demonstrate a clear commitment to ICL’s mission of peace, prayer, and service.
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has nonprofit 501(c)3 tax status under Federal EIN 48-1174139. It has a bylaws and a constitution. Its bylaws provide for active involvement and consultation of religious authorities both locally and nationally to insure that the mosque adheres to Islamic principles derived from the Qur’an (Islam’s holy book) and the Sunnah (the sayings and living habits of Muhammad, the main prophet of Islam).
Where is Leavenworth?
Leavenworth is the largest city and the county seat of Leavenworth County, Kansas. Located on the west bank of the Missouri River 25 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, it is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
What exactly is a mosque?
A mosque, or masjid, is literally any place where Muslims make their daily five prayers (salat) performed in the direction of Mecca; it needn’t be a building or temple.
What is Islam?
Here is an abridged description of Islam.
If I do visit your mosque, what should I wear?
It is most appropriate to wear modest, loose-fitting clothes. For men, it is better to wear long pants, and for women to wear pants or full-length skirts or dresses, with long sleeves. Muslim women attending the mosque typically wear a headscarf as well. A female visitor may cover her head if she wishes to show respect to other worshipers or to enrich her own experience.
Also, please keep in mind that many Muslims do not shake hands with anyone of the opposite gender. That is, men do not shake hands with women, and women do not shake hands with men. Unless a member of the congregation extends his or her hand first, it is better to not extend yours.
Why do you take your shoes off in a mosque?
A mosque is free of statues and utilizes rugs instead of pews. It is appropriate to remove one’s shoes before entering the prayer area in a mosque, so that the floors and carpets aren’t covered with dirt—after all, that is where people pray.
Where are the women in the mosque praying?
Women offer prayers in a separate prayer room to the main prayer hall. The separation provides women with privacy and modesty. The physical separation helps men and women maintain his or her focus on prayer–instead of one another.
Why are there foot-sinks in the bathroom?
A Muslim must be in a state of physical purification before making his or her prayer. That includes washing the feet. Our restrooms are equipped with bidets and other modern amenities for the self-purification process (wudu) performed prior to prayers.
What happens when people come late to the prayer?
Latecomers will join the prayer already in progress. After the leader of the prayer (Imam) has finished, they will complete what they missed.
What is jihad?
One misconception about Islam is often the word jihad. Crusaders from the Middle Ages interpreted jihad as a holy war; however, in Islam, jihad means a struggle against evil, which can include everyday temptations.
Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?
No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons – Muhammad from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement that today is the city of Makkah (Mecca), and built a cuboid-shaped building called the Kaa’ba, which Muslims turn toward daily when they pray.
I am concerned (even afraid) about what’s actually going on in the mosque. Are you teaching people to be violent?
Mosques are probably America’s best line of defense against terrorism. They actually combat radicalism by providing a community to guide Muslims who have fallen to the rhetoric of radicalism. Mosques, however, remain greatly misunderstood on the American landscape.
Visit us, and listen to what our spiritual leader espouses. What you’ll hear is talk about prayer, fasting, charity, kindness to parents, and service to family and community.
Do mosques promote homegrown terrorism?
To the contrary, mosques are typical American religious institutions. In addition to worship services, most U.S. mosques hold weekend classes for children, offer charity to the poor, provide counseling services and conduct interfaith programs. There have been unfortunate exceptions, and that has led to a renewed commitment among mosque leaders to confront extremism. We hope you will visit us, and find that we are a premier site of American assimilation and community involvement.
Where are you located?
We are located at 545 Oregon Street in Leavenworth.
What time are Friday prayers? How many people attend?
One of the Islamic Center of Leavenworth's main religious activities is the Friday afternoon congregational prayers (Jum’ah), which averages dozens of congregants per week. That compares with between 5 to 10 individuals who attend the daily five prayers.
The Khutbu (Islamic sermon) begins at 1:30 p.m. The service ends at about 2 p.m. with congregational prayers. The Jum'ah prayer time is consistent throughout the year.
The Jum’ah service begins with a call to prayer (Azaan), a sermon in English, individual customary prayers (Sunnah prayers), a sermon in Arabic (Khutbah), and ending in two cycles (rakahs) of obligatory (Fard) prayer in congregation and a supplication (dua) in Arabic and English. Volunteer speakers officiate the services.
What is ICL's history?
For years, Muslims in Leavenworth, Lansing, Kansas City, Kan., and other smaller towns in Northeastern Kansas as well as in St. Joseph, Mo. (which now has its own mosque) gathered for congregational prayers, services, and celebrations in a makeshift masjid in a rented duplex located on Ninth Street.
Plans were in the works for nearly a decade for the area's first purpose-built mosque. Those plans came to fruition when the Islamic Center of Leavenworth opened its newly-built center at 545 Oregon Street in November 2006. The nearly 3,000 sq. foot building has full amenities including a prayer hall that accommodates up to 250 congregants, a 150-person capacity social room, a full kitchen and pantry, full bathrooms with shower (for Qiyam Al Layl), and a large parking lot.
What are the masjid’s demographics?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth (ICL) is made up of an assorted group of lifelong residents, professionals, students, retirees, and business owners in the Leavenworth area.
Many ethnicities attend ICL including those with origins in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Egypt. The languages (besides English, of course) spoken are mainly Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic. The age groups range from infants to elders with the majority of the community members ranging from 40 to 60 years old.
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has also been a religious home to many military officers from Muslim countries across the world. While the officers complete military training at Fort Leavenworth, they and their families are made to feel at home via the mosque. The mosque fits their needs by allowing them to have a place to offer their prayers as well as to use the Center for other social occasions in ICL's 150-person social room that is equipped with a full kitchen. The presence of this mosque has enhanced Leavenworth's image around the world by making accommodating these officers. Many of these officers keep in touch with ICL after they return home.
How often do your members pray at the mosque?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth parallels national statistics on mosque attendance. According to Pew and Gallup polls in 2010, about 40 percent of Muslim Americans say they pray in a mosque at least once a week, nearly the same percentage of American Christians who attend church weekly. About a third of all U.S. Muslims say they seldom or never go to mosques. Also, contrary to stereotypes of mosques as male-only spaces, Gallup finds that women are as likely as men to attend.
One of Islamic Center of Leavenworth's main religious activity is the Friday afternoon congregational prayers (Jum’ah), which averages dozens of congregants each week. That compares with a handful of individuals who attend the daily five prayers.
What is the governance of the mosque?
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has no full-time paid Imam (spiritual leader). Its governance is based on a two-tiered administrative structure consisting of a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee. Both bodies are made up of volunteers. The Board performs primary oversight and strategic functions while the Executive Committee is in charge of the day-to-day management of the masjid. The Board and Executive Committee are selected from amongst regular masjid attendees who demonstrate a clear commitment to ICL’s mission of peace, prayer, and service.
The Islamic Center of Leavenworth has nonprofit 501(c)3 tax status under Federal EIN 48-1174139. It has a bylaws and a constitution. Its bylaws provide for active involvement and consultation of religious authorities both locally and nationally to insure that the mosque adheres to Islamic principles derived from the Qur’an (Islam’s holy book) and the Sunnah (the sayings and living habits of Muhammad, the main prophet of Islam).
Where is Leavenworth?
Leavenworth is the largest city and the county seat of Leavenworth County, Kansas. Located on the west bank of the Missouri River 25 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, it is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
What exactly is a mosque?
A mosque, or masjid, is literally any place where Muslims make their daily five prayers (salat) performed in the direction of Mecca; it needn’t be a building or temple.
What is Islam?
Here is an abridged description of Islam.
If I do visit your mosque, what should I wear?
It is most appropriate to wear modest, loose-fitting clothes. For men, it is better to wear long pants, and for women to wear pants or full-length skirts or dresses, with long sleeves. Muslim women attending the mosque typically wear a headscarf as well. A female visitor may cover her head if she wishes to show respect to other worshipers or to enrich her own experience.
Also, please keep in mind that many Muslims do not shake hands with anyone of the opposite gender. That is, men do not shake hands with women, and women do not shake hands with men. Unless a member of the congregation extends his or her hand first, it is better to not extend yours.
Why do you take your shoes off in a mosque?
A mosque is free of statues and utilizes rugs instead of pews. It is appropriate to remove one’s shoes before entering the prayer area in a mosque, so that the floors and carpets aren’t covered with dirt—after all, that is where people pray.
Where are the women in the mosque praying?
Women offer prayers in a separate prayer room to the main prayer hall. The separation provides women with privacy and modesty. The physical separation helps men and women maintain his or her focus on prayer–instead of one another.
Why are there foot-sinks in the bathroom?
A Muslim must be in a state of physical purification before making his or her prayer. That includes washing the feet. Our restrooms are equipped with bidets and other modern amenities for the self-purification process (wudu) performed prior to prayers.
What happens when people come late to the prayer?
Latecomers will join the prayer already in progress. After the leader of the prayer (Imam) has finished, they will complete what they missed.
What is jihad?
One misconception about Islam is often the word jihad. Crusaders from the Middle Ages interpreted jihad as a holy war; however, in Islam, jihad means a struggle against evil, which can include everyday temptations.
Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?
No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons – Muhammad from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement that today is the city of Makkah (Mecca), and built a cuboid-shaped building called the Kaa’ba, which Muslims turn toward daily when they pray.
I am concerned (even afraid) about what’s actually going on in the mosque. Are you teaching people to be violent?
Mosques are probably America’s best line of defense against terrorism. They actually combat radicalism by providing a community to guide Muslims who have fallen to the rhetoric of radicalism. Mosques, however, remain greatly misunderstood on the American landscape.
Visit us, and listen to what our spiritual leader espouses. What you’ll hear is talk about prayer, fasting, charity, kindness to parents, and service to family and community.
Do mosques promote homegrown terrorism?
To the contrary, mosques are typical American religious institutions. In addition to worship services, most U.S. mosques hold weekend classes for children, offer charity to the poor, provide counseling services and conduct interfaith programs. There have been unfortunate exceptions, and that has led to a renewed commitment among mosque leaders to confront extremism. We hope you will visit us, and find that we are a premier site of American assimilation and community involvement.
For a list of other mosques in Kansas and Missouri, visit our masjid list.
