US Muslims To Build First Mosque In Wisconsin

Around 20 families, many of whom are working at the Saint Joseph Hospital or the Marshfield clinic are performing prayers in a room at the hospital, reported the Wausau Daily Herald on Thursday July 29.

"We really need some Islamic center here to have a religious place where we can perform prayer," Dr. Qasim Raza, a Marshfield Clinic employee and president of the Islamic Society of Central Wisconsin, told the paper.

The nearest mosques to the community are located in Eau Claire and Appleton.

The Islamic Society of Central Wisconsin has bought 1.5 acres in the town of McMillan to build the mosque for around $33.500.

The new mosque will include a main prayer hall, a place for women to worship and an area for youth classes.

"We’ll have future expansions as families grow, but for the time being, we only need a smaller building where we can accommodate the families," Raza said.

Religious Center

The mosque is expected to serve more than a religious center for Muslims in the area.

"We are kind of looking at is as an educational center for people of different faiths to tell them how we actually live, what traditions, cultural traditions," said Muhammad Siddiqi, a Marshfield Clinic environmental toxicologist.

The mosque will also serve to correct wrong ideas on Islam as many people in the area view Muslims as anti-social or extremely conservatives.

"There are a lot of misunderstandings about us," Siddiqi told the Wausau Daily Herald.

"That is not reflective of the true religion," he said. "In every religion you will find people on both extremes.

"Our basic idea would be to ask people to read it for themselves and if they do have any questions regarding it, we can provide answers to the maximum of our abilities and knowledge."

Many of the Muslims in the Wisconsin community are professionals. They are busy with their own work to that extent they have no chance to connect to the non-Muslim community.

"Personally, I believe we have not performed our duty to teach what our religion is and what our spirit is. A religion should not be judged by one person or group of people. It should be judged by its teachings," Siddiqi added.

Salat (prayer) is the second Pillar of Islam. Muslims perform prayers five times a day, They turn towards the Ka’abah in Makkah (Mecca) and perform ritual prayers.

Praying in congregation is important for building community.