About Us
History
Founded in 1962, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) established prayer services in a room at the University of Kansas. In 1978, the MSA purchased a house located at the corner of Ohio Street and 1300 Street, one block east of Smith Hall, the religious center building at KU. As the Muslim community outgrew the space, it moved in 1998 to a red-brick building at 1917 Naismith Drive that had previously served as a Christian church.
A few years later, the Islamic Center of Lawrence (ICL) was established as a nonprofit organization in the State of Kansas. In 2003, the General Assembly (members of the ICL) elected six members to form the first ICL Board, with the MSA president automatically serving as the seventh board member.
The current place of worship is a former Southern Baptist church. The red-brick building consists of prayer halls, offices, classrooms, a kitchen, and a fellowship hall. The sanctuary faces east and includes clocks that display the daily prayer times, which change according to sunrise and sunset.
Demographics
Members of the Islamic Center of Lawrence are diverse in age, ethnicity, and gender. The community includes high school and college students, young children, middle-aged adults, and senior citizens. Due to its proximity to the KU campus, the ratio of transient students to permanent residents is approximately 65% to 35%, respectively.
At the center, men and women may worship together; however, many choose to worship separately because of personal preference and cultural upbringing. Men worship on the main level, while women worship on the second level. The call to prayer is delivered in Arabic, while the sermon is given in English. Approximately 40% of the members are fluent in Arabic. The ICL community represents a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, including Arab, South Asian, East Asian, African, and Caucasian populations.