Dar al Islam – New mexico
Dar al Islam – New mexico
- Dar Al-Islam, Abiquiu, New Mexico: Established in the early 1980s, Dar Al-Islam is one of the first Muslim educational and retreat centers in the U.S. It includes a Musjid and places for educational programs, focusing on combining Islamic beliefs with American life.
- It was the first planned Islamic community in the United States. It was initially co-founded in 1979 by Nuridin Durkee, an American who converted to Islam; Sahl Kabbani, a Saudi businessman; and Abdullah Omar Nasseef, a former secretary-general of the World Muslim League. Kabbani reportedly donated $125,000 to the non-profit Lama Foundation, which formed the community. Most of the starting funds were said to come from the Riyadh Ladies’ Benevolent Association of Saudi Arabia and several daughters of the late Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
- At its peak, the community served around 60 students, had seven full-time teachers, and partly supported itself through resident business efforts. However, by 1990, the project was losing members. While it didn’t fully become the residential community for American Muslims it aimed to be, it did stay active as an educational place. Today, it offers religious teachings, retreats, and camps for its residents and other Muslims. It also holds workshops on Islam for both public and private groups.
