Islamic Center Opens in G.F. - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

  It will be the first of its kind in the northern valley.

  A Muslim group is opening an Islamic Center in Grand Forks.  For years a small group of Greater Grand Forks Muslims has been meeting at UND's Memorial Union Meditation Center for its Friday prayers.

  Now, they have a permanent, new home across the street from Red River high school.  The United Church of Christ is short on congregation members and money, so it sold the property.

  Today, they were moving out the church pews to make way for the Muslim tradition of kneeling on the floor.

Nabil Suleiman, Islamic Center of Grand Forks: "We believe in one faith. We worship one God and we should be co-existing together and peaceful. That's what we're trying to do here in Grand Forks."

  I talked with 3 nearby neighbors. Two of them said they had no problem with an Islamic Center moving in.…. another said, "What is it?"

  Sulieman says it basically includes a mosque, which is traditionally used only for prayer services, and the rest of the building for other activities.

Nabil Sulieman: "The Islamic Center includes a mosque, but it does more things like social activities, like getting together, weekend activities, teaching the youth the right things, volunteering, all that kind of stuff."

  Sulieman says the Islamic Center of Grand Forks has grown from a handful of people ten year ago, to over 400 members today.

    Sulieman say all crosses on the property will be removed, since their faith does not believe in the use of symbols.