Shreveport-Bossier Islamic community creates new mosque in former First Presbyterian Church, Bossier

Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
Originally uploaded by bridgepix.

Times religion reporter Diane Haag wrote about Shreveport-Bossier Muslims on Sept 23: "Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim year begins today. This year the Muslim community plans a bigger celebration especially now that they have a new building.

"It's like a charge" for a battery, Imam Syed Juma Salam said. "We're charging our hearts this month with prayer, fasting, Quran and love."

During the month of spiritual and physical purification, believers fast from food, drink, sex and smoking during daylight hours. They ask God for mercy, forgiveness and salvation.

This year they plan daily feasts to break the fast, guest speakers and more people involved in reciting the Quran.

About 10 months ago, the congregation purchased the former First Presbyterian Church on Delhi in Bossier City. Outside it still has the appearance of a traditional Christian church.

Inside, pews have been removed from the sanctuary and when people come to pray they face away from the stage and toward a carved niche in the northeast corner (toward Mecca). Temporary partitions in the back cordon off a section for women.

They are doing some particular work on the bathrooms so they have more room for the ritual cleansing before prayer.

"We had outlived the old mosque," said Khushid Khan, vice president of the board. "It was too small. Over here we can have everyone and have space."

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In the illustration above is another church site conversion. Called the Hagia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, it lies in Istanbul. After an Islamic takeover of the region - Constantinople became Istanbul - it was converted to a mosque. That was in 1435, according to Wikipedia.org.