What is the ICFC?
By Leah Miller

History & Community of the Islamic Center of Fort Collins

Although their current mosque was appropriated in March 1980, the Islamic Center of Fort Collins (ICFC) reports that Muslims have lived in Fort Collins since 1952 and the community has grown tremendously since then, mostly due to the fact of Muslim students coming to attend Colorado State University (CSU). When these Muslim students come to CSU, and subsequently the ICFC, “they need a place to express and fulfill their religious needs,” says Jamal Ahmed, an Intel engineer and regular volunteer at the ICFC.

After meeting as small student groups for several years, a few Muslim professors came to CSU and the Muslim community organized themselves in a Muslim fellowship. Utilizing rented rooms in Old Town and the Lory Student Center on the CSU campus, members of the Muslim fellowship began regularly praying and interacting with one another. As the community grew, they pulled together to buy an old church located at 900 Peterson St. and converted it into a mosque (also known by its Arabic name masjid).

The ICFC is not only a place for prayer though, it is a community center filled with members devoted to one another through social gatherings. Many in the community participate in the local interfaith organization that brings together Christians, Jews and Muslims to learn about one another’s religion and customs. “It is an opportunity to know each other,” says Ahmed.
They also organize charity events, potlucks, and happenings with the Muslim Student Association at CSU. The center relies on the help of the community through volunteer acts only; there are no paid positions.

According to Ahmed, only 100-150 people are recorded as actual members of the ICFC, but roughly there are 1,200-1,500 Muslims in the northern Colorado area and varying numbers of Muslims attend prayer each week as well as other events.