Islamic Center Unveils Renovations

After months of construction, the newly renovated unveiled its expanded facility this Friday.

The echoes of “salaam aleikom,” “mashala,” and “mubarak” were audible as about 300 worshippers attending the center's celebratory family night greeted one another and expressed their appreciation for the new facilities.

Prior to the expansion, the growing congregation was limited to a single building, which would be quickly filled up during prayer times and family nights.

“In the past we have had to lock the doors or send people away because of room capacity,” said Hana Khan, a Dougherty Valley High graduate who has been a member of the congregation for a dozen years.

In November 2009, the Islamic Center purchased two buildings adjacent to its original site. Now, those rooms serve as new prayer halls for men and women, respectively.

“The prayer halls are in the new facility, the old building will be for administrative purposes, classes, social events, and all other things related,” said Faraz Sattar, who was closely involved in the purchase and design of the expanded center.

The family night, the likes of which the Islamic Center hosts monthly on Fridays, included prayers, dinner catered by Shalimar Restaurant in Fremont and a sermon by Imam Dawood Yasin on religious religious regeneration in the holy month of Ramadan, which starts Monday. Toddlers chased one another across the new prayer rugs while mothers sat cross-legged, rocking their infants.

The expansion improved the capacity of the Islamic Center, which aims to cater to a community of 500 to 800 people. According to Sattar, the largely donor-funded renovations were necessary to accommodate a rapidly growing and vibrantly social Muslim community.

“From 1992 to now, the city’s population has doubled. Our community has grown 13 fold. We started with 30 families and now we have 400,” he said.

The construction had caused the center to be closed since mid-April.

“We told the community that we would have the center up and running by Ramadan, which is Monday, and with the grace of God we have met our goal,” said Sattar. The center was open for Friday afternoon prayers earlier in the day, the Islamic equivalent of Sunday mass.

Although the SRVIC caters mostly to San Ramon, Dublin, and Danville, many attending the services Friday night were residents of Fremont, Walnut Creek, Concord, and Pleasanton. Some had even moved their businesses and families to the Tri-Valley area for its proximity to the Islamic Center.

The San Ramon Planning Commission in July granted the center a temporary permit to house up to 541 people during the month of Ramadan.

“The city of San Ramon is open to friendly, family-oriented, peace-loving people, and our community fits that bill,” said Sattar.

Worshippers of all ages were impressed with the changes.

“I think it’s excellent,” said Danville resident Omar Masood of the renovations. “I’m really happy- this center is going to give back to the people that invested in it.”