Members of the Muslim community are looking foward to what will be possible with a new mosque on 801 Normal Road.

Construction on the mosque is projected to be finished by summer. The location is next door to the current mosque, but the new facility will be larger and offer different services. Builders received a special zoning permit to construct the mosque in a residential area.

“For a long time a single-family residence … was used as the mosque, and at some point the congregation had grown to where a larger facility was needed,” said second ward Alderman Bill Finucane. The mosque is in the second ward.

The Islamic Society of NIU worked with the mosque’s neighbors to come up with a design that would blend in with the area. The mosque will have a main prayer area, a second floor dedicated to women, a finished basement to accommodate events, a library and parking lot.

Shareef Khoga, secretary of the Islamic Society of NIU board, said with the increased space, the Muslim community will be able to provide more events, including children’s programs, Sunday school and interfaith events.

“In the new building we hope to be able to do more community outreach, invite different churches and religious organizations and do interfaith activities,” Khoga said.

The role of the new mosque is to be a place of prayer for Muslims and a community center. Umraan Syed, Muslim Student Association representative and senior anthropology major, said a mosque is much more than a place for prayer.

“A mosque is not a place just for Muslims,” Syed said. “It’s actually the exact opposite. It’s a place for everyone. Everyone and anyone. It’s actually just a community center that is run by Muslims.”

The Muslim community hopes the mosque can bring a sense of coexistence and bring people of all faiths together.

“A lot of the Muslim community is very excited that the DeKalb community is open to diversity and that the neighbors and local churches have been happy for us and excited for us,” Khoga said. “There has been some negative input from people, but it’s very easily brushed off because there has been overwhelming support from the local community for the mosque.”

On behalf of the Muslim community, Syed invites everyone to visit the mosque once it is complete.

“Anyone and everyone, please come by,” Syed said. “We want people to come by. We want to have a peaceful environment in the community. That’s our main goal.”