Muslims in Colorado

In the US state of Colorado the Muslim population has grown ten-fold over the last half century. Consequently, the state has had to adjust from having little contact with non-Muslims to communicating with them on a regular basis. This article first presents the historical development of Colorado's Muslim community and the difficulties it has faced in the wake of recent world political events. The article then describes the growth of Colorado's interfaith community and its interaction with the Muslim ummah. In Colorado, Muslim/non-Muslim interfaith activities have increased exponentially since the mid-1990s, especially since September 11, 2001, due to the increased interest of various groups which have attempted to understand and teach each other about their respective world views. Currently there is at least one interfaith event every week in the state. As a result of this interaction, the Colorado Muslim community has become more integrated into the Colorado community-at-large, not only religiously, but also socially and politically. Notes Thanks are due to all the members of the Muslim and interfaith communities who provided me with information and answered my questions. I would also like to express special thanks to Dr. Mohamed Nabil Hamdy for his assistance in the final stages of this paper. The Association of Religion Data Archives, “State Membership Report: Colorado”, 2002, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008). Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional Research, “Counting White and Black Subgroups”, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008). Adherents.com, “Islam”, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008). Leon F. Bouvier and Sharon McCloe Stein, “Colorado's Population in 2050: A Road Paved With Good Intentions”, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008). Jane I. Smith and Karen Isaksen Leonard, “United States of America”, in The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, ed. John L. Esposito, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Oxford Islamic Studies Online database, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008). “Bride Just an Onlooker during Mohammedan Wedding in Denver”, Rocky Mountain News, 4 December 1943. H. M. Tenny, “Ten Mohammedans Residents of Denver, Says Former Priest”, Rocky Mountain News, 26 February 1933. George Brown, “Moslems Pray Toward Mecca as Islam Holy Rites Begin”, The Denver Post, 8 July 1957. “Muslims Fast to Observe Ramadan: An Estimated 15,000 in State Follow Tradition During Islam Holy Month”, Rocky Mountain News, 5 March 1992. Vincent F. Biondo III, “The Architecture of Mosques in the US and Britain”, Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2006, pp. 399–420. “Young Arab-Americans Say They're Called a ‘Terrorist’ or ‘Son of Saddam Hussein’ in a Show of Prejudice at School: Classmates' Taunts Sting”, Rocky Mountain News, 21 January 1991. “Jackson Conversion Stuns Friends: Nugget's Move toward Islam Leaves Hometown in an Uproar”, Rocky Mountain News, 9 August 1991. “Bomb Scares Put Area on Edge: School and Offices Searched”, Rocky Mountain News, 21 April 1995. “Effort to Sway Abdul-Rauf Failed: Muslim Leader Tried to Urge Nuggets Star to Obey Rule”, Rocky Mountain News, 14 March 1996. James Brooke, “Colorado Man is Suspected of Planning Mosque Attack”, The New York Times, 13 May 1999. Jean Torkelson, “7 Colorado Muslim Leaders Sign Declaration to Fight Terrorism”, Rocky Mountain News, 28 July 2005. “Fallout of Hatred—FBI Reports that Crimes Doubled after Terror Attacks”, Rocky Mountain News, December 2002; “Colorado: Hate Crimes Rise 50% after 9/11 Attacks”, Washington Crime News Service, 17 January 2003, available online at: (accessed 2 December 2007). “Some Students from Mideast Going Home Because of Fear”, Rocky Mountain News, 21 September 2001. Jim Kehl, “Islamic Groups Report U.S. Scrutiny Causing Them Financial Woes”, The Denver Post, 15 November 2002. “Anti-Islamic Graffiti Removed”, Rocky Mountain News, 1 November 2003. Ibid. “Denver Mosque Receiving Threats,” TheDenverChannel.com, 13 May 2004, available online at: (accessed 2 December 2007). “Eid Works to Build Muslim Trust”, Rocky Mountain News, 19 May 2007; John Ingold, “Charges against Local Pakistanis Labeled ‘Absurd’”, The Denver Post, 2 April 2003. “Tancredo: If They Nuke Us, Bomb Mecca”, FoxNews.com, 18 July 2005, available online at: (accessed 23 February 2008); “Local Muslim Leader Gets Air Time to Respond to Clear Channel Host's Bigoted Remarks”, Colorado Media Matters, 20 June 2007, available online at: (accessed 9 December 2007); Vanessa Delgado, “Greeley Mosque Damaged by Apparent Gunfire”, The Tribune, 18 May 2007. Jane I Smith, “Christian-Muslim-Jewish Dialogue in Denver, Colorado”, Muslim-Christian Dialogue: Promise and Problems, eds M. Darrol Bryant and Syed A. Ali, St. Paul, MN: Paragon House, 1998, pp. 253–262. “Muslims Gather to Dispel Myths About Islam”, Rocky Mountain News, 5 December 2001

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