Mosque And Islamic School Seeks Permission To Open In Lansdale

A mosque and Islamic educational institution hopes to establish itself in Lansdale.

The land on 1191 Walnut Street was purchased in April and the Rihlatul Ilm Foundation is seeking donation to make renovations before the end of Ramadan.

The foundation is seeking a “special exception” to the Hatfield Township zoning ordinance to get permission to use the property for religious purposes.

Ordinance 282-121 requires that any building that will constructed or used for religious purposes must first apply to the Zoning Heard Board for a special exception.

A Christian or Jewish structure, therefore, would require the same special approval.

There is no apparent reason why the mosque will not be approved.

The institution’s founders hope to establish one of the first “liberal” Islamic schools in the area, they said on their website:

This institution is an Islamic educational school of higher learning established by concerned local brothers who are striving to establish the correct liberal methodology found in the Sunni Islamic scholarly heritage. The purpose of this foundation is to establish an Islamic university which will contain within it a Masjid to serve the community spiritually and intellectually.

To donate to the group and to learn more, please see their website.