Islam in San Antonio

Muslim Communities

Per the Texas State Historical Association, there were approximately 5,000 Muslims in San Antonio in 1995. In 2005, the San Antonio Current put those number at 13,000, and then in their 2015 article "Invisible Neighbors: SA's Muslim Community Perseveres Despite Facing Discrimination" they estimated that there were about 30,000 Muslims who called San Antonio "home" (though the Islamic Center of San Antonio's website says there are about 10,000 and a San Antonio Report article by Narijiss Pierre in 2015 put the number at 14,000: "Your Muslim Neighbor"). BestPlaces.net put the percentage of San Antonians who are Muslim at 1.2%, which would make it the largest non-Christian religion in the city. In other words, Islam is a major part of San Antonio's religious history and present, even if the specific numbers aren't clear.

There are several locations where Islam is practiced here in San Antonio:

The Islamic Center of San Antonio, founded in 1993, is located at 8638 Fairhaven St, San Antonio, TX 78229. It's "goal is to serve the increasingly diverse Muslim community of San Antonio and the neighboring cities." Those services include education, marriage and funeral services, counseling, and hosting daily prayers.

The Muslim Children Education and Civic Center is located at 5281 Casa Bella, San Antonio, TX 78249. Their stated mission is as follows: "...to organize and reinvigorate the Muslim Community of San Antonio by imparting a strong Islamic education to all, with a particular emphasis on the youth. We strive to bring civic awareness, the desire for service, and leadership to our San Antonio community so that our youth may service as proud Muslim Americans leaders."

There are several locations off of 410. The first is Rahmani Masjid and Learning Center, located at 5403 Jackwood Dr, San Antonio, TX 78238. This location is "a full time Masjid with five daily prayers, Jummah, and Quran classes".

Another is Masjid Beit El-Maqdes, established in 2009, and located at 7627 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78251. Once a place for prayer only, there are now more services offered here, including sermons, prayers, funerals, and "taking the shahada".

Located on the Lackland Airfare Base at Selfridge Blvd, Lackland AFB, TX 78236, is the Lackland Chapel Islamic Center.

Downtown, you can find the Alfalah Downtown Center, founded in 2015, and located at 2554 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78202. it's purpose "is to provide religious services, facilities of Islamic worship, and Islamic education for American Muslims, so they can practice their Faith, foster a better understanding of Islam and Muslims, promote goodwill, fellowship, tolerance and peace among all local communities of Muslims and Non-Muslims."

Further to the north, founded in 2019, and located at 21003 Encino Commons #110, San Antonio, TX 78259, is the Northside Islamic Center of San Antonio. They desire "to address the growing needs of the Muslim community in the northern part of San Antonio, Texas".

The following articles/videos discuss Islam in the San Antonio area: