Religion in San Antonio

Religion in San AntonioReligion in San AntonioReligion in San Antonio

Religion in San Antonio

Religion in San AntonioReligion in San AntonioReligion in San Antonio
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  • Home
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  • Contact
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    • Buddhism in SA
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    • Sikhi in SA
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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:

  • Lisa Marie Gomez, San Antonio Express, "The public face of Muslims in the Alamo City" (February 18, 2007)
  • Narjis Pierre, San Antonio Report, "Your Muslims Neighbor" (July 26, 2014)
  • Mark Reagan, San Antonio Current, "Invisible Neighbors: SA's Muslim Community Perseveres Despite Facing Discrimination" (May 13, 2015)
  • H.E. Butt Foundation, "San Antonio's Muslim-led, free healthcare clinic" (2017)
  • KENS5 (YouTube), "Muslim community feeling unsafe after Trump retweets anti-immigrant videos" (November 30, 2017)
  • KENS5 (YouTube), "Muslims family upset after daughter rejected from Cornerstone Christian Schools" (August 22, 2018)
  • Ahmed H. Sharma, News4SanAntonio.com, "Muslim resident has broken barriers in San Antonio for more than 25 years" (May 3, 2019)
  • Ahmed H. Sharma, KTXS12.com, "Mayor Nirenberg, city officials celebrate Ramadan with San Antonio Muslims" (June 19, 2019)
  • Henry Ramos, KENS5.com, "International political tensions leading to increased awareness among San Antonio's Muslim community" (January 9, 2020)
  • Alejandra Guzman-Tracy, FOX 29 "Local artist showcases diversity of San Antonio Muslims in 'Faces of Islam' project" (January 10, 2020)
  • Paul Best, FOX 7 Austin, "San Antonio mosque spearheads $150,000 reward for missing 3-year-old Lina Sadar Khil" (December 24, 2021)
  • Malak Silni, San Antonio Express, "San Antonio grocery stores have sold thousands of dates ahead of Ramadan. Here's why." (April 1, 2022)
  • KSAT12 (YouTube), "San Antonio Islamic gift shop serves Muslim community, spreads culture as Ramadan begins" (April 1, 2022)
  • KENS5 (YouTube), "San Antonians gather for Ramadan for the first time since the pandemic" (April 7, 2022)
  • KENS5 (YouTube), "'We invite everybody' | Ramada Iftars return to San Antonio" (April 7, 2022)

Introduction to Islam

If you'd like a basic introduction to Islam, the following articles, videos, podcast episodes, and websites are a great place to start:


Articles/Websites

  • Pluralism.org, "Islam"
  • Patheos Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions, "Islam"


Videos

  • Religion For Breakfast, "Intro to Islam"
  • Cogito, "What Is Islam?"
  • Crash Course, "Islam, the Quran, and the Five Pillars"


Podcast Episodes

  • Keeping It 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion, "Islam Is More Than you Think It Is"
  • Keeping It 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion, "You Still Don't Know about Islam, Part 1"
  • Keeping It 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion, "You Still Don't Know about Islam, Part 2"

Photo Gallery

The minaret of the mosque at the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center

The minaret of the mosque at the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center

The minaret and entrance of the mosque at the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center

The minaret and entrance of the mosque at the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (1)

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (1)

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (2)

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (2)

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (3)

Calligraphic art from inside San Antonio’s Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (3)

Religion in San Antonio

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