North Cook News

The planning and zoning commission of Hoffman Estates is considering placing a new mosque in the village to accommodate the religious needs of more than 2,000 Muslim residents.

The petitioner, Mohammed Khan, asked for the commission’s support of the plan for the local mosque at 2360 Lakewood Blvd. during the Dec. 19 board meeting. Khan pointed out that despite there being a large group of Muslims in the village, there was no mosque within a 25-minute drive.

“We have the plan for five daily prayers, which is in early morning and afternoon, late afternoon and at the time of sunset and before going to bed like 8 o'clock in winter and in summer, 10 o'clock in evening in the night,” Khan said at the meeting. “So we are also providing the small groups for religious studies every day for two hours. And we are planning also to have the congregation for Jumu’ah Friday prayer. So already (that's what) we are doing in (our current building) and that is going to be our biggest congregation there. But we want a small congregation in the new building.”

As discussed at the meeting, the Dar Um Ilm foundation is in the process of purchasing the building in response to its growing congregation and lack of space. The building needs very few renovations and offers plenty of parking spaces. The foundation has been researching the neighborhood and the only restriction they had for the building is that it couldn’t be a restaurant.

The board was in support of the plan, offering some recommendations.