The heart of Springfield’s Muslim community

About the article

This article is part of the Healing Illinois 2025 Reporting Project, “Healing Through Narrative Change: Untold Stories,” made possible by a grant from Healing Illinois, an initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Field Foundation of Illinois that seeks to advance racial healing through storytelling and community collaborations.

After a recent central Illinois case that gained national media attention, prompting almost-daily protests, this project sought to engage diverse and rural communities with information that brings neighbors together and moves us forward.

Managed by Press Forward Springfield, this project enlisted three central Illinois media outlets – Illinois Times, NPR Illinois and Capitol News Illinois – to produce impactful news coverage on the disparities and tensions within and among the region’s diverse communities while maintaining editorial independence.

Springfield, where the Muslim community feels like home

Springfield, Illinois, is home to a resilient and tightly knit Muslim community – one that has quietly shaped the capital through interfaith outreach and service. An estimated 4.45 million Muslims live in the U.S., yet 40% of Americans have never spoken to one, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. In 2024 alone, anti-Muslim hate crimes surpassed 8,000 nationwide, the highest since data has been kept. But in Springfield, a different story is unfolding – one of unity, healing and quiet impact.

From its early days, the Muslim community in Springfield established relationships with other faith groups. Maryam Mostoufi, one of the early presidents of the Greater Springfield Interfaith Association, recalls, “Before they built the first mosque here, the community used the First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln’s church, as our place of worship. They would lend us the basement, and we would weekly have our services there.”

In 1995, the community was shaken when the mosque was burned down in an act of arson. However, in Springfield, strong bonds of friendship had already been fostered within the interfaith community, so this also impacted local Jewish and Christian congregations. Interfaith leader Mahnaz Habib, recalls, “Places of worship were opened up to our community where we met, we prayed, we had community potlucks over the four years it took to construct our current mosque on Stanton Avenue.” That community spirit doesn’t end with adults. Children from different faiths also come together, thanks to programs designed to foster understanding from an early age. Habib explains, “Children from all faith groups are invited to get to know each other, to visit each other’s houses of worship, and they meet about five times a year. Often our meetings involve a service project, a craft project, and they enjoy a vegetarian meal at the end of it.”

This sense of community has left a lasting impact on young Muslims who have grown up in Springfield. Ayanna Qadeem was born and raised in the community and shared: “I would say overall, growing up in the Muslim community here was quite fun and an enriching experience. Our community was small, diverse, and really tight-knit. And we have people coming from all over, from America, from all over the world to work and study. Growing up, my closest friends were African American, Native American, Thai, Jordanian and American, Bengali, Pakistani.”

Beyond who makes up this community is the question of how they see themselves, not just as Muslims, but as empowered American citizens. Mosque President Yahia Zeino points out: “First of all, all Muslims in Springfield, they want to keep their identity. They want to raise their kids up in a way they are Muslims. They are able to practice their religion freely and also they need to learn how to read the Quran. They want all of that and they need to establish these educational programs that were naturally (there) by default back home, but here it’s a little bit different. There is more challenge because, they are not (default). We have to establish these educational programs for them. They have to feel proud, both Muslims and American citizens. So, it’s very important for them to feel this way, so we want them to be empowered.”

In a time when hate often dominates headlines, the Muslim community in Springfield offers another narrative – one of hope, resilience and belonging. Through faith, service and deep-rooted relationships, they are helping to bridge divides and build a stronger, more united city.

Muslims in central Illinois

This past March, Springfield’s Muslim community observed the holy month of Ramadan – a time of fasting, reflection and spiritual devotion. From dawn to sunset, Muslims fast not just from food, but also from distractions, turning inward to strengthen their faith. But for Muslims, this spiritual grounding extends far beyond one month.

According to the 2022 Illinois Muslim Report, 70% of Illinois Muslims attend the mosque at least once a month, with 50% going weekly, and Springfield is no exception. During the final 10 nights of Ramadan, the mosque becomes a center of intense prayer and reflection. Often Springfield community member Hafiz Osama Pervaiz, who has memorized all 114 chapters and over 6,200 verses of the Quran, is called on to lead the prayers.

Those verses from the Quran outline what many Muslims see as a roadmap for success: have faith, do good and remind others to stay truthful and patient. It’s a message that resonates year–round for those striving to live out good values in everyday life. For Muslim converts, that journey can be especially personal. Springfield native Jon Cragoe had to change deeply rooted habits when he converted to Islam, including how he and his family ate meals. Jon explains, “Because I’m a convert who takes halal food seriously… I had to personally re–engineer all my favorite foods. It took me a while to recreate my version of Joe Rogers [chili]. After a good solid three years, I came up with the recipe. It was the only option for (my) family who is also stuck eating halal… When I’m imitating Springfield chili, I’m imitating what I feel to be the best of the best.”

For many Muslims in America, faith and identity are deeply intertwined. A 2022 study found that 84% of Illinois Muslims say their religion is central to who they are. A separate 2016 study found that those who feel connected to their faith are also more likely to strongly identify as American. That combined sense of identity is something Shaista Sheikh, who moved from India to Springfield 24 years ago, has embraced – and now works to instill in her children. Sheikh said, “I want [my children] to be confident no matter where they go… that they are Americans who follow Islam and their parents are from India. Teachers in the 186th district handheld me. They not only saw me as my identity, but also helped me navigate the culture.”

Longtime resident, educator, and mother Soad Soliman also reflects on how the younger generation expresses its faith in new ways – and how that’s prompted her to grow too. Soliman expressed, “I can practice my religion freely and enjoy it. The (thing I ) most love is that I can practice, I can wear my hijab, I can do everything… I really enjoy practicing my religion here. I really enjoy being here. Masha’allah, we have a lot of (the) younger generation. … They express themselves differently than us. … But then when you put yourself in their place, it does make sense for them. I’ve changed a lot since I started.”

The younger generation is staying deeply connected to their faith, particularly in Springfield. Aalia Azeem, a University of Illinois Springfield student and leader of the Muslim Student Association, credits Springfield’s strong sense of community for helping her deepen her understanding of Islam and its teachings. Azeem reflected, “For me personally, I used to live in Indiana and, compared to Springfield, I feel Springfield is way more connected than how it was in Indiana. There’s more of a community feeling here. I think the community here makes a good effort to get together and do activities and events, which I didn’t really experience that much when I lived elsewhere.”

In Springfield, faith isn’t just observed – it’s lived, shared and passed on to the next generation.

Springfield’s Muslim Community: Bridging Faith and Diversity

With a population of 112,544, Springfield is a close-knit region where everyone seems to know someone. This sense of interconnectedness is especially evident within the Muslim community, a vibrant and active part of the Springfield area’s social fabric. Whether building strong internal bonds or fostering relationships across diverse groups, Muslims in Springfield play a vital role in uniting the city. Dr. Dilara Sayed, president of the Muslim Civic Coalition, highlights Springfield’s unique role in nurturing leadership and connection across the heartland. Sayeed explains, “When I think of the Muslim community in Springfield, I think of the heartland of the USA. I cannot imagine the incredible growth and the incredible civic engagement of our communities. I know this because of many of the leaders from Springfield who have mentored leaders across Illinois and in other places in the heartland.”

The desire to foster ties, not only across cultures but also across madhabs – denominational differences in Islam, including Sunni or Shia – was what prompted the formal establishment of the Muslim community in Springfield just over 50 years ago. Maryam Mostoufi, former president of the Greater Springfield Interfaith Association, recalls how it all began: “Living there for 40-plus years, I saw a huge change because when we initially moved there in 1979, we became acquainted with the Islamic community, which was very informal at the time – only 12 families. The last count I did before we moved, there were 30 different racial and ethnic groups and places of origin and there were over 300 families. That’s a huge difference in those 40 years to see a community grow. Our community was made up of people of all five madhabs. They all agreed, and the other community members, when we shared it, agreed too, that it should be representative of all Muslims, regardless of what madhhab they were from. That became something different than what I’ve seen in other communities.”

That spirit of unity and inclusion has extended beyond religious lines. Springfield has long enjoyed a vibrant and welcoming interfaith community, and Muslims have been an active part of it from the beginning. The community often invites educators and neighbors to join them for Iftar dinners. For one local couple, Shabana and Arshad, this tradition has grown into a powerful expression of faith, friendship and shared humanity that continues to shape their lives. They make it a point to arrange dinners during Ramadan for community members, including students, converts and travelers who may not be able to conventionally experience the holiday.

Building that kind of belonging takes time and intention. Responding to growing concerns about racism and bias, the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network began hosting antiracism trainings, which many local organizations, including the local Muslims, have joined to learn how to recognize and address bias. Islam teaches that no one is superior to another based on race or status. Muslims commonly refer to each other as brother and sister – an ideal of equality. Yet, like all communities, the Muslim community here also grapples with the subtle ways in which exclusion can happen. Ayanna Qadeem, whose family are leaders of the community, reflects on this complexity. “I feel like I exist in multiple places at one time. I’m African American, I’m female. I went to Catholic school but also went to Islamic school. There’s been a subtle othering – it occurs in ways like people taking our chairs to sit with their group, instead of joining the groups that are already there, which is the practice taught by the Prophet Muhammad. Or avoiding speaking a language that others who are there don’t understand.”

Listening and adjusting to the evolving needs of a growing and diverse community is essential. The 2022 study of Illinois Muslim Report found that one-third of Muslims who regularly attend the mosque still feel their opinions don’t count in their house of worship. In Springfield, the mosque’s leadership is working to address this, as expressed by Mosque President Zeino: “People who just came to the community are different from people who’ve been here for 40 years. The youth also have different needs. All those people need to add to the mosaic that we have in our community. If we don’t engage all of them and listen to them, I don’t think we can move on to the next level. When people are given an agenda that is already prepared and thrown at them, sometimes this can turn them off. We must include all of them in decision-making.”

Sometimes, unity starts with something as small as a cup of tea. In a diverse community, even chai can carry meaning. Community resident Shaista Shaikh points this out: “Every section of the community was so particular about chai – how much milk, what kind of sugar. And then the Yemeni community brought their own because we never got theirs quite right. Once I tasted it, I totally switched sides. It’s small things that remind you we’re different, but we’re still working toward being one voice.”

Current events are concerning

Springfield’s Muslim community continues to navigate both local and global challenges, including international conflicts and issues around faith, individual identity and resilience. A growing fear among Muslims is that their civil rights, whether as citizens or migrants, are increasingly under threat. Recent deportations by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have only heightened those fears.

Local Muslims are joining the Muslim Civic Coalition’s effort to voice the concerns of Muslims in Illinois. This multi-organization project aims to lobby state lawmakers to uphold fundamental constitutional protections. Springfield resident Ashraf Tamizuddin explains why he joined this effort: “Springfield is the capital of Illinois. We have a lot of opportunities to work, not just for the Springfield community, (but for) Illinois, and the whole country. That is one of the big motivating factors for me to say, ‘Now look, a wrong was done, but two wrongs do not make a right. So we have got to fix it.'”

The struggle for justice also extends beyond U.S. borders. While concern about the Occupied Palestinian Territories has long been present, the 2023 bombing of Gaza sparked a new wave of activism, especially in Springfield. Three Muslim women organized a local protest against U.S. funding that aided military action in Gaza. Those protests quickly expanded. The movement became Springfield Families for Ceasefire – a broad coalition of approximately 450 people from diverse backgrounds. A protester was inspired by seeing the increased support and commented, “In 30 years of speaking up for Palestine, I’ve never seen this level of solidarity, especially from those who aren’t Muslim. We started out with about 75 Muslims showing up for a protest, and now we have an organization of more than 400 people from all kinds of backgrounds, faiths and points of view. But they all believe in freedom and justice for all.”

The support isn’t limited to Springfield. In Decatur, Millikin University hosted Palestinian-American civil rights activist Linda Sarsour in March. She spoke about intersectionality and activism: “I think often we underestimate the power of storytelling, the power of connecting with people and being able to share my journey in the activism and organizing as a woman, as a Palestinian, as a Muslim American, and also my work in solidarity with communities across the country. Times are going to be hard, but we’re all we got, and we’re going to continue to organize and protect our people.”

For some Springfield Muslims, concerns aren’t hypothetical; they’ve experienced religious discrimination firsthand. The Illinois Muslims Report found that over half of Muslims in the state report facing discrimination outside their communities. Muslim international students feel vulnerable. Dr. Ali Nizamuddin, a political science professor at University of Illinois Springfield, has seen that fear up close, “I recently told my student, he’s an international student, you don’t have safety at this moment. Please don’t do anything that would compromise your future until your situation is more stable. Me and my siblings have discussed many times where we (might) need to relocate, and the fact that we must have these types of conversations as Muslims in this country is scary.”
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The citizen and student NPR Illinois Journalism Corps or ‘J-Corps’ is a vision and project to identify and train people in communites throughout central Illinois to cover or increase coverage of under-covered areas. The mother and daughter team of Amina and Hafsa Rahman are piloting the first reporting from the project.

This article appears in Summer 2025 June 2025.