A foundational institution in the state’s Islamic history soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The marker commemorating enduring legacy of the Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center in Durham, N.C., will be dedicated on Friday, April 10 at 2 p.m., at 1002 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, across the street from the center.
Located in Durham’s West End, the Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center, holds the distinction of being North Carolina’s first mosque. It was established in 1956 as Muhammad’s Mosque #34 under the Nation of Islam and was the centerpiece of Durham’s growing African American Muslim community. In the 1970s, following the community’s transition from the Nation of Islam to Al-Islam, the mosque was renamed Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center. The current location opened in 1972 and has since served as a hub for worship, education, and outreach for Muslims across North Carolina.
Ar-Razzaq’s significance extends beyond its religious function. It represents a vital chapter in the broader narrative of Black Muslim identity and activism in the American South. While much scholarly attention has focused on Black Muslim communities in northern cities such as Chicago and Detroit, Ar-Razzaq offers a rare and compelling example of how this movement took root and flourished in the South. As historian Paul Kiefer noted, the South remains an understudied region in the history of 20th-century Black Islam, despite its continuous Islamic presence since the 18th century.
Ar-Razzaq’s influence is not confined to Durham. It played a central role in the expansion of Islam throughout North Carolina. In 1971, its leaders established the state’s first Muslim school and mosque in Raleigh. The center also directly supported the founding of mosques in Fayetteville, Greenville, and Kinston, while offering indirect support to Muslim communities across the state.
The mosque drew national attention during the 1960s, welcoming visits from prominent figures including Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, underscoring its role in the broader narrative of African American religious and political life.
Today, Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center continues to serve as a place of worship and learning. While it began as a predominantly Black Muslim congregation, it has grown increasingly diverse, reflecting the evolving demographics of Islam in the United States.
For more information about the historical marker, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2026/01/14/ar-razzaq-islamic-center-g-148, or call (919) 814-6625.
The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.