West End in Durham in Durham County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center

Photographed by Wilhelmina Indermaur

1. Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center Marker

Inscription. Prominent congregation of African American Muslims in N.C., ets. in 1956. Hub of outreach. Mosque opened here, 1972.

Erected 2025 by North Carolina Office of Archives and History. (Marker Number G-148.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 35° 59.813′ N, 78° 54.934′ W. Marker is in Durham, North Carolina, in Durham County. It is in West End. It is on West Chapel Hill Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1009 W Chapel Hill Street, Durham NC 27701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in the Research Triangle.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

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one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pauli Murray (within shouting distance of this marker); William Albert Wilkerson House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); J.T. & Mamie Christian House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pauli (approx. 0.3 miles away); Impact (approx. 0.3 miles away); Family (approx. 0.3 miles away); Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Duke University (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durham.

Also see . . . Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

The Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center is the first known mosque established in North Carolina, located in downtown Durham. The name "Ar-Razzaq" means "The Provider" or "The Sustainer", one of the 99 names of God in Islam, chosen to reflect the goals of the mosque to provide services to the local community. The mosque is located in Durham's West End neighborhood, on the border of Burch Avenue Historic District and Morehead Hill Historic District.

In 1963 while
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James Baldwin, the civil rights activist, was on a lecture tour of North Carolina with Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a photo was taken of him standing outside of the old storefront. Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali also visited the mosque in the 1960s.

(Submitted on October 13, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2026, by Wilhelmina Indermaur of Durham, North Carolina, United States. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on October 4, 2026, by Wilhelmina Indermaur of Durham, North Carolina, United States. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.