South Valley Islamic Community Blog

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Cordoba (Al Qurtuba), the capital city under the Moorish rule in Spain, also known as the “European Jewel of the Middle Ages,” was the cradle of Islamic civilization in the west for nearly nine centuries. During the Moorish centuries Cordoba has been recorded in history as the greatest intellectual and cultural center of Europe in an era that is otherwise related to as the “dark ages” of the medieval Europe.

Nestled in the gentle rolling hills of northern California, reminiscent of the Andalusian countryside, the Cordoba Center has been founded in service of the Muslim community of the greater San Francisco Bay Area to commemorate and revive the legacy of this remarkable place and period in the Islamic history.

Located in the San Martin township on over 16 acres of beautiful countryside bordered by a lake, a creek, open farmlands and coastal hills of south Santa Clara county, this facility offers a remarkable balance of quiet, rural seclusion with immediate access to all amenities of urban living.

Once complete, this campus will yield multiple facilities to accommodate the social, intellectual and religious needs of a diverse and multi-cultural Muslim community. It will also serve as a shining beacon of rich Islamic traditions, in the pluralistic and copious spirit of the Andalusian Muslims, towards achieving cohesion, recognition and homogeneity within the society at large.

Strong family values and community building are among the core concepts in Islam. Hence the Community Hall at the Cordoba Center will be the focal point of the community social events such as banquets, weddings, other celebrations and large event.

Children are the essential DNA that shapes the structure and character of any society. Particular attention has been given to the nurturing of our youth in an environment that offers balance between academic, social and recreational activities.

The Youth Activity Hall at the Cordoba Center will offer a variety of extra-curricular and sport activities for children, youths and young adults. This facility will include, among other amenities, a game room, fitness area, and gymnasium. It will host sports clinics and leagues, after school programs, special events, as well as summer camps.

The School & Library will fulfill not only the basic educational needs of the community but also serve a much more critical function of outreach and education of the greater society around us. A Sunday school for children will be offered in the near-term with plans for a fully accredited K-12 academy.

A reference library on Islamic history, its vast civilization and rich heritage & culture would be instrumental in advancing the understanding of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims alike and in our struggle to promote tolerance and weave Muslims in the social fabric of the American society.

A professionally equipped Auditorium & Conference Hall will provide an ideal setting for literary and media events at the Cordoba Center hosted by SVIC and other Bay Area Muslim organizations.

Senior Convalescent Home will serve a growing segment of our community that is reaching retirement age, if not already there. Today there are no institutions that cater specifically to the needs of Muslim seniors in our community. The proposed convalescent home will provide a much needed solution in terms of care and assisted living for the Muslim seniors.

Masjid & Spiritual Retreat area will provide a large prayer hall with separate areas for men and women and a secluded area for deen intensive and spiritual study sessions.
A Funeral Facility will provide bathing, shrouding and burial preparations for the deceased in accordance with Islamic law and traditions.

Sprawling Parks and Recreation Areas will canvas the entire campus and include playgrounds, secluded picnic areas and numerous walkways that will meander through the campus, linking it to the adjacent creek and walking trails leading to the nearby lake.
More than ever in the past, Muslims in America today are in need of strong communities, a unified voice and robust institutions that will help to project us into the cultural mainstream of our nation and add the Muslim perspective to the events and issues contemplated in our society. The Cordoba Center lays the foundations for such an institution, boldly unique in many perspectives, that will serve the Bay Area Muslims today and our many generations to follow… insha’Allah.

We have executed an ption on a 16-acre property on Monterey Road, San Martin, to be the site for our ambitious and forward-looking Cordoba Center Project. We hope to
have a truly modern Muslim campus that would offer a wide variety of services. Apart from the masjid, a school and learning center, youth center, and living facilities for seniors are also projected in the plan.

This is more than another masjid project, rather a comprehensive Muslim campus that would meet the anticipated needs for our community for quite sometime. This community includes not only for the young but also for our rapidly increasing number of
seniors.

Just as Andulasia’s Cordoba was the beacon of light at its time, our proposed Cordoba Center, nestled in the lush hills of South Santa Clara Valley, aspires to be the light (Nur) for the greater San Francisco Bay Area Muslim community.

We have taken the first step on this great journey, and insha’ Allah and with help of many, each day brings us closer to our destination. We now have a committee led by Sharif Razzaqui with members of the Board and others including Sohail Akhter and Aamir Jamil to steer this important project.We thank them profusely for their time and commitment. The committee is always looking for new members to join us with the contributions of their time and expertise.

For more info, please contact us at 408-535-0112 or