Where to pray in Charlotte

At the airport

Charlotte Douglas has an interfaith chapel, and it is past security — which is the detail that matters if you have a tight connection.

It is on the third floor of the Main Terminal. The chaplaincy's own directions: from the main Atrium food court, take the stairs or the lift up, turn left from the top, away from the USO; the chapel is the first room on your right.

Inside, the chaplaincy says you will find holy books for Christians, Muslims and Jews, a kneeler, a small altar, and a dedicated area with prayer rugs and a compass for Muslim prayer.

It is run by the Airport Chaplaincy at CLT, an interfaith non-profit established in 1988 that serves passengers, military personnel and airport and airline staff.

One caution on hours. The chaplaincy's own site says the chapel is open daily from 5am to midnight. The airport's site says it is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Those cannot both be right, and we are not going to guess which — check with the chaplaincy before relying on it at an unusual hour.

Mosques

Islamic Center of Charlotte — 1700 Progress Lane · iccharlotte.org

Established in 1988 and described by the centre as Charlotte's first Muslim community centre. Its own history records that it was founded originally as the Islamic Society of Masjid Al-Islam, and that the building at Progress Lane was formerly a church, later converted into a mosque. It publishes daily adhan and iqamah times and holds two Friday Jummah prayers. It describes itself as open to all.

Masjid Ash-Shaheed — masjidashshaheed.org

"Mosque of The Witness." Its own account describes founders meeting in homes and parks to study before formally organising in the spring of 1989 as the Charlotte Masjid of Al-Islam. The masjid states its affiliation with mosques and Islamic centres that support the leadership and commentary of Imam W. Deen Mohammed. It publishes salat times.

Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte (ISGC) — isgcharlotte.org

Publishes prayer times and runs educational classes, matrimonial services, family counselling, facility rental at Bilal Hall, community outreach and interfaith programmes. It also provides funeral services including Janazah prayer and burial coordination — worth knowing, because that is the hardest thing to find at short notice in an unfamiliar city.

Islamic Community Center of South Charlotte (ICCSC) — iccsc.org

Despite the name, ICCSC is in Fort Mill, South Carolina — a different state, roughly twenty minutes south of Ballantyne. It states it has served the South Charlotte, Ballantyne and Fort Mill community since 2008, with a large prayer hall, a full-time imam, a gym, youth and sisters' programmes, a weekend Islamic school, a library, a playground, a soccer field and parking. If you are in far south Charlotte it may well be your nearest, but plan for a state line.

Prayer times

We do not publish prayer times, and you should be wary of any guide that does — they change daily and by calculation method. Each community publishes its own; ICC, ICCSC and Masjid Ash-Shaheed all have current times on their sites. Note that iqamah times (when the congregation actually prays) are set by each masjid and are not the same as adhan times.

Other traditions

Charlotte's churches, synagogues, temples and the Buddhist vihara are covered on our places of worship page, with each community's own description of itself, its history and its visitor guidance. Shalom Park on Providence Road holds both Temple Beth El (Reform) and Temple Israel (Conservative). The Hindu Center of Charlotte is at 7400 City View Drive. Gurdwara Sahib Charlotte holds Friday and Sunday programmes, each ending with Guru Ka Langar, the community meal, to which visitors are traditionally welcome. Charlotte Buddhist Vihara runs public meditation sessions and states plainly: "People of all religions are welcome. We do not try to convert anyone."

Before you go

Whether you can simply turn up varies by community, by building and sometimes by the occasion, and it is not something we can answer for anyone. Every organisation above publishes contact details. A short call or email first is always the right move — and is usually met with more welcome than people expect.