UTAH, The United States: Iraqi Shiite Muslims residing in Utah have founded their own mosque/husseinyah in West Valley City so that they can worship and teach their children in their language and according to their beliefs.

Named after the beloved only daughter of the holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), Sayyedah Fatimah Al-Zahra (peace be upon her), Al-Zahra (peace be on her) Islamic Center, cannot yet afford a full-time imam, but the rented space in a reception center at 3588 S. 1950 West provides a place to gather, said Ahmed Anad, one of the members.

“It creates a special atmosphere when you worship in your language and culture,” said Anad, who has been in Utah for six years.

Imams from Canada and Michigan are being brought in to lead prayers during the month of Ramadan, which ends Sept. 11.

While many of Al-Zahra’s 60 members emigrated during the 1990s, others are recent refugees from that war-torn country.

The mosque is the sixth in the Salt Lake Valley.

Shuaib-ud Din, imam of the Utah Islamic Center in Sandy, welcomes the new mosque saying “the more, the merrier.”