Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Imam Muhammad Kolila stands in the Whittier s Downtown Denver Islamic Center before evening prayer. March 2, 2021.
Imam Muhammad Kolila was challenged in many ways over the last year of the pandemic but he says overall, the experience has helped him grow in his faith.
“I m a person that s struggling,” he said. “I m here by myself and it s weird, but oh praise to God that actually I m living that life to connect to people, especially the ones that are actually struggling with the social connection, especially in the light of COVID-19.”
Kolila leads the Masjid Al-Shuhadaa, the Downtown Denver Islamic Center. Like many of his congregants, he’s an immigrant who doesn’t have much family in the United States besides his young daughter.