Islamic Center of Murfreesboro granted occupancy permit - WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Inspectors granted the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro a temporary occupancy permit following a final inspection of the building Tuesday morning.

The permit is valid for 30 days and mosque leaders have previously said they hope to move into the facility later this week.

Essam Fathy is a founding member of the mosque and told Nashville's News 2 they are committed to being good neighbors.

"Hopefully we are going to show Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee that we are good citizens," Fathy said. "A lot of people know that we are, but those who are in doubt, hopefully we will prove to them how good of citizen we are."

The new mosque sits right beside Grace Baptist Church which recently lined crosses in their yard.

Church members of the Baptist church said they are committed to being good neighbors as well and the crosses are a symbol of their faith and help the church be noticed.  

"They are getting a lot of notice," said Steven Toler, who helped install the crosses. "Before we did not have any recognition on the front of our building, now our name is on the front of the building and the crosses kind of help us stand out."

Both congregations told Nashville's News 2 they have open doors and anyone is welcome.

The Islamic Center of Middle Tennessee will eventually have walking trails around the property and will welcome anyone to use them.

"It is nothing more than a just a community or a social activity that will hopefully get us bonded with everybody and our neighbors and show that we are normal, regular people," said Fathy.

Opponents have spent two years trying to halt construction of the new mosque off Veals Road and Bradyville Pike.

In July, a federal judge ruled the congregation has a right to worship there as soon as the building is ready.