Sally Wall, one of the leading opponents of the mosque, said then that she wasn't surprised by the ruling and never thought her group would win the court case. She said she just wanted to show Muslims that they are not welcome in Murfreesboro, a city of nearly 110,000 people 30 miles southeast of Nashville.

Acknowledging the fact the mosque will probably open soon, Wall said she hopes it doesn't bring "1,000 to 2,000 Muslim families here." And if it does get its final certificate of occupancy, she vowed to keep fighting, believing that many of her neighbors are behind her.

"Everyone else feels the same way I do (about the mosque) except the 5% who moved here the day before yesterday," Wall said.

Imam Ossama Bahloul of the Islamic Center said the congregation has a three-decade history and has not caused any disruption in the city.

"No one can come to say the Islam community is radical," he said. "What did we do?"

A municipal worker who lives near the mosque said most of the residents in her neighborhood are more concerned about the traffic caused by an expansion than the presence of Muslims. But for many in the town, it's the term "Muslim" that counts, she said.

The 69-year-old, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue and her connection to local government, said she thinks any religious group has a right to be there and she doesn't feel threatened.

"It's just the way Muslims are perceived because of the terrorist attacks and the war," she said. "We have Buddhists here, and they have their place of worship, and I don't think anything's ever been said against them."

Bahloul has said he hopes the opening of the new mosque will be an opportunity to extend "hands of peace" and thank supporters.

"I believe we are all related. We all came from Adam and Eve," the imam said. "We might have some disagreement, but we must find a way to sit at the table, have a discussion and respect each other."