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Frustrated with the way they are portrayed in the media, some Muslims in the US are taking action to combat negative stereotypes. American Muslims recently held a "prayer rally" on the west lawn of the Capitol, reports Fox News.
The prayer rally was the first ever held for Muslims, and it featured prominent speakers who led prayers, read from the Koran, and gave sermons, continues Fox News. Hassen Abdellah, president of the Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth, New Jersey, organized the event. He emphasized the spiritual aspect of such an event. He explained the rally was intended to be "all about prayer," putting politics aside.
"If they come to the event with another agenda, then the Capitol Police will take care of them," he told Fox News. "We're focusing on the positive, not the negative... We love this country and we believe this country accommodates our religion and we're party of the fabric of this society," Abdellah continued.
But Fox News also reports that at least one of the speakers featured at the rally is a somewhat controversial figure. Sheik Ahmed Dewidar has criticized the American media's treatment of the September 11 attacks, "hinted at an American government conspiracy," and was critical of former president Bush's Middle East policy.
Abdellah told the news agency that despite some claims by detractors, the sole purpose of the rally is to bring Muslims together in prayer. "The purpose is Islamic unity, so we can display the beauty of Islam... We want to let American know that we're here and we support the country. I know it's difficult for people to believe it could be that simple."
In another attempt to counter misguided perceptions of Islam, the Al-Maghrib Institute hosted IlmFest 2009 October 3-4, a conference focused on "seeking knowledge" regarding Islam and current issues facing the Muslim community. The Baltimore Sun reports that talks were given on topics such as "Muslim acceptance in America, domestic violence, and reclaiming Islam from the jihadists."
IlmFest is the brainchild of Muhammad Al-Shareef, a Canadian citizen living in Maryland who developed a curriculum for weekend classes and seminars on Islam, now taught throughout North America and Britain.
"Something that separates IlmFest from other Muslim conferences is the tendency of those coming to the event to be more focused on seeking knowledge," Al-Shareef said to the Sun. "What we're trying to do is give a public space to make Muslims feel that, look, there's nothing wrong at all with being who you are," remarked Yasir Qadhi, Al-Maghrib's dean of academics.
"That is part of the vision that the founding fathers had, where there would be a country where each and every religious group, ethnic group, political group, would have the right to be who they are, while they participate in the civic responsibilities of [the country]," Qadhi continued.
The motivation of the prayer rally and IlmFest 2009 is well founded, says Sam Ashby in an opinion piece for Sidelines at Middle Tennessee State University. He writes that although Islam is one of the most popular and fastest growing religions in the world, many Americans are still inhibited by a misguided fear of the religion.
Ashby writes that after the intense protests in Iran surrounding the recent elections, he became interested in the steps Muslims in the US were taking to combat misconceptions about Islam. He attests that his campus' Muslim Students Association is "one of the most active clubs on campus."
Qadhi agrees that one important mission of moderate Muslims should be to educate people against negative stereotypes.
"We don't have a serious problem of extremist youth out there who are willing to do terrorist acts," he said. "But what is not exaggerated is the very real anger that is felt by Muslims when they see their religion portrayed in such a negative light. And that anger, definitely, we need to make sure that it is channeled in a proper direction, and that is education and telling people about our religion."
VOL. V NO. 21, September 25-October 8, 2009
http://www.layalina.tv/publications/review/PR_V.21/article8.html
