MASSACHUSETTS MUSLIMS SPREAD ISLAM BEAUTY

Chicago, 15 Rajab 1436/4 Mei 1436 (MINA) – The Muslim community in Marshfield, Massachusetts, hosted scores of people in a two-hour event designed to educate them on the true beauty of Islam.

“Islam is not IS (Islamic State) and Osama Bin Laden. It is up to us, Muslims in the community, to explain what Islam is,” Dr. Asif Hussain, president and member of member of the Marshfield mosque Masjid Al Noor said, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Inviting people from all walks of life to their mosque, Muslims received about 150 people who took time to participate in a seminar about Islam.

Attendants included people from various professions including firefighters, carpenters and medical professionals.

Hussain praised the large crowd attending Freedom of Speech and Misconceptions about Islam seminar as a move in the right direction of mutual understanding.

Speakers included Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, the director of the Chicago-based GainPeace Project which was formed to share Islam with non-Muslims and to clarify misconceptions about the faith.

At the event, Dr Ahmed clarified that Christianity, Islam and Judaism share the same God and many other aspects of faith.

“For neighbors to become friends, they need to get to know each other. To become friends we need to look at the things we have in common,” Ahmed said.

“I’ve studied the Quran, the Bible and about 80 percent of the things (in the books) we have in common,” Ahmed said.

Education

The event drew praise from attendants for expanding their understanding of Islam.

“I definitely have respect for someone who has a strong dedication to their own faith and also understanding of others faiths. It’s interesting how much our faiths have in common,” Corbin Vidaillet, a recent college graduate, of Marshfield said.

Chris Wolf, a carpenter and volunteer pastor at Faith Fellowship Church in Marshfield, added that respect for other religions and education is a good goal.

“If all Muslims could be educated according to Dr. Sabeel’s theology of Islam, it would reduce violence,” Wolf said.

Jody Clements, a firefighter with the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department attended the seminar with other firefighters.

“As firefighters our job is to help everyone who lives, visits or passes through Marshfield. Coming here we can learn about another religion and culture. It helps us to be more effective doing our job. And education is always good,” Clements said.

Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.

A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.

A Gallup poll also found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future. (T/P006/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)