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Muslim
American Heritage Day a hit with non-Muslims seeking knowledge
about Islam's deep roots in the U.S.
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By
Ismail Royer, IOL Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON,
October 8 (IslamOnline) - People strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue in
the capital Sunday, October 6, were treated to a scene of laughing
children, balloons, good food, song and sunshine, as hundreds of area
Muslims celebrated the first annual Muslim American Heritage Day.
The
event was clearly a hit with Muslims on family outings, and with
curious non-Muslims seeking to educate themselves about their Muslim
neighbors and Islam's deep roots in the United States.
Islamic
entertainment and a lively master of ceremonies made for a
light-hearted atmosphere. Bustling tents celebrated the community's
cultural diversity, and non-Muslims packed educational sessions to
learn more about one of America's fastest-growing faiths.
The
event was organized by the Muslim American Society (MAS) in
cooperation with mosques, activists, and organizations from across the
Washington, D.C. region.
"Our
main goal was to interact with the larger society. We asked the Muslim
community to bring their friends, their neighbors, their family
members who aren't Muslim," said Dr. Saleh Saleh, chairman of the
project's organizing committee. "There is a barrier between us
and the larger community, especially after 9/11."
For
many, the event made headway towards breaking down that barrier, even
drawing the praise of Washington Mayor Anthony Williams.
"Today
offers… an opportunity for everyone to become aware of the
significant role the American Muslim community plays in this city, and
across the country," the mayor stated in an official proclamation
declaring October 6 as "Muslim American Heritage Day."
Kye,
a 28-year-old graduate student at James Madison University with long
hair and several facial piercings, described himself as a
"searcher" without a specific religion who "just
randomly happened by."
He
said he attends a weekly Bible-study class, but turned his attention
to Islam after learning of the faith's love for the Prophet Abraham,
and that he is looking for an Islamic study circle. Kye interrupted a
reporter's interview several times to listen intently to a speaker
discuss the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
The
Holy Land tent, which drew much attention from Kye and others, offered
insights into the importance of Palestine to Muslims worldwide, not
only because of the suffering of the Palestinian people, but also
because of its religious significance as well.
Not
all attendees were as open-minded.
Evangelical
Christian Dale Brown said he had traveled from Seattle to attend the
event and challenge Muslims about their faith. "This is a typical
Muslim event, they're only showing the good side of the Qur'an,"
he said, sparking a lengthy, lively but respectful debate with
onlookers.
Local
heroes Native Deen, a trio of hip-hop singers who have won a following
among young Muslims for their poetic, wholesome songs and infectious
melodies, hooked dozens of passers-by. Many listeners were
particularly touched by singer Joshua Salaam's words in praise of
Allah for the gift of his wife and newborn child.
One
of the most popular presentations of the day was an introduction to
Islam by Fadel Suleiman of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.
The
session, presented with PowerPoint and held twice due to popular
demand, overflowed with people curious about the religion.
Suleiman
compared the headscarf worn by Muslim women with the habit worn by
nuns and traditional paintings of a veiled Virgin Mary to demonstrate
a common cultural ground in the concept of modesty.
In
another tent, researcher Amir Muhammad displayed a wealth of artifacts
and documents chronicling the long history of Islam in America.
Muhammad's collection of reproductions of wills, photographs, diaries,
and gravestones refuted the notion that the presence of Islam here is
a new phenomenon.
By
day's end, organizers were already busy planning next year's event.
Indeed, this mix of spirituality, food, song, and cultural diversity
seems likely to become a regular event in Washington, D.C. for years
to come.
