By Hany Salah, IOL
Correspondent
MADRID – Spanish
Muslims are opening mosques and Islamic centers across the
European country to non-Muslims to build bridges with the
mainstream society and clear misconceptions about their
faith.
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Mosques
and Islamic centers hold Open Days to educate
the Spanish public about the Muslim culture and
traditions. |
“The Cultural Open
Day is the most important window for many mosques and
centers to communicate with the mainstream society,” Dr.
Alaa Said, chairman of the Islamic Union of Imams and
Preachers in Spain (IUIPS), told IslamOnline.net.
Mosques and Islamic
centers hold Open Days to educate the Spanish public about
the Muslim culture and traditions.
The Day sees
discussions about Islam’s position on different issues such
as co-existence and pluralism.
It also witnesses
exhibitions featuring traditional Muslim clothes and foods
and art activities.
During the Day,
Muslims hold outdoor prayers to give the public a glimpse
about their rituals.
“It has drawn a
successful and positive response from the public,” said Dr.
Said.
Outside a mosque in
the Catalonia province, a group of curious Spaniards stood
watching the muezzin while blaring out the call for prayers.
“Allahu Akbar.
Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest),” resonated the Adhan across
the open air before stepping into the mosque to visit a book
fair held inside.
“Almost every
mosque across the country has held or is to hold a Cultural
Open Day for the public,” said Daw Al-Treki, media officer
at the Islamic League for Dialogue and Co-existence.
Spain has a Muslim
minority of about 800,000 people out of a total population
of 40 million.
The southern
European country has recognized Islam through the law of
religious freedom, issued in July 1967.
Outreaching
The Open Day helps
enhance dialogue and co-existence between Muslims and
non-Muslims in the country.
“Meeting
non-Muslims in such events helps bolster co-existence,” Dr.
Said, the (IUIPS) chairman, said.
"This leads to
mutual respect and disperse fears from Islam and Muslims.”
The Muslim leader
said that the Open Day has helped change the views of many
Spaniards about Muslims.
“We felt major
changes in the views of many Spaniards who have attended
these events.”
Said cited the
remarks of the cultural adviser of the eastern city of Suria,
Catalonia province, after attending one of the Muslim event.
“The Spaniards and
you are both good people, but the problem is that we don’t
know each others enough,” he quoted him as saying.
“If we got to know
each others better, I don’t think there would be any problem
between us.”
Treki shares his
view.
“We wanted to go
out from the mosque to the street to communicate with the
public through these cultural events,” he said.
“By inviting them
to visit our mosques and institutions, the fear and worries
(of Muslims) would go away.”
Source:
http://www.islamonline.net
Date:2010/02/27
