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
