Islamic Center Open House

On September 11, 2004, The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh joined with other Muslim congregations throughout the world in opening their doors to share their beliefs, practices, and traditions in an effort to promote healing, foster understanding, encourage open dialogue, and celebrate diversity. Ahmed Abdelwahab, the Center’s president explained, “The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 was a tragedy for all humankind. As a family does, the citizens of the United States came together to grieve and work through their fears. Our nation, comprised of peoples from different nations and creeds, rallied around the core ideals we share as Americans: a commitment to democratic values, respect for diversity, hope for a better tomorrow, and trust in God. These are also the embodiment of the Islamic belief. We pray to God to help us know and respect each other through education and to teach us to love and care for one another, especially in times of pain, suffering, and illness.”

With each passing year, the United States pays slightly less attention to the victims of these attacks. George W. Bush has only publicly mentioned the name of Osama bin Laden once since July 2002, yet distastefully chose New York City as the site of the Republican National Convention, and only recalls those who lost their lives in 2001 in the form of invocations to further his agenda. No new jingoistic country songs, no glut of plastic, patriotic-themed junk imported from China. Yet, the outpouring of sympathy from the world’s Muslims continues, despite these attacks being used as a pretense to revive the crusades, as well as dismantling civil liberties in the US.

An eye-opening handout outlined the global and local response of Muslims to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The overwhelming majority of the worlds 1.2 billion Muslims clearly condemned the acts of the hijackers and extended their condolences to the families of the victims and the citizens of the US, contrary to the impression delivered by 24-hour cable “news” channels.

The public was encouraged to explore multimedia “Conversation Stations,” with themes such as “Islam’s Basic Beliefs and the Holy Qur’an,” “The Role of Women and Family,” “Islam’s Teaching on Human Rights and War,” and “Muslim Contributions to Art and Science,” staffed by knowledgeable, courteous individuals. The open house also presented an opportunity for Pittsburghers to experience the Athan (call to prayer), view Salat (congregational worship), listen to Qu’ran recitation, and sample generous portions of homemade delicacies favored by Muslims throughout the world.

The scores of barefoot guests who trickled in throughout the day to take advantage of this opportunity to deepen their understanding of their neighbors, came from all age groups, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds, much like their gracious hosts. The diversity of the participants brought to mind Malcolm X’s impressions of the Hajj, the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca, where he expressed amazement at being viewed as merely one of many pilgrims, not as a black American.

On a related, but less encouraging note, while the vast majority of the world’s Muslims seem to comprehend that the majority of Americans are not bloodthirsty economic extremists, but the victims of bad management, one congregation member, an African-American woman recounted the discrimination she experienced in Spain, in the wake of the train bombing, not because she “was black or woman or a Muslim” but because she was American, which was a far cry from the treatment she received in the Middle East and Africa.

Despite the corporate media’s obsession with the Taliban’s treatment of women, perhaps the greatest threat to consumer capitalism posed by Islam is Zakat (charity), which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Charity and hospitality are not merely virtues, but are religious duty. The Islamic concept of charity is based on the Islamic concept of wealth. Wealth is considered a trust placed in one’s hands by God. A person who believes he owns more money than another because he is smarter or worked harder than him has a deficient understanding. How many people are hard working and smart yet poor? And how many people of mediocre ability and energy are rich? God is viewed as the ultimate provider of wealth and  is its actual owner. Generosity requires a struggle against the inborn tendency to be selfish. To provide the setting where generosity can be exercised, God created some people poor and some people rich. Not only that, but God takes some people from lavish wealth to grinding poverty and vice-versa. The realization that even if you have money now, you may lose it all at any moment is a great leverage by which Satan influences people to be stingy. Secret charitable giving to the needy is also encouraged.

The open house presented an excellent opportunity for meaningful, personal dialogue and hopefully succeeded in building a bridge to understanding for people of all persuasions. Through transparency and direct contact, perhaps humanity can rise above its petty differences and prejudices and recognize our common interests and heritage.

- Mike Vesch