Posted on 12/05/2015 6:00:52 AM PST by SSS Two
Friday prayers were about to begin at the Mercy Community Center in southwest Houston. Men and women, dressed in everything from suits to sweat pants, filed into the mosque after placing their shoes in bins lined up against the wall. They took their seats on the floor and waited for the sermon, or khutba, to begin.
Imam Wazir Ali knew his message to the faithful this Friday would need to offer guidance to a community struggling to come to terms with another atrocity committed by Muslims ostensibly in the name of their religion.
"If you stand up for justice, although it may not seem immediately that you're going to get it, know that God is on your side, that God will send you what's necessary to get the justice you're looking for," he said.
But earlier in the day, at a press conference, it was a wider audience Ali and other Muslim leaders sought to address - an increasingly anti-Islam audience stirred up by Wednesday's massacre in San Bernardino and the recent attacks in Paris.
'Affront to humanity'
While Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the alleged perpetrators of one of the worst mass killings in the U.S. in recent memory, "sported Muslim names," said MJ Khan, the president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, "they didn't reflect true Muslim values."
It was a sentiment expressed across the nation Friday as Muslims gathered for prayers with the massacre in San Bernardino on their minds, and their hearts heavy because, yet again, they felt compelled to remind the world theirs is a peaceful faith and does not condone the slaughter of innocents.
"The Quran says if someone takes a life, it's as if he's killed all of mankind," Ali said at Friday's press conference. He stressed the importance of recognizing the common bond of humanity, beyond the distinctions of religion.
"I'm a human being that happens to be an Islamic leader. This is a direct affront to my humanity."
Within hours of the San Bernardino killings it emerged that the suspects were Muslims. Community leaders in California, perhaps prompted by the increasingly anti-Islam sentiment in America, immediately held a press conference to condemn their actions.
According to a recent poll, 56 percent of Americans believe that the values of Islam are at odds with U.S. values. Hate incidents against Muslims rose 14 percent in 2014, according to recently released FBI statistics, which charted a decline in similar cases against other groups, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Differing standards
Investigators have not ascribed a motive in the attack but said Friday that Malik, using a pseudonym, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State on a Facebook post shortly before. Even so, politicians and others have not shied away from linking the attack to Islamic extremism.
Both Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who are seeking the Republican nomination for president, linked the incident to radical Islamic terrorism, the former in a tweet and the latter in a speech after the attack, the Times reported.
In Houston, Mustafaa Caroll, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Texas, pointed out that the plague of mass shootings in America in recent years has been committed by people of all backgrounds. But, he said, when a Muslim is the perpetrator, it reflects on the Muslim community in a negative way.
"No one says, 'let's round up all the young white men, ask them to carry ID,' " he said. "People aren't going to those persons' churches to find out what the preacher is saying to them. When a Muslim does it, or a minority does it, the community bears the brunt."
Finding ways to engage
At the Mercy Community Center mosque, Sacha Simmons, 38, didn't need to hear from her imam that her faith was a peaceful faith. She went to the mosque because she needed comfort, solace, prayer.
An oncology massage therapist, she had a full morning seeing cancer patients at her southwest Houston office, and she was saddened by what happened in San Bernardino and how it reflected negatively on her faith.
"I needed to break the bombardment of conversation circling our religion," she said. "I was trying to find some sense of solace, so I could continue doing the wonderful things I do and show people the beauty of our faith. I'm unapologetically Muslim. Proud to be American and proud to be Muslim."
Idriss Bada, 32, stood outside the Mercy Community Center following Friday prayer, chatting with two friends.
He didn't appreciate his faith being linked to Wednesday's massacre, he said.
But the misconceptions that surround Islam have led him to know it better so he better defend his religion to others.
"I make sure I have quotes from my book, and I do research, because not all will have the same knowledge," he said.
Carroll agrees open dialogue can make a difference, and to that end he meets with other interfaith leaders focused on achieving results.
"Now we're talking about what we can substantively do as faith-based organizations, to deal with real issues," he said. "We're not just saying love, peace and happiness. It's about influencing politics, finding underlying reasons for people doing things they're doing."
For her part, Simmons finds ways to engage with people. Even conversations that start out heated can quickly cool down, once people start to find commonalities.
"I hope people will take the opportunity to have a conversation and engage, find out for themselves," she said. "Rather than allow themselves to be fearful and caged."
So . . . what do you think of this article. Generally, folks post articles with some commentary. Further, why don’t you respond to posters?
Agree or disagree - and why?
Enquiring minds want to know.
slather in bacon lol!!
We could remake that scene in Hannibal with the wild boars. Watch their faces get eaten off.
and film it. and put it on youtube.
uh oh, i think lynch is at the door...
They said they’re prayers, then cleaned their Kalashnikovs....
“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah”
Islamic State
Ostensibly?
Is that, like allegedly?
Kinda like, possibly?
The jihadi pieces of crap gladly, gladly and with glee and fierce determination, killed indiscriminately, all the while they were calling out the name of your stupid Moon God.
C'mon, "good" mooselimbs, condemn it in the name of Allah!
You cannot, can you, you simpering bunch of murdering fanatics.
Now...come get me, Loretta.
Pig.
I believe they are “sad” because EVERYONE wasn’t murdered.
We believe this attempt to put a pretty face on murderous Muslims! There is no such thing as a ‘moderate’ or ‘peaceful’ Muslim.
One chops off your head while the other holds your feet down.
Islam is to ISIS as cream is to butter.
All them renegade fake Muslims is causing a real stir.....if we were to match them up against some likewise renegade fake Christians and set up a battle field, something might get done.
1)Do you agree with Sharia Law? if yes, then get the hell out of our country! If no, they you need to be shouting to all the Muslimes that believe it should supersede US law, to assimilate to this country and give up Sharia Law or leave this country!
2)Do you believe Israel deserves to live in peace or do you want it wiped off the map?
3)Do you support bringing in thousands of refugees which may also be affiliated with ISIS or should they stay in their own country as many of them claimed they don't want to leave Syria.
4)Would you vote for Donald J Trump or Ted Cruz? If yes, then ask if that is there Taqqiya (lying to Americans) to further their cause. If no then GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!
Here is my problem.
These are people that believe in the writings of a violent, pedophile that was obviously mentally ill. He spread his his corrupt version of the bible across the Mideast and Europe at the edge of a sword, either join or die.
Now there are a bunch worshiping this character and telling us that they are a peaceful and loving people. Logic says that this is BS and a ploy to infiltrate this country and the world under very false colors.
I would ask where in there corrupted version of the bible does it even say that? They go from mild mannered Clark Kent to absolute nutcases in a flash and tell us that isn’t Islam. Well I don’t see what portion of their book tells them anything about love and peace. They have at war with the world for 1400 years and what they are doing today is no different from what they have been doing for all those 1400 years.
Don't know if you've watched the so called Muslim press conference.. but here was the takeaway for me.
I posted this comment in another thread regarding the press conference that appeared to defend the perps. I'd say it applies to the comment you made.
Notice when Muslims attempt any form of defense it is nearly ALWAYS devoid of COMPASSION for anyone other than the Muslims being defended.
Lack of COMPASSION usually means that beneath the facade being presented is INDIFFERENCE.
This press conference REEKED of indifference for the murdered VICTIMS.
They weren’t outside condemning the terrorist attacks because they were behind closed doors celebrating this victory against the infidels.
Its all about them. Notice the fate of all those murdered in Cali is fading into the background.
Yep....that’s my guess. They only condemn it when they are backed into a corner and then it ALWAYS reverts to “I’m the victim here because Americans hate me!”
Bull Obamastuff.
Muslims lie like their prayer rugs.
Good point.
According to a recent poll, 56 percent of Americans believe that the values of Islam are at odds with U.S. values
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There may be hope for us, yet
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