Today, too small.
Muslim Service Members Gather at Pentagon
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2002 -- The group was quiet. Some people wore military uniforms; some wore headscarves denoting their Muslim faith. After the call to prayer, known as Adhan, they sipped water as bowls of dates were placed on each table.
The Pentagon observance of the Ramadan Iftar had begun for about 100 Muslim service members, Defense Department civilians and their guests.
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Ahmad S. Turkistani, director of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America, also spoke at the event. He said Islam involves employing "the body, the heart and the mind together to make a person a very good person in order to contribute to the well-being of oneself and humanity at large."
He also stressed the need for people of all faiths to get to know each other. He noted that a day earlier President Bush had said that some comments made about Islam do not reflect the U.S. government's sentiments or those of most Americans.
Quoting Bush, Turkistani said, "'Islam as practiced by the vast majority of people is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others. … The vast majority of the American people respect the Muslim people and the Islamic faith.'"