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New Muslim center to be peaceful, not subversiveTue, 09/05/2006 - 4:25pm
By: Letters to the ...
Mr. Miller’s letter of Aug. 15 to The Citizen about the new Ismaili jamatkhana [house of worship] planned for Fayetteville illustrated the author’s misunderstanding about Islam in general and our tradition in particular. It was divisive and encouraged resentment and hostility against an entire community on premises that are uninformed. The Ismaili jamatkhana, planned for the Ga. Highway 54 location, is a private place of worship for members of Ismaili Muslim faith. The services conducted are specific to the Ismaili tradition, and as in most faith traditions, they include congregational prayers and time for private contemplation. As with other houses of worship, jamatkhanas also cater to the social and cultural needs of the community. Such facilities are no different than the churches, synagogues and temples that serve other communities and are protected rights by the Constitution. There are a number of jamatkhanas in the greater Atlanta area as well as in other regions of the country. The congregations they serve all exemplify the universal ethic of self-help, generosity and service shared by other faiths. Our community has played a positive role in areas where our members reside, from youth activities that serve the neighbors to participation in assisting victims of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The designs of our jamatkhanas allow them to blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment and to the best of our knowledge, property values in their vicinity have increased without exception. Unlike traditional mosques, jamatkhanas do not have minarets or public calls to prayer. Governor Rick Perry of Texas had this to say at the opening of our jamatkhana in Sugar Land, Texas, in 2002: “For many years, I have had the great honor of getting to know many of the talented and devoted Ismaili Muslims of Texas. And I have come to an unquestionable conclusion: Texas is a better place because of your contributions and sacrifices. ... For more than a millennium, the Ismaili tradition has been rooted in understanding, enlightenment and tolerance. You have welcomed peace while shunning discord. You have practiced love while speaking out against hatred.” Our own governor of Georgia, Sonny Purdue, recently met with leaders of the Ismaili community at the state capitol and expressed his admiration for the work of the community. Not long ago, [Atlanta] Mayor Shirley Franklin referred to our community service contributions as examples of how faith-based organizations can actively participate and contribute to civil society. All faiths and communities have their fringe elements which promote an exclusivist and intolerant interpretation of their respective scriptures. It is inappropriate to condemn an entire faith or its adherents for the actions of a misguided handful of individuals. It is also counter-productive for someone to condemn an entire community that has no association with or sympathy for extremism. In this polarized political climate, what is needed is greater understanding and a willingness to learn about each other. The world which we have collectively inherited would certainly be a better place if those of different faiths, cultures and traditions could live together in acceptance and harmony as has been the case for centuries in the past when Christians, Jews and Muslims lived side by side in unity. I believe that the majority of Fayetteville residents share this aspiration. Ms. Saloni Vastani |