DAR AL HARB-U.S.A.-N.Y.C.: OSAMA SHOULD BE TAUGHT ABOUT PEACE

Islamic school could teach peace to Osama

The AnNur Islamic school ("Insight is only a query away," Dec. 18) was trying to teach New Yorkers that Islam is a peaceful tolerant religion. Perhaps they should teach Osama, Hamas and Hezbollah that. They're the ones who don't seem to know.

OWEN CAMP
Rensselaerville


Original Story:


Insight is only a query away
By CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY,
Staff writer

Museum's holiday series teaches the traditions of the world's many different religions and cultures.

Fourth-graders from AnNur Islamic School performed at the Schenectady Museum on Sunday with hopes of teaching non-Muslims about their faith. Unfortunately, few non-Muslims attended. The crowd of 40 or so people were mostly family of the students or members of Islamic Center of the Capital District.

The choir competed, and lost, to the expansive model train exhibit in the adjacent room. The chug of the toy trains nearly overpowered the singing children and the ozone scent emitted from their electric motors wafted into the lobby where the choir performed.

Nonetheless, the children sang their best.

"This is one good way to show the real Islam, the kind Islam, the generous Islam," said Susan Hassib, of Niskayuna, one of the event's organizers.

The Islam that most Americans see in the media, Hassib said, is images of suicide bombers, roadside explosives and mugshots of Islamic terrorists.

"It is not fair and it's not just to judge a big group of people from the acts of a few," she said. Hassib, a teacher at the AnNur Islamic School, wishes more Americans would ask her about Islam.

Maliha Nazeer, of East Greenbush, another organizer of yesterday's event, observed that people will spend hours researching information on a new appliance, but don't investigate information that could help them learn more about Islam.

Posters on one side of the museum lobby explained issues that non-Muslims might be curious about. The headline on one poster read, "What do Muslims think about Jesus?" Muslims believe, the poster's text said, that Jesus was a prophet born to the Virgin Mary. They believe he performed miracles, but do not believe he was the son of God.

"Do Islam, Christianity and Judaism have different origins?" No, the poster said. Jesus, Moses, and the Muslim prophet, Muhammad, all were messengers of the same God, or, in Arabic, Allah.
Sunday's performance was part of the museum's holiday series exploring the winter holidays celebrated by different cultures and religions. Earlier this month, members of a Greek Orthodox church shared their Christmas traditions, and members of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) tribe performed their holiday music and dances.

Muslims will celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, which falls on Dec. 31 this year. The holiday celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. In honor of Abraham, Muslims traditionally sacrifice a sheep and distribute the meat equally to their neighbors, relatives and the poor.

Pamphlets describing the beliefs of Muslims were available on a table at the museum.

"I think there are a lot of stereotypes," said Danae Ozbay, of Schenectady. Ozbay's husband is Muslim and she converted to Islam.

"When people see me, an American, accepting Islam, they want to find out about what Islam is all about," she said.

Ozbay said she is happy to tell them.


Pertinent Links:

1) Islamic school could teach peace to Osama

2) Insight is only a query away