Open house held to address misconceptions about Islam
by Eric Yount, KOMU 8 Reporter
Nov 14, 2015
Nov 14, 2015
JEFFERSON CITY – The Jefferson City Muslim Community hosted an open house Saturday to meet community members and address misconceptions about Islam.
The event included a lunch of authentic Arabian food, a tour of the mosque and presentations about Islam. Guests were invited to come and go throughout the day.
The presentations were delivered by Rihab Sawah, a professor and St. Louis native who moved to Syria with her family when she was 3 years old. She discussed the differences between Islam and the Islamic State and fielded questions from guests.
“We want to talk to others, to show them who we are, what this religion is about,” said Abdelmoula Haboub, a volunteer imam at the mosque. “We talk about the ethics of Islam and the basics of Islam and about this faith.”
The presentation was given a second time for guests who came later in the day because of the attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. The Islamic State claims responsibility for that attack.
“We are severely condemning what happened yesterday in Paris,” said Haboub. “That is not a part of Islam. Islam is about, as the law says in the Quran, if somebody kills a soul for no reason, it’s like he killed all human beings. And if he saves a life it’s like he saves all mankind.”
Courtesy: KOMU-8
The event included a lunch of authentic Arabian food, a tour of the mosque and presentations about Islam. Guests were invited to come and go throughout the day.
The presentations were delivered by Rihab Sawah, a professor and St. Louis native who moved to Syria with her family when she was 3 years old. She discussed the differences between Islam and the Islamic State and fielded questions from guests.
“We want to talk to others, to show them who we are, what this religion is about,” said Abdelmoula Haboub, a volunteer imam at the mosque. “We talk about the ethics of Islam and the basics of Islam and about this faith.”
The presentation was given a second time for guests who came later in the day because of the attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. The Islamic State claims responsibility for that attack.
“We are severely condemning what happened yesterday in Paris,” said Haboub. “That is not a part of Islam. Islam is about, as the law says in the Quran, if somebody kills a soul for no reason, it’s like he killed all human beings. And if he saves a life it’s like he saves all mankind.”
Courtesy: KOMU-8
Jefferson City Islamic Center Reaches Out To Community
By Sebastian Martinez | KOMU-8
May 1, 2012
May 1, 2012
JEFFERSON CITY – The Muslim community in Jefferson City is holding an open house and question and answer session Tuesday night at the Jefferson City Muslim Community Center, or Masjid.
The session will focus on dispelling myths about Sharia, or Islamic Law, as well as women in Islam. The community center hosted a similar open house last year that drew more than 200 people.
With Tuesday’s open house, the Jefferson City Muslim Community (JCMC) aims to clarify Islamic law. JCMC president Noaman Kayani expressed concern about two Missouri bills introduced last year, one in the House and one in the Senate, which aim to outlaw Sharia in Missouri courts. Kayani said, “We believe that the anti-Sharia bill is against the Constitution. U.S. Constitution allows us to practice our religion.”
The JCMC invited state representatives and senators, and 20 have confirmed that they will attend.
Although the JCMC has been around since 1991, the organization moved into the current Mosque on Moreau on the city’s south side four years ago. Kayani said the center serves as a focal point for the Muslim community in Jefferson City. “They always look for the Masjid or Islamic center.”
The center plans to hold more open house events in the future.
Courtesy: KOMU-8
The session will focus on dispelling myths about Sharia, or Islamic Law, as well as women in Islam. The community center hosted a similar open house last year that drew more than 200 people.
With Tuesday’s open house, the Jefferson City Muslim Community (JCMC) aims to clarify Islamic law. JCMC president Noaman Kayani expressed concern about two Missouri bills introduced last year, one in the House and one in the Senate, which aim to outlaw Sharia in Missouri courts. Kayani said, “We believe that the anti-Sharia bill is against the Constitution. U.S. Constitution allows us to practice our religion.”
The JCMC invited state representatives and senators, and 20 have confirmed that they will attend.
Although the JCMC has been around since 1991, the organization moved into the current Mosque on Moreau on the city’s south side four years ago. Kayani said the center serves as a focal point for the Muslim community in Jefferson City. “They always look for the Masjid or Islamic center.”
The center plans to hold more open house events in the future.
Courtesy: KOMU-8
Local Muslims educate public on Islam
By Daniel Winn | KRCG-13
May 1, 2012
Tuesday night, the Muslim Community Center in Jefferson City hosted an open house to educate the community about Islam and Shariah Law.
They said that times are changing and Muslim aren’t that different from other people.
Faizan Syed said, “What we want others to realize is that as Muslims, we are Muslim Americans. We are part of this society and part of the fabric, and we aren’t violent or all these crazy things people think we are, rather we are your neighbors, the doctors who help you out you know we are a part of this society”.
They spent the evening reflecting on what Islam really is, despite an image that doesn’t sit well with many in society, “The one thing we try to do within the Islamic center in Jefferson City is of course first an foremost education because the more people know about each other the less likely they are to have suspicion” Syed told us.
Members emphasized that not all Muslims are radical like some in the Middle East.
The event was open to the public.
About two dozen people attended, including Christians and some state legislators.
Courtesy: ConnectMidMissouri.com | KRCG
May 1, 2012
Tuesday night, the Muslim Community Center in Jefferson City hosted an open house to educate the community about Islam and Shariah Law.
They said that times are changing and Muslim aren’t that different from other people.
Faizan Syed said, “What we want others to realize is that as Muslims, we are Muslim Americans. We are part of this society and part of the fabric, and we aren’t violent or all these crazy things people think we are, rather we are your neighbors, the doctors who help you out you know we are a part of this society”.
They spent the evening reflecting on what Islam really is, despite an image that doesn’t sit well with many in society, “The one thing we try to do within the Islamic center in Jefferson City is of course first an foremost education because the more people know about each other the less likely they are to have suspicion” Syed told us.
Members emphasized that not all Muslims are radical like some in the Middle East.
The event was open to the public.
About two dozen people attended, including Christians and some state legislators.
Courtesy: ConnectMidMissouri.com | KRCG
Mosque in Jefferson City looks to expand
September 27, 2010
By: Rebecca May
State Capitol Bureau
The building plan of a mosque in New York brought up public debate, not for neighbors of a rural conservative area who say they welcome one in their backyard. Becky May has more from Jefferson City.
Neighbors of one of the top rural conservative areas in Missouri, say they accept the expansion of a mosque in their area, regardless what the media says.
Harry Kennedy has lived next to the Jefferson City mosque since it was relocated. He says the media exaggerates tension between Muslims and non-Muslims after the controversial building plans of a mosque in lower Manhattan.
“It’s always got to be a divisive issue. It’s black against white, it’s in this case Muslims against non-Muslims. It’s against it’s never here’s the facts and you make up your own mind,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy says that he feels there is no negative feelings toward the expansion of the mosque in the area.
Barry Faulkner, another neighbor of the mosque attended its open house earlier this month and says he walked away with a better understanding of the religion.
Courtesy: Missouri Digital News
By: Rebecca May
State Capitol Bureau
The building plan of a mosque in New York brought up public debate, not for neighbors of a rural conservative area who say they welcome one in their backyard. Becky May has more from Jefferson City.
Neighbors of one of the top rural conservative areas in Missouri, say they accept the expansion of a mosque in their area, regardless what the media says.
Harry Kennedy has lived next to the Jefferson City mosque since it was relocated. He says the media exaggerates tension between Muslims and non-Muslims after the controversial building plans of a mosque in lower Manhattan.
“It’s always got to be a divisive issue. It’s black against white, it’s in this case Muslims against non-Muslims. It’s against it’s never here’s the facts and you make up your own mind,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy says that he feels there is no negative feelings toward the expansion of the mosque in the area.
Barry Faulkner, another neighbor of the mosque attended its open house earlier this month and says he walked away with a better understanding of the religion.
Courtesy: Missouri Digital News
