It wasn’t the first time the call
for prayer, “Athan,” was called in the Washington National Cathedral, yet this
November 14 marked the first time a Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer was held at the
most revered Christian church in the nation’s capital. It was a symbolic event
exemplifying tolerance, coexistence, and shared humanity. The cathedral is a
marvelous architectural beauty befitting of a grand religion. The magnanimity
of its façade is complemented by the warmth of its hosting clergies’ hearts.
Friday morning, serene and inspired faces walked through the cathedral's arches
many of them Muslim women wearing their hijabs passing the inviting pews to the
front of the grand hall where prayer rugs were unfurled facing Mecca. As people
gathered for the "Jumu'ah" sermon and prayer they exude peace, love
and understanding.
That spiritual beauty was quickly
brought back to earthly reality as a lady walked up to the Muslim congregation
yelling out her disapproval of such display of compassion demanding Muslim
guests to "leave us alone, leave our churches alone! This is America,
founded on Christian principles!" before she was escorted out of the
Cathedral. In a Facebook post she proclaims that her blood was boiling with
"righteous anger" ending her post with "We are in God's army,
Soldiers in the Cross! We should act like it. There is a battle out there!
WORRIOR UP PEOPLE! ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!" Religion has always been a
double edged sword as it "has the capacity for cooperation bringing people
together around shared values, or it can be used to 'soldier up’ be it by
Christian, Muslim or Jewish extremists" said Dr. Richard Rubenstein of the
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
She was not the only person
objecting to the event. The Facebook group "2 Million Bikers to DC"
attempted to organize a motorcycle ride to the Cathedral to protest the prayer.
Although none of the 600 invitees and the 170 confirmed participants showed up,
"anti-Muslim sentiments run deep as the war on terror becomes increasingly
military based. The general tendency is increased animosity against those associated
with the enemy,” said Rubenstein. On the other hand, those who believe in
tolerance and understanding are not seeding the field to load intolerant hate
filled groups.
Christian-Islamic Relations
For years, the Cathedral has been
active in forging an open and sustained lines of communication with Muslim
communities within the Washington, DC area. In 2008 the Cathedral hosted a
Ramadan “Iftar” ushering in an era of deeper engagement with members of the
Islamic faith. For its part, the Muslim community in the Washington, DC area
has been forward leaning. As devastating as 9-11 was for the U.S. as a whole it
was harder on the American Muslim community as they grieved for their country
while having to defend their religion. The Muslim community adopted a two pronged
approach; condemning terrorism and educating fellow Americans.
For years before 9-11 and more
intensely after it, many of the steps taken by Islamic centers and Mosques were
localized in the form of open houses for community members to learn firsthand
of Islam and its teachings as well as the role Muslims play in the community.
The grassroots effort spillover effect lead to the rise of ISNA (the Islamic
Society of North America), CAIR (the Council on American Islamic Relations),
MPAC (Muslim Public affairs council) as nationally recognized prominent Islamic
organizations. These three national groups in addition to two local Islamic
centers; ADAMS (the All Dulles Area Muslim Society) and Masjid Muhammad,
sponsored the Jumu’ah prayer at the cathedral. These Islamic organizations have
been increasingly effective in their grassroots efforts and in reaching their
fellow Americans including Masjid Muhammad giving the opening prayer at the
U.S. Congress. It is not surprising that these organizations were invited to
sponsor the Jumu’ah prayer at the Washington Cathedral, but what is interesting
is that the event was suggested and lead by the South African Ambassador,
Ebrahim Rasool.
Mandela’s Jumu’ah
A peacefully protesting Nelson
Mandela has done for South Africa what violence could not. He inspired the
sense of justice and fairness within his people and with that he captured the
imagination of our humanity. In his death too he continued to inspire. As the
Cathedral worked with the South African Embassy in Washington DC to coordinate
a service to celebrate the life of Mandela a discussion between Ambassador
Rasool of South Africa and the Reverend Canon Gina Gilland Campbell has lead a
year later to this Jumu’ah prayer.
In his “Khutba” sermon, Amb.
Rasool laid out the essence of the issues ailing the Muslim world when he said
that Muslims “have been challenged to find consistencies between condemning the
excesses done in the name of Islam and protesting the mistakes of our countries
and our governments.” he went on to voice his concern for the inequality of
approach when Muslims “had to manage our dismay that while we seek in this
country [the U.S.] the freedom to worship we couldn't promise the same right to
Christians where our fellow religionists are in the majority.” The two points
of condemning extremists and calling for Muslim nations to extend freedoms to
its own religious minorities were the two major points emphasized by the lineup
of speakers representing the different Islamic centers.
When the “Khateeb” concluded his
sermon the “Muathin” called for prayer. The echoes of “God Is Great” continued
throughout the grand hall of the cathedral ushering the Muslim congregation to
stand up before god; men in the first four rows and women in the following
three. On their modest attire reflections of colorful sunrays filtered by the
stained glass lining the cathedral. That surreal unity of imprints; Islamic
rites on Christian marble and reflections of Christian stained glass on Muslims
praying was a sight to behold. Among those in attendance were tens of dignitaries
and guests belonging to different faiths and denominations listening and
observing. When Muslim worshipers stood up to perform their Friday prayer,
they too stood up and remained standing as Muslims bowed to god. During that
afternoon, those who were able to take action sponsored and attended, those who
were able to talk stood at the “Minber” and spoke, while the rest offered a
gesture of respect and solidarity; an Islamic principle that is truly universal
exemplified by hosts, sponsors and guests on a sacred ground on a hopeful day.
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