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U.S. NEWS Monday 22 May 2017

New Islamic institute prioritizes outreach, education

JEFF KAROUB ronment.” He criticizes the media
Associated Press Takim said Qazwini is “a for rushing to associate
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. man of great vision,” and someone’s crime with his
(AP) — When the Islamic delivering on his plans for religion if that person is or
Institute of America bought the institute will be “an ex- appears to be Muslim. Just
a Baptist church, the plan ceptional feat and a great because somebody acts
initially was to remove the challenge,” given rising an- “in the name of religion,” it
pews — until the mosque’s ti-Muslim sentiment. “doesn’t mean the religion
leader objected, in part A Pew Research Center is acting,” he said.
because he saw keeping survey conducted in 2014 Still, he can understand the
the benches as a way of found Americans view Is- fears.
showing Islam’s compat- lam less favorably than “If I put myself in a non-
ibility with its sister faith. other major religions and Muslim’s shoes, I fully un-
“We’re sending a message atheism. Another Pew derstand how they feel,”
to non-Muslim visitors and survey found 38 percent he said. “There’s a massive,
friends — particularly our In this May 6, 2011 photo, Imam Hassan Qazwini speaks at the of Americans think Islam massive bombardment of
interfaith community and Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich. is more likely than others anti-Islamic literature, im-
Christians,” Iman Hassan Associated Press to encourage violence agery that leads viewers
Qazwini, one of the top among its followers, while and readers to believe Is-
Shiite Muslim leaders in the American Shiite scholars vironment, with the Ameri- 50 percent think it is not lam is not compatible with
U.S., said from what’s now and is of Iraqi descent, said can psyche, mentality and more likely. the 21st century. It is our job
the institute’s lecture hall. he hopes to quell fears and even lifestyle,” he said. President Donald Trump’s as Muslims to change that
“We use the same bench- misunderstandings through Qazwini’s new institute is just campaign was marked by and to contribute. ... May-
es you sat on. We’re using regular interfaith gather- a few miles from the Islamic anti-Muslim rhetoric and, be we can’t do it all, but at
the same stage your pas- ings and a media division Center of America, one of since being inaugurated, least we try.”
tor used to disseminate our that will produce short North America’s largest he’s sought to enact a Qazwini said his institute
message, which is not too videos and other internet- mosques and where he travel ban from several seeks to educate Muslims
different from your mes- based programming. served for 18 years before Muslim-majority countries. and non-Muslims alike, and
sage,” he added. “The Next year, the center leaving in 2015. Qazwini said perceptions make them feel comfort-
gap that exists between us plans to launch a seminary Liyakat Takim, a professor of Islam are hurt by acts able in each other’s com-
is not that huge.” aimed at equipping a new of global Islam at McMas- of violence or terror com- pany.
Qazwini said reaching out generation of Muslim lead- ter University in the Cana- mitted by people who “We’re not your enemy,”
to Christians, Jews and oth- ers who can help forge a dian city of Hamilton, On- call themselves Muslim. he said.q___
ers has never been more better understanding of Is- tario, said the U.S. has one
important, with a U.S. presi- lam in the West. He said the or two Islamic educational
dent who has said Islam seminary would not only institutions, but “none with
hates the U.S. and polls help produce well-round- the same vision” offered by
finding most Americans ed scholars who can en- Qazwini.
holding negative views of gage with the wider world, “For the longest time, the
the faith. He sees educa- but also better serve their Muslim community has
tion and outreach as the U.S.-born congregants. imported scholars from
primary missions of the Is- “One of the issues we Mus- abroad or sent them
lamic Institute of America lims face in the country is abroad to study,” said Ta-
in the Detroit suburb of ... the huge gap that ex- kim, who knows Qazwini.
Dearborn Heights, which ists between leaders com- “They’re not always con-
has one of the largest and ing from the Middle East to ducive to the environment
oldest Arab-Muslim com- lead our Islamic institutions we have in America. This
munities outside the Mid- and their congregations. can create a younger gen-
dle East. For most of those leaders, eration that can preach a
Qazwini, who comes from including myself, it takes message which is amend-
a family of prominent years to adapt with the en- able to the American envi-