Call to dispel doubts on Islam

Many Muslims are themselves not fully aware of Islam and are unable to counter propaganda against their religion and allay the fears of non-Muslims, says Tahir Khalid from the New Muslim Centre in Sharjah.

He adds that many times Muslims themselves fan the fears of non-Muslims. "I know people who tell their non-Muslim friends that they are not allowed to enter mosques. How can people get the message of worship if they cannot enter the masjid?" he asks.

Khalid is an American national who has been living in Sharjah for the past nine years.

Al Qasbah Mosque is the first in the UAE where the Friday sermon, or the khutbah, is in English. Staff at the New Muslim Centre answer the many questions expatriate worshippers have about their religion.

A large population of Sharjah Muslims are non-Arab and come from places as diverse as the Indian Subcontinent, the Philippines and Indonesia. There are also a small number of Muslims from the West. "There are plans to have the khutbah in English in other mosques in the emirate," he says.

"Many people come to the Friday sermons and don't get anything out of it as Arabic is not their language. People now look forward to it. Arabic was traditionally the language of learning. Now English has become the language of technology."

Khalid, however, also points out that there is a need to make learning of Arabic easier.

There is another mosque in Ajman now which has the khutbah in English. "The interesting thing is that there is a growing class of very highly educated Muslims who want to know more about their religion," he says.

But he notes that many Muslims are not doing enough to spread the message of Islam.

"Some Muslim men have non-Muslim wives and they don't even bother to bring them into the fold as they do not know enough about their religion. At least point them in the right direction. Show them someone who knows."

He says that while Filipinos are the largest number who turn to Islam, "there has been an increase in the number of Europeans recently. You have people from as far east as Japan, Australia and New Zealand and as far west as America."

Asked what Muslims can do to counter allegations that Islam is a violent religion, Khalid says: "Newspapers always say that Muslims did such and such. That's never done with any other religion or ethnic group. The other side of the issue is ignored. Islam is a religion of peace. We should look more deeply as to why Muslims are singled out."

The Imam this Friday was a young Palestinian who was born in America and who grew up and was educated in Sharjah. He is pursuing his higher studies in the U.S. "My khutbah was on Surat Al Asr, and how Muslims are enjoined to be righteous and do good deeds," he said.