An education in faith: Islamic Center to open doors to answer questions

BY DOUG DAVIS
DOUGDAVIS@DNJ.COM

Camie Ayash, a Murfreesboro convert to the Muslim faith, is helping to coordinate Saturday's education seminar at The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.

"I have been a member of the mosque for about eight years," she said.

The seminar is intended to provide information about Muslims and Islam to the Murfreesboro community.

"We saw a newspaper article from a Christian minister from Egypt hosting Islamic classes in his church to familiarize his members with the Islamic religion," she said. "I think it is important for anyone who is interested in the Islamic religion to come to the imam and ask him any questions they may have."

The imam of the Murfreesboro center is Ossama Bahloul, who has served locally for 2 1/2 years. He will lead Saturday's three-hour event.

"We believe giving our perspective will help people have a clear idea about our religion," Bahloul said. "We want everyone to know that Islam is a religion they can live with. The Muslims care about their city and are a part of this country."

Bahloul, a native of Egypt, moved to the United States about six years ago.

What to expect

Those who follow the Islamic faith believe in Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.

"We will discuss Allah and the message of Islam, which means 'submit to God,'" Bahloul said.

Fifty percent of the time, he expects to talk about the pillars of his faith, belief in the one God and in the prophet Muhammad, the last messenger, as well as a discussion of the Muslim prayer to God. The importance of giving to charity, fasting and a pilgrimage to the sacred house of God in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) will also be reviewed.

"We will also be discussing some misconceptions of the Muslim faith," he said. "One of them is the position of the female in our religion. We will emphasize the rights they have. Women in Islam have the same rights as men."

He will also give views on jihad.

"They will find Islam has a very reasonable view. We live with all people," he said. "Muslims have the right to marry people in the Jewish and Christian community."

Recently, the Murfreesboro imam offered workshops in the Muslim community to help get rid of stereotypes of non-Muslim people.
Saturday, Bahloul plans on talking about how non-Muslims can get rid of stereotypes of Muslims.

There will also be discussions of the Quran, the holy book of their faith.

"We will give them a handout of how anyone can understand the Holy Quran," the imam said.

Those who attend will receive a copy of the Holy Quran as a gift, he said.

At the end of the 4 to 7 p.m. seminar, he will answer questions from those attending.

"We will cover any question they have," said Bahloul. "We are giving the people an open invitation to come to the center any time."

About the center

The weekly lecture and prayers at the center begin at 1:10 p.m. on Fridays at the center on Middle Tennessee Boulevard.

"Men and women are in the same (building), but because of the size of the facility, we have men in one hall and women in the other," he said.

Other special events are scheduled during the year and posted on the center's Web site.

Interest in the educational seminars has been excellent. Two other seminars later on May have already been booked, but Bahloul said others will be scheduled if there is enough interest.

Ayash, who is the mother of three children with one child on the way, converted to Islam about eight years ago.

"I found Islam, and it was right for me," she said. "I think you know it is the right religion when you don't have any unanswered questions."

Her husband, Muhammad Ayash, was born Muslim, she said.

— Doug Davis, 615-278-5152