New York Islamic center promotes interfaith relations

Standing among high-rise buildings on 72nd Street and Riverside Drive in the opulent Upper Manhattan area, the three-story Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center of New York seems to fit its surroundings.

Beautifully designed by prominent American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the center is a perfect mixture of Islamic traditional and contemporary Western architecture, complementing the New York City skyline.

Established in the early l960s, the center plays an important role in promoting interfaith understanding among New Yorkers, who come from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.

The development of the Islamic Cultural Center was made possible by generous donations from Islamic countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia and others. Indonesia contributed a mihrab, a small prayer room for the imam in the mosque.

The original plan of the center was to become a Muslim institution comprising a mosque, school, library, a lecture hall, a museum and a residence for the imam.

The center's objectives include serving the Muslim community of Manhattan in particular and the Muslim community of America in general, providing the American public with information on Islam -- its teachings, ideology, philosophy and culture -- and promoting good understanding and friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Since the tragic Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) twin towers, however, the New York Islamic Center has played much more important role in voicing the aspirations of the New York -- and America's -- Muslim community.

Muhammad Shamsi Ali, assistant imam of the center, said recently that since the tragedy two years ago, Islam and its community of followers in New York City and other major cities in the U.S. has been looked upon unfavorably.

"We can't deny that a lot of people in the U.S. and other Western countries often associate terrorism with Islam. And the 9/11 terrorist attacks impacted the lives of Muslims in the United States tremendously and turned public opinion against Islam and its followers," Ali explained.

The war in Iraq waged by the U.S. and its allies also worsened the situation.

Ali said it was the center's duty to bridge the differences between Muslims and people of other faiths, especially during this crucial period.

"This misunderstanding was caused by ignorance and lack of information, among others. One of the most dangerous form of ignorance is ignorance about our neighbors' religious beliefs. Ignorance is our shared enemy."

Since the WTC attacks, the center has been highly active in building closer ties with other religious groups, government officials, professionals, the media, non-governmental organizations and diverse community groups.

"After the tragedy, many people come to the center to learn and to understand more about Islam. We are very grateful that people in the United States are beginning to get to know more about Islam."

Every day, Ali said, the center received tour groups such as the Church Women from Western Michigan, university students from across the country, as well as American and foreign media.

"After this meeting, I will receive a group of Russian journalists and TV anchors. This meeting will be important for us to provide them with right information on Islam and its community in New York and the United States," he said.

Director of Islamic Cultural Center of New York Ziyad Monayair said the center undertook several important activities to create a peaceful environment.

"The center lays special stress on interfaith meetings and conferences, as they provide important opportunities for the center to impart the Islamic point of view to the non-Muslim world and to acquaint itself with what others think of Islam," he said.

These meetings invariably result in establishing friendships with Christian and Jewish leaders, as well as other religious leaders, and creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect. These exchanges provide the opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of each other's cultures, concerns and aspirations.

"The outreach activity of the center also includes speeches and lectures at various places such as high schools, colleges and churches. This kind of communication helps to dispel any misconceptions that may exist about the message of Islam." -- Rita A. Widiadana