New mosque seeks way to bridge faiths
By Nick Grabbe – Staff Writer – Published on August 25, 2006
Local Muslims now have a convenient place to pray – and non=Muslims have an opportunity to learn more about Islam. Hampshire Mosque opened last month at 1 East Pleasant St. in Amherst, above the Loose Goose Cafe. It’s the site of daily prayer and of Friday services at 1:30 p.m.
Amherst Bulletin | New mosque seeks way to bridge faiths
There are more than 300 Muslims in the Amherst area, and as many as 1,000 in Hampshire County, said Mohammed Abdelaal, the mosque’s chaplain. The closest mosque had been in West Springfield, and although Muslims can pray individually, being in a congregation is preferred, he said.
‘It was high time to start a place and have an anchor,’ said Mohamed El-Sawi Hassan, a member of the mosque. The mosque plans to coordinate its activities with the Muslim Student Association at the University of Massachusetts, he said. The 600-square-foot mosque can accommodate about 50 people, he said.
The Web site www.hampshiremosque.org, includes the times when Muslims should perform their five daily prayers, which are linked to the movements of the sun. The mosque ‘intends to establish bridges of tolerance, harmony and understanding between Muslims, the American society at large and people of other faiths,’ according to the Web site.
People who associate Islam with terrorism because of media images from the Mideast do not understand the faith, said Hassan. ‘Every Muslim knows this does not represent Islam,’ he said. ‘People who target innocent people aren’t Muslims. It’s a religion of mercy and peace.‘
Coming soon to New England
‘Old’ England Chaplain explains what is meant by ‘innocent person’ – “No non-Muslim is innocent”
Hampshire Mosque seeks to follow what the Quran calls a ‘middle path, a path of moderation, free of extremism, and representative of the Islamic vision of healthy community,’ according to the Web site.
Neither the Bylaws of Hampshire Mosque, Inc., nor the “teachings of the Qu’ran and methodology of Mohammed” as interpreted or practiced by any authority make mention a “middle path of moderation.”
The mosque does not have an imam, but is in touch with one from the Islamic Society of Boston. ‘It’s very important for any Islamic organization to have an imam to lead prayers and give a Friday speech and respond to the needs of the community,’ said Abdelaal. ‘Since Hampshire Mosque is a young organization, now we don’t have a full-time imam, but eventually we will work on that.’
Abdelaal and Hassan are natives of Egypt. Abdelaal is an architect who works for UMass, and Hassan is a visiting scholar in linguistics at UMass.
The Bulletin does not clarify whether these individuals are American citizens or Egyptian nationals – nor does it explain exactly what a “visiting scholar” is, or whether this is the same individual (?) who lives 40 minutes from Amherst but just 2 miles from the Mosque in West Springfield?
‘One of our objectives is to provide Islamic literature for whoever wants it,’ said Hassan. The mosque recently provided copies of the Qur’an to Muslim inmates at the Hampshire County House of Corrections, he said.
Can we nonMuslims have some Islamic Literature too?
Perhaps Hampshire Mosque, Inc. would be kind enough to prepare a list of books, reading materials, or other publications from respected Islamic scholars, writers, leaders, or other authorities describing this ‘middle path’ and the particular teachings and lifestyles their adherents try to follow and emulate.
We nonMuslims would be happy to purchase and make these reading materials available to the non-incarcerated public through our library system.
Hampshire Mosque plans an open house Sept. 17 from noon to 3 p.m.
