Opening the mosque doors

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Freckled faces sat next to bearded faces, who sat next

to scarf-covered women, who sat next to blue-eyed men.

The mosque at the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County was

filled with a wide variety of people who came together Saturday afternoon

for one reason: To learn.

Hosting an open mosque day, members of the Islam Educational Center

invited members of surrounding communities over to try to answer

questions about the Islamic faith -- a hot topic after the terrorists

responsible for the Sept. 11 East Coast attacks were said to be Muslim.

More than 100 people came to the open house from all over Orange

County. The consensus of those interviewed was that they were just there

to learn more.

Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini addressed the danger of ignorance and

stressed the importance of knowledge about different cultures and walks

of life.

“[People] point at me because I share one thing in common with the

Taliban and that is this turban. But that is the only thing I have in

common with them,” Al-Qazwini said.

“I am very happy that you came to visit us; to find out more about us

and educate yourselves,” said Al-Qazwini, who addressed all audience

members as brothers and sisters.

The Imam and other speakers explained the fundamental beliefs of Islam

and women’s role as dictated by the Quran, the holy book of the Muslim

community. Those beliefs include a love and respect for all people

regardless of race, ethnicity or religion and a dedication to following

the edicts of the Quran.

Costa Mesa Councilwoman Linda Dixon sat in the front row, intently

listening and nodding her head when key points were addressed.

“It’s very interesting,” she said during a break in the three-hour

program. The councilwoman said she came to be educated about a different

culture but found many similarities.

“Everybody has the same message of patience and compassion for your

fellow man,” she added.

Al-Qazwini renounced the terrorists responsible for the East Coast

attacks, saying the destruction of 6,000 innocent lives is in no way a

part of his religion.

“Cannot be a Muslim in the eyes of God if you are not acting like a

Muslim. Evildoers do not belong to any religion. Their ideology is pure

evil,” he said.

Fatima Saleh, who was dressed in a black tailored suit and cloaked in

a lavender scarf, spoke of the role of Muslim women and addressed

stereotypes and myths. Women are not considered subservient in her

culture, she said. In fact, she considers herself to be the exact

opposite.

“My husband always tries to tell me what to do, and I never listen,”

Saleh joked.

Muslim women are to cover their hair -- showing only their face. And

cover their bodies to the wrist and to the ankle, she explained. It is

not done to control women but rather to control the men, she said.

“Men are to see us for our character and intelligence, not our

physical attraction,” said Saleh, who is a graduate of Cal State

Northridge.

Al-Qazwini elaborated, saying men cannot be tempted by the physical

beauty of a woman and should only be focused on the spirit of the woman.

Covering a woman’s body helps protect her from becoming an object of

lust.

“So many men say let’s reduce this or enlarge this,” Al-Qazwini said.

“I find this insulting.”