Spanish Muslims are opening mosques and Islamic centers across the European country to non-Muslims to build bridges with the mainstream society and clear misconceptions about their faith.
Spanish Muslims are opening mosques and Islamic centers across the European country to non-Muslims to build bridges with the mainstream society and clear misconceptions about their faith.
“The Cultural Open Day is the most important window for many mosques and centers to communicate with the mainstream society,” Dr. Alaa Said, chairman of the Islamic Union of Imams and Preachers in Spain (IUIPS), told IslamOnline.net.
Mosques and Islamic centers hold Open Days to educate the Spanish public about the Muslim culture and traditions.
The Day sees discussions about Islam’s position on different issues such as co-existence and pluralism. It also witnesses exhibitions featuring traditional Muslim clothes and foods and art activities.
During the Day, Muslims hold outdoor prayers to give the public a glimpse about their rituals. “It has drawn a successful and positive response from the public,” said Dr. Said.
Outside a mosque in the Catalonia province, a group of curious Spaniards stood watching the muezzin while blaring out the call for prayers. “Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest),” resonated the Adhan across the open air before stepping into the mosque to visit a book fair held inside.
“Almost every mosque across the country has held or is to hold a Cultural Open Day for the public,” said Daw Al-Treki, media officer at the Islamic League for Dialogue and Co-existence.
Spain has a Muslim minority of about 800,000 people out of a total population of 40 million. The southern European country has recognized Islam through the law of religious freedom, issued in July 1967.
Outreaching
The Open Day helps enhance dialogue and co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims in the country. “Meeting non-Muslims in such events helps bolster co-existence,” Dr. Said, the (IUIPS) chairman, said. "This leads to mutual respect and disperse fears from Islam and Muslims.”
The Muslim leader said that the Open Day has helped change the views of many Spaniards about Muslims. “We felt major changes in the views of many Spaniards who have attended these events.”
Said cited the remarks of the cultural adviser of the eastern city of Suria, Catalonia province, after attending one of the Muslim event.
“The Spaniards and you are both good people, but the problem is that we don’t know each others enough,” he quoted him as saying.
“If we got to know each others better, I don’t think there would be any problem between us.”
Treki shares his view. “We wanted to go out from the mosque to the street to communicate with the public through these cultural events,” he said. “By inviting them to visit our mosques and institutions, the fear and worries (of Muslims) would go away.”
