Get a better understanding of the Islamic faith at the Islamic Center of Charlotte
I’m not a very religious person, but I love new experiences. With that in mind, I decided to visit Islamic Center of Charlotte’s interfaith Open House last week.
The center is tucked away at the base of a dead end street just off Central Avenue in east Charlotte.
Every Ramadan, which falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (May 27-June 24 this year), Muslims honor their faith through actions. Prayers and self sacrifice are among them, but the most well known practice is abstaining from the consumption of food or water from sunrise to sunset.
The ICC opens its doors to the general public on two occasions during Ramadan. It’s an effort to reach out to neighbors and introduce the Islamic faith to those who might be open to conversion or to those wanting to educate themselves. I was joined by about a dozen other Charlotteans on this particular Saturday night.
Breaking the fast is called the Iftar dinner, which happens around 8:15 pm. We began the Iftar by consuming dates and bottled water, after which we broke into a question and answer session.
Our talk was lead by Mohammed Khan. Khan is Imam, or spiritual leader of the ICC. He explained to the group the beginnings of the Islamic faith, its structure and beliefs.
We asked a number of questions, everything from the reasons the genders pray separately (out of respect for the method of prayer), to their opinions on the current state of affairs in America. It was at this time that we were interrupted by the Call to Prayer.
It was quite a sight to behold. We were able to stand in the back and quietly watch as the room filled with the faithful from dozens of countries all living and working in the Queen City. I was surprised to learn the ICC is home to Muslims from more than 50 different countries.
Prayers lasted about 12-15 minutes, after which we were able to go back to our designated area, help ourselves to the Somali food that had been prepared, and continue our conversations.
“I think there is so much more we can learn from each other,” said Erica Christensen, who came with her father to participate. “It’s really good to be able to come and listen to each other and learn from one another rather than look at other people as them versus us.”
Abdul Chaoui is a board member with the Islamic Center of Charlotte and helps to coordinate the outreach evenings.
“My hope is for anyone who attends the Iftar to leave with a better understanding of what the Islamic faith is all about,” he said. “If you go out and show that Muslims are really the opposite of what we hear in the media, then we’ve achieved a lot.”
“There’s space for everyone at the table,” Christensen said. “Come eat together, learn together, and live together.”
The Islamic Center of Charlotte’s website states the vision is to “inspire current and future generations of Muslims in Charlotte and to contribute to the overall community of Charlotte.”
I think they’re off to a great start.
To learn more about the Islamic Center of Charlotte, visit www.iccharlotte.org.
Photos: Jonathan Lee
This story was originally published June 22, 2017 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Get a better understanding of the Islamic faith at the Islamic Center of Charlotte."