Mustafa Hussein of the Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City didn’t know what to expect. The proposed Islamic center and mosque in New York City blocks from ground zero has drawn harsh anti-Muslim reaction. A Florida pastor threatened to burn copies of the Qur’an.
E-mails and calls started coming into the local center. To Hussein’s delight, they were supportive. Many people called to apologize for the behavior of those railing against Islam.
Requests poured in for Muslims to speak at various houses of worship from people wanting to learn about Islam and its holy book, the Qur’an.
“I have seen that every time someone wants to do harm, a lot of good comes out of it,” Hussein said.
What may have been intended for one purpose has had the opposite effect, say some area leaders with an interest in interfaith relations.
Since 9/11, Muslims have become more involved in community outreach programs and have opened their centers to visitors of all faiths.
Getting to know Muslims eases people’s fears, Hussein said. “They see that Muslims are people of peace, seeking the same things as everybody else. We just have a different religion,” he said.
The Rev. Adam Hamilton of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood said he has heard from his congregation concern for Muslims and disappointment that Christians would advocate the burning of the Qur’an and trashing people of another faith.
“Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors,” he said. “I think this has had the opposite impact from what the Florida pastor intended.
“Most Christians reacted with revulsion. In the end, it caused Christians to say, ‘This is not who we are.’ ”
The Rev. Robert Hill of Community Christian Church in Kansas City agrees.
“I think this will make me and all my colleagues in interfaith relations speak up and speak out when we hear something of a bigoted nature from someone who claims Christianity,” he said.
The incidents “will quicken our resolve locally to be forthright about what makes better relations,” Hill said.
The Rev. Michael Stephens of Southwood United Church of Christ in Raytown went to talk personally with Hussein and the principal of a local Islamic school.
“Many more of us are intentionally reaching out to our Muslim neighbors to offer support and seek deeper understanding,” he said.
Religious understanding and mutual respect are needed now more than ever, and the place to start is in one’s neighborhood, said Shannon Clark, executive director of the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council.
“Members of the Muslim community have gone out of their way this year to invite non-Muslims to their homes for iftar (dinner after sunset during the month of Ramadan) because the most powerful way of responding to lies about Islam is not argument, but getting acquainted with our Muslim neighbors,” said Vern Barnet, a longtime leader in Kansas City interfaith work.
Abbot Gregory Polan of Conception Abbey said many Catholic churches have been offering prayers of intercession to find a peaceful resolution to the New York Islamic center situation.
“All of this has just encouraged me to broaden our scope of dialogue so we can understand one another better and break down the walls of fear that separate us and seem to create actions of violence and disrespect,” said Polan, who is the interfaith officer for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Mahnaz Shabbir, a local Muslim who has been active in interfaith work, said she has heard from people offering support for her family and other Muslims. Among them were a Christian minister and a Hindu.
Several area faith groups have issued statements of support for Muslims. These include the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, the Community of Christ and the Raytown Community Inter-Faith Alliance.
But not all is positive, Barnet said.
Kansas City has a long history of interfaith efforts, and interfaith activities have multiplied in the last dozen years, Barnet said, even though they are often uncoordinated. Barnet writes a weekly faith column for The Star.
“The recent events have awakened us that, while we can celebrate what has been accomplished, there is always the danger that the bridges of understanding that have been built here can be blown up by bigots.”
Negative rhetoric on local radio talk shows and local website comments “have unfortunately proven that the Kansas City community is not immune to religious prejudices,” Clark said. “These examples have confirmed the importance and need for interfaith dialogue and education in our community.”
The recent controversies involving the New York center, she said, “will help make people realize how important learning about the many faith traditions and cultures that make up the beautiful mosaic of our country.”