Christians Can Worship In Mosques Too

By

Saima Sheikh

It seems that Christian extremists have found a new hero, Christine Weick.  She is the woman who disrupted the Muslim Friday prayer service in the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. last November. Christine alleged that the Muslims took over the National Cathedral to make a statement. Muslims didn’t take over the Cathedral but were invited and hosted by Rev. Gina Campbell.  At last Thursday’s ‘Texas Muslim Day’ in Austin, organized by CAIR (Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations), she grabbed the mic from the Muslim speaker and started her anti-Muslim rant of “No Sharia” and “Go home.”

Now she has dared Franklin Graham to hold services at any Mosque because she thinks that he will be refused. As a member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I “double dare” Franklin Graham to come to any of our Mosques. A mosque is a house of God and anyone can come to pray. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s mosques are open to all who want to worship peacefully because we follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, who never refused anyone from entering or praying at any Mosque. For instance, once a Christian delegation from Najran came to visit Prophet Muhammad to exchange views on religious matters. When it was time for their prayers, Prophet Muhammad invited the Christians to worship in his Mosque. History records they worshiped without restrictions.

Franklin Graham is welcome to visit any of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 70 chapters in America. Christine wants him to visit a large Muslim Mosque. He can visit Baitur Rahman Mosque, national headquarters of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA in Silver Spring, MD.  He will be welcomed by the Imam Naseem Mahdi, Missionary in-Charge and National Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. This Mosque is close to many Churches and Synagogues and has hosted many interfaith programs and community events. Throughout the year, many schools plan visits to the Mosque as part of their school field trip.

He can visit the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Mosque in Baltimore. This Mosque is in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and was once a Jewish Synagogue, called the Slade Mansion. It was purchased by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baltimore a few years ago. It is across the street from Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. During renovations, theBaltimore Hebrew Congregation even let the members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community use their parking lot because of their good relationship with the community.

Franklin Graham can visit theAhmadiyya Muslim Community Mosque in Harrisburg which used to be theLakeside Lutheran Church. The community held a special prayer service with the Lakeside Lutheran Church members. First, the Church members prayed and then both groups held a joint prayer service. It was a peaceful and historic transition. The Mosque is located in downtown Harrisburg. They have held many interfaith and prayer service programs with Lutherans and other faith groups.
Therefore, Christine, we are waiting for you, Franklin Graham or anyone who wants to visit and pray peacefully in any Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Mosques in the US or around the world.

Follow Saima on twitter at @SaimaGSheikh