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Monday 04 May 2015 - 12:25 Makkah mean time-15-7-1436
(Image from OnIslam)
Massachusetts, (IINA) - Campaigning for religious understanding, the Muslim community in Marshfield, Massachusetts, hosted scores of people in a two-hour event designed to educate them on the true beauty of Islam.
Inviting people from all lifestyles to their mosque, Muslims received about 150 people who took time to participate in a seminar about Islam, according to media reports. Attendants included people from various professions including firefighters, carpenters and medical professionals.
As news of atrocities committed by terrorists in the name of Islam have become prevalent in the media, misconceptions about the religion have grown, said Dr. Asif Hussain, president and member of Al Noor Mosque of Marshfield.
"Islam is not ISIS and Osama Bin Laden. It is up to us, Muslims in the community, to explain what Islam is," Hussain said.
Hussain praised the large crowd attending freedom of speech and misconceptions about Islam seminar as a move in the right direction of mutual understanding.
Speakers included Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, director of the Chicago-based GainPeace Project, which was formed to share Islam with non-Muslims and to clarify misconceptions about the faith.
"For neighbors to become friends, they need to get to know each other. To become friends we need to look at the things we have in common," Ahmed said.
Chris Wolf, a carpenter and volunteer pastor at Faith Fellowship Church in Marshfield, noted that respect for other religions and education is a good goal.
Jody Clements, a firefighter with the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department attended the seminar with other firefighters.
"As firefighters, our job is to help everyone who lives, visits or passes through Marshfield. Coming here, we can learn about another religion and culture. It helps us to be more effective doing our job. And education is always good," Clements said.
Since the 9/11 attacks, US Muslims, estimated between 6-8 million, have complained of discrimination and stereotypes in the society because of their Islamic attires or identities.
A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.
SM/IINA
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