Minnesota Muslim community joined efforts to reach out to the wider society

Monday 12 Oct 2015 - 12:20 Makkah mean time-29-12-1436

Samad Syed, vice president of the DACE, (Image from google)

Minnesota, U.S (IINA) - Mobilizing to get an Islamic school and mosque in Twin Cities suburbs, Minnesota Muslims have been struggling over the past years to build relations with the wider society, drawing strength from divine law and American values, OnIslam reported.
“It’s a really conscious effort,” Amber Michel, a Muslim community organizer, told Star Tribune on Saturday.
“Experience forces us to organize better and mobilize people more effectively. After a couple of really, really negative experiences, we just approach it differently. There is always a building of community support first.”
Michel was discussing how the Muslim community in Twin Cities has joined efforts to reach out to the wider society.
In 2013, Blaine city council members voted in favor of building a new Qur’an school, the Darul Arqam Center for Excellence, (DACE) despite facing opposition from dozens of neighbors at that time, hundreds of Muslims reached out to the Blaine city council chambers to support the Islamic school.
“We want to take the opportunity to introduce ourselves and clear up the misconceptions,” said Samad Syed, vice president of the DACE, the Qur’an school in Blaine.
Relying on regular leadership strategy sessions, a strong social media and e-mail network, and big turnouts at events, Muslim leaders were able to influence local politicians.
“It does matter when you show up in larger numbers,” said Samad.
“That builds up the pressure and the support.”
In a bid to connect members of the Muslim community, Sayed, along with his wife, created a mobile app called "Muslim Directory" to share events and promote businesses that caters to Muslim clientele.
Muslims’ efforts reaped its fruits over the past two years when new mosques have been approved in St. Anthony and Rosemount, besides the Qur’an school opened in Blaine
“You can’t break the divine laws and fix the situation. You have to be very polite in your discussion and argument,” said Shah Khan, president of the Islamic Center of Minnesota, who lives in Blaine.
The Muslim community also made powerful allies, including US Attorney Andrew Luger and Gov. Mark Dayton.
Columbia Heights’ Muslims were overwhelmed with support after hundreds rallied demanding the board member Grant Nichols to resign because of anti-Muslim comments on social media.
“We were completely blown away by the presence of non-Muslims and by the strength of what they said,” Michel said.
“It’s been an amazing experience.”
In addition, strengthening ties with the society, Blaine Qur’an school leaders regularly invite the mayor and police chief to dinner. “We had a good talk. We had good food with them,” said Mayor Tom Ryan. He added: “They are business people. They like the country. They’re good people.”
SM/IINA

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