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Alaskan Muslims avoid conflict

By: Robert Howk

Dateline:  Midtown Anchorage

In a classroom-sized rental unit at the far end of a small industrial park in west Anchorage, Omar Ibn Muhammad, at the top of his lungs, issues a call to prayer on Friday afternoons.
“Until you are out of breath, as loudly as possible.” is the way it gets done, he said.
The congregation is listening, and growing.
“I would say, in the past three years, we have seen 300 percent more converts than the few years before,” he noted while folding a table following an interview at the Islamic Center of Alaska mosque, now in its seventh year of operation.
“Most everybody in town” shows up for the annual feast and prayer after the fasting holy month of Ramadan. About 500 people attend each year, he said.
“We rent a hall. There are people from Puerto Rico, Korea, China, Alaska Natives, and African - Americans. Just about everywhere.”
A robust middle-aged man of Indian and Burmese ancestry, Omar helps organize worship services and Sunday school lessons at the center - one of three or four active mosques, or ‘masjids’ in the state. He said he is one of several imams in Anchorage who devote their time and effort.
Omar is naturally sensitive regarding questions about Islam’s role and responsibilities in society, given recent global events, and he said many of the faith here are reluctant to make their presence known because of potential prejudice.
“We got one call on the answering machine after the (July 7, 2005) bombings in London that was pretty nasty,” he said. “But it was just one individual. I don’t think he was dangerous … and this is the same as in any culture, any community. There is always someone or some group that makes a problem.
“It is hard for me to say anything about this, about other countries and people. It is politics.” he explained.
Omar estimates the Muslim population in Alaska at approximately 1000.

Islam on the net

Across town, shakur-abdel-Haleem takes a large view of Alaska’s Muslim community. Converted to Islam about eight years ago, and webmaster of http://www.islaminalaska.com, he estimates there are from 4,000 to 5,000 practitioners of the faith in the 49th state.
And, he asserts, some Muslims here are sympathetic to extremist theology.
“They won’t say it, truthfully to you, as a reporter, but they feel this way, absolutely. I’ve heard guys say, right in front of my children, that all Jews should be killed,” he said.
His website offers links asking visitors to explore such questions as ‘What went wrong with Islam; Who are the real desecraters of the Qur’an?; Who will make the Holy Land Holy; and it offers a cyberspace invitation to ‘Take a tour of the Violent Hateful Web World of Salafi/Wahabism.’
He acknowledges that his work is controversial, but he says people are welcome to submit comments and that he will publish their views unedited.
“I haven’t updated it lately, but go ahead a take a look,” he said.

Schools of thought

One of the first formal universities was founded by Muslim scholars as early as the fourth century, and students at the University of Alaska Anchorage are aware of history, said Diane Kozak, Student Leadership Coordinator at UAA.
She said the Islamic Student Association of Alaska (ISA) has been active for just over one year.
“Members of the organization view their involvement with ISA as a necessary and integral part of leadership.
“Through education venues such as guest speakers, workshops and cultural activities, ISA strives to involve all students in the teachings of Islam to create a free-thinking campus community where everyone’s opinions and beliefs are accepted.”
26-year-old Hussein Khab is a student from a small village outside of Mogadishu, Somalia, and is learning commercial fishing and construction skills in Alaska put it succinctly.
“It’s one world. One God. No problems. Why would anyone want to blow themselves up? What for?” he asked during a bicycle ride through mid-town Anchorage.
“It might sound cliché,” Khab said, “But in today’s world, I think it’s best to believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.”
What’s not cliché, he said, is his belief in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech and religious practice.
“I didn’t even know there were mosques here in Alaska until a few days ago,” he said. “It’s a good thing. I love this country, and I love my homeland too. Lets just say I have faith the man upstairs will see us through all of this.”

Live and Let Live

Omar Ibn Muhammad smiles as he locks the mosque and heads back to work for the airline industry as a jet engine mechanic.
“We all have regular jobs, and busy lives,” he said while tucking a pocket rule into his shirt pocket and finding his car keys.
Muhammad plans to keep the door open to all. A coffee can on the front desk collects offerings.
“A mosque operates differently form a church,” he said. “We don’t ask for contributions. People give a dollar when they can and it helps keep the lights on and pay the rent.”
Discussing religious beliefs and politics at the same time can be difficult, yet the bottom line is a universal message of goodwill, Omar said.
“We don’t want our children to grow up as atheists.”

Contact Robert Howk at

January 12, 2009
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