Local imams devote their sermon to a message of peace, harmony

PRAYERS FOR PEACE: Adeel Khan, visiting family in Irvine from Manchester, U.K., prays after a sermon by Imam Sadullah Khan at the Islamic Center of Irvine.
KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

PEACEFUL SERMON: Imam Sadullah Khan gives a sermon condemning terror and stressing the sanctity of life and moral opposition to violence, at the Islamic Center of Irvine Friday.
KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

PRAYERS FOR PEACE: A mosque member prays before a sermon.

KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

DEEP IN THOUGHT: Mohammed Elfarooqui, of Irvine,
listens to a sermon by Imam Sadullah Khan at the Islamic Center of Irvine Friday.
KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER



Saturday, September 29, 2007
Local Muslims offer prayers for Ramadan
A local imam devotes his sermon to a message of peace, harmony.
By ELLYN PAK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

GARDEN GROVE - Imam Muzammil Siddiqi thought it would be a good time to reiterate his message of peace and tolerance.

As hundreds gathered Friday at the Islamic Center of Orange County in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, Siddiqi devoted his sermon to taking a stand against violence and promoting human values.

"My message is that Islam is the religion of peace," he said before the service. "Islam is the religion of harmony, tolerance and justice for all people."

Likewise, members of the Islamic Center of Irvine heard a similar sermon condemning terrorism and violence during a time when public perception of Islam has faltered. The services in Garden Grove and Irvine were part of a collective effort to promote good will and quash some of the misperceptions about Muslims.

"Ramadan is a time of virtues," Siddiqi said in his sermon. "It is also a time to reflect on the problems of the day. The world is facing grave problems of injustice, greed, moral decay, violence and wars."

Munira Syeda of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Friday's sermons were part of an effort to bring mosques and organizations together to promote a united message.

"This is something that mosques have done individually over the years," Syeda said.

However, individual stances against violence have largely been ignored as the general public believes that mosques are breeding grounds for terrorism, she said.

A recent study on religion and public life by the Pew Research Center indicated that attitudes about Muslims and Islam have deteriorated. Research revealed that 45 percent of those surveyed believed Islam is more likely to encourage violence than other religions.

"Some Muslims are abusing Islam by doing acts of violence, fortunately not in this country, but elsewhere in the world," Siddiqi said. "Because of that, people have problems and are generalizing Islam."

Kamal Famsa, 40, of Huntington Beach, who attended the service in Garden Grove, said American views of Muslims shifted drastically after Sept. 11. Though he never experienced the backlash that some Muslims endured, Famsa said he did notice a palpable change.

"Considering what happened, it's a normal reaction," said Famsa, who emigrated from Syria 22 years ago. "I think 9/11 was so drastic that I can see people going into this anger. I am disappointed that after the initial shock is over … people still have blind hatred towards Islam."

Contact the writer: 714-704-3788 or epak@ocregister.com