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Chicago Mosque Opens Doors After Midterms to Build Bridges, Explain Islam
The Muslim Community Center on North Elston Avenue hosted an open house this weekend, inviting neighbors to observe prayers and learn about the faith's core teachings in the wake of a divisive election season.
CHICAGO â The Muslim Community Center opened its doors to the public this weekend, offering neighbors a chance to observe prayers, tour the facility and ask questions about Islam in what leaders described as an effort to build understanding after a contentious midterm election cycle.
The open house at the center, located at 4380 N. Elston Ave., drew visitors including Amy Montgomery, who said the experience offered a new perspective even though she had visited mosques before.
"It's always wonderful to just engage with the local community, and this isn't my first time in the mosque, but it's my first time in a mosque here in Chicago," Montgomery said.
Attendees moved between tables set up to explain the faith's beliefs, principles and practices, including the five pillars of Islam and the tradition of charitable giving. Visitors also had the opportunity to watch prayer services.
Paula Bui, another attendee, said she valued the chance to ask direct questions and clear up misconceptions.
"It's been really interesting. I really, really deeply appreciate how open this is, the opportunity to ask questions and understand more about Islam," Bui said. "I think it's important for us all to be and feel more connected to one another and be able to understand one another instead of having these barriers."
The Muslim Community Center has served the area for nearly six decades. Organizers said the event was designed to help visitors distinguish between cultural traditions and religious teachings.
Sabeel Ahmed, executive director of the Gainpeace Project and a volunteer at the mosque, said misconceptions often arise when people conflate the customs of predominantly Muslim countries with the faith itself.
"When people see certain cultures, maybe Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, they may think that is reflective of Islam, but those are cultural practices," Ahmed said. "Islam is something we would like them to know and get educated" about.
Shaad Syed, chair of the mosque's committee, said the open house aimed to highlight shared values.
"There are more things in common between us and people of other faiths," Syed said. "It's really important for us to relate what's common between us and build a small strong bond."
Syed said this was the second time the center has hosted such an event and that another open house is planned in the coming months.
The gathering came as Michigan voters elected Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, a milestone that supporters said underscored the growing visibility of Muslim Americans in public life.