CAIRO,
July 30 (IslamOnline.net) - US Muslims in central Wisconsin are to
build their first mosque in the city by early winter, to replace their
current place of prayers in the form of a hospital room, according to
a local daily.
Around
20 families, many of whom are working at the Saint Joseph Hospital or
the Marshfield clinic are performing prayers in a room at the
hospital, reported the Wausau Daily Herald on Thursday July 29.
"We
really need some Islamic center here to have a religious place where
we can perform prayer," Dr. Qasim Raza, a Marshfield Clinic
employee and president of the Islamic Society of Central Wisconsin,
told the paper.
The
nearest mosques to the community are located in Eau Claire and
Appleton.
The
Islamic Society of Central Wisconsin has bought 1.5 acres in the town
of McMillan to build the mosque for around $33.500.
The
new mosque will include a main prayer hall, a place for women to
worship and an area for youth classes.
"We'll
have future expansions as families grow, but for the time being, we
only need a smaller building where we can accommodate the
families," Raza said.
Religious
Center
The
mosque is expected to serve more than a religious center for Muslims
in the area.
"We
are kind of looking at is as an educational center for people of
different faiths to tell them how we actually live, what traditions,
cultural traditions," said Muhammad Siddiqi, a Marshfield Clinic
environmental toxicologist.
"There
are a lot of misunderstandings about us," Siddiqi told the Wausau
Daily Herald.
"That
is not reflective of the true religion," he said. "In every
religion you will find people on both extremes.
"Our
basic idea would be to ask people to read it for themselves and if
they do have any questions regarding it, we can provide answers to the
maximum of our abilities and knowledge."
Many
of the Muslims in the Wisconsin community are professionals. They are
busy with their own work to that extent they have no chance to connect
to the non-Muslim community.
"Personally,
I believe we have not performed our duty to teach what our religion is
and what our spirit is. A religion should not be judged by one person
or group of people. It should be judged by its teachings,"
Siddiqi added.
Salat
(prayer) is the second Pillar of Islam. Muslims perform prayers five
times a day, They turn towards the Ka’abah in Makkah (Mecca) and
perform ritual prayers.
Praying
in congregation is important for building community.
