Little Mosque in the suburbs
The story began in 1954 when 30 Palestinian-American families originally from Beitunia started their 1000-mile journey to build a mosque in the Southside of Chicago. The dream turned into a nightmare when extremists took over the mosque in 1982.
The Chicago Tribune conducted an investigation into the history of the mosque. I will copy a few excerpts: "Omar Najib, a former mosque attorney who once helped hard-liners take control of the mosque but now regrets what he did. “ I feel sorry," Najib said recently. "My faith has been hijacked by a few extremists.”
Moderate Muslims still pray at the mosque, but some say conservatives have created an environment that is overly political, too rigid in its interpretation of Islam and resistant to open debate. These members also worry that the Muslim Brotherhood, a controversial group with a violent past, has an undue influence over the mosque. Despite these concerns, the critics largely remain silent, fearful of being called "unIslamic" by mosque leaders
Another mosque in Quincy, Massachusetts had a similar struggle as the newly elected, extremist board pushed out the moderate imam and replaced him with Imam who was later arrested on immigration fraud charges. The case is still pending. The replacement of the moderate imam was the tipping point that divided the community, after 41 years of being a cohesive, pluralistic, strong, and multiethnic community.
This battle has been happening in America, Canada, and Australia for decades. Extremists take over Mosques and Islamic centers when they ripen. Sheikh Hisham Kabbani, a Sufi Cleric and the head of the Supreme Islamic Council of America has been warning about such possibility for almost two decades. His warnings proved to be extraordinarily prescient.
The story of extremist takeover is now being repeated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. This is an affluent, diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious community located among the northwest suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. The Muslim Unity Center has been touted as an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming mosque. This moderate center is heading rapidly into the extremist lane. The early signs are unmistakable, and clearly visible to the infrequent visitor. Some regulars may miss the gradual change, but is very apparent. There is an air of Puritanism. One member told me: it feels tense, less friendly; people do not greet you any more, it is really scary”. New imported members are replacing the original ones; the new comers have no affinity to the ideals of the center, some have extremist ideology; others are clearly living in the “old country” and have not made the mental transformation of being an American. I found that some members attempt to masquerade the rising Puritanism it, but it is hard to miss. The media is starting to notice and the buzz on the town is that this center is on its way to be another rigid outdated institution for the Old Guard.
The battle to take back Islam is at the heart of all of these struggles. A whole generation of Muslims have never known or lived moderate Islam. They have no frame of reference. Saudi-sponsored propaganda saturates their heads, either through books or through the teachings of their imams. It is the duty of all people of conscience to help the moderate Muslims everywhere, including at the Muslim Unity center to maintain moderation, balance and adherence to American Pluralism.
It is the duty of all people of conscience to help the moderate force in Bloomfield Hills stand up to the extremists. The future of Islam in America hinges on this battle.
Add your voice to the struggle for moderation
Tell the Leadership of the Unity Center to uphold the genuine Islamic values of inclusiveness, love, compassion, equality, and social engagement.
Save the Unity Center.