A US-based imam has highlighted the importance of tolerance and religious freedom.
Addressing an audience comprising expatriates and Qataris at an Iftar gathering at the Amna Bint Wahab School for Girls recently, Baltimore-based imam Mohamed Bashar Arafat highlighted the significance of tolerance and religious freedom as enshrined in the Holy Qu’ran and the US Constitution.
Later, US Ambassador Joseph LeBaron recalled the contributions made by Arafat in establishing the Citizens Exchange and Co-operation Foundation.
Speaking in Arabic, the envoy said the foundation had stressed the importance of interfaith dialogues as a means to promote understanding between the US and Muslims in other countries.
With more than 2,000 mosques and several million Muslims freely practising their faith in the US, the Foundation believed the US as an important part of the Muslim world, Ambassador LeBaron said.
The Imam answered some questions about Muslims in America during his September 16-18 visit, including one from a student at the Al Wakra Preparatory School for Girls, who asked if Muslim women were allowed to wear hijabs at work.
Pointing to the Cultural Attaché from the American embassy in Doha, Arafat said, “Here is an American Muslim working for the US government, and she’s wearing a hijab.”
Many students were surprised to learn that American Muslims, including Muslim women who wear the hijab, enjoy rights equal to other American citizens.
Arafat also visited three other schools and spoke during Taraweeh prayers at three mosques, including the FANAR centre.
In true Qatari style, Imam Arafat was also warmly received at the Doha Youth Center, where he implored his young audience to work together with Americans towards greater understanding through interfaith dialogue.
Meanwhile, a team from IBQ visited the children’s ward at Hamad Hospital to distribute gifts on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
The IBQ volunteers collected donations and purchased gifts for the children. The initiative is one of the several good deeds the bank has undertaken during the Holy month of Ramadan under its ‘Do Good deeds in the month of charity’ campaign.
Executive director of marketing and public relations of Hamad hospital thanked the IBQ for sharing the joy of Eid al-Fitr with children saying: “This clearly demonstrates the bank’s commitment to provide moral support to sick children during the festive season.”
GT
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