(Editor’s note: This is the second story in a continuing series on Religious Diversity Journeys. Ten Brandon Middle School students are taking part in the program and learning about various religions by visiting a different house of worship monthly. This story features Islam. Last week’s introductory story on the program, ‘There is no right way of religion,? featured Judaism and Christianity and can be found at
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Sarah Pesta removed her shoes and covered her head with a scarf before entering the prayer hall at the Muslim Unity Center on Wednesday.
The experience was a new one for the Brandon Middle School student and her classmate, Journey Timmermans, as well as roughly 150 other seventh grade students and their adult chaperones. Timmermans described the requirement for females to wear a head scarf as ‘weird,? but Pesta believed it to be inclusive.
‘I really liked that we got to be a part of it? we got to experience what they do,? she said.
Both girls found it interesting that Muslims are called to pray five times per day, not only at the mosque, but where ever they may be.
The head scarves and prayer requirements in Islam struck the students as very different from practices in Judaism and Christianity, two other religions they have learned about as participants in the Religious Diversity Journeys program led by the InterFaith Leadership Council. However, the students were surprised to find many similarities.
Pesta noted all three religions worship one God, and all three recognize Jesus Christ, although only Christians believe him to be the son of God as Jews see him as an ordinary Jewish man and preacher, and Muslims view him as a prophet.
In a slide show presentation which began the students? Islam journey, a ‘family tree? showed Abraham as a descendant of Noah and Adam. The tree branched off, with Isaac and Moses representing the Torah (Judaism) on one side, followed by Jesus. On Abraham’s opposite branch was Ishmael and Mohammad (also found as Muhammad). Muslim Unity Center member and program volunteer Mimo Debrein explained that one of the key differences between Islam, which she began by defining as ‘submission,? and other religions is that Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last of the prophets. Muslims worship God, not Muhammad, but as they believe he was the last prophet, he is an important guide in their religion.
Other major beliefs in the religion include qadr (pre-destination); a belief in thousands of angels (including each Muslim being accompanied by two angels, one who records good deeds and the other ‘not so good deeds,? says Debrein); day of judgment; divine books (Qur’an), and articles of faith.
Alcohol, drugs and pork products are prohibited for Muslims.
In the prayer hall, Shaykh Almasmari, originally from Detroit, but whom studied for 8 years in Yemen before becoming the Imam, or spiritual leader, answered questions about his religion, including why there are more references to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the Qur’an than to Jesus himself.
‘The reason is because she is considered the greatest female role model in history,? said Almasmari. ‘She is one of the most perfect people.?
He also used Mary as an example when explaining why Muslim women must wear head scarves in the mosque.
‘When you see (portrayals of) Mary in churches, she is wearing a scarf,? he said. ‘It’s part of the Islamic tradition, a scarf is part of modesty.?
Women are not required to wear full body coverings, known as hijab or burqas, in the Islamic faith, however, said Almasmari. Instead, some women choose to do so as part of a cultural tradition. Women are not permitted to lead prayer, but can be scholars, teachers, and hold other important roles in their faith.
Lama Samman Nasry, a member of the Muslim Unity Center, said a common misconception about Islam is that the religion is made to harm people, and that Muslims are uneducated, strict, conservative, and close-minded.
‘Islam honors women,? she said. ‘We have fun, I ride bikes and swim, I love wearing hijab, but my daughter, 20, doesn’t wear it unless she comes here.?
The native of Syria cautions young women who wear their head scarves out in public to always be extra careful of their manners and behavior as they are presenting their religion, which faces mistrust and suspicion due to terrorists claiming to represent her faith.
‘I hate the extremists, it is not our religion,? said Nasry. ‘Not all Arabs are Muslims. I love this program because it shows people how Muslims are not trying to convert students, we are trying to show the meaning of Islam. We believe in a peaceful life. My son is in a Catholic school and he is learning about Christianity. The main points of all religions are the same? good morals, manners, faith. There are some differences in the way we worship God, but the main beliefs are the same… Peace and loving the people around us are my favorite things about my religion. My heart breaks when I hear the opposite.?
Almasmari hopes the students were excited to learn about Islam.
‘If they were older, I would tell them to read more about it,? he said. ‘But at this age, we are just looking for acceptance, to embrace a different ideology and diversity.?