Mosques Are Burning

In the United States it is estimated that there are approximately 2,000 mosques, Islamic centers and Islamic schools that serve a growing American Muslim population of over six million.

The mosque is considered a sacred place of worship for Muslims. It is a place where Muslims come together five times a day to prostrate in prayer before God, or "Allah," the Arabic word for God. But mosques do not only serve as places of worship. Mosques can also serve as an educational institution that provides Qur’an (Muslim Holy Book) and Islamic studies and tutorials.

In the Qur’an it says:

"The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance." (9:18)

Unfortunately in the United States, in recent years, mosques and religious centers have come under vicious attack by arsonists. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in September of 1994 in Yuba City, California, a mosque that was nearly completed was burned to the ground in what was ruled as arson. In October, another mosque was damaged by a suspicious fire in Brooklyn, New York. In April of 1995 a High Point, North Carolina mosque burned and was suspected to be another arson attack. On June 6, 1995 in Springfield, Illinois, a mosque was damaged by fire leaving authorities to believe it could have been the work of arsonists.

This month a mosque in Minneapolis, Minnesota was burned by two fires. According to an article by Jim Adams of the Star Tribune, investigators suspect that the fires were set to hide the burglary of an office inside the Islamic Community Center. Before the first fire occurred witnesses reported seeing two men leaving in a white van. So far no other leads have been reported.

Out of the ashes of the Minnesota mosque disaster came the tremendous support and solidarity between Christian, Jewish, and Muslim community members that shared outrage over this terrible crime. Phone calls were also made to the Islamic Center of Minnesota by the attorney general, the U.S. attorney’s office, and the governor of Minnesota. CAIR offered a $5,000 reward for any information that would lead to the capture and conviction of those responsible for the mosque burning. The St. Paul Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also provided an additional $1,000 to the reward.

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