Schaumburg's enthusiastic neighbors join in Masjid Al Huda's Open Mosque Day

More than 200 guests, including politicians, faith leaders and local residents gathered at a Masjid Al Huda Midwest Islamic Center on a cloudy Saturday morning, March. 11, in Schaumburg to listen to a panel of speakers.

Schaumburg's neighbors and people of many faiths were invited to visit the Masjid Al Huda Midwest Islamic Center during the annual Open Mosque Day. which was held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Every year Masjid Al Huda mosques in Schaumburg open their doors for friends and neighbors to ask questions, converse and eat with the Muslim community. Each mosque has food, presentations and tours set up for visitors. The center hosted guests in the space of the Main Prayers Hall, which was lined with informative posters on Islam and Muslims.

The master of ceremonies was Salman Faiz, and the program began with Tilawat E Quran by Qari Ali. Welcome and opening remarks were conducted by President Imran Khan.

"The whole purpose of the month is to educate, dispel myths and build bridges," said Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, a renowned Muslim scholar.

Features of the day at the Masjid Al Huda included guided tours of the mosque, Islamic exhibitions, Q&A sessions (which provided the expert panel of Imams the opportunity to clear up any misconceptions that visiting non-Muslims may have heard about our religion), and a variety of family orientated activities.

Open Mosque Day at Masjid Al Huda takes place annually but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our Purpose in hosting such events, which are healthy to our communities along with our neighbors, helping build bridges to form alliances within our neighbors and communities," said Imran Khan, president, Masjid Al Huda.

The event was organized with the help of a group called Gain Peace. Guests were given the opportunity to obtain free Islamic literature, which was provided by Gain Peace, which is the outreach department of the Islamic Circle of North America.

Imam Sheikh Mahmoud Ali highlighted the basic of Islam, after which Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, director of the Gain Peace outreach program, gave an overview of the religion of Islam, covering such topics as women's rights in Islam and Sharia law. In his presentation, Ahmed touched on some of the similarities between Islam and other Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Judaism.