Schaumburg mosque elder denounces Orlando shooter's actions at annual interfaith iftar
Religious and civic leaders gathered Wednesday night to take part in the breaking of the fast for Ramadan — called the iftar — at the Masjid Al Huda in Schaumburg.
Dr. Khalid Abdus Sami, an elder at the mosque and retired assistant professor, used the opportunity to speak in front of the interfaith crowd to denounce the actions of Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American Muslim who killed 49 people and injured 53 others inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando.
“His actions have no place in any faith, including Islam,” Sami said. “We believe that all human beings have the right to safety and security, and every human life is invaluable.”
Sami also took time to eulogize perhaps the most famous Muslim American, Muhammad Ali, who died on June 3 at the age of 74. Sami called Ali one of the greatest and most beloved men in American history.
“(Ali) ended the foolish and costly notion that one could not be both Muslim and an American as well,” Sami said. “Muhammad Ali dedicated his life to peace and to being an ambassador of Islam.”
Along with the comments from Sami and other elders, the iftar featured a recitation from the Quran as well as a viewing of a recent TED Talk by Dalia Mogahed, an American Muslim and the director of research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, entitled “What do you think when you look at me?” about the negative perceptions of Muslims in the media.
Ahmas Adbul Karim Jangda, one of the founders of the Masjid Al Huda in Schaumburg, thanked the members of the interfaith community for attending the event.
“For you to inconvenience yourselves on a random weekday to come and bless us all with your presence is truly humbling,” Jangda said. “I hope and pray that we continue to build bridges amongst our communities and each other.”
More than 1,000 suburban Muslim families belong to the Masjid Al Huda in Schaumburg, at 1081 W. Irving Park Road. During Ramadan, which this year goes from June 6 to July 6, Muslims focus on piety, charity and self-improvement, and also abstain from food and drink during daylight hours.