The leader of Colorado’s largest mosque reached out Friday to people of other faiths with a message that Islam condemns terrorism, saying those behind the bombings in London and Egypt will have to answer to Allah.
Ahmad Nabhan, imam of the Colorado Muslim Society, said the recent terrorist attacks prompted him to dispel myths about Islam in his sermons at the Arapahoe County mosque.
“Islam is a religion of forgiveness, peace, mercy,” he said.
Nabhan told several hundred Muslims attending Friday prayers that “killing anyone for no reason” is against the Koran. He implored Christians, Jews and those of other faiths to understand that Muslims denounce the attacks in London and Egypt.
The way to fight terrorism, Nabhan said, is to “build peace and justice in the world,” beginning in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Chechnya.
“This is the only way to stop terrorism in the whole world,” he said.
Colorado Muslims said they struggle to educate the small percentage of Americans who believe that terrorists represent their religion.
“We do have our radicals,” said Najwa Jad, a public relations representative for the mosque. “We are not immune from the Timothy McVeighs, the David Koreshes and the KKK.”
Islam does not teach violence or oppress women, as some believe, she said.
“Fear is bred on ignorance,” she said. “People are afraid because they do not know.”
Alexandra Contos, who converted from Christianity to Islam in 2000, said she spends a lot of time explaining to her Christian friends that their religions share the “same scriptures, the same prophets and the same God.”
“It’s been a challenge at times,” she said. “The majority of Americans have been very welcoming and very kind to the Muslim community.”
Muslims said recent comments by U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Littleton Republican who hypothetically suggested the bombing of Islamic holy sites in retaliation for a nuclear attack by terrorists, perpetuate the myths about Islam.
But most Muslims around the world know Tancredo doesn’t “represent the majority of people in this country,” said Mohammad Noorzai, head of the Colorado Muslim Council.
“The only way I can see it is being small-minded,” he said.
Colorado has 15,000 to 20,000 Muslims, about 5,000 of whom attend the Colorado Muslim Society mosque on South Parker Road, Noorzai said.
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-820-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
