Source:The Local
The Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” (‘God is greatest’) resonated through the crowded Ibn-Rushd-Goethe-Mosque Friday as US-Malaysian Ani Zonneveld, one of the world’s few female imams, launched the call to prayer.
Then one of the founders of the new place of worship, lawyer and women’s rights activist Seyran Ates, opened the event with words of welcome before Christian and Jewish guests and a large media contingent.
“We want to send a signal against Islamic terror and the misuse of our religion,” said Turkish-born Ates, 54, dressed in a long white robe. “We want to practise our religion together.”
Ates — no stranger to breaking taboos, having called for a “sexual revolution” in the Muslim world — vowed she would not allow ultra-conservatives “to rob me of my right to be Muslim”.
Kneeling on green carpets, the faithful — men and women, side by side — bowed to Mecca for the traditional prayer as the imam spoke in German.
Some of the women wore veils or head coverings, others did not.
‘Depoliticise’ Islam
The new mosque, the 88th in the German capital, is located in a rented room on the third floor of the Protestant Johanniskirche (St. John’s Church) building.
All Muslims — Sunni or Shia, Alawite or Sufi — are welcome in the mosque named after one of Germany’s greatest writers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and 12th century Islamic scholar Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes.
The seven founding members said they want to open their prayer hall to all groups, including gays and lesbians.
“This mosque allows Muslims to define themselves in a new way,” said co-founder and German Islam scholar Abdel-Hakim Ourghi.
He added that “we will try to depoliticise Islam”, as the religion was being torn by rival political movements. “Because religion is a private matter.”
Police stood guard outside the entrance of the building.
The founders said they had not received any threats or insults, but that they fully expected not everyone would be happy.
Categories: Europe, Europe and Australia, European Union, Germany, ISLAM, Islam, Islam in the press
Reblogged this on Progressive Islam. and commented:
Quote —He added that “we will try to depoliticise Islam”, as the religion was being torn by rival political movements. “Because religion is a private matter.”===
I agree 100 percent that Islam is private matter— between Creator and creation human being.
Most Islamic clerics use Islam for gaining the Power—then they use the power to impose their belief to others . If others do not follow them will be accussed enemy of Islam
Enemy of Islam have to be punished untill they convert to their belief.
Conversely Liberal Prigressive respect and accept the different belief. Let God judge our belief in Him, Hod knows every thing.
Some Sects of Islam not only to gain the power also to earn money for his interest.
Islam should be spreaded sincerly, lovely and pecefully withour discriminating others
All love ❤️
Dear Rafiq, Zia, and CS
Ahmadiyyah enjoy to live in liberal society, like Europe and US— I believe Ahmadiyyah do not support the Conservative Christen like Trump Government.
If you enjoy with liberal society, Ahmadiyyah should support Liberal Muslim and Progressive Muslim who against extremist or conservative government instead support the extremist ideology.
What do you think?
All love ❤️
Ahmadiyya is not a political movement. Consequently the Ahmadiyya leadership does not ‘give out’ instructions as to how to vote.