From The Seattle Globalist
by Ashley Walls
Aneelah Afzali meets me at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound’s mosque, which is tucked away in a small industrial center in Redmond. Afzali rushes up to greet me. She wears a bright green abaya, a style of Muslim dress, a bright smile adorns her face, and her bubbly and energetic personality leads me into the entryway.
We enter, and Afzali shows me how to wrap a scarf around my head, observing the modest tradition. While wearing a hijab is not required in the mosque, it is recommended as a sign of respect.
As we continue through the mosque, with its marble floors and crisp white architecture, she guides me on a tour. The mosque features a large prayer hall, a daycare center, a basketball court that turns into an event hall, a women’s-only gym, and classrooms and conference rooms.
The prayer room is divided by gender, with separate entrances for men and women, and as we walk past, the mosque’s imam is leading a class. The teachings are broadcast over a speaker so you can hear the lesson throughout the building.
The pursuit of knowledge is a requirement on all Muslims, Afzali explains, as I join her for a class she is coordinating on the Bible through a Muslim lens. Afzali greets people walking in, including several Christians who seem to be regulars at these interfaith classes. She directs us to light refreshments, including her mother’s homemade roht, a sweet Afghan bread.
Afzali is active in this mosque, but she wasn’t always so involved with her faith. Growing up, her family did not go to the mosque. While her mom was a devout Muslim who would pray five times a day, the rest of her family observed their faith mainly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Today, Afzali strives to learn and teach others about the faith that changed the course of her life.
