From The Joplin Globe
By Roger McKinney news@joplinglobe.com
On the anniversary of the suspicious fire that destroyed the Islamic Society of Joplin Mosque, plans for rebuilding the mosque inside the city are coming into clearer focus.
Joplin Muslims were the hosts for an interfaith iftar meal Saturday at their temporary location at the Pavilions West Shopping Center, 32nd Street and McClelland Boulevard. Members of local Christian churches and the United Hebrew Congregation synagogue joined local Muslims for the meal, breaking the day’s Ramadan fast.
Ramadan, which ends Wednesday night, is a Muslim holy month of fasting during daylight hours and prayer. Ramadan ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, beginning Wednesday night.
It was during Ramadan last year, on Aug. 6, when local Muslims were shocked and saddened by the destruction of their mosque at 1302 S. Black Cat Road in a suspicious fire. The roof of the mosque had been damaged by a fire on July 4. A surveillance video of that incident shows a man throwing a flaming item onto the roof of the mosque and running away.
An investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was inconclusive as to the cause of the Aug. 6 fire, but the July 4 fire has been declared an arson fire.
Members of Joplin’s religious community responded to the Aug. 6 fire by putting on an interfaith iftar meal at South Joplin Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and with a mosque support rally at Landreth Park. Other interfaith events have followed since then. Joplin’s Muslim community invited community members to its celebration of Eid al-Fitr last year.
Shafique Chowdhury was among those participating in the iftar on Saturday. He said he has forgiven whoever destroyed the mosque, because that is what Islam teaches. He said the best response to such actions is to show mercy and to educate.
“Ignorance is the problem here,” he said of the burning of the mosque. He said if the person or people who destroyed the mosque thought they would achieve something, they failed. Chowdhury said that is shown by the community’s response to the fire.
“Love can win over hatred,” he said. “You cannot burn my heart. You cannot burn my belief or my faith.”
Chowdhury said the community response also reinforced another point.
“We are part of this country,” he said. “We are part of this community.”
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