DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 1997          TAG: 9711190519

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LIZ SZABO, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   60 lines

CHESAPEAKE COUNCIL GETS BLESSING OF ISLAM

For the first time, the City Council convened Tuesday night with the help of Allah.

``All praise is due to Allah, merciful benefactor. . . . Bless this government body so they may express the aspirations of all people.''

With this prayer, Ali Abdul Salaam, dressed in a white Kufi hat, became the first Muslim to deliver the opening invocation at a meeting of the City Council. Salaam's wife, Krystal, dressed in a traditional hijab head covering, prayed with him from the audience with their 5-year-old son, Jibreel.

``This is a real honor,'' said Ali Salaam, who was invited to the council meeting after consulting with Chesapeake officials about plans to build a mosque in the Hickory area. ``It shows that Chesapeake is a progressive city. The city's leadership has really supported us. They know we're trying to peacefully co-exist with Christians and Jews.''

Raising money for the mosque will take several years, said Salaam.

Meanwhile, Muslims observe Friday worship, called Jumuah, at the Indian River Community Center. Norfolk and Portsmouth have their own mosques, Salaam said.

Building a religious community takes more than bricks and mortar, Salaam said. He said it also takes understanding and tolerance.

``We hope the community will see something positive in this,'' Salaam said. ``Islam has been one of the most misunderstood religions.''

Chesapeake has become increasingly diverse in recent years. It is home to the headquarters of the Christian Coalition, as well as South Hampton Roads' only Buddhist and Hindu temples.

But the city's few Muslims - about five families - say that while outright prejudice is rare, they encounter much ignorance.

Amirah Muhammad's long dresses and hijab often prompt curious stares from non-Muslims, she said. Sometimes, the stares are hostile. Once, at a frozen-yogurt shop, a family left the restaurant after Muhammad and her husband entered. Karim Azeez said he was laid off from a construction job after supervisors learned he was Muslim.

And some people confuse the teachings of Islam with violence committed by political extremists, said Neophia Ricketts.

``When they (the media) report about the bad things in the Middle East, they call it `Islamic terrorists,' but that's a contradiction in terms,'' Ricketts said. ``Islam does not promote terrorism.''

To promote understanding of their religion, Muslims have donated copies of the Koran to city libraries, high schools and community colleges. In January, the Chesapeake Central Library will begin subscribing to the Muslim Journal, a national publication, Salaam said.

To serve other Muslims, Ricketts recently began counseling inmates at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women, and Omar Muhammad became the first Islamic chaplain at the Chesapeake City Jail. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot

Ali Abdul Salaam gives the opening prayer at the Chesapeake City

Council meeting on Tuesday. Salaam and his family were invited to

the council meeting after he consulted with Chesapeake officials

about long-term plans to raise money to build a mosque in the

Hickory area.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu