Wednesday, September 01, 2004

People curious about a large yellow and blue sign that reads Scott, Murphy & Daniel at Morgantown Road and Willoughby Lane are learning that a new Islamic Cultural Center will be built there.

That has prompted numerous questions about the identity of the Islamic community, according to Nagy Morsi, a doctor at the Ashley Medical Center in Bowling Green. He is a member of the Islamic Cultural Center at 746 Old Morgantown Road and is coordinating the construction of the new and expanded building.

Expected to be complete in February, the site will be the first self-owned place of worship for the Islamic community here. The group has rented space in various locations and has been a part of the community since 1998.

According to Morsi, membership at the Islamic Cultural Center has steadily grown to 3,000, justifying the expansion. He added that membership is predominantly Bosnian and many Bosnians have located in Warren County because of the existence of the International Center.

The 7,000-square-foot building will contain two classrooms for teaching children about the Quran, a library and a main room for services.

It will cost between $700,000 and $800,000, and the Islamic Culture Center of Bowling Green is using funds from member donations to pay for the construction.

The Islam religion is a very peaceful religion, Morsi said. Many things are common in Islamic and Christian religion. Islam honors Jesus as a prophet, and his teaching as prophesy from God. Muslims read the New Testament and the Old Testament. And in a sense, the religion is an extension of both the Jewish and Christian religions, adding to them the revelations of the Prophet Mohammed. We are part of this community. Our children are Americans. We love our country.

Augusta Mayfield, Morsis wife, a doctor and a Christian, considers well-publicized Islamic extremism much like extremism in any religion.

There has been a lot of press, she said. I wouldnt want our community to think there are extremists here.

The major difference between Islam and Christianity comes in the role of Jesus, according to John Long, the head of the department of Philosophy and Religion at Western Kentucky University.

In Christianity, Jesus is the son of God. Muslims recognize him as a prophet, in whom God has entrusted revelations. Generally, each profits revelations correct whatever people may have corrupted of the previous prophets revelations.

The Muslims scripture, the Quran, says that there is no son of God that is a sharer of Gods divinity, Long said. There is only one deity.

Where Christians believe the death of Jesus brought forgiveness of sins, Muslims believe no one but God can forgive sins.

Those who choose to visit a Friday service anyone may come can share in a Friday Noon Prayer. Members meet at 1 p.m., and when daylight savings time adjusts, they will meet at noon.

For more information about the local Muslim community, contact Imam (minister) Muaz Redzic of the Islamic Cultural Center.

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