WASHINGTON — It’s a Washington National Cathedral first that’s drawing
national attention: the landmark will host the first Muslim prayer service
inside its
walls Friday.
As the boys choir practiced behind them, cathedral and local mosque leaders
planned
the final details of the service.
“It’s a very different day for the cathedral, and it grew out of a
relationship
with [South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool] when we
were working together on the service for Nelson
Mandela that happened in the cathedral about a year ago,” says Rev. Canon
Gina Gilland Campbell.
In the cathedral, Rasool saw similarities to a
mosque, and the two explored the idea.
“It struck me as so unusual — two people standing in a house of worship could
see
their prayer in the same place,” Gilland Campbell says.
“We didn’t want it to be a stunt. We didn’t want it to be a cliche. We wanted
it
to be different and it’s different because the moment is right,” Rasool says.
While the idea is drawing criticism, both leaders point out that Muslims
across the United States have been worshiping in friendly churches and
synagogues
for decades, as there is often a lack of facilities.
“I think in some ways, because the cathedral is seen as a national church, it
draws a different kind of attention. But we’re not doing anything that isn’t
being done in this country already,” Gilland Campbell says.
The point of coming together is not only to broaden understanding between the
two groups, but also to disarm the religious extremists that aim to drive them
apart, Rasool says.
“What we want Muslims to do is not to wallow in alienation but [we want] to
say you’ve been embraced. Therefore you don’t have to step out of the middle
ground to be heard,” Rasool says.
The service is open by invitation only and will begin at noon. The
cathedral will be closed to the public during the hour-long service and will
reopen at 2 p.m.
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