410 Forum — News
Much To Learn About Islam In Greeley
By Desiree' Beckett
The women’s entrance into the nondescript mosque is through a locked, curtained glass door. Inside is a short, dark staircase that leads down to an empty room. The quiet women’s area is filled with the constant creaking of men walking around above. Suddenly one sings a prayer. After a pause the speaker embedded in the wall crackles to life. The man prays in Arabic over the speaker, at times speaking so softly it seems like he’s speaking to himself and other times singing intently.
All of this could seem strange or mysterious, especially if you’re a woman, as women are to pray in a different room from men, including the prayer leader. Unless you practice Islam, there’s a fairly good chance that you didn’t know this. But for the 800 East African Muslims who worship here, this is common knowledge.
The way that the East African Muslim community in Greeley worships is not very well known to outsiders. They have not been here very long, and as a result, some people don’t know about the way they live and worship. For the people of Greeley, there is much to learn; fortunately, this community wants to share this information.
People might not know that this community has several resources in town for East African Muslims. A drive to 938 13th St. will bring you to the East African Community Center, where Graen Isse is the director and spokesperson. He says that all of the people who come in for English as a Second Language classes or financial and health care assistance are Muslim. They do not have many issues that can’t be remedied, but the biggest one is finding work after the labor dispute that resulted in many unemployed Muslim workers at J.B.S. Swift and Company.
“Greeley people, that’s the only thing they know, that it was Somali and Muslim people,” Isse said. “Most people didn’t know we were here or not. Wherever they apply, they’re not getting hired.” The Center does provide assistance with finding work. As far as religious assistance goes, the workers at the Center direct newcomers to Greeley’s Islamic heart: the mosque at 1600 Eighth Ave.
Meet Omar Mussa, the imam, or religious leader, at the mosque. He’s been in Greeley for about 30 years. He maintains that while relations may not have been perfect, the Muslim community is integrated here, and even protected when necessary.
“In the community here we are very respected,” Mussa said. “The police, they are very helpful people. They say if anything happens, vandalism or anything, call them immediately.”
The East African Muslims pray five times a day and can do so at the mosque. However, few of them make it there regularly.
“They are busy working. You don’t expect them to show up all the time,” said Ahmed Refaat, a Muslim who has lived in Greeley since 1967.
It isn’t necessary to pray at the mosque, though, and they will take time to pray wherever they are. According to Isse, they’ll even pray at the East African Community Center if they are already there.
The consensus about the East African Muslims in Greeley is that they are a part of the community and are happy to share information about their religion and culture with anyone who’s interested.
“They want to be integrated into America. They’re anxious to learn the Greeley way of life and community,” said Maria Sanchez, who, through her efforts with Realizing Our Community, works frequently with the East African community in Greeley.
“Get to know people first, they’re human beings,” Isse says to Greeley residents about the East African population.
“If [non-Muslims] are interested, then they’re welcome. If anybody is interested and they come here, we give them information about Islam,” Mussa said.
The women’s room in the mosque is quiet, but the Muslim women in Greeley are undoubtedly taking a break from their busy lives across the city to pray. The constant creaking of the ceiling is likely common in buildings that have a 30-plus year history, like the mosque. If Greeley residents take the chance to learn more about the people and culture, the mysterious aspects can make more sense. If you’re curious, visit the mosque for a prayer service or the East African Community Market on Eighth Avenue that sells halal food, which conforms to Muslim dietary laws. If you want to know how a Muslim from East Africa or anywhere else feels about living here, just ask. The East African Muslim community is part of the Greeley community, and it’s easier than you may think to learn more about it.
More Information
The East African Muslim community is unique to Greeley, but Islam is the same no matter where the worshipper is from. The Islam faith includes the following:
• the belief that there is only one God, who is Allah;
• five prayers a day;
• five pillars of Islam, including the prayers, a pilgrimage to Mecca, helping the poor, fasting during Ramadan and declaring the faith;
• a special dietary guideline known as halal, which is similar to kosher in the Jewish faith; part of halal is the absence of pork and alcohol;
• major holidays, including Eid Al- Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid Al- Adha, which is observed during the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Source: Graen Isse and East African Community of Colorado Web site.
