| Archive for bridgebuilder.myfreeforum.org bridgebuilding effort, cross culture, cross faith, not bridge construction |
| obmar |
Muslims, Christians Rebuild Ukraine MosqueMuslims, Christians Rebuild Ukraine MosqueBy Damir Ahmed, Islamonline.net correspondent Tue., Sep. 26, 2006 http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-09/26/06.shtml MOSCOW — Christians have joined their fellow Muslims in Ukraine to help rebuild the country's oldest mosque, during the holy fating month of Ramadan. "Christian brothers offered their help to rebuild the Khavidrali Mosque," Rashid Brakhin, head of the Union of Muslim Minority in the city of Kharkov, where the mosque is located, told IslamOnline.net Tuesday, September 26. "There is only one God and that is enough for us," he added. "They are helping to build the house on Allah." Founded over 100 years ago, the mosque was flattened by Soviet forces in 1936 on claims that it hindered the flow of a local river in Kharkov. Above the decorated minaret of the mosque lies a crescent directed towards the Ka`bah in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the direction Muslims worldwide take during prayers. Ukraine is home to some two million Muslims making up 4% of the overall 48 million population. Ukrainian Muslims are of diver roots, hailing from the Crimean Tatars, Azeri people, Chechens and Arabs. Full swing Ukrainian Muslims have swung into action with the start of Ramadan on Sunday, September 24, to rebuild the mosque. The reconstruction is expected to complete in two or three years' time mainly because of lack of finances. For the time being, Muslims decorated the mosque with flowers, festoons and silver crescents. They also hurried up with setting up makeshift windows made of plastic to protect the faithful from the freezing cold at night. There are up to 200 mosques and 20 Islamic centers in the country which remained under the Soviet Communist grip until the collapse of the Soviet Union, after which it won independence in August 1991. |
| The Inquisitor |
obmar,
This is fantastic. We need more stories that talk about the brotherhood of man, not the belicosity of man. |
| obmar |
Yes we all should.
small steps to a brighter future. |