By Susan Vela
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Abdul-Rahman Jaziah reads a sermon to people attending Friday afternoon services at the Islamic Association of Cincinnati mosque in Clifton. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

Because hate crimes, religious profiling and other forms of discrimination could lie ahead for them, a call to lead by example resonated with almost 200 Muslims who gathered for afternoon prayer Friday at a Clifton mosque.

In Arabic, Abdul-Rahman Jaziah led a prayer for the innocent people in Iraq. In English, he prayed that those gathered here for prayer would abstain from alcohol, crime and any wrongdoing against humankind.

"We are independent thinkers who are qualified to lead the others," he said. "There will be standing up for the truth until the Day of Judgment. The question is, are you there or not? We are needed ... to lead humanity into the right directions."

Many Muslims said they've never felt so committed to Islam - a religion grounded in peaceful behavior and submission to Allah.

Ashfaque Karim hails from India but has been a United States citizen for more than a decade. The bearded, dark-skinned man knows that he appears different from many Greater Cincinnatians.

Because of the war, he knows that some might resort to stereotypes and lump him in with terrorists.

"It's not been the easiest time," he said. "But nonetheless we must take this to be a test and trial and have patience during these times and do what is right and what is just and (that) we uphold the true message of Allah."

About 150 men and 50 women gathered at the Islamic Association of Cincinnati's mosque, which is in the 3600 block of Clifton Avenue. They prayed in separate areas - the men on the first floor, the women on the second. The mosque has 400 members, who pray there five times a day.

Fatma Salama, 23, of West Chester, attended the afternoon sermon, where she met some of her friends. The Arab-American of Egyptian descent said they were planning to protest the war in Iraq at Clifton Avenue and Calhoun Street.

She promised to promote peace but vowed that she will not compromise her faith - or ever take off the hijab, or veil - if she is a victim of hate crimes or religious profiling.

"I'm never taking this off. It's my right. Isn't it in the Bill of Rights? You have the right to religion," said the impassioned young woman. "With everything that's going on right now, everybody's got their eyes on us."

There are about 15,000 Muslims in Greater Cincinnati. The 2000 Census indicated that only 18 identified themselves as being of Iraqi descent.

Salama wouldn't be surprised if she returns to her post-9-11 practice of going out of her way to be kind to others. It was then that she started letting everyone pass her on the highway.

"Nine times out of 10, you may be the first Muslim they've ever met," she said. "That's always on my conscience."

Rozina Bhi, a Pakistani, attended Friday afternoon's prayer service with her husband and their 2- and 5-year-old sons. Her prayers, she said, have intensified over the past days.

"Prayer is the answer," she said. "Prayer is the only solution. Just to pray to God for all the troops and all the innocent children."

E-mail svela@enquirer.com