As a culmination to a series on Islam called “The Jesus Fatwah,” about 30 people from The Fountains, a United Methodist Church, Congregational Church of the Valley, and Congregation Beth Hagivot recently visited a local masjid, the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley.

The visit included a tour of the current facilities (including one of the ablution spaces), a walk-through of the new Mosque being built on Via Linda and evening prayer.

“To help counter the biased messages of so much of the media and Internet, our group was eager to personally interact with our Muslim neighbors,” said UMC Rev. David Felten.

Elizabeth Cabalka said, “What a joy to be so welcomed and to have such a positive, refreshing experience of Islam and their worshipping community.”

Judy Hines of Fountain Hills said, “Having lived in Saudi Arabia myself, it was wonderful to experience and celebrate such religious diversity right here in our own neighborhood."

Felten offered special thanks to Azra Hussain for help in organizing the visit and Mahmoud Jaroudi for his hospitality and patience with everyone’s questions.