Fireproof faith: Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau celebrates holy mont...

May 29, 2020

Fireproof faith: Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau celebrates holy month of Ramadan

While already attempting to safely celebrate Ramadan amid the pandemic, community members at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau were targeted by a hate crime on Friday, April 24, 2020, and their mosque was destroyed. Despite the obstacles, the local Muslim community overcame the trials and celebrated the holy month with enduring faith and steadfast belief in God.

Ben Matthews

Shafiq Malik, left, bumps elbows with Anisur Rahman after celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a day of celebration marking the end of Ramadan, on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Traditionally, the celebration would conclude with community members exchanging hugs and partaking in a potluck brunch, but the local Muslim community was unable to do so this year due to the pandemic.

Umar Aziz wears a face mask with a handwritten greeting of "Eid Mubarak" to mark the celebration Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau.

Local imam Dr. Tahsin Khalid, center, leads a group of more than 30 men in prayer during Eid al-Fitr, a day of celebration marking the end of Ramadan, on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. To abide by local and state recommendations for social distancing, the local Muslim community took the temperatures of all who entered the building, stationed hand sanitizer at all entrances, marked 6-foot distances between each prayer rug and provided masks to those who attended.

Shafiq Malik spreads his hands during prayer Friday, May 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau.

A sign bearing a message of unity stands above a pile of ashes and burnt debris Sunday, April 26, 2020, at the Islamic Center of Cape in Cape Girardeau.

From left, Dr. Tahsin Khalid prepares to lead Dhuhr prayer as Hafez Amer watches Shafiq Malik and Ijaz Ahmad spread foam mats to soften the floor before placing their prayer rugs Friday, May 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau.

Muddassir Ahmed recites the adhan, an Islamic call to prayer, before participating in the Dhuhr prayer on Friday, May 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau.

Local imam Dr. Tahsin Khalid delivers a sermon before leading members of the local Islamic community in the Dhuhr prayer on Friday, May 8, 2020, at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau.

Local imam Dr. Tahsin Khalid delivers a sermon after leading the Dhuhr prayer on Friday, May 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Typically, multiple daily prayers are held at the local mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, but many observances were unable to be held this year due social restrictions imposed by the coronavirus.

Members of the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau participate in the Dhuhr prayer on Friday, May 8, 2020, at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau.

Artwork created by local artists Christy Moore and Craig Thomas hangs over burnt sections of the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau on Sunday, May 17, 2020 about four weeks after an arsonist set fire to the facility on the first morning of Ramadan.

Pairs of shoes rest inside the doorway of a makeshift mosque alongside a table containing an infrared thermometer, hand sanitizer and face masks during an Eid al-Fitr service on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Cape Girardeau after the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. The local Islamic Center was destroyed on April 24, the first day of Ramadan, and an adjacent building has since been used as an alternative place of worship.

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