In response to the discussions of burning Qur’an in United States, the Muslim Communities living around Washington called on unity by performing their prayers at some of the churches and synagogues. On the occasion of Eid al- Fitr, Muslims gathered together at Mosques and some community centers as well as some churches and synagogues that opened their doors to them to perform prayers.
Zafar Farooqi, the Director of McLean Islam Center, expressed his happiness of performing Eid al-Fitr prayer at a church saying; “This occasion shows that we can unite and understand each other although we come from separate faiths. In the Qur’an, it is revealed as; ‘You have your faith and I have my faith.’ Nobody can prevent us from living our religion and similarly we have to respect to others’ faiths. Here, the practice and the interaction of the faiths are quite the opposite of the manner seized by the Church in Florida and the priest over there. The church here understands the Qur’an’s message of unity and brotherhood.”
Zuhair Shaath, a member of All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, stated that the church’s opening its doors to Muslims displays that not all the Christians take sides with the idea of burning Qur’an. Shaath also told that it is important for all faiths to know each other by saying; “Celebrating the Eid al-Fitr here in church reveals that we can come together although we believe in different faiths.”