DETROIT
-- Standing at a podium at Oakland University, a local
Muslim leader is tackling some heated questions.
One man wants to know whether Islam teaches hatred of
Christians; a woman asks why television footage of some
Middle Eastern mosques shows Muslim clerics shouting
"Death to America!"
At times, the small group, here to attend an informal
information session about Islam, erupts in debates about
American foreign policy. But the Imam, cloaked in his
traditional robe and black turban and emanating a sense
of calm, reigns them in.
"Hold on, please," says Imam Sayed Hassan Qazwini.
Islam respects Jews and Christians, calling them "People
of Book," and, he says, the aforementioned fiery clerics
are misguided, following a political agenda rather than
Islam, which is a peaceful religion.
Qazwini is not afraid to engage the crowd about
foreign policy, however. So the discussion lasts beyond
its allotted time, and even the most curt attendee
thanks Qazwini as he leaves the room.
"I think it's healthy to have a discussion, providing
people have the mood and patience to listen to another
opinion," Qazwini says.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks -- and throughout his
tenure as religious leader of the Islamic Center of
America in Detroit -- Qazwini has been a highly visible
spokesman and teacher. Not only has he worked to clear
up misconceptions of Islam, he's pushed the local
American Muslim community to be more involved in
everything from local to national politics.
"We cannot be an isolated community," says Qazwini,
who thinks Muslim Americans could have a greater
influence on things such as American foreign policy in
the Middle East, including reducing aid to Israel and
ending support for undemocratic regimes such as Saudi
Arabia. "We are part of this great society. We have to
work at being proactive American citizens."
Najah Bazzy, a nurse and senior adviser for the
Islamic Center's Young Muslim Association, has attended
many outreach session with the Imam.
"We look at him in amazement," Bazzy says. "You know
right away that he's just and fair and he's very
eloquent. He breaks the stereotype of the stern,
rage-filled cleric."
Part of the awe Qazwini inspires is due to his quick
ascent to national spokesman. When he immigrated to
America nine years ago, Qazwini couldn't speak English.
Listening to him today, that seems impossible. For
the past four years, he has headed the Islamic Center on
the western edge of Detroit abutting Dearborn. The
center is building a 65,000-square-foot, $15 million
mosque that will make it one of the largest in the
country, accommodating more than 1,000 people.
Qazwini has visited two presidents -- George W. Bush
and Bill Clinton -- at the White House and has been
courted by the national media as an expert on Islam.
"Who doesn't know Imam Qazwini?" says Tim Attalla, a
local attorney and national board member of Seeds of
Peace, a nonprofit group that brings together kids from
areas of conflict (typically Arabs and Jews) to learn
peacemaking skills.
"You can't help but like the man when you meet him,"
says Attalla. "You just feel his warmth and his kindness
and his sincerity."
Born in Iraq, 37-year-old Qazwini comes from a
prominent family of religious leaders. His father and
two brothers are imams in California. Though it is not
something he calls attention to, Qazwini wears a black
turban that signifies he is a direct descendant of the
Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
Qazwini did not spend much time in his native
country. When he was only 6 years old, Qazwini and his
family fled for Kuwait.
"My family had to leave Iraq because of the grim
situation after Saddam Hussein came to power," he says.
"My family was known for its intellectual opposition to
Saddam's rule. When we moved to Iran, my (extended)
family underwent more persecution by Saddam. Fifteen
members from my family were prosecuted, including my
grandfather. We're not sure if he is alive or not,
because when he was arrested he was 80 years old. We
doubt he survived Saddam's prison."
After several years in Kuwait, Qazwini moved to Iran
to follow in his family's footsteps, studying at the
world's largest Shi'a seminary in Qum.
He immigrated to America in 1982, to help his father
run an Islamic Center near Los Angeles; he was recruited
to Metro Detroit in 1997 to fill the vacancy left by the
late Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri. Eide Alawan, a
parishioner of the Islamic Center who often travels with
the Imam, says it's difficult to keep up with the young
religious leader. Qazwini keeps a packed calendar of
speaking engagements these days, from area churches to
college campuses, in addition to his numerous duties at
the Islamic Center.
Sitting in his austere office on Joy Road, the Imam
fields an incessant number of calls. He admits to being
flooded with e-mail messages as well since Sept. 11.
"I've gotten some harsh e-mails -- a few. People who
are telling me 'What are you doing in this land? Leave
this land, you and your ridiculous faith,' " he says.
"But I'll show you many e-mails I received from people
who are showing their sympathy and solidarity with us.
This really makes me proud to be an American."
Qazwini has printed out the positive e-mails and put
them up in the Islamic Center.
"Imam Qazwini is fairly engaged with the interfaith
community," says the Rev. Daniel H. Krichbaum, executive
director of the National Conference for Community and
Justice. "I think he sincerely wants the Islamic
community to reach out among other faith groups and he
certainly wants the Arab American community to reach out
among a variety of people in the Metro area."
Alawan, a salesman for Rim & Wheel Co. in Detroit,
says aside from reaching out to non-Muslims, the Imam
has filled a real need for the Muslim community.
"He's someone we've been looking for for many years
-- someone who relates very quickly to American-born
Muslims," says Alawan. "He's sincere, and he has a way
with people that puts them at ease."
Sometimes, Qazwini's insights have been surprising to
his own community.
"I think Imam is becoming the American Muslim Imam of
our nation, because he embodies Islam's core values,"
says Bazzy, who sponsors the Young Muslim Association.
"I've learned so much from him. He's taught us how to
drop our cultural baggage."
Bazzy says the imam has clarified that certain
customs many associate with Islam are merely tribal
customs. For example, he says laws that prevent women
from driving or pursuing an education in some Middle
Eastern countries aren't based on Koran teachings.
"He's helped significantly to elevate the status of
women in the community," she says.
Bazzy concedes it's rare to see a woman standing next
to an Imam, taking turns answering questions about the
faith and even foreign policy. During the outreach
session at Oakland University, she was doing just that.
Alawan also credits Qazwini with forming an active
Young Muslim Association. At his Friday night lectures
aimed at the young people, the Imam draws more than 200,
mostly American-born, young people to eat pizza and hear
about their faith.
Qazwini and his wife have four children of their own
-- three sons and a daughter.
"We have two immigrants and two indigenous Muslims,"
Qazwini says of his children and laughs.
With a hint of pride, Qazwini notes his oldest son, a
high school senior, would like to attend the Iran
seminary after graduation.
"I did not say no, because I like the job I'm doing,"
says Qazwini. "Any religious leader who believes in his
message can bring a kind of inspiration to many people."
