Gathering of Muslims Fuses Faith, Freedom; Attendees Decry Attacks by Conservatives, Call for Increased Involvement in Politics

More than 30,000 Muslims converged on Washington yesterday tocelebrate their wealth and freedom, renew social ties, hearinvestment advice and hunt for spouses, but they also complained thatU.S. conservatives have dehumanized them since the terror attacks ofSept. 11.

The estimated 7 million Muslim Americans enjoy status, affluenceand civil liberties unknown elsewhere in the Islamic world -- and byall accounts, those attending the Islamic Society of North Americaconvention this weekend aim for more.

The challenge, many said, is to assimilate into U.S. societywithout compromising Islamic religious strictures, such as thoseagainst investing in businesses that sell tobacco or alcohol, usingconventional mortgages to buy homes and collecting or payinginterest.

But leaders addressing the convention said efforts to carve out acomfortable U.S. existence are at risk because Muslim Americans'message condemning terrorist attacks as an affront to Islamic thoughthas consistently been drowned out by "vicious" U.S. radio andtelevision commentators.

The media attacks, they say, have come even as polls show sympathyand support for individual Muslims in the United States.

"Why are special interest groups exploiting the pain of 9/11 todehumanize and isolate Muslim Americans?" asked Salam Al-Marayati, anofficial of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. He urged the audienceto join the public dialogue and help the world realize that MuslimAmericans are moderates who hold the same ethical values asChristians and Jews.

Osama "bin Laden will not define Islam for us, and hatemongers inAmerica will not define Islam for us," Al-Marayati said.

He reminded people not to shy away from criticizing U.S. policy inthe Middle East or East Asia and to improve Muslim American voterturnout, which stands at about 10 percent. "The hatemongers want ourinaction," he said. "Our involvement is mandatory for our survival asMuslim Americans in the U.S."

Whatever their political position may be, it was clear yesterdayat the Washington Convention Center that Muslim Americans want toenjoy the good life without giving up traditions they or theirparents brought from their homelands.

Thousands of women turned out in fashionable styles, but the vastmajority wore conservative head scarves.

In a massive bazaar, some retailers drew flocks of youngercustomers with hip wares that recalled slick corporate images whilesimultaneously promoting Islamic faith. One vendor sold T-shirts witha takeoff on the Gatorade logo that said, "Islam -- Is It In You?"and others that played on the Krispy Kreme logo emblazoned with thewords, "Koran Al Kareem -- Taste the Sweetness of Faith."

The FBI and the Army posted officers to recruit translators,vendors sold books and Muslim-oriented computer software, andnumerous groups promoted charitable donations to relieve suffering inMuslim nations around the world.

Financial advisers also discussed how investors can remain true tosharia, the canonical laws of Islam, by choosing stocks and mutualfunds that avoid businesses that are considered unpure.

"We need an Islamic Fidelity and an Islamic Vanguard," lamentedone Muslim adviser, Rushdie Siddiqui.

Another financial consultant, Omar Haydar, named publicly tradedcompanies that meet sharia standards -- Microsoft, ExxonMobil,Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and SBC -- and those that don't -- Citibank,Philip Morris, Aon, AOL/Time Warner and Wal-Mart.

Perhaps the most unusual marketer at the convention was theIslamic matrimonial matching service, a voluntary committee of theIslamic society that introduces Muslim bachelors to Muslim women.

With Muslim Americans working long hours in elite professions andscattered across the country -- sometimes far from Islamic brethren -- there is no other way to find a mate without running afoul oftradition, said Ahmed A. Qadeer, who co-chairs the matrimonialcommittee with his wife. Conventional dating is not part of thecourtship process.

"Islam tries to keep lust under control," he said.

Mates can only be found by referrals from relatives, friends orservices like his.

When Islam was new, women traditionally chose their husbands, butthat changed when the Muslims assimilated into societies around theworld where women had few rights, Qadeer said.

Today, Muslim American men registering with the Qadeers arelooking for highly educated women who were born in the United Statesor who have lived in this country long enough to understand the U.S.way of life. Most of the women and men are yuppies, he said.

Qadeer, a computer software consultant outside Chicago, said heknows of at least 15 couples that married after they were introducedby the service. "We think that's pretty good," he said.

Next, he said, the service will be made available on the Internet -- with photos.