About a month after Broken Arrow City Council rejected a proposed mosque, the Islamic Society of Tulsa wants people to come and get to know them. They’re hosting an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday to allow just that.
“I think the more we talk to each other, the more we get to know each other, we will understand better,” Dr. Muhammad Afzal, an IST board member, told the Flyer Wednesday. “Our hope is that the people who attend, they get the true message of Islam, what Islam is and what Muslims are.”
Afzal’s message comes weeks after nearly 1,000 people — including gubernatorial candidates and bikers bearing anti-Islam messages — witnessed the Jan. 12 council vote. Now, the IST wants to return to a sense of normalcy amid Ramadan preparations.
“There was quite a bit of excitement on social media and the mainstream media here in Tulsa,” Afzal said. “But now things seem to be settled down.”
Dr. Muhammad Imran Shaukat, who has worshiped at the mosque in midtown Tulsa since 2004, says he and many others were “shocked” by the online attention regarding the proposal. While the social media craze continued, IST conducted operations as usual.
“It didn’t change anything at all, especially in terms of any frustration or disappointment. I haven’t seen that at all,” Shaukat said. “People need to understand us better. I think that’s what the feeling was among the people mostly.”
So far, almost 400 people have registered for Sunday’s meet and greet — far more than previous open houses the mosque has held. They’ve closed RSVPs to the event in anticipation of a large crowd.
The plan, Afzal said, is for IST leadership to deliver a presentation before moving attendees into a separate room for snacks and socialization.
Commitment to Broken Arrow project
Despite the proposal being rejected by a 4-1 vote, Afzal said IST is still planning to pursue the house of worship along South Olive Avenue just south of the Creek Turnpike.
“We definitely are committed to the project, because that’s our need,” he said, noting that many Muslims are already living in Broken Arrow. “They need a mosque, because we cannot handle the whole community in one place. We have grown significantly in the last few years.”
IST leaders said in January they’re exploring legal challenges to the council decision — and Afzal says those options are still on the table.
“Several law firms have contacted us, and they are ready to take up our case, but our leadership has not made any final decision (about) what we’re going to do,” he said.
Free medical clinic and food pantry
While IST provides a mosque for Muslims to give their five daily prayers, they also offer a free medical clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. It’s open to anyone in the community, regardless of faith, via appointment or walk-in.
“I think this is one of the major things that we are doing which is having a big impact on the community,” said Shaukat, a pulmonologist who volunteers at the clinic.
IST has also been working with specialists who do not attend the mosque and are willing to provide free services. Afzal, a nephrologist, said if patients are seeking a volunteer specialist that is not on site, they have the connections to get them the help they need.
“Maybe a month ago, we had a patient with an eyelid problem. He didn’t have the capacity to get a surgery,” Shaukat said. “I just talked to one of the eye doctors, and he took care of him. Didn’t charge a single dollar.”
IST also operates a food pantry. Afzal noted more than 70% of people who use it are non-Muslim.
Ultimately, he hopes the open house gives them a chance to share more about their faith and work in the community.
“I think the more people know about it, they will start feeling that these Muslims are actually just like us: two eyes, one nose, a brain which works like us,” Shaukat said. “They are the people who also want prosperity and peace, not only for themselves, but also with the people around them.”
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