HI!” a middle aged man says to me as he sits at the table next to me. I recognize him from another local store we frequent (there are only a handful of them in the whole town where I live in New Mexico). “My name is Bob.” “Well I was hoping, when you had time, and with your husband of course, if I could talk to you guys and ask you some questions? I am a Christian but there is so much out there about you guys and I wanted to talk with you about it all.” “Sure, I need to get some stuff done on the net but when my husband returns we would be happy to answer your questions.” I explain as I slurp away at my mocha. Soon after, my husband arrives with a half eaten banana and 2 sleepy children. After laying them on the adjoining couches, I introduce him to Bob and we begin to chat. “Where are you from?” Bob asks my husband, Zayd. Zayd begins to explain how he was raised Methodist in the Bible belt state of Illinois, how he began his faith journey in grad school which ended in him becoming Muslim, and the issues he had with the trinity and original sin. I then encouraged Bob to ask his questions and voice his obvious concerns. “Okay, so how do you feel about people who become Muslim and then leave Islam? Do you believe they should be killed?” Wow, going right for the jugular! As the night proceeds we address honor killings, wife beatings, killing of infidels, you know, all the real lightweight topics. We explain that there is a big difference between Islam and culture, that there is no compulsion in religion, and then give him our prepared dawah talk about Tawheed and the real Islam. As we are chatting, another man walks over to Bob and greets him. As he turns to leave, he gives my husband a pat on the back and says “Hi, do you guys live here?” “Yes,” Zayd responds. “Well, we just want you to know how happy we are to have you guys here.” “Thank you! We are happy to live here as well and your welcome means a lot!” Zayd replies enthusiastically as he shakes the man's hand. After he leaves, Bob remarks how surprised and happy he is that the man has welcomed us. “You know I hear a lot of really negative things about you guys but I am not one to believe everything I hear. On the other hand, you guys are telling me such different things. To be honest I really don't know who to believe, no offense.” He continues, “I have never met a Muslim before but I see your family around town a lot and, uh, well, I write a blog and actually wrote about your kids! I wrote that there is a Muslim family in town that seems to have the loveliest children and it made me curious to get to know you guys and find out what you are really like.” “Well that's great!” I reply. “We are so happy you approached us and wish more people could get to know their Muslim neighbors. It's the only way to dispel the fear and hatred that has developed in this country. Sometimes I see a sign for a Tea Party meeting and think, ‘We should just go and get to know people there.'” “Funny you say that! I am actually a member of the local Tea Party! They have a listserve and someone forwarded an e-mail claiming that Muslims still to this day have not apologized or condemned 9/11. So I immediately went to Google and typed in “Muslims apologize 9/11” and a whole list, several pages long, came up with links proving the opposite. I just hate when people spread misinformation and lies like that! I believe in the Tea Party but I think these lies just detract from our mission.” Zayd then hands him a card and extends an open invitation to visit the masjid. “Thank you and I may take you up on this offer but it will take me a long time to research things first and verify the things you have explained to me. Then we will see about attending your worship house or having you speak to others.” On the ride home I begin to realize how many people in our small rural town see us on a regular basis and talk to others about us without our knowledge. It makes me even more self-conscious about the fact that our every actions and words are being observed and analyzed in an attempt to understand the “Moslems,” our real values, and whether or not we are really a secret sleeper cell implanted in their town or just a regular family trying to protect our children and make ends meet.
