Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 22, 1992 TAG: 9203220101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Allah-u-akbar," begins the Arabic chant, "God is greatest."
Cupping his hands on both sides of his face, thumbs at the back of his jaw under his ears, Rabb proceeds to call the faithful to the midday prayer on this first Jumah - Friday - of the holy month of Ramadan.
Turning first north, then south, then back to the east facing the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Rabb chants in the language of Mohammed drawing believers to the Roanoke house of prayer, called Masjid An-Nur.
There already are six, including Rabb and prayer leader or "imam" Corelli Rasheed, in the upstairs `prayer room of the Clifton Street Northwest building.
By the time services end, seven more men and one woman will have come in one or two at a time, joining the others for the prayers and teaching by Rasheed. Some will wear the traditional Muslim headcovering - the kufee - and others will not; some will come in suits, others in sweat shirts and pants.
Before coming upstairs to the prayer room - or "musallah" - all have taken off their shoes and cleaned their hands, arms, face, mouth and nostrils before approaching God in prayer.
After the opening call, Rasheed declares, "I bear witness that none deserves to be worshiped but the one God and that Mohammed is his messenger."
He reminds the worshipers of the obligations of the month of Ramadan, in which Mohammed is recorded as having received the inspiration of God for the Qu'ran or Koran. The obedient will observe daylight fasting and restraint from sexual activity; engage in daily reading of one-thirtieth of the Qu'ran; and will be especially mindful of the year-round duty to pray five times each day.
Fasting and the other disciplines of the month are not meant to punish mankind, but to help understand the goodness of the gifts God has given humans, Rasheed said.
While preaching, Rasheed's passion for his subject shows in many of the same ways one might observe in a Christian minister - his voice rises and falls dramatically, outstretched arms used to emphasize a point, his body moving from side to side of the rostrum.
"God is so merciful that not only does he grant us good things in the next life, but good things in this life as well. He forgives and forgives and forgives. His mercy exceeds his wrath. We continue to pray that we will be worthy of the mercy of Allah."
He reviewed some of the foundations and pillars of the Islamic faith - monotheism, prayer, Ramadan, charity.
The instruction is interrupted briefly for more prayers led by Rabb, then Rasheed resumes teaching on the history of the Qu'ran and the obligation to spread the message of Mohammed.
About an hour after beginning, the service draws to a close with Rasheed's prayer that Allah will continue to bless the congregation, silent prayers from individuals and a quiet retreat downstairs.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 24, 1992.
Because of a reporter's error, a story in Sunday's paper said Elijah Muhammed, the founder of the Nation of Islam, was assassinated in 1975. In fact, he died of congestive heart failure.
A photo caption with the same story incorrectly said that Omar Rabb was adjusting his "kufee," or cap. He was standing in the traditional pose of the "muezzin," or one who calls other Muslims to prayer.
Memo: CORRECTION