Tariq Nelson

- A conversion story

Siebert-Llera knew enough to differentiate between the Islamic extremists who hijacked the planes and the majority of practicing Muslims. Still, he was curious about the Quran. He bought a copy but just skimmed through the pages, not really finding the passages that some said advocated terrorism.

Two years later in Chicago, he met a young Mexican-American woman at Loyola, where he had been pursuing his graduate studies before transferring to DePaul.

One day, she walked into class with a hijab, or head scarf, and a jilbab, a long robe-like coat worn by many in the Middle East. She had converted to Islam.

“I definitely saw a change in her as far as comfort and general level of happiness. She was at ease with her life,” says Siebert-Llera, of Orland Park.

A few weeks later, Siebert-Llera accompanied his friend to the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview.

He asked questions and was impressed with what he learned about the charitable requirement of giving away 2.5 percent of your annual salary, daily prayers, pilgrimages to Mecca. Islam isn’t just about going to services; it’s an all-encompassing primer on the kind of disciplined life Siebert-Llera craved

- Why are we using the terms “Islam and the West”?

In fact, Islam and the West today are increasingly blended, not divided.

Globalization has blended Islam and the West. Islam in the West is commonplace, including growing Muslim populations with increasing numbers of mosques and halal markets. Similarly, the West has penetrated deeply even into the cradle of Islam itself. A sign of this is the Golden Arches barometer: McDonalds serves halal hamburgers not only at its three franchises in the holy city of Mecca but also at franchises in Michigan and London.

- Muslim smokers urged to quit

Dr. Tariq Cheema, executive director of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America, said Thursday that APPNA and its partners in the project do not plan to restrict the quit-smoking drive to the mosque.

“We’re trying to capitalize on this, taking it to communities, faith-based schools, letting the children take it home to their mothers and fathers,” Cheema said.

 

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