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These photos are being sent to me live by a friend who is attending the event on Capitol Hill. She reports that there were a small number of protestors in a line further behind, but they seem to have bailed out due to the rain.

Also, extreme Islamophobe and conspiracy wingnut Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs claims there are 5,000 muslims in attendance, but my source report that the number was more in the 2000 range. In either case, the number was far smaller than the Tea Parties. We will get better estimates from Capitol Hill police later. FactCheck.org provides a nice rebuttal to the crazies' (like Gellar) claims.

UPDATE: I am hearing that the event has concluded, and overall was quite peaceful and calm. Just muslims, praying quietly on the lawn. The protestors did get some shouting in before they left, and were met with chants of "Allah Akhbar" in return. The crowd was very diverse and well-behaved, roughly about 40% women.

UPDATE 2: Am hearing some details of the khutbah by Imam Abdel Malik - he opened with a theme of unity, as in we are all one American nation, how we are all one human race. He discussed the importance of voting and being active, about Obama, and then emphasized that muslims are part of society too. No transcript or video yet but I will update or make a new post if and when I obtain it.

Incidentally, there has been superb coverage and discussion of the Jummah on the Hill event at Talk Islam. Absolutely the best coverage anywhere, especially about the efforts to coordinate a counter-protest by a whole rabble of small Christian advocacy groups with predictable names like "Operation Save the Capitol" and "Operation Save America" and "Stop Islamization of America" etc. etc.

On of my favorite lines from Shakespeare is Macbeth, Act 5 Scene 5:

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

I couldn't help but reminded of those lines when I first heard of the extremely bizarre plan by a group of New jersey-based muslim groups to stage a mass "pray-in" on the lawn of the Capitol in Washington DC, next friday afternoon:

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH....

The objective of this gathering is to invite the Muslim Communities and friends of Islam to express and illustrate the wonderful diversity of Islam. We intend to manifest Islam's majestic spiritual principals as revealed by Allah to our beloved prophet

Muhammad (PEACE BE UPON HIM) of Arabia. Likewise; we intend to inspire a new generation of Muslim to work for the greater good of all people. We shall serve all

people, regardless of race, religion or national origin.

ON THIS DAY....

The Athan will be chanted on Capitol Hill, echoing off of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and other great edifices that surround Capitol Hill
Thousands of Muslims from all races, creeds, colors and ethnicities will gather for the sole purpose of prayer
Bonds of friendship will be formed between those in attendance, both Muslims and Non-Muslims
Muslim youth will experience tours of the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.
The peace, beauty and solidarity of Islam will shine through America's capitol.

Now, I certainly understand and appreciate the sentiments and intentions of this, but it just strikes me as the wrong way to go about it. It's unwise to ignore the "optics" of such an event upon the paranoid segment of the American public - who were out in force at the Tea Party last week on the National Mall - who will certainly see the event as a threatening gesture which only validates their racism and Islamophobia.

I generally don't condone appeasing the worst elements of society by self-censoring and restricting my own freedom and rights. But if the goal of such an event is to foster bonds of unity, then an event like this, which is fundamentally narcissistic, does not suffice. A far better approach would not have been prayer but a celebration of Eid, to illustrate what muslims have in common with their non-muslim fellow citizens, rather than engaging in a mass demonstration of what sets us apart. The truth may not be welcome, but remains truth: thousands of muslims lining up for silent prayer in unison, within sight of the center of American government, is going to be misconstrued as an intimidation rather than an outreach, and not just to the rabid Islamophobic fringe (who are reacting predictably). It really doesn't help that the official slogan for the event plastered all over the website is "Our time has come." Or that when you load the official homepage, you are blasted with audio of a thickly-accented Islamic prayer. As the twitterverse might say: messaging FAIL.

The other thing that bothers me about this event is how it was foisted upon the muslim community by a small group of people. My sources reliably inform me that the entire event was planned by a handful of people at a few mosques in New jersey, wthout any input from national muslim organizations or the DC-area congregations. In essence, this group is coming in from the outside and acting as though they have sanction from the entire muslim community, a deceptive marketing ploy at best.

The potential for this event to be abused by one or two personalities for their own gain is very high. Who will be speaking at the event? The official program only lists reciters of the Qur'an, but it's certain that there will be speakers. Who? What are their backgrounds? Given that this event is going to be in every imaginable spotlight, and every word spoken therein will be ascribed to the entire muslim community as a whole, serious vetting of the speakers is absolutely critical.

In fact, some vetting of the primary organizers themselves is even more critical. The main person in charge seems to be an Imam Abdul Malik from a mosque in Elizabeth, NJ. I don't really know anything about him at all, so I am going to see if I can find out more. I'll be following up on this.

Related: article by Sheila Musaji at The American Muslim about the planned mass prayer. "Not well thought out" indeed:

I believe that this gathering was not a well thought out program. The website offers little information. The Program section only lists the two Imam's who will be leading the prayers. The timing is unfortunate and too close to September 11th. The use of the "our time has come" terminology could be easily misunderstood. The title "day of Islamic unity" as opposed to something like "Muslim prayer for America" might also be misunderstood. The President has a lot on his plate and the right continues to attack him for any sign that he is showing what they consider undue respect for Muslims, as the recent blow ups over the regular White House Iftar, the recent "Islam is of the Devil" incident, and this years re-release of the Eid Stamp would show anyone who is paying attention. This puts the President in an unfortunate position. If he acknowledges the event or doesn't acknowledge the event - either way he can't win. There has been a rise in anti-Muslim incidents and rhetoric recently. It simply isn't the right time or the right place for such an event. That being said, the organizers have every right to hold such an event, and it is very positive that they say that there will be no placards or political speeches. I hope that none of the disruptive elements in our own Muslim community (like those who disrupted the New York Muslim Day Parade) show up, or if they do that the organizers are prepared to isolate them so that their inappropriate behavior does not reflect on all Muslims. I hope that these other non-Muslim disruptive elements show up, or if they do that the organizers are prepared to handle them with kid gloves. I for one hope that they are able to maintain order, follow what they have said they will do, and make it clear that they are praying for the safety, security, and well-being of all Americans.

The Mayor of Clarksville, Tennessee sent out an email recently, urging "all patriotic Americans" to protest that singular threat to Western civilization, the Eid Stamp:

Mayor Johnny Piper did not add any comments of his own to the e-mail, The Clarksville Leaf Chronicle reported. The e-mail calls the stamp "a slap in the face" to U.S. victims of "Muslim terrorist attacks."

The mayor forwarded the e-mail to city council members, department heads and to a city e-mail list that goes to every employee with an e-mail account.

Piper defended his actions. He said the e-mail is not anti-Muslim and he forwarded it to provide "information."

The TN press has more details, in which Mayor Piper explains his thought processes further:

"I was surprised at a stamp being developed, and would have thought others would be, too," he said. He added that he did not know what the stamp was commemorating. Piper also said he was struck by the reminder of several terrorist attacks against Americans.

"I read it and thought about the bombings of our buildings, of our national buildings," Piper said. "In my mind, it presented an image of mass death at the hands of Muslims."

He added later, "I don't believe, just for the record, that all Muslims are linked together with radical Muslims that are out to harm Americans ... I have several good Muslim friends."

The e-mail repeatedly refers only to "Muslims," and does not use any adjectives such as "radical."

Versions of the email, which has been making the rounds for years, have been repeatedly debunked before, but it still persists. I've blogged extensively about the history of the Eid stamp, the controversy that accompanied it when it was introduced (mostly from conservative Republicans), and the defense of the stamp by President Bush and Speaker Hastert. In a nutshell, the stamp was introduced on September 1st 2001, ten days before the 9-11 attacks, during the Bush Administration. Mayor Piper joins a long list of conservative politicians who have no objection to stamps commemorating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, even teh Chinese New year - but a stamp devoted to the muslim holiday of Eid is singled out as a threat, requiring response from "patriotic" Americans?

Related: Sheila Musaji at The American Muslim has been tracking the controversies related to the Eid Stamp over the years.

I was forwarded the following general invitation from the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, for an iftaar dinner featuring Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr as the keynote speaker. Nasr is a true heavyweight scholar, originally from Iran, now teaching at Georgetown University. One of my favorite essays of his is online, entitled "Science and Civilization in Islam". Here are a list of other essays of Nasr's online. If you will bein the Alexandria, VA area on September 16th, then you should definitely make an effort to attend this iftaar! The registration form is also available online.

CSID Ramadan Iftaar Dinner The Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) cordially invites you to our Annual Ramadan Iftaar Dinner: Before it's too late: Peace and Reconciliation between Shias and Sunnis What can American Muslims do to unite Muslims and bring peace and reconciliation among Sunnis and Shias? Keynote Speaker: Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the world's leading experts on Islamic science and spirituality, is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. He is one of the most important and foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world today. Author of over fifty books and five hundred articles which have been translated into several major Islamic, European and Asian languages, Professor Nasr is a well known and highly respected intellectual figure both in the West and the Islamic world. An eloquent speaker with a charismatic presence, Nasr is a much sought after speaker at academic conferences and seminars, university and public lectures and also radio and television programs in his area of expertise. Possessor of an impressive academic and intellectual record, his career as a teacher and scholar spans over four decades. Professor Nasr is the author of numerous books including Man and Nature: the Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man (Kazi Publications, 1998), Religion and the Order of Nature (Oxford, 1996) and Knowledge and the Sacred (SUNY, 1989). Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Iftaar at 7:00 PM and Program starts at 8:00 PM at the Afghan Restaurant 2700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA - (703) 548-0022 You can purchase your ticket online, or fill out the form below and send it with your payment/check to: CSID, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 601, Washington DC, 20036, no later than Sept. 12, 2009. Ticket Reservation Form Name: __________________________________________ Institution: _______________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ City: ________________ State:________ Zip:__________ Tel: ____________________ e-mail:__________________ Please Reserve: Members Non-Members ____ Dinner Tickets x $40/person x $50/person = _______ ____ Dinner Tickets x$60/couple x $80/couple = _______ _____Reserved Table$500 for a table of 8 _______ _____Donation _______ Total: _______ Signed:__________________________________________ Dated:_________ Title:____________________________________________ Please forward this invitation to all your friends and colleagues who might be interested in this event. Seats are limited, so please reserve your ticket as early as possible. We look forward to seeing you next week. Sincerely; Radwan A. Masmoudi Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy

Last night, President Obama hosted a traditional Ramadan dinner (iftar) at the White House, as has become customary with all Presidents since Bill Clinton. The guest list included many members of his cabinet, Congressional lesgislators, as well as prominent muslim-Americans from all over the nation. The singled out a number of muslim citizens with amazing stories of courage and civic duty, including the mother of deceased Kareem Khan, who served in Iraq out of high school and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The President also hit the all-important theme of freedom of religion, alluding to the argument that in many ways, America is the best Islamic country in the world (a popular theme here at City of Brass :)

Here are the full text of the President's remarks. The guest list follows.

THE PRESIDENT: Please, everybody have a seat. Thank you. Well, it is my great pleasure to host all of you here at the White House to mark this special occasion -- Ramadan Kareem.

I want to say that I'm deeply honored to welcome so many members of the diplomatic corps, as well as several members of my administration and distinguished members of Congress, including the first two Muslims to serve in Congress -- Keith Ellison and Andre Carson. Where are they? (Applause.)

Just a few other acknowledgements I want to make. We have Senator Richard Lugar here, who's our Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Where is Dick Lugar? There he is. (Applause.) Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. (Applause.) Representative Rush Holt is here. Thank you, Rush. (Applause.) Have we found you a seat, Rush? (Laughter.)

REPRESENTATIVE HOLT: I'm on my way to the train. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: I got you.

We also have here -- Secretary of Defense Gates is here. Secretary Gates. (Applause.) Our Attorney General, Eric Holder. (Applause.) And Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius is here. (Applause.)

And most of all, I want to welcome all the American Muslims from many walks of life who are here. This is just one part of our effort to celebrate Ramadan, and continues a long tradition of hosting iftars here at the White House.

For well over a billion Muslims, Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection. It's a time of service and support for those in need. And it is also a time for family and friends to come together in a celebration of their faith, their communities, and the common humanity that all of us share. It is in that spirit that I welcome each and every one of you to the White House.

Tonight's iftar is a ritual that is also being carried out this Ramadan at kitchen tables and mosques in all 50 states. Islam, as we know, is part of America. And like the broader American citizenry, the American Muslim community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity -- with families that stretch back generations and more recent immigrants; with Muslims of countless races and ethnicities, and with roots in every corner of the world.

Indeed, the contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country. American Muslims are successful in business and entertainment; in the arts and athletics; in science and in medicine. Above all, they are successful parents, good neighbors, and active citizens.

So on this occasion, we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how much Muslims have enriched America and its culture -- in ways both large and small. And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of those contributions. Let me share a few stories with you briefly.

Elsheba Khan's son, Kareem, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he lost his life in Iraq. Kareem joined the military as soon as he finished high school. He would go on to win the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, along with the admiration of his fellow soldiers. In describing her son, Elsheba said, "He always wanted to help any way that he could." Tonight, he's buried alongside thousands of heroes in Arlington National Cemetery. A crescent is carved into his grave, just as others bear the Christian cross or the Jewish star. These brave Americans are joined in death as they were in life -- by a common commitment to their country, and the values that we hold dear.

One of those values is the freedom to practice your religion -- a right that is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nashala Hearn, who joins us from Muskogee, Oklahoma, took a stand for that right at an early age. When her school district told her that she couldn't wear the hijab, she protested that it was a part of her religion. The Department of Justice stood behind her, and she won her right to practice her faith. She even traveled to Washington to testify before Congress. Her words spoke to a tolerance that is far greater than mistrust -- when she first wore her headscarf to school, she said, "I received compliments from the other kids."

Another young woman who has thrived in her school is Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. She's not even 5'5 -- where's Bilqis? Right here. Stand up, Bilqis, just so that we -- (laughter) -- I want everybody to know -- she's got heels on. She's 5'5 -- Bilqis broke Rebecca Lobo's record for the most points scored by any high school basketball player in Massachusetts history. (Applause.) She recently told a reporter, "I'd like to really inspire a lot of young Muslim girls if they want to play basketball. Anything is possible. They can do it, too." As an honor student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls -- she's an inspiration to all of us.

Of course, we know that when it comes to athletes who have inspired America, any list would include the man known simply as The Greatest. And while Muhammad Ali could not join us tonight, it is worth reflecting upon his remarkable contributions, as he's grown from an unmatched fighter in the ring to a man of quiet dignity and grace who continues to fight for what he believes -- and that includes the notion that people of all faiths holds things in common. I love this quote. A few years ago, he explained this view -- and this is part of why he's The Greatest -- saying, "Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams -- they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do -- they all contain truths."

They all contain truths. Among those truths are the pursuit of peace and the dignity of all human beings. That must always form the basis upon which we find common ground. And that is why I am so pleased that we are joined tonight not only by so many outstanding Muslim Americans and representatives of the diplomatic corps, but people of many faiths -- Christians, Jews, and Hindus -- along with so many prominent Muslims.

Together, we have a responsibility to foster engagement grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect. And that's one of my fundamental commitments as President, both at home and abroad. That is central to the new beginning that I've sought between the United States and Muslims around the world. And that is a commitment that we can renew once again during this holy season.

So tonight, we celebrate a great religion, and its commitment to justice and progress. We honor the contributions of America's Muslims, and the positive example that so many of them set through their own lives. And we rededicate ourselves to the work of building a better and more hopeful world.

So thanks to all of you for taking the time to be here this evening. I wish you all a very blessed Ramadan. And with that, I think we can start a feast. I don't know what's on the menu, but I'm sure it will be good. (Laughter.) Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)

The guest list for the Iftar:

CABINET

Secretary Robert Gates, Department of Defense

Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Justice

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services

DEPUTY CABINET SECRETARIES

Deputy Secretary Dennis Hightower, Department of Commerce

Deputy Secretary Adam Miller, Department of Education

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Congressman Andre Carson (Indiana 7th)

Congressman John Conyers (Michigan 14th)

Congressman Keith Ellison (Minnesota 5th)

Congressman Rush Holt (New Jersey 12th)

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)

DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Ambassador Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al Hussein, Jordan

Ambassador Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia

Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Pakistan

Ambassador Erlan A. Idrissov, Kazakhstan

Ambassador His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghanistan

Ambassador Aziz Mekouar, Morocco

Ambassador Peter N.R.O. Ogego, Kenya

Ambassador Roble Olhaye, D'jibouti

Ambassador Michael Oren, Israel

Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Indonesia

Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, Germany

Ambassador Meera Shankar, India

Ambassador Nabi Sensoy, Turkey

Ambassador Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald, United Kingdom

Ambassador Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Egypt

Ambassador Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida'ie, Iraq

Ambassador Pierre Nicolas Vimont, France

Chargé d'Affaires Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Bangladesh

Chargé d'Affaires Ilango Karuppanan, Malaysia

Chargé d'Affaires Mohamed O Maiga,

Chargé d'Affaires Angela Oi Foong Shim, Brunei

Chargé d'Affaires Baba Gana Wakil, Nigeria

Mr. Maen Areikat, Chief of Mission, PLO

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Ms. Bilquis Abdul-Qaadir, University of Memphis

Professor Azizah Al-Hibri, University of Richmond School of Law

Ms. Reema Ali, Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights

Mr. Hasan Chandoo, Oppenheimer & Co.

Rabbi Nathan Diament, Director, Institute for Public Affairs, Orthodox Union*

Imam Plemon El-Amin, Atlanta Masjid al-Islam

Mr. Wahid Hamid, PepsiCo

Ms. Dina Hammad

Mr. Lutfi Hassan

Ms. Nashala Hearn

Ms. Rosalind Hearn

Imam Yahya Hendi, Chaplain, Georgetown University

Pastor Joel Hunter, Northland Church*

Mr. Nooman Husain

Mr. Imad Hussain

Mr. Sanford Ibrahim, CEO, Radian Group

Mr. Jameel Jaffer, Staff Attorney, ACLU

Mrs. Elsheba Khan

Dr. Mansur Khan, UMMA Community Clinic

Ms. Farhana Khera, Muslim Advocates

Lt. Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Marine Corps

Mr. Kareem Salama

Imam Yusuf Saleem, Masjid Muhammad

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America

Mr. Farooq Mitha

Ms. Dalia Mogahed, Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies*

Ms. Hutham Olayan, Olayan America Corp.

Mr. Eboo Patel, Interfaith Youth Corps*

Imam Yusuf Saleem, Masjid Muhammad

Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism*

Ms. Mina Trudeau, Executive Director, El Fatiha Foundation

Mr. J. Saleh Williams, Congressional Muslim Staffers Association

Mr. Mohamed Zakariya, Zakariya Calligraphy

*denotes members of the President's Council on Faith-based and
Neighborhood Partnerships