Ansan, South Korea: Around 40 middle school students from the cities of Anyang and Siheung visited Ansan Mosque on Saturday (24 October) as part of a school field trip. They were accompanied by their teachers.
The visitors were welcomed by imam Aman. Although the teachers encouraged the students to ask questions, they were a little shy at first. Gradually, they began asking about Muslim prayer, about Makkah, and why Muslims do not eat pork. At the end of the visit, the students received an introductory booklet on Islam in Korean.
At one point, a teacher asked imam Aman about his dream: did he hope that one day everyone in Korea would become Muslim?
imam Aman replied that he did not expect anything like that in the near future. Instead, he said, he hopes that people of different ethnic backgrounds in Korea can live together peacefully with mutual respect, and come to know one another. "The distances between us grow because we know nothing about each other," he said. "After getting to know one another, if someone wishes to change their religion out of their own understanding, they should have that freedom. And if anyone wants to embrace our faith, we will certainly welcome them."
The group was also accompanied by a Pakistani guide who has lived in Korea for many years and works as a tour guide and interpreter. He said that many young Koreans are afraid of Islam, and that this fear needs to be addressed.
According to imam Aman, fear is often rooted in the unknown, and as people come to know each other, both fear and distance begin to fade. A mosque, he said, is not only a place of worship but can also be a place where people come to know one another. He expressed hope that more such visits will take place, so that Koreans can learn about Islam and Muslims can also come to know their neighbours and society better.
