Hundreds drawn to Santa Rosa mosque open house

<p>Snippets of conversations suggested the theme of the day:</p><p>“But am I a practicing Muslim?” </p><p>“The three close friends of Mohammed.” </p><p>“You mustn't see a woman prostrate in front of you.”</p><p> “If every Muslim did that, we wouldn't have this problem in Pakistan.”</p><p> “Muslims have an obligation.”</p><p>On Sunday, those and other such statements filled the high-ceilinged room that is the Islamic Society of Santa Rosa's mosque during a well-attended open house put on by the county's largest congregation of Muslims.</p><p>“I admire what they are doing a lot, just opening up, especially at this time, so close to 9/11,” said Cambria Ceasar, 45, of Santa Rosa, who attended with her mother. </p><p>“The more information you have, the more tolerance there is, the gateway to knowledge,” Caesar said, standing outside the Mendocino Avenue mosque.</p><p>Inside, Muslims and non-Muslims mingled, snacked on rich baklava pastries and Palestinian spiced bread and engaged in conversations about Islam, religion and community.</p><p>“All I hear is Muslims, Muslims, but I don't really know their beliefs,” said Jose Ramirez, an Episcopalian who attends the Church of the Incarnation across the street,</p><p>“Basically we all believe in the same God, there's differences but there's no difference. I find it very interesting,” said Ramirez, who noted that he has never known a Muslim.</p><p>Hundreds of people visited the afternoon event, doffing their shoes at the door, clutching Qurans that were handed out, and circling the room to examine posters that posed questions such as: “How does Islam guarantee human rights?” and “What do Muslims believe?”</p><p>The turnout gratified members of the society who said previous events had sometimes drawn only a trickle of visitors.</p><p>“I'm really impressed, I didn't realize there were so many people interested, it's exciting,” said Ezra Barbour, 18, of Santa Rosa, who converted to Islam two years ago and on Sunday collected donations for a relief drive for victims of the Pakistan floods.</p><p>About 100 families belong to the Santa Rosa mosque. One member, Hala Hassan, 40, of Windsor, said events such as the Sunday open house are crucial steps to take for local Muslims.</p><p>“In order to be a part of the community we have to open our doors,” she said.</p>