Mohammad Idrissi, imam of the Al-Hidaya mosque in the Macarena neighbourhood, assures that coexistence is total and that the doors of the temple are open for those who want to know about their daily life.
Mohammad Idrissi, imam of the Al-Hidaya mosque in the Macarena neighbourhood, has seen his temple become part of the landscape of Los Romeros street for 25 years. There, amidst five daily prayers, the Muslim community goes about its life normally. Idrissi, born in Córdoba and a Sevillian at heart, does not understand the controversy surrounding the new temple planned in Polígono Sur and extends a direct invitation to Vox: “The cure for that ignorance and hatred that some people display is to get to know each other.”
The Al-Hidaya mosque, known as the Macarena mosque, occupies the ground floor of a residential building. There, just before the 6:30 PM prayer, about thirty worshippers gather, following the ritual of removing their shoes and waiting for the countdown that marks the hour. It is not the busiest day — Friday is the peak day — but the atmosphere is one of reflection. For about ten minutes, silence takes over the place.
Idrissi, 36 years old and a father of two, asserts that the controversy surrounding the Polígono Sur mosque stems from ignorance. “If people had the correct information and not those rumours that are circulating today, the reaction would be very different,” he states. Among the circulating rumours, he points out that it has been said the new mosque will be funded with public money, when in reality the funds will come from the promoting foundation itself.
The imam emphasizes that it will not be the first mosque in Seville, as some believe. “There are quite a few, and in all of them there is coexistence, no social tension or conflict zones,” he explains. In the case of Macarena, the surrounding neighbours — of other religions or none — maintain a cordial relationship. In fact, Idrissi is the vice president of the neighbourhood association.
The Al-Hidaya mosque was founded by his father, Hassan Idrissi, who started by renting a space and then bought it. Now, the temple opens its doors five times a day for prayers, talks, and activities. Idrissi invites anyone, even critics, to come in and see how it works. “They say they feel a sense of peace when they leave,” he comments.
For the imam, the controversy responds to political interests that take advantage of the rise of Islamophobia. “There are politicians who have interests and take advantage of a scenario with a rise in Islamophobia,” he denounces. But he prefers to focus on daily coexistence, where Muslims and non-Muslims share the neighbourhood without conflicts.
Idrissi's invitation is clear: “Anyone, even if they are not Muslim, should come in and see how everything is carried out.” An offer he extends to the members of Vox, whom he asks to “put aside that ignorance, which is often the reason for hatred.”
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