STOCKTON – A multicultural group of European Muslim musicians have been touring the United States to play Islamic music to the public, extending hands of friendship in a climate spoiled by politicians’ hate rhetoric.
“For me personally, every single time we sit down on a stage to play, it’s a beautiful opportunity to go deeper inside my heart, inside myself and contemplate the divine,” Mohammed Dominguez, who was born in Caracas, Venezuela, told Capital Public Radio on Thursday, February 11.
Dominguez is a member of a band of four called the Al Firdaus Ensemble which is based in Granada, Spain.
In the band, he plays drums and makes choirs.
Touring the US over the past weeks, the quartet band ends its tour tonight in Stockton, California, with a performance at University of the Pacific.
Along with Dominguez, Ali Keeler, a British Muslim, is another member who plays violin and sings as well.
The tour was suggested at a time when there’s anti-Muslim political rhetoric, especially by Republic presidential hopefuls.
However, Dominguez praised the American people as welcoming them, seeing that hateful rhetoric represents a small percentage.
“Maybe you could have some sectors of the US society that think that way. But honestly, my impression is that the major part of the people are really open-minded about cultural, about universality and about the art we are bringing with our work,” he said.
“We’ve been welcomed everywhere,” Keeler added.
Dominguez promised to repeat these tours in the US to spread better understanding of Islam and Muslims.
“Hopefully to keep coming to the USA and I think the political things have nothing much to do with our work, with our mission,” he said.
“There are many problems around the world. But I think this spirit of oneness, of love, of beauty in all the traditions of the world will be finally victorious.”
Muslims make up 1% of America’s 322 million population, according to Pew Research center.
Anti-Muslim sentiments have reached an all-time high after the rise of the so-called Islamic State, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Moreover, the Republican presidential candidates, such as Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson, have added to increasing anti-Muslim sentiments.
Trump’s views on immigration have sparked controversy nationwide, especially his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US.