Holy Islamville

YORK, Sc -- Under an American flag, after a plaintive rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, almost 300 scouts received khaki scout hats and merit badge armbands Sunday. The best scout camp softball team mugged for photos. The best camp cook took a good-natured ribbing. The York County Sheriff and the head of South Carolina's FBI office clapped and handed out certificates.
Then the campers recited the Koran and pledged their lives to Allah.

Sunday's award ceremony was for the Muslim Scouts of America after a month-long camp held at Islamville, a 40-acre tract outside York. About a hundred of the Group Muslims of the Americas have lived at Islamville for more than 20 years. Islamville was chosen for the camp because its site features a holy shrine that is part of what residents say is God's guidance to teach both Islam and American patriotism.

"We are part of the basic premise of scouting, service under God," said Ali Rashid, one of Islamville's senior leaders.

Men between the ages of 15 and 35 came from rural compounds in almost 20 states to sleep in tents and play camp games. But mostly they learned about the Koran, plus the Bible and Christianity, and how to be good Muslims in America while the War on Terror across the globe gives all Muslims a bad name.

Muslims of America stresses Islam while affirming patriotic values and commitment to America. The group renounces terrorism and rebuked the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as works of spite and wickedness.

"Islam is our religion, but America is our homeland," Khalifa Hussain, one of the camps leaders, told the campers and their families Sunday. "We love our country. Muslims and Christians will have to work together to protect America from any terrorist threat."

For years, Sheriff Bruce Bryant and the Muslims of Islamville have had a strong relationship. The FBI's Les Wiser, special agent in charge of South Carolina, told the camp graduates that America celebrates its differences and unity at the same time. The camp's ideals of trustworthiness, loyalty and service are the same values as he learned in scouts decades ago.

"My duty is to protect diversity," Wiser told the campers and their families. "I'm here to build trust between you and me."

More than 100 Muslim Scouts volunteered at Ground Zero after the 9-11 attacks. The men who attended the past month took vacations and leave from jobs. Many have children of their own.

"Brotherhood," said Nasir Abdul-Wadud of Springfield, Mass. "Unity. Leadership. We learned so much here."