An unfamiliar utterance of worship can be heard near the Itaewon station, the melting pot of Seoul. A 200-meter walk from the third gate would lead to the one and only Islamic Mosque in the city of Seoul. A bearded Iranian man fully dressed in beige robes and a turban on his head bargains in a Turkish grocery store on a Ramadan sale. The sun sets, signaling the time for day’s last prayer. He hurries to the entrance of the dome scripted with large Arabian alphabets. The words say “Allahu Akbar,in English, God is Great. Contrary to the chaotic atmosphere of Itaewon street, this little haven of Muslims retains its solemnity 365 days a year. During the worship hours that take place five times a day, over a hundred believers gather under this little white dome. This is where international originality breathes in its live color, promising a sanctuary for our foreign neighbors who stay faithful to their beliefs.

 

 

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