Washington DC metropolitan area Muslims reacted like Muslim Americans across the nation as news reports came out that the Fort Hood shooter had a Muslim name: fearful, numb, or demoralized.
But when news sites posted images of Army Major Nidal Malik Hassan, the reaction of area Muslims turned to utter shock and bewilderment. Hassan's face was familiar to masjid going Muslims across the region.
The Muslim Link spoke to several area Muslims who knew Hassan casually, and at least one who worked with him. All of their identities are being kept confidential in this report.
Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) knew Hassan as a regular attendee of both the Muslim Community Center (MCC) and ISWA, and was quoted in the Washington Post's coverage of the Fort Hood shootings.
Muslims in Montgomery and Prince George's County reacted with wide-eyes when photos became available, each recalling times they saw Hassan at their masjid. All the Muslims interviewed said Hassan was reserved, polite, came before the athan, prayed, and left relatively quickly.
“I would say [greetings of peace] to him and shake his hand, and he would smile and respond. He wouldn't talk much. He seemed like an organized person who put his trips to the masjid in his schedule, he did not hang around or socialize after the prayer,” said a Muslim in Prince George's County.
Another local Muslim said he would see Hassan at Muslim events.
“I know he would go to major [Muslim] events, buy tickets and attend fundraisers, and even donate to different masajid. I didn't even know his name, but he's been a familiar face for years to many of us,” said another Muslim who lives close to Laurel, Maryland. “None of us even knew he was in the military. He would come in wearing Pakistani cloths sometimes, so we thought he was from Pakistan.”
“It goes to show you that things might be happening in someone's life who you pray next to all the time. If we don't talk to one another, we will miss the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters. [Nidal] was quiet. He never spoke to any of us about politics, the military, or violence. We had no idea he was even a doctor. He seemed very together yet humble,” said another Muslim who lives outside Washington DC.
A female former co-worker said she worked with Hassan at Walter Reed Hospital for a few years.
“We knew him very well. He was a very nice person, and very religious. When I talked to [another co-worker] about this, she started crying,” said the former co-worker, who now resides overseas.
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