Joe and Tom Ricketts, our mosque welcomes your visit

Last summer, Rabbi Ari and I went to a Cubs game together. When Anthony Rizzo belted a walk- off, gamewinning home run, we screamed and hugged like long-lost brothers. What made the moment sweeter was that, about an hour earlier, I wanted to go home after the fifth inning to beat the traffic, since the Cubbies were down big. Rabbi Ari said, “Imam, have faith! The Cubbies are going to win this game!”

Sports brings Muslims and Jews and Christians together. The comments made by Joe Ricketts divide us.

I have bled Cubbie Blue since the 1990s. I even used to listen faithfully to the pregame and postgame shows with Pat Hughes and Ron Santo before I got married and responsibilities kicked in. As a Muslim-American and an Imam (the Islamic word for our clergy) of our masjid ( mosque) in Libertyville, I have already received and accepted your father’s apology, since my faith teaches us to forgive and give people second chances. At the same time, if you want his apology to seem sincere to the thousands of Muslim Cub fans, I suggest you come to Islamic Foundation North for a tour of the masjid and see for yourself if Muslims are naturally your “enemy,” as your father stated in the leaked emails.

We invite you and your father Joe to tour the Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville. Please let me know a day and time that works best for both of you. Although my entire congregation would welcome both of you with open arms, if you want to make your tour private, it can be with just myself, a few clergy friends and a few of our congregation’s lay leaders.

Many other Cub fans who are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other faiths have told me that they cannot watch any Cubs game or wear any Cubs gear until they see you make the situation right with your actions. What a shame that would be for all of us.

Joe and Tom, my brothers in humanity, show us with your actions that you will make the situation right.

See you soon. Peace and blessings,

Imam Azfar Uddin, Gurnee