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Like many Islamic worshippers around the world, they fasted until sundown and then gathered for prayer. Unlike many Islamic worshippers around the world, they prayed in a Christian church.
Heartsong Church, outside Memphis in Cordova, Tenn., practices contemporary Christianity, adhering to no single denomination but instead helping congregants "sing the song God has planted in (their) heart."
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Pastor Steve Stone embodies the modern minister, employing down-to-earth language, wearing casual clothes and in general personifying the positive "Jesus follower" described on the church's website. But a year and a half ago, when Stone learned a Muslim center had purchased the land adjacent to Heartsong, he felt a little blip of ... something not positive.
"My stomach got a little tight, out of fear and ignorance," he told AOL News. "I've only known one Muslim personally from the gym and knew nothing about the religion."
But fear and ignorance weren't part of the gospel Stone preaches, so he looked beyond the pit of his stomach to what his mind believed was right.
"As soon as we could, we got a big red banner," he said. "Heartsong Church welcomes Memphis Islamic Center to the neighborhood."
When members of the new center saw the sign, they felt a little abashed that they hadn't made the first gesture, said center trustee and communications director Danish Siddiqui.
"The Quran tells us to be good neighbors. We felt we kind of fell short and should have done that on our own," he said.
The two institutions kept up their relationship, talking about a possible social gathering and watching the construction progress. As this Ramadan approached, the progress proved insufficient, and the Islamic Center found itself homeless during the season of fasting and prayer.
The congregation brainstormed.
"What if we ask the church if we could rent some space from them?" Siddiqui remembered.
Stone said no. "You're going to be our guest. We don't want any money. ... That's part of being a good neighbor."
Christian volunteers were at the church during Ramadan prayers to help their Muslim guests, and several stayed to watch the service. A member of the Islamic Center shared his faith with a small group from the church.
"These relationships are really taking off and growing," Stone said.
The congregations' story is really taking off and growing, as well, a journalistic counterweight to coverage of planned Quran burnings and inflammatory mosque-building debates.
Stone and center board member Dr. Bashar Shala appeared Wednesday night on MSNBC, and Arabic news network Al-Jazeera is hoping for an interview.
Before speaking with AOL News, Stone fielded a thank-you call from an elderly Jewish New Yorker. Hundreds have sent e-mails, mostly positive.
Siddiqui said folks from both religious centers have been amused by the media fuss.
"Our congregation members and their congregation members think it's funny," he said.
"We were just trying to be good neighbors and practice the tenets of our faith, both Muslims and Christians."
"Just a simple act of love," Stone said.
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