Worship

The prayer hall

- The mosque is the heart of the Muslim community and the prayer hall is the heart of the mosque. Males and females may enter the hall through separate doors and they will pray in different parts of the room so they do not distract each other. - Everything in the prayer hall is designed to create the right atmosphere for worship. Prayer can only be performed in a clean place so it is important for the prayer hall to be dirt-free. - Just outside the prayer hall there is a place where everyone can leave their shoes before entering.

The role of the imam

- The title imam means 'prayer leader'. If two or more Muslims are prayer together, one will be chosen to act as Imam. When the family prays together the father will be the Imam, he will face the qiblah and the family will take their places behind him. - Today the title Imam is used for the leader of a mosque employed by the mosque committee. - He will lead prayers, preach the Friday sermon and, conduct funerals and provide guidance and advice on all matters of Muslim belief and behaviour. The Imam will also teach Arabic and Quran recitation and study. This gives the Imam a lot of power in the mosque.

The mosque and the wider community

- A purpose-built mosque is a very public statement about what Islam is and what it stands for. Muslims who go to the mosque are expected to act as representatives of Islam. They also have a duty to introduce others to Islam by informing them about teachings and practices. - Many mosques invite non-Muslim visitors and provide visiting speakers for schools, radio or television. They may host websites and some broadcast radio programmes, especially during Ramadan.

Aids to worship (Quran stand)

- All copies of the Quran must be treated with great respect because they contain the words of God as directly given to the Prophet. - Muslims will wash their hands before touching the Quran. Quran stands are used to make sure the Quran never touches an unclean surface or the ground. - The stand is also called a thrown. Muslims reciting or reading the Quran will sit on the floor and put the Quran on its stand in front of them so they can read it.

Minbar

- Where the Imam delivers his sermon, he stand on the minbar, which will be in the same direction as the mihrab. - This may be a simple set of steps or a very ornate feature. It's purpose is to allow the congregation to see and hear the preacher. - The prayer hall like the rest of the mosque, will have no pictures or statues in it. Muslims believe that God cannot be represented in any form because he is unique. - They totally reject the worship of images because only God should be worshipped. - Instead verses from the Quran or the shahadah decorate the walls and inside of the dome. Geometric patterns may also be used. - The prayer carpet may also have a pattern that marks out the space for each person to pray. It is laid out so worshippers are facing Makkah in rows. Sometimes individual prayer mats are used. - On one wall of the room there is often a clock displaying times of the 5 daily prayers and of the Friday jumuah prayer.

Importance of Eid ul Fitr

- celebrates the end of the fast, while they fast, Muslims are reminded of the sacrifice god expects from them. In contrast Eid ul Fitr is a celebration of the joy and happiness that are the rewards of obedience to God. - They celebrate being Muslims and the gifts given to Muslims from God, the gift of the Quran and of food and drink which they need to live. They also celebrate being apart of a community in which everyone cares for everyone else. - The main theme of the celebration is gratitude to God, concern for others and pleasure of being a Muslim.

Eid ul Adha

- feast of sacrifice celebrated by pilgrims on hajj and by Muslims worldwide. The festival falls towards the end of hajjin the last month of the year on the Islamic calendar. - It celebrates how the prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son for God. On the day itself, there are congregational prayers in the mosque. So many people attend so they are repeated several times. That way everyone can participate. - In Muslim countries Eid is a public holiday but not in places like Britain- people need to ask for time off. - The festival is a time for celebration. Muslims who are away from home return to visit family and friends and to share festive meals. Everyone shares cards and gives presents. Community celebrations are organised (funfair, fireworks). There may be separate celebrations for men and women. The festival can go on for up to 4 days and care is taken to make sure no one is left out. - people living on their own are invited to share meals with neighbours and anyone in hospital will have plenty of visitors.

Muezzin

- person who gives the call to prayer and the adhan is the call to prayer itself. - The only qualifications needed to be a muezzin are to be a good Muslim man and have a strong voice. - in Muhammads time, the muezzin would walk through the streets and call the faithful to prayer. After mosques were built he would call from the top of the minaret. In many countries the adhan is amplified by speakers. This means people can always hear the call. - The muezzin may become a local or national celebrity. Recordings of popular muezzins may be broadcast on the radio at prayer times or used in adhan alarm clocks.

Importance of Eid ul Adha

- sacrifice remembers an event in the life of prophet Abraham, when he dreamt that he had sacrificed his son. He believed that this is what God was asking him to do. After Abraham showed he was willing to sacrifice his son, God provided an animal for the sacrifice instead. The Quran describes Abraham as a good example to Muslims. He showed that perfect Muslims must obey god and be willing to give up anything if god commands it, even what they live most. - The Quran tells Muslims that it is not the meat or blood they are sacrificing. All animals are to be eaten and killed in the same way, so in that sense the animal sacrifice is nothing special. The real sacrifice is the gift of the meat to friends and the poor. When they offer that they are following the example of the prophet and obeying god.

Qualities of the Imam

- someone respected by the people both for his views and for the way he leads his life. He will be an expert on the Quran and its meaning and on the teaching of Islam. - He will be wise in his understanding of how that teaching can apply to modern situations. It is important for the Imam to be a good speaker. - some British mosques have non-English speaking Imams. Many Muslims believe that imams in Britain should speak English and understand the British way of life. This is so The can present Islam to non-Muslims and talk directly to young people and understand their situation. - young Muslims often have to be encouraged to go to the mosque but they often understand english only and are easily bored. It is important for the Imam to make his talks and presentations interesting for them, both in what he says and how he puts it over.

Eid ul Fitr

- starts as Ramadan ends and it celebrates the breaking of the fast. The Eid prayer is held outside, weather permitting, to allow as many people as possible to pray together. Everyone wears their best clothes for the occasion. On the way to the Eid prayer, crowds repeatedly chant Allahu Akbar. - The imams sermon during the festival reminds Muslims that it is their duty to care for all living beings, end hatred and anger and help the poor and needy. Muslims should go away from the sermon wanting to end suffering and unfairness where ever they find it. - When the Imam announces the start of the celebration, everyone greets and hugs each other and then visits their family and friends to share cards, presents and a celebration meal. There is a great community spirit and no one is left out. - Muslims are expected to give a special payment to charity (Zakah ul Fitr), in thankfulness of being able to fast during Ramadan. This payment is given before the Eid celebrations begin. Some of the money is spent making sure that the poor can join in the celebration. - Even the dead are not forgotten, many will go and visit graves to show respect. - the way it is celebrated varies around the world, but almost everywhere food play an important role.

Eid ul Adha (animal sacrifice)

- Animal sacrifice plays an important role in the celebration. But some believe that it is only a duty of those doing pilgrimage. - Farmers bring their animals to Makkah to sell and make sure everyone gets one for sacrifice. Enormous freezers are provided so that meat will not be wasted. It is a huge and costly operation for which pilgrims will be charged around £100. - male pilgrims will perform the sacrifice on behalf of their family, or pay for someone else to do it if they think they will not be able to do it painlessly. - The animal is killed in the way layer down by Islamic law, so that the meat is halal. 1/3 of the meat is given to the poor, 1/3 to family and friends and the rest is eaten during the festival. - the sacrifice is widely practised in other countries too but some Muslims prefer to give money. British law forbids anyone from killing the animal themselves. So Muslims may buy an animal, which is then killed on behalf of the slaughterhouse. Others make a sacrifice of money to help other Muslims. - Eid ul Adha is sometimes called the Offer Feast because of the offering muslims make to god. In some countries arrangements are made for the killing of so many animals. The arrangements are approved by Muslim leader, but not all Muslims are happy with it because they feel the example of the prophet is not being followed completely.

Qiblah and mihrab

- the qiblah will be shown by a niche called the mihrab. All Muslims have to face the Sacred mosque at Makkah when they pray. - when Muslims focus on one single point in prayer, they are reminded that their lives should focus only on God. They also feel like they are part of a large worldwide community. This is because all Muslims, no matter where they are, focus on that point for prayer. - The mihrab may be highly decorated but it may also be very simple so it does not distract worshippers.

Aids to worship (prayer beads)

- used by Muslims in private prayer to help them count when they recite the names of god. They move one bead along the string each time the say a name. - Many strings have 99 beads, one for each of Gods names; some have 33 in which case Muslims go round the strings 3 times. This aids Muslims to concentrate on their prayers.

Is a mosque important?

- If there was no mosque there would be no central meeting place and nowhere the whole community could get together for prayers. - New Muslims moving into the area would not know where to go to meet up with other Muslims and there would be nowhere to go for advice or a Muslim education. - some communities use online versions to get in touch with other Muslims and ask others for advice. - Some mosques are important. The Great Mosque in Makkah is the international symbol of Islam. Many Muslims see large mosques as the sentry of the community and a visual reminder of their duty to God. - some muslims dont go to the mosque very often. They use their homes, work or schools as places of prayer. They keep in touch with other by phone or email and learn about Islam from the internet or books.

Minaret and dome

- In the past minarets were used by the muezzin to call the Muslims to prayer from the top of the tower. Now it is often purely decoration. - In some countries it contains loudspeakers through which the call to prayer is played. - The dome sits above the prayer hall. It is said to represent the universe and to remind muslims that the whole world belongs to God. It's design helps the sound of the prayer to carry all around the prayer hall and to keep the room cool. - It is often beautifully decorated, inside and out. When a mosque has 4 minarets and a dome, these symbolise the Five Pillars of Islam.

Can the Imam be a woman?

- Islam has always allowed a woman to be an Imam when I men are present. However, when the congregation is mixed many think the Imam should be a man.

Education in the mosque

- Many mosques run a madrasah. Here children can learn Arabic and how to recite the Quran. They are also taught how to be a good Muslim. - The Islamic education can include the basics of cleanliness, good morals and good manner as well as basic knowledge about beliefs and practises. - This is important because this education is not available at local state schools. Each new generation needs to be taught Islam so it can be passed onto the next. - Parents are expected to do more than just send their children to the madrassah, they should be setting a good example for the child by living a Muslim life. - The madrassah also runs Quran study groups for adults often with separate classes for men and women. A library, reading rooms and bookshops support those attending the madrassah and they may also provide information for non-Muslims visiting the country.

Rooms for ritual washing

- Mosques need somewhere for worshippers to perform wudu. This may be a courtyard fountain or special ablution rooms near the prayer hall. - Large mosques which hold many people need very large rooms. This is because everyone need to perform wudu at the same time.

Social events and funerals

- Mosques often have kitchens where food is prepared and large meeting rooms which can be used for festivals and for family celebrations after wedding and naming ceremonies. - Many also have a mortuary where the body is prepared for burial. The mosque has a fully equipped vehicle on standby to collect the body after death.they can usually carry out burials on the same day. The mosque provides a full service for men and women that complies to shari'ah law. - the service includes: a final bathing of the deceased, the shrouding of the deceased, 48-hour use of the mortuary where the body is kept if necessary, supply of a suitable coffin/casket, transport of the deceased and the Imams service on request.

The mosque

- Muslim place of worship. Often the mosque is a converted house in small communities where daily prayers are held. - Purpose-built mosques can be found in towns or cities, which have a large muslim population. These hold many worshippers and provide all the facilities needed for prayer and often much more.

Aids to worship (compass and prayer mat)

- Muslims can turn any suitable place into a mosque by using a compass and prayer mat. The compass is used to work out the direction of Makkah. The prayer mat is used to make sure the place of prayer is clean. - Each mat is about a meter long and half a meter wide. The decoration will include an arch which the worshippers points in the direction of Makkah. There is often a deliberate mistake made in the pattern to remind them that only God is perfect.

Adhan

- The Arabic words of the adhan are a reminder of some of the most important truths in Islam. They remind Muslims that they should stop whatever they are doing to pray. - we can see this in the pre-dawn prayer which includes a extra phrase 'prayer is better than sleep'. The adhan is a sign of people faith. - the adhan is spoken into the ear of a newborn child so that the first sound the child hears is the call to worship God. It is also the first thing said when Muslims move into a new house to make is their home.

Mosque design

- The Quran doesn't say what a mosque should look like so there are many different styles around the world. - However, they share many features. They are all positioned so that those using the prayer hall will be facing Makkah. Some are easy to recognise because they have a dome and one or more towers called minarets. - The Islamic symbol of the crescent moon and star often appears on the top of a minaret or dome, and stonework itself may be decorated with Arabic script.