Mosque Experience
Middle Eastern Cultures
I chose to attend the mosque on Saturday February 19, 2011 at 3:23pm with my neighbor. I thought this would be an appropriate subject of research. Before going, I was really nervous that I might offend the others with my attendance. I asked my neighbor to borrow some clothes so I could be dressed appropriately. She loaned me a long white skirt with black and pink flowers on it and a pink scarf with sequins. On the way, we talked about my reason for going and I told her that in addition to my courses; Comparative World Religions and Middle Eastern Cultures, I would like to learn more about her religion to be able to be better help the increasing muslin population attending the college and to also be a good neighbor to her and her family as they have been so nice to mine. Once she offered to take my son afterschool sometimes while I finished work because she understands what it’s like to be single and taking care of children as she did it for a long time before her husband moved here from Somalia. I had hoped to be able to speak with one of the Imam’s, who attends college as well, before going to ask if I could attend but hadn’t found him. I did speak with another employee of the college who converted to Muslim before he married his Somali wife and he helped me to feel more comfortable about my decision to go but also warned me that I may not be welcomed with open arms.
Walking into mosque I got a lot of double looks but more so in question then in revolt. We walked into a small entry-way where we took off our shoes then went downstairs to the basement. It was divided into several different rooms and one included a kitchen. There were only women down there and they knelt on the floor in rows of 3 or 4. There was a speaker with a man’s voice giving some sort of instruction and I followed along when they transitioned from standing, kneeling, and bowing touching our noses to the floor all the while the others were reciting something in
I chose to attend the mosque on Saturday February 19, 2011 at 3:23pm with my neighbor. I thought this would be an appropriate subject of research. Before going, I was really nervous that I might offend the others with my attendance. I asked my neighbor to borrow some clothes so I could be dressed appropriately. She loaned me a long white skirt with black and pink flowers on it and a pink scarf with sequins. On the way, we talked about my reason for going and I told her that in addition to my courses; Comparative World Religions and Middle Eastern Cultures, I would like to learn more about her religion to be able to be better help the increasing muslin population attending the college and to also be a good neighbor to her and her family as they have been so nice to mine. Once she offered to take my son afterschool sometimes while I finished work because she understands what it’s like to be single and taking care of children as she did it for a long time before her husband moved here from Somalia. I had hoped to be able to speak with one of the Imam’s, who attends college as well, before going to ask if I could attend but hadn’t found him. I did speak with another employee of the college who converted to Muslim before he married his Somali wife and he helped me to feel more comfortable about my decision to go but also warned me that I may not be welcomed with open arms.
Walking into mosque I got a lot of double looks but more so in question then in revolt. We walked into a small entry-way where we took off our shoes then went downstairs to the basement. It was divided into several different rooms and one included a kitchen. There were only women down there and they knelt on the floor in rows of 3 or 4. There was a speaker with a man’s voice giving some sort of instruction and I followed along when they transitioned from standing, kneeling, and bowing touching our noses to the floor all the while the others were reciting something in
Cited: Salaat. http://www.help-for-the-convert.net. no author. n.d. Web. 5 March 2011.