One of my assignments for the World Religions class I recently took was to visit a place of worship of a different religion. I chose to visit a Mosque because I knew it would be beneficial for me to learn more about Islam. Islam is increasing in followers and popularity. As a husband, father, and missionary it is my obligation to learn as much as I can about this very large religion so I can be an informed protector of those under my care.

The Welcome

I knew that Muslims prayed corporately on Fridays at noon, so I arrived about thirty minutes early hoping to be able to ask some questions. Upon arrival I was treated kindly. I was given a paperback Qur’an and a brochure. I was then directed to a man who could lead me to the place of prayer. He was an older man who appeared to be from one of the Middle Eastern states. He had a long white beard and once he spoke his accent assured me that the U.S. was not his birthplace.

He was kind but serious, not chipper. On our way to the mosque he began telling me about Islam. He was as thorough as someone could be in a five minute conversation. He explained the five pillars of Islam (Belief in one god and Muhammad as his prophet, praying five times a day, fasting during Ramadan, giving alms to the poor, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca). He also explained the six pillars of faith (Belief in Allah as the one and only god, in angels, in all the scriptures, in all the prophets, in life after death, and in destiny). I was really impressed that he was able to explain what he believed so well and so fully. There was no fumbling around with were to start or trying to smooth things over so I might like the sound of them better. He then invited me to go into the Mosque, or the Masjid as they say it in Arabic.

Inside the Mosque

Before entering I was instructed to take off my shoes. I was then shown the wall I was to sit against. Observers kind of have a designated area. The Mosque was really just a big carpeted room with a small stage and a rolling partition they put up (men and women were separated). There were very few chairs and these were only for a few older gentlemen who couldn’t sit on the floor comfortably. Since I was early there were only a few men inside. A few of them were on the stage praying (all in the same direction toward Mecca) but one was sitting and reading the Qur’an. As I looked around I noticed long diagonal white lines painted on the floor. They were perpendicular to the direction of Mecca. I also noticed that there were bookshelves on the wall holding what I assumed to be Qur’ans. One thing peculiar about them was how high they were. If I hadn’t learned in class that Muslims try to make sure that the Qur’an is always in the highest position above every other book in the room I might not have noticed this detail.

One thing that was hard to miss was the sound. There was hardly any. This roo m was understood to be a place of prayer. More people began trickling in and there was eventually what I would consider a call to worship. The microphone was turned on, and a gentleman I had seen walk in earlier began a sort of chant in Arabic. Everyone gave attention and performed differing bows. These bows I would later notice had an order.

The Message

After the call to worship there was our equivalent of a sermon. The speaker, called the Imam (what we might call the pastor), began with about two to three minutes of Arabic then he changed to an accented English. It was difficult to get all his points, but one he did make was that many people do horrible acts in the name of Islam but these are not truly Muslim.

I noticed that more than half of the men were sitting on the small stage where the speaker was rather than being spread out in the large room. I later asked a gentleman about why this was. He told me that they believe the closer you are to the Imam while he is giving the message the closer you will be to Allah in paradise. I was shocked by this response because my natural question was, “Why wasn’t every one as close as they could possibly be to him?” He responded by telling me that this is the same question the Imam asks them.

Corporate Prayer

Toward the end of the worship time the speaker said something in Arabic. Everyone stood, those who were on the stage came down, and they all formed long rows along the white lines. The Imam then began giving cues in Arabic as to when the postures were to change as they prayed. Though I never observed it well enough to explain how to do it, it began with standing, then going down to your knees, then putting your forehead on the floor, straightening up, then putting your forehead on the floor again. Between the Arabic cues it was absolutely still and quiet. As I looked around I could see under the partition and noticed that the women were in rows praying as well.

The entire time inside the Mosque only about three people even made eye contact with me. Granted I stood out like a sore thumb. I only saw one other Caucasian among the sixty to seventy men, but I don’t thi nk race had anything to do with it. I thought later, this was not a place for warm welcomes, smiles and handshakes with the occasional “How’s the family?” This was a place for focusing on worship.

Conversation Afterward

I waited after it concluded hoping someone would come up to me, shake my hand and attempt a friendly conversation. Once there were only about ten men left I figured it probably wasn’t going to happen. So, I got up and stretched a little. I had been sitting on the floor for about and hour. I walked out and put my shoes on as a few other men were doing the same. A gentleman gave a smile and said the Arabic equivalent of “May the grace and peace of god be with you.” Not understanding him I said, “hello.” We began talking and he introduced himself as Sulayman. Anxious to have many questions answered I asked him if he would mind me asking him about Islam. We talked about the different types of prayer, and about why more men were on the stage than the floor. Then the Imam came out and I was able to ask him some questions as well.

This was the most interesting part of the visit because the topics of forgiveness of sins, how one tries to get to heaven, and how one escapes hell all came up. When it boils down to it, I learned that it is all based on your deeds. I heard with my own ears the Imam say that the reason they do any good deed is for reward. It was made clear that these rewards are heavenly and not necessarily seen in this life. He told me that no one can know if they are going to heaven. Even so one is to continue to do good deeds in hopes that your good deeds will outweigh your bad. I pressed a little and asked if it is right to do good deeds only for the hope of reward. I asked if the real motive should instead be love for Allah. I was told that the answer is both, but it really seemed to me that the point of living this life was to worship Allah and to do good deeds so you won’t go to hell and so you will have rewards in heaven.

Conclusion

This visit really helped me to experience Islamic worship more personally. What I learned about their belief in salvation by works, as it were, will be imperative for future conversations with Muslims. My heart was sad as I watched all those men bowing and praying. I left knowing that most, if not all, of their interior motives were self-centered. It made me want to spread what I learned there to all Christians in hopes that they would be more motivated to share the good news of Christ. He is the One whom we worship, not because we hope to be rewarded by Him, but rather because we love Him for who He is and what He did. True Christians worship Him because He adopted us as children of God, because He sent Jesus to bare our sins, and because He rose again and is seated on His throne ruling in righteousness. I left thinking that Islam is about what you do for yourself, where Christianity is about what God in Christ Jesus did for you.