Starting a Path to Understanding Islam
Last night some of the young men in our ward/congregation had an amazing opportunity to visit the Islamic Center of Central Missouri, the mosque in downtown Columbia. I'd been there way back in seventh grade as part of a field trip, but that was more than 20 years ago.
I had the idea for the visit earlier in the year, wanting to do something to help our youth understand another religion and culture in the hopes it would help them not just expand their worldview, but ultimately become better disciples of Christ by building a bridge between themselves and people different from them. Earlier attempts didn't work out, but we finally managed to set a visit up.
I only wish it was sooner and we had more people.
From the first, you can tell the center is a holy place - you remove your shoes as soon as you walk in, placing them on shelves built into the entryway. I was briefly reminded of the time when the Lord asked Moses to remove his shoes to honor the holy ground on which he stood. We were supposed to meet a man named Mubarak, but didn't see him. Another patron, though, warmly welcomed us upstairs into the prayer hall. As we climbed the stairs we heard the adhan, the call to prayer made before each of the five prayers Muslims offer each day. People had already started to gather inside the prayer hall, a simple room with a beautiful red carpet and copies of the Quran lining the wall. We were offered chairs in the back of the room where we could sit and observe.
Quick note - the three young men we had with us were absolute rock stars in terms of being respectful, reverent and quiet. I'm super proud of them.
As men came into the room (we saw no women, as they would have been in the room behind us for prayers - Muslims have men and women pray in different rooms) many of them saw us and smiled or nodded as a brief welcome. The prayer service lasted around ten minutes, during which we got to sit and silently observe.
Some of my observations and thoughts:
- As they prayed the men all stood shoulder to shoulder, leaving no space in between them. That struck me because in our ward we tend to try to spread out as much as possible in our pews, only sitting next to others if we have to due to space constraints. I understand it's part of the Muslim practice to stand close to each other, but the contrast wasn't lost on me.
- It warmed my heart that an older man was given a chair and allowed to pray while staying seated. The others prostrated themselves several times during the service.
- I couldn't help but be impressed by how many people were there and how diverse the crowd was. I'm so impressed people were there at 7:30 on a weeknight for prayer, most likely either coming home/taking a break from work (at least one MU doctor was there) or even leaving home to come to pray. There were college-age students - we met two, one planning to be a doctor and one majoring in engineering - and working professionals and older men and younger men (one in a St. Louis Cardinals hoodie and hat). It was such a varied crowd, so different than the images shown in a lot of movies or TV shows.
- Related to that, I think a lot of religious people think about their faith/perform devotions of faith a few times a day, be it prayers or studying holy writings or similar things. But Muslims take time no less than five times a day to pray, and it's not just a simple or short "Hi, God, thanks for this and I need that, okay, bye" prayer a lot of us say. It's a ritual, a specifically designed practice that takes time and energy and thought, and I'm so impressed at the devotion of these men and women to do that and keep up with it day after day after day.
- After the service, the imam mentioned we were there visiting, and no less than half a dozen men came back to shake our hands and welcome us and thank us for coming. I remarked to the other youth leader the welcome was much warmer than I felt we Latter-day Saints sometimes give to visitors in our wards.
- I have so many things I want to know about just the prayer service, about the words said - all in Arabic - and the actions and the practice. We just ran out of time.
- After the service, we were invited to a dinner the center has each Wednesday, a simple meal of rice and fish and potatoes and salad and baklava (YUM). So many people invited us to partake, and as we ate they engaged us in conversation about who we are and where we go to school or work and if we had questions. They were so gracious and kind and warm and welcoming. They said we can come back anytime and I truly believe they mean it. It wasn't just a token statement - it felt very sincere.
We only had a few minutes to talk the imam, where he explained why they all face the same direction when they pray (northeast in this case) - it's an act of unity as they face Mecca, where sits what they treat as the house of God. He told us he has the Quran memorized, and that many of the people who come to the center do as well, even those who don't speak Arabic natively.
Overall it was a brief experience that left me wanting to know and learn so much more. I truly felt I was on holy ground the entire time. As a Latter-day Saint, I believe my faith is the only true and living one on the earth. But I also believe there is so much holiness and faith and goodness and righteousness to be found in so many places, and the mosque in mid-Missouri is no exception. These are good men (and women, by extension) who are providers and givers in their community and families, and are deserving of the highest respect and praise for their faith and good works. I can't wait to visit again, hopefully with more of our youth and with more time.
I'm grateful for people who open their doors and minds and mouths to teach about what Islam truly is, not the warped version we've come to understand thanks to movies and television and even the news of which I'm a part.
If you can, visit the nearest mosque or Islamic center to you. Learn about Muslims and Islam and their beliefs and practices and lives, and spread that knowledge. One of the young men couldn't stop talking about how much he wanted to learn more about Islam and couldn't wait to find someone to ask questions. Read the Quran - I got a copy recently and am excited to see what it can teach me. Share the goodness you find.
I'll end with a verse from the Quran painted on the back wall of the Islamic Center's prayer hall, a beautiful verse full of meaning:
"Only he shall visit the mosques of God who believes in God and the latter day, and keeps up prayer and pays the poor-rate and fears none but God; so (as for) these, it may be that they are of the followers of the right course."
 |
| Photo courtesy: Islamic Center of Central Missouri |
I only wish it was sooner and we had more people.
From the first, you can tell the center is a holy place - you remove your shoes as soon as you walk in, placing them on shelves built into the entryway. I was briefly reminded of the time when the Lord asked Moses to remove his shoes to honor the holy ground on which he stood. We were supposed to meet a man named Mubarak, but didn't see him. Another patron, though, warmly welcomed us upstairs into the prayer hall. As we climbed the stairs we heard the adhan, the call to prayer made before each of the five prayers Muslims offer each day. People had already started to gather inside the prayer hall, a simple room with a beautiful red carpet and copies of the Quran lining the wall. We were offered chairs in the back of the room where we could sit and observe.
 |
| An older photo showing the prayer hall (Courtesy: Islamic Center of Central Missouri) |
Quick note - the three young men we had with us were absolute rock stars in terms of being respectful, reverent and quiet. I'm super proud of them.
As men came into the room (we saw no women, as they would have been in the room behind us for prayers - Muslims have men and women pray in different rooms) many of them saw us and smiled or nodded as a brief welcome. The prayer service lasted around ten minutes, during which we got to sit and silently observe.
Some of my observations and thoughts:
- As they prayed the men all stood shoulder to shoulder, leaving no space in between them. That struck me because in our ward we tend to try to spread out as much as possible in our pews, only sitting next to others if we have to due to space constraints. I understand it's part of the Muslim practice to stand close to each other, but the contrast wasn't lost on me.
- It warmed my heart that an older man was given a chair and allowed to pray while staying seated. The others prostrated themselves several times during the service.
- I couldn't help but be impressed by how many people were there and how diverse the crowd was. I'm so impressed people were there at 7:30 on a weeknight for prayer, most likely either coming home/taking a break from work (at least one MU doctor was there) or even leaving home to come to pray. There were college-age students - we met two, one planning to be a doctor and one majoring in engineering - and working professionals and older men and younger men (one in a St. Louis Cardinals hoodie and hat). It was such a varied crowd, so different than the images shown in a lot of movies or TV shows.
 |
| The Islamic Center at night (Photo: Wikipedia) |
- Related to that, I think a lot of religious people think about their faith/perform devotions of faith a few times a day, be it prayers or studying holy writings or similar things. But Muslims take time no less than five times a day to pray, and it's not just a simple or short "Hi, God, thanks for this and I need that, okay, bye" prayer a lot of us say. It's a ritual, a specifically designed practice that takes time and energy and thought, and I'm so impressed at the devotion of these men and women to do that and keep up with it day after day after day.
- After the service, the imam mentioned we were there visiting, and no less than half a dozen men came back to shake our hands and welcome us and thank us for coming. I remarked to the other youth leader the welcome was much warmer than I felt we Latter-day Saints sometimes give to visitors in our wards.
- I have so many things I want to know about just the prayer service, about the words said - all in Arabic - and the actions and the practice. We just ran out of time.
- After the service, we were invited to a dinner the center has each Wednesday, a simple meal of rice and fish and potatoes and salad and baklava (YUM). So many people invited us to partake, and as we ate they engaged us in conversation about who we are and where we go to school or work and if we had questions. They were so gracious and kind and warm and welcoming. They said we can come back anytime and I truly believe they mean it. It wasn't just a token statement - it felt very sincere.
We only had a few minutes to talk the imam, where he explained why they all face the same direction when they pray (northeast in this case) - it's an act of unity as they face Mecca, where sits what they treat as the house of God. He told us he has the Quran memorized, and that many of the people who come to the center do as well, even those who don't speak Arabic natively.
 |
| The Kaaba in Mecca, the most sacred site in Islam (Photo: CNN) |
Overall it was a brief experience that left me wanting to know and learn so much more. I truly felt I was on holy ground the entire time. As a Latter-day Saint, I believe my faith is the only true and living one on the earth. But I also believe there is so much holiness and faith and goodness and righteousness to be found in so many places, and the mosque in mid-Missouri is no exception. These are good men (and women, by extension) who are providers and givers in their community and families, and are deserving of the highest respect and praise for their faith and good works. I can't wait to visit again, hopefully with more of our youth and with more time.
I'm grateful for people who open their doors and minds and mouths to teach about what Islam truly is, not the warped version we've come to understand thanks to movies and television and even the news of which I'm a part.
If you can, visit the nearest mosque or Islamic center to you. Learn about Muslims and Islam and their beliefs and practices and lives, and spread that knowledge. One of the young men couldn't stop talking about how much he wanted to learn more about Islam and couldn't wait to find someone to ask questions. Read the Quran - I got a copy recently and am excited to see what it can teach me. Share the goodness you find.
I'll end with a verse from the Quran painted on the back wall of the Islamic Center's prayer hall, a beautiful verse full of meaning:
"Only he shall visit the mosques of God who believes in God and the latter day, and keeps up prayer and pays the poor-rate and fears none but God; so (as for) these, it may be that they are of the followers of the right course."
Comments
Thanks for sharing! Love and miss you!