When I was talking to Sister N we got on the subject of all the local masjids. I mentioned that everyone was telling me to visit the big mosque a few miles away but that I wasn't really interested because the ladies section is not very nice and they don't do anything in English. I told her I really liked the masjid that is down the street from the school and she gave me this puzzled look. She said (apologies for spelling Koja wrong if I have indeed spelled it wrong):
"That masjid is Koja, they won't really want you there. They only allow Koja's in. I'm glad you had a good experience but I'm pretty sure they will give you a hard time if you go there alone."
I just starred at her and wanted to yell "Then where am I suppose to go!? Its the only mosque that does anything in English in the area!"
I then began to learn I can't go to this other mosque because its Iranian, and the Pakistani mosque probably won't want me either. Supposively, there is a convert mosque that's quite far away. Oh and the spanish mosque, they don't want me either and only do services in Spanish. Don't get me started on how all the Sunni mosques won't want me because I pray with my hands at my sides and use a little piece of earth.
So this is what I want to say to the ummah: This behavior is EXACTLY what will drive away potential converts. Churches do not have this issue for the most part. This makes me not want to be muslim. If I cannot participate without be discriminated against by my OWN RELIGION then I do not want to participate at all. I then do not want to be muslim if even muslims are going to treat me like crap. I get enough predjudice from non muslims, I do not need it from the ummah.
You all are driving people away from Islam. Stop being so stuck on your home cultures and realize that the ummah can only grow if people start to join it. This behavior is against Islam and against the wishes of Allah. May Allah guide the ummah to see the truth of their behavior.
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THANK YOU for saying this. Alhamdulillah, I have not experienced racism at the masjid that I go to; it is a huge masjid in the middle of Boston that I honestly don't think has a majority ethnic group. However, I know that the ummah does seem to have a major problem when it comes to racism. I guess people forget the words in the Qur'an about ALLAH making us into different tribes that we may know each other, or the words that Prophet Muhammad (saw) said during his Farewell Sermon that pretty much abolished racism (the "Arabs are not better than non-Arabs and vice versa and whites are not better than blacks and vice versa, the best are those who are most pious"). Astaghfirullah, we all need to realize that this institutionalized racism IS an issue that can't be simply brushed away by saying "oh, Islam isn't racist" and then have nothing done about it. People that give da'wah to non-Muslims usually make a big point that Islam is not racist, but what kind of message are we giving when we tell people that they shouldn't or can't attend a certain masjid because of their ethnicity? This makes the ummah look terrible, and it will drive both Muslims and non-Muslims away.
ReplyDeleteI say go to whatever masjid you want. It is completely in your right to do so. If you felt most comfortable at the "Koja" masjid, then by all means go there. If you didn't like the masjid that didn't speak English (I probably wouldn't either), then don't go there. If anyone gives you a hard time, you can politely remind them that the masjid is a place for everyone. They will not have any excuses.
Also, a "convert masjid"? Is that a masjid that only allows converts in? :) I don't think I've ever heard of, much less been to, a masjid that is primarily made up of converts.
ReplyDeleteErrrgggh, stuff them all! Banana Anne is right - the masjid is a place for everyone and you have every right to be there. I wish I was there with you to make a road trip and stop in at every mosque just so people can realise "Oh hey, there are actually people interested in Islam - not just me and my kind!"
ReplyDeleteGrr.
Banana Anne: Teehee the convert masjid is one made up of primarily converts and a diverse group of ethnicities. Sister N and I are going to check it out with a friend of hers after I get back from going home for Christmas. She said it seems rather agreeable.
ReplyDeleteYeah my plan is to go to the Koja mosque and if they try to kick me out then I'll leave. I did not experience any issues when I went with My Love's mom and sister. His family has been going there for years and they are certainly not Koja. In fact, my understanding is usually Pakistanis and Kojas aren't big fans of each other yet his family is really respected there. And yeah, I want to go to the mosque were I know what people are SAYING LOL.
Ellen: ROAD TRIP....although that would be difficult from Australia :) That would be interesting experiment, to have a bunch of muslims or non-middle easterners from different ethnicities go to multiple mosques and see what happens. Hmmmmm..... :) Yes the ummah needs to realize if it wants to grow they have to take their heads out of the sand and realize that Islam does not just belong to your ethnicity, it belongs to all people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDkoYJD8kEo
ReplyDeleteAlhumdillah that was beautiful. Thanks Anon!
ReplyDeletealhamdulillah, I live in a small town but we don't seem to have this problem. Our majority is Saudis, but they do half or all of the lectures in English and all of the sisters have welcomed us converts with open arms. We also are a majority Sunni masjid, but I know of two or three Shia families who pray and participate with us and they are really respectful and nice. I think that I may be spoiled... beccause I just can't imagine a masjid that isn't like mine.
ReplyDeleteso again, alhamdulillah and inshaAllah the conditions in all of our masjids will improve!
Mash'Allah you have such a lovely masjid Never Ever
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad that this happens... At my local mosque, it's mostly Marocans and mostly all in Arabic. I don't really see converts there, maybe because of the language, but I still feel as though we are accepted there. One woman sat beside me and translated everything one time. And when they saw more non-Arabs, they made an outline of the khutbah for us to follow. And the meetings are in French.
ReplyDeleteOne question: What is Koja?
I'm actually having a really hard time finding any info on Kojas (or Hoja as some say) I know they are a really small community in India near the Pakistani boarder. They have very specific traditions and practices, especially pertaining to Islam and more specifically Muharram.
ReplyDeleteHey, I just stumbled upon your blog. . . I live in a small town, so we only have one small mosque. All sorts of ethnic groups pray there, and there are even a couple Shii's. :D The one nice thing about a small Muslim community is that we all sort of stick together.
ReplyDeleteHi Maddie. Yes I hear that is an advantage :)
ReplyDelete