Question for Muslims

[JonD]

Are Christians allowed in Mosques? If so, are they allowed to pray in their own way while in the Mosques?

 

[Muslim]

Are Christians allowed in Mosques? If so, are they allowed to pray in their own way while in the Mosques?

Yes Christians are allowed in Mosques. They are also allowed to pray there as well. During his lifetime the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the people of At-Ta’if to stay in the mosque prior to their embracing Islam. He also received the Christians of Najran in his mosque in Madinah. When the time of their prayer was due, they prayed in the mosque towards the eastern direction. Thereupon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said (to his Companions), “Leave them (to perform prayer).”

 

[DavidofJudah]

I practiced Islam heavily for 13 years. Mosque are a lot less formal than most churches, which was one of the major appeals for me at the time of my conversion. Now i dont know what i believe but you can go to a mosque its no big deal. Actually I think Church is too formal. Its after you become muslims then everything changes at least for me.

 

[rahma]

I doubt most modern mosques would allow other faiths to hold religious services in the prayer hall, but as most other religious groups wouldn't allow people not of their faiths to worship in their sacred spaces. Sacred spaces have become increasingly personal and exclusive in our modern society.

When I was active in my masjid in college, we often had non muslims observing jummah prayer on fridays, for classes, and just because they were curious. They were welcome, as long as they dressed modestly.

 

[NOTW]

Yes Christians are allowed in Mosques. They are also allowed to pray there as well. During his lifetime the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted the people of At-Ta’if to stay in the mosque prior to their embracing Islam. He also received the Christians of Najran in his mosque in Madinah. When the time of their prayer was due, they prayed in the mosque towards the eastern direction. Thereupon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said (to his Companions), “Leave them (to perform prayer).”

Don't you think it's a little bit contradictory. Because, Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, allowed non-muslims to go into the mosques, but Saudi Arabia won't let non-muslims go into Saudi Arabia?
And Muhammed let non-muslims pray in the mosque, while Saudi Arabia won't even let non-muslims pray in their houses?

Just a thought for everyone to ponder at.

 

[NOTW]

I practiced Islam heavily for 13 years. Mosque are a lot less formal than most churches, which was one of the major appeals for me at the time of my conversion. Now i dont know what i believe but you can go to a mosque its no big deal. Actually I think Church is too formal. Its after you become muslims then everything changes at least for me.

You must be kidding me, unless you were a Catholic. But, I would not say Churches are more formal than Mosques. Take the way of praying for an example. Christians pray anytime, anywhere & however you like to pray, why? Because Christianity is a relationship with God. As for Islam, you have to pray either in the Mosque or at your house, look at a specific direction, wash your whole body before you pray, you have to bow down 5 times each time you pray...etc.

Who is more formal than the other?

 

[benmaarof]

Don't you think it's a little bit contradictory. Because, Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, allowed non-muslims to go into the mosques, but Saudi Arabia won't let non-muslims go into Saudi Arabia?
And Muhammed let non-muslims pray in the mosque, while Saudi Arabia won't even let non-muslims pray in their houses?

Just a thought for everyone to ponder at.

Please get your general knowledge updated. And maybe get a different source of information. I'm sorry to say this, but you've probably been propagandised.

There's plenty of foreign non-muslims in Saudi Arabia. Most of them worked in the oil industry. And I've seen a National Geographic documentary of non-muslim scientists conducting wildlife studies in the Saudi Arabian desert.

And that's not including American troops based there since the Gulf War.

You probably thinking of Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia, am I correct? So, for the moment, check your source of info, please.

 

[rahma]

Because Christianity is a relationship with God.

Funny that, Islam is about a relationship with God too.

As for Islam, you have to pray either in the Mosque or at your house, look at a specific direction, wash your whole body before you pray, you have to bow down 5 times each time you pray...etc.

Who is more formal than the other?

You're not comparing the right prayers here. Salat is more analigious with worship and liturgies. As a copt, you are obviously familiar with ritual liturgy. It's done a certain way, at a certain time, with certain words. Additionally, one can do salat anywhere that is clean, not just a mosque or a home. When it is warm out, spring, summer or fall, I will often take out my prayer rug, or if I didn't bring that along, my purse or back pack, and do salat outside, on the grass, in the warmth of the sun, surrounded by God's creation.

Christian "prayer" is more analigious with dua, or supplication in Islam. I can communicate, pray to God anywhere I want to, anytime I want to, in any words I want to.

 

[benmaarof]

Are Christians allowed in Mosques? If so, are they allowed to pray in their own way while in the Mosques?

Narrated Abu DhaarI said,
"O God's Apostle! Which mosque was built first?" He replied,"Al-Masjid-ul-Haram.(in Mecca)" I asked, "Which (was built) next?" He replied, "Al-Masjid-ul-Aqs-a (i.e. Jerusalem)." I asked, "What was the period in between them?" He replied, "Forty (years)." He then added, "Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of worshipping for you."
(Hadith of Sahih Bukhari)Volume 4, Book 55, Number 585.

Mosque literally means "a place of prostration".

A mosque can be any place that's clean that the congeration can pray together comfortably. It's generally a building that can protect the worshippers from the elements and stray animals. If no building are suitable or available, the congeration can also pray in an open field and it can still be a place of prostation, provided it's clean of course.

If no formal mosque is available, the congeration can even pray in an office or a warehouse or even a person's home and it can still be called a mosque.

But generally in places where there are a significant number of muslims, a formal mosque is set up so that the communal ritual prayers can be done more comfortably.

Having said that, there's nothing wrong with non-muslims praying their own way in mosques as long as they keep it clean so that muslims when they pray there, they themselves can feel they are in a pure state to face God.

That mean no shoes nor live animals nor anything that can attract vermins and bugs. And please, no idols. Trust me, we Muslims will get offended.

 

[Iron Lion]

You must be kidding me, unless you were a Catholic. But, I would not say Churches are more formal than Mosques. Take the way of praying for an example. Christians pray anytime, anywhere & however you like to pray, why? Because Christianity is a relationship with God. As for Islam, you have to pray either in the Mosque or at your house, look at a specific direction, wash your whole body before you pray, you have to bow down 5 times each time you pray...etc.

Who is more formal than the other?

no offence but have you ever been in a mosque?

 

[Muslim]

Don't you think it's a little bit contradictory. Because, Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, allowed non-muslims to go into the mosques, but Saudi Arabia won't let non-muslims go into Saudi Arabia?
And Muhammed let non-muslims pray in the mosque, while Saudi Arabia won't even let non-muslims pray in their houses?

Just a thought for everyone to ponder at.

As someone already stated, non-Muslims are allowed in Saudi Arabia. The only city which is forbidden to them is Mecca. But Mecca should only be forbidden to the pagans, as is clearly stated in the Quran. The Saudi Arabian government does not represent Islam, and they try to install their version of Wahabi Islam on everyone. If they wanted a true religious country, then why are there over 5000 princes who own most of the countries wealth and oil, while there are many who are poor.

 

[FutureTeller]

Don't you think it's a little bit contradictory. Because, Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, allowed non-muslims to go into the mosques, but Saudi Arabia won't let non-muslims go into Saudi Arabia?
And Muhammed let non-muslims pray in the mosque, while Saudi Arabia won't even let non-muslims pray in their houses?

Just a thought for everyone to ponder at.

You have a point, but there is a difference in time (about 1400 years) things had changed a lot. For example, the prophet's mosques was too simple, built with tree branches and now look at the current mosques. Should we build our mosques in that simple way because prophet Muhammad built it that way!

Everything changes, besides christians have their churches, i'm egyptian and churches here everywhere, so why they will go to a mosque to pray?!

More important, do christians allow muslims to pray in their churches?

 

[The Midge]

You have a point, but there is a difference in time (about 1400 years) things had changed a lot. For example, the prophet's mosques was too simple, built with tree branches and now look at the current mosques. Should we build our mosques in that simple way because prophet Muhammad built it that way!

Everything changes, besides christians have their churches, i'm egyptian and churches here everywhere, so why they will go to a mosque to pray?!

More important, do christians allow muslims to pray in their churches?

As funny as it may seem, Churches often take place in schools, concert halls, community hall and even pubs/ bars! In truth the church building is a venue the church is the people. Jesus just made use of the Jerusalem temple, a field, a boat or synagouge and didn't seem to get round to building his own place.

As for prayer: there is more parts to Christian prayer tha liturgy and petition. There is praise, contemplation, meditation, visulaisation/ praying through of scripture, declaration, ministering to needs, thanks giving for food and probably loads that I have missed out including the groan of agony and trail that is unarticulated feeling that God alone can understand. Prayer is at all times and in all places, because that is where God is and God is interested and concerned about everything.

It is nice meeting with you all.


God Bless
M.

 

[Cadillac]

I don't want to start a new thread as the topic of this thread is broad enough for my question.

I especially want to know what immigrant Muslims have to say.

Why do Moslems immigrate to the United States and Canada? What is it that attracts them to these clearly non-Muslim countries?

 

[Wakeup2god]

May I just ask is ,"Al-Masjid-ul-Haram.(in Mecca)" the same place as Kaaba in Mecca?

 

[rahma]

Why do Moslems immigrate to the United States and Canada? What is it that attracts them to these clearly non-Muslim countries?

I'm not an immigrant (parts of my family have been here since before the civil war), but my husband is, as are many of my friend's parents.

They came for the same reasons the Irish, the German, the Italians, the Sicilian, the English etc came before. Figure out why those groups came, and you'll know why muslims have immigrated.

However, the majority of the american muslim community is homegrown. Over half are african americans who were brought here as slaves, and many are second and third generation children and grandchildren of immigrants.

 

[rahma]

May I just ask is ,"Al-Masjid-ul-Haram.(in Mecca)" the same place as Kaaba in Mecca?

Basically, yes. The Masjid al Haram is the entire mosque complex:

While the Kabba is the cube inside:

 

[Green Man]

As someone already stated, non-Muslims are allowed in Saudi Arabia. The only city which is forbidden to them is Mecca. But Mecca should only be forbidden to the pagans, as is clearly stated in the Quran. The Saudi Arabian government does not represent Islam, and they try to install their version of Wahabi Islam on everyone. If they wanted a true religious country, then why are there over 5000 princes who own most of the countries wealth and oil, while there are many who are poor.

The Saudi embassy is also operating a school in Alexandria,VA.The Islamic Saudi School,teaching among other things for muslims to hate and kill Jews,christians,and other muslims that don't subscribe to their version of Islam.Our government is currently holding a graduate of that school(graduated valedictorian of his class).When the court was reading off the charges against him,his supporters of about one hundred people were yelling and belittling the court and judge.This school also teaches that it's students are not required to obey US laws.

 

[Wakeup2god]

OK thank you.

Now is it true that this place used to house 360 idols worshipped by different tribes until Muhammed came along and chose Allah the moon god? Allah being a pre Islamic pagan deity. A temple to whome was excavated in the 1950's at Hazor in palestine.

 

[farside]

FYI – It’s in the Quran!

Angel Gabriel told Muhammad that the DNA structure of a pagan is different than a Muslim and that all pagans should be prohibited from visiting Mecca because of their malformed genetic structure. However, if a pagan reverts to Islam, his DNA will mutate to the ideal structure.

Kind Regards,
Farside