How to Behave Inside a Mosque

A mosque is the house of worship for Muslims, the title for those who practice the Islamic faith. In the mosque, Muslims recreate the divine presence on earth. As a visitor, give the mosque the same degree of reverence you would any place of worship but adhere to the required behaviors and styles of dress.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Loose clothing
• Veil, hood or headscarf for women

1. Get permission. If you are not Muslim and want to enter a mosque, ask the Muslims who attend it for permission. Know that men and women pray separately, either at different times or in different locations in the mosque. Look for separate entrances for males and females, although not all mosques have them.

2. Wear appropriate clothing inside a mosque. Men can wear ordinary clothing but it must be loose. On Fridays choose your best clothes and adorn yourself with perfume. Wear a long loose cloak if you are a woman. In conservative mosques women wear veils, but a hood or headscarf may be acceptable. Consult with other women who attend the mosque and follow their lead.

3. Perform Wuzu. If you are male, perform the ceremonial washing before prayer. Most mosques offer facilities for performing the ablutions which must be conducted in a specific way.

4. Enter the prayer section inside a mosque barefoot. Leave your shoes at the shoe storage area near the entrance. Step inside with your right foot first and recite a blessing for Muhammad and his family as you cross the threshold. Speak softly once inside.

5. Participate in Namaz, the ritual prayer of Islam, hallmarked by a series of standard movements.

Tips & Warnings

• The rituals for Wuzu and Namaz can be learned at the mosque or from other Muslims.
• Most Muslims attend mosques frequented by others of the same creed, although many mosques are neutral and open to all creeds.

Resources

• Take online courses from Sunni Path in a variety of Islamic topics.
• Browse illustrations and descriptions of monuments, mosques, palaces and schools at Islamic Architecture.

[yayjay]

on 10/8/2007 This was a nice article but I would add that both men AND women must make wudu before salaat. The actual arabic word for the ritual prayer is called "salaat".