A Friday To Show Your Faith

 

Visiting Zeenatul Islam Masjid this past Friday was an unique experience. I've never been inside a mosque before, and wasn't sure what to expect.

To muslims all over the world Friday is a special day. It is considered to be the start of their week and therefore each and every muslim anywhere in the world is required to do what is appropriate and start their week in the right manner by giving thanks and credit where it is due, namely: God. Obviously with commitments at work etc, not everyone will be in the area as his or her local mosque, but to facilitate muslims in this regard, mosques are open to any muslim who wishes to pray, and at any of the five times a day that prayers are being made. Praying five times a day is the ultimate sign of devotion a Muslim can show towards his faith, and if one can do this, you should. Not everybody has this type of discipline or simply the means, so the general feeling is that as a follower, you should attend at least one of the five prayer ceremonies. The five prayers made on a daily basis are the following:

1. Fajr – 'dawn prayer', the first of the day.
2. Dhuhr – midday prayer.
3. Asr – afternoon prayer.
4. Maghrib – sunset prayer.
5. Isha' – night prayer.

Upon entering the mosque, each attendant is expected to show the necessary marks of respect and perform a cleansing ritual called 'wudu' or 'partial ablution'. During this ceremony people were quiet sitting at their individual cleaning stations while washing their hands and feet, and drying it afterwards. It was clear to me that this cleansing ritual is considered as part of you rendering yourself over in submission to the actual sermon and going inside the masjid, almost like a preparation act if you will, something that I could see was done meticulously and with care. Although the general feeling was quite serious in the ablution area, everyone that saw me greeted me every time with very friendly smiles and 'salaams'.

After 'ablution', members proceeded into the main area where the congregation was seated. Everyone inside managed to line up next to each other in a straight line, something I thought that was quite interesting, but what really struck me was how quiet it was inside, especially if you took into account that it was a crowd of at least 300 people. Everybody seemed to listen attentively. All you heard was the voice of the Imam in the front. Nothing or no one else.

Soon after all general announcements where made and present members welcomed, the Muezzin proceeded conducting the Adhan. Adhan is the 'call to prayer' we so often hear broadcasted over load-speakers. I've always wondered about it's intended message and exactly what it means, finally I got my answer and was told that it is a call to Muslims to come to mosque, to come to the house of Allah, and to come make prayers.

During the broadcasting of Adhan, an usher goes around, silently collecting the donations of the all the members present. While the collections were being, made my collegue Jedaar Wasfi, whom accompanied me as guide, explained that how much you give is not what is important, it is the actual act of giving itself that is considered more worthy.

This makes sense to me. Someone who has little, can give a little, but because they are giving what they can, they might actually be giving more than someone who has plenty.

Before the first Rakat (or raka 'ah) was performed, I happened to notice that no late comers were strolling in casually anymore. This kind of attitude towards punctuality, especially where one's faith is involved, communicates a sound message of respect.

The afternoon prayer meeting or Dhuhr, such as the one I attended, have 4 rakats. These are the movements done while offering prayers. During a single rakat, you will first bow at the waist alone. There after, down onto your knees. The third movement will have you touch the ground with your forehead, hands and knees, while the tips of the toes are also touching the floor.

I feel privileged to have been part of this prayer ceremony, especially the fact that as an outsider people were still receptive of my presence.

The Zeenatul Islam Masjid was established in 1922 in Cape Town's District Six area. For further information visit their website: www.zeenatul-islam-masjid.org.za