A question about mosques...

[Violet_Crumble]

A claim was made by another DUer that most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. The person who made the claim is still insisting that's the case, so I thought I'd pop in here and ask if anyone knows as there seems to be conflicting information about it on the internet...

Violet...

[PsychoDad]

1. Hello Violet

Good to see you again! :hi:

No, mosques are not closed to non-muslims (as a rule they are open to the public, unless perhaps this is some special case :shrug:)

A good time to attend is for friday sermon and prayer (around 1:00 Friday), but most are open to the public 5 times a day for prayers. Many mosques and Islamic centers have a community night on the weekend and thats a good time to have some great food and meet the muslim neighbors.

If the person you are talking to can tell you where they live, I can post some Mosques that are in the area, if they care to visit.

Peace.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Thanks, PsychoDad...

Great to see you again too! What you just said is very similar to what I read on Islam Online when I went to find out. They basically said anyone was welcome as long as they respect the mosque as a place of worship. I think the confusion I saw was due to Mecca being off-limits to non-Muslims, and that being mistaken for a general thing when it comes to mosques everywhere...

Cheers...

Violet...

[Agnomen]

3. I've been to a lot of Mosques

none of them asked to state anyone's religion at the door. Everyone is welcomed.

[Alameda]

4. who can enter a mosque.

This is a bit tardy, but I haven't been here very long....so...based on my experience, it depends where you are. I know of some mosques where no women go, others are quite open to everyone. In Morocco, it seems rather restrictive. I know a very devout Turkish man who was denied entrance to a mosque there.