Visit to the Mosque

Pages:

10

Academic Level:

University

Paper Type:

Annotated Bibliography

Discipline:

Law

Watch on-line an Eastern Tradition (Buddhist, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) and submit the designated paper by the end of week 6.
Paper instructions for each designated religious service (use the template imbedded in each lesson activity):

Write a 3-page (or more, if needed) paper about your visit
Give attention to page length and include the following sections:
First paragraph includes place and date of service.
One full page: Detail the narrative of your visit. (e.g., I arrived…then I…)
One half page: Detail all the aesthetics and symbols in the service
One half page: Articulate the contents of the message
One full page: Evaluate if the practices and teachings are consistent with Christian theology. Utilize Morgan to navigate a comparison with Christian theology, at least addressing the doctrine of God, Scripture, and Salvation.
Paper must be double-spaced (or 24pts), Times New Roman font, 12 pt. font, 1” margins, and include “primary headers” for your structure. See and use template embedded in each lesson activity.

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Visit to the Mosque

 

 

 

 

Student's Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Professor's name

Date

 

 

 

 

Details of my visit to the Mosque

Muslim originated and is predominant as an Eastern Tradition and religion. Due to time constraints, I decided to watch an online service of Muslim service at Nation's Mosque for a service on 18^th June 2022. At the beginning of the service, we see congregants streaming into the mosque barefooted. Typically, shoes are left outside by the doorway. Once inside the mosque, they select a location close to the front and sit down. The church is segregated along gender lines, with women sitting at the back on one side of the room and separated from men using a barrier. Once they are sat, they offer cycles of prayer, with one cycle typically entailing kneeling, bowing, and opening arms in supplication. While congregants are streaming in, the Muezzin calls people to prayer for Friday services or the Slat of the day using a microphone. Once the time is right, the Imam takes onto the podium or the specially delegated section, which has a stand. The Imam then takes about 20-30 minutes to offer his sermon. Once his sermon is complete, he asks congregants to rise for the final prayer. He sings a phrase that allows congregants to pray in several cycles of standing and bending. Once the services are done, the final prayers from the Iman signify congregants to wake up and leave. Once the services are finished, some people will shake hands with others, and others will be left behind and continue in prayer sessions.

Detail of aesthetics and symbols

There are several symbols and aesthetics in a Muslim and the mosques.  On prevalent symbol is the dome. A dome can be seen through the structure and drawing in the church. The main payer section has a dome roof, and the section where the Imam stands while delivering his sermon has a dome-shaped drawing. The dome above the prayer hall symbolized the heavens overarching over worshipers. Moreover, it allows for clear resonation of the Imam’s voice during the sermon. In researching the Nation’s Mosque, we see the mosque having Minarets, a tall, slender tower at the edge of the mosque. The faithful’s call to prayer is possible by holding speakers and a public address system on these beautiful structures. The Minarets and the domes are critical symbols in identifying a mosque to the external world. The mosque has a Makhphil that segregates women from men. Depending on the mosque’s design, it is often positioned to segregate the genders. In Nation’s Mosque, they use a physical barrier made of a perforated fence. Gender segregation is evidenced in Muslim dressing women are expected to cover their bodies while attending services. Typically, the mosque was mono-colored with very little or no drawings or artwork.

The contents of the message

The Imam used Arabic and English language throughout the sermon; the Arabic was more prevalent when quoting from their Holy Quran. The message given to the congregation was coined from their Holy scriptures “Everyone to look into their arms, everyone who forgot Allah, Allah made them forget their souls.” Essentially, the Imam urged the congregation not to forget and continuously remember Allah in their actions and deeds. Therefore, every Muslim should be wary and remember that Allah watches everyone and records their deeds. More importantly, to reach out to their communities as their actions today will be held accountable in the future. Most congregants were working on the things of the world, forgetting to help or preach to non-Muslim and strayed Muslims. Therefore, he was making an invitation for people to do good. Finally, he used a personal anecdote to bring the point home and make it clearer.

Analysis

The Imam’s sermon seems misplaced since they are Muslim teachings; there are assumptions that Muslim teachings don’t match the Christian theological doctrines. On the contrary, the Imam's teachings are consistent with the doctrine of Salvation as taught by Morgan. Morgan highlights that the doctrine of salvation is concerned with the total work that God instituted to save man from eternal damnation from the power of sin and restore humanity to his eternal life through grace. Essentially, the theology of salvation is concerned with preservation, restoration, deliverance, and healing, achieved through repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, sanctification, and redemption from man’s lost place. Once a man has been renewed in the Glory of God, they receive grace and inheritance of his kingdom. The Imam’s sermon has some similarities to the doctrine of salvation. The Imam insists that Muslims should care for their neighbors especially preaching the Islamic message to strayed Muslims and non-Muslims. Further insisting that worldly possessions need not sway Muslims and to be reconciled to Allah, find ways of reconnecting with Allah and continuously remembering Allah. These concepts are consistent with restoration, redemption, healing, grace, and acceptance. Just as Allah is merciful, kind, and forgiving, so should mankind to their fellow humans. In addition, finding ways back to Allah are teachings consistent with the doctrine of salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

The Nation’s Mosque. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZu7HeUAGfQ&t=1318s