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In Islam, a mosque (masjid) is a house of worship. Spiritual activities such as prayer, sermons, meeting others, and Qur'an (scripture of Islam) classes often take identify in them.[1] How can you be respectful when yous enter a mosque, especially if you're visiting a mosque for the starting time time? This wikiHow volition guide y'all through the do'due south and don'ts of etiquette for visiting a mosque, for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

"The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Terminal Day and found prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will exist of the [rightly] guided." [Qur'an 9:18 translated by Sahih International] [two]

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many mosques have started requiring masks and physical distancing, and have moved activities outdoors.

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    Research the prayer times. Visit the mosque's website (by performing a web search) and locate the listed prayer times. The mosque may be crowded upwards to 30 minutes earlier prayer times.

    • If you're having trouble finding the mosque'due south website or the prayer times, refer to websites such as IslamicFinder.org and Salah.com.
    • On Friday afternoons, the congregational prayer (Salatul Jum'ah) occurs.[3] Thus, it may exist more crowded at this time.

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    Take off your footwear upon entering. Place it on the shelf provided by the mosque at the entrance.

    • If you lot fear that your footwear may be stolen, you may go on it with you (e.g. in a plastic bag). In large mosques—especially those in strange countries—yous may wish to proceed your footwear with you. Examples of large mosques include the Grand Mosque of Mecca, The Prophet's Mosque (in Medina), and the Sheikh Zayed 1000 Mosque (in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates).

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  3. 3

    Follow the proper dress code. Both men and women should dress appropriately:

    • Men: Should cover their upper body and lower torso (at the bare minimum, to the knees). Examples of advisable vesture for men are a t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt with pants or shorts that reach the knees. Avoid peel-tight clothing in favor of modest clothing that covers most of the trunk.
    • Women: Muslim women should comprehend the entire body with modest article of clothing and a headscarf, except for their confront, easily, and anxiety which they may evidence. A headscarf should always exist worn in the mosque and must ever be worn while praying.[4] According to Islam, women may remove their headscarves when completely out of sight of unrelated males. Non-Muslim women are more often than not not spring to these rules but should wear pocket-size clothing and non show backlog pare.

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    Silence your mobile phone. Set your phone to silent (instructions: iPhone and Android) or turn it off to avoid disturbing others.

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    Teach any children with y'all about the proper etiquette. Children are welcome and encouraged to visit mosques. However, to avert disturbing others, they should not run around excessively or scream—especially while congregational prayers are in progress.

  3. 3

    Locate the correct archway. Most mosques are segregated into male and female areas. Females may be located to the side of males in the prayer space, upstairs, or in the back portion of the prayer space (musalla).[5] In that location may be a separate entrance for women, or you may enter via one main entrance and continue to the respective hallway/stairway.

    • Very large mosques such every bit the Thousand Mosque of Mecca are non segregated.
    • Do not run inside.

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    Understand the layout and design of the prayer space. There is often a big carpeted area where people pray and sit on. Chairs are only used for those who crave them (due east.g. medical reasons). Idols (which are strictly forbidden in Islam[half-dozen] [7] [eight] ) and images of breathing beings are never used. Elaborate mosques often use patterns and calligraphy instead to decorate the interior.

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    Recite the dua when entering and enter with the right foot (for Muslims). This is:[ix]

    • .اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
    • Transliteration: Allahuma af taḥ lee abwaaba raḥmatik.
    • Translation: O Allah, open for me your doors of mercy.

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    Greet others with the Islamic greeting (for Muslims). The enterer should greet those inside with "As-salamu alaikum" (meaning "Peace be upon you"). The individuals already present should respond with "Wa alaikum-as-salam" (meaning "And unto y'all peace").

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    Pray tahiyyatul masjid ("greeting the mosque" prayer) (for Muslims). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of y'all enters a Mosque, he should not sit until he has prayed two rak'at."[10] [11]

    • He also said: "When any one of you lot comes for the Fri (prayer) and the Imam comes out, (even and so) should observe 2 rak'ahs (of prayer)."[12]

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    Only invoke Allah while praying and supplicating (for Muslims). The Qur'an (Islamic religious scripture) reads (translated): "And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone." [72:18][thirteen]

    • To learn the proper method of supplicating, read How to Ask Dua.

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    Recite the dua when leaving and get out with the left foot (for Muslims). This is:[14]

    • .اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
    • Transliteration: Allahuma inni as'aluka min fadlik.
    • Translation: "O Allah! I beg of yous of your grace."

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  • Question

    If I'thousand not of that religion and visiting, how do I make certain I do everything correct?

    Community Answer

    Just follow the instructions in the article. You may fifty-fifty contact the mosque manager (malwi) and tell him that you lot want to visit the mosque.

  • Question

    How exercise I brand sure the mosque I'd like to visit permit non-Muslims?

    Bat 🦇

    Nigh mosques have no trouble with non-Muslims visiting as this allows them to acquire about Islam and the local Muslim customs. You tin can always call alee or electronic mail the mosque.

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  • If the mosque you are visiting has additional rules, so follow those too.

  • When the adhan is being chosen, quietly echo afterward the reciter (Muslims).[15] [16]

  • If you lot are touring a famous mosque, y'all will have to remove your shoes and stay backside whatsoever barriers erected if not a Muslim. The mosque may too be closed to non-Muslims earlier and during daily prayers, on Fridays during Jumu'ah, during Tarawih prayers during Ramadan, during community events (such equally Janazah or Iftars), and on Eid prayers.

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  • As with whatsoever public location, make clean upward after any mess you make and exercise not litter.

  • If eating, be careful not to spill. Mosques may have designated areas to eat as eating does occur in the mosque (due east.g. to interruption the Ramadan fast).

  • Smoking is admittedly forbidden both in the mosque and Islam.[17]

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References

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