The initiative by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is aimed at eradicating Islamophobia
Image Courtesy: Times of India
That secularism is not just achieved by mere words, but is a fruit of endless effort to foster unity, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH)has shown us. A Muslim religious organization, it has launched an initiative in Mumbai inviting people from other faiths to visit the mosque to weed out misconceptions about Muslims and Islam.
Known as ‘Masjid Parichay’, the initiative is held in association with JIH’s student wing Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) by Millat Welfare Association that manages the Mira Road mosque. “We had been thinking about it for some time and then SIO volunteers helped invite the guests and organize it,” said the association’s trustee Iqbal Mahadik.
Jivajirao Patil, an attendee at the session, always believed that non-Muslims were not allowed in a mosque till he visited one himself. “It is a wonderful feeling. Today, I came to know that everyone can visit the mosque. No one enjoys a special status as a poor can occupy his place in the first row if he comes early, while the richest man in the world may stand in the last line if he comes last,” the report quoted Jivajirao Patil as saying. He was one among the dozen non-Muslims who spent two hours at the Sana Masjid, the mosque that held the session.
Dr. Parvez Mandviwala, the JIH volunteer conducting the session said that all misconceptions held by other faiths about Islam were based on ‘unfounded fears’.
Before the visitors were ushered into the mosque, they were taken through the steps involved in ‘Wudu’ or ablutions to be performed before entering the mosque. “It is to purify oneself before one stands before God in submission. Islam means peace and its other meaning is submission. So you submit to God with a clean body and mind,” explained Dr. Mandviwala.
Such initiatives have also been held by Masjid ‘Umar Bin Khattab’, a mosque in Ahmedabad under the name ‘Let’s visit a mosque’ in which local non-Muslims were invited to come and visit the mosque, observe what Muslims perform inside Masjid. People of different faiths can visit the Mosque and see live Wudu (ablution), live Namaz (prayer), meet the Imam of the Masjid, and discuss over Islam.
Another initiative called ‘Masjid Darshan- Sab Ke Liye’ was organized by Muslim Educational Social and Cultural Organization which invited non-Muslims to the Chhoti Masjid in Chandrapur. The programme was organized following a WhatsApp post in a group of lawyers claiming that arms were recovered from mosques in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Lawyer Farhat Baig took up the issue with community leaders and Imams and convinced them that people of other faiths should be invited to mosques to clear misconceptions and build an atmosphere on brotherhood.
Gesture at spreading Unity
Over the past several months, the JIH has been organizing such mosque visits to combat Islamophobia. The Imam at the mosque also delivered a short sermon to the guests on humanity, unity and equality.
Ashish Pandey, another guest at the gathering, said, “The most important thing I learnt here is that the mosque is very peaceful and gives out a message of peace and unity.”
Before leaving, the guests were handed copies of the Quran and the Hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammed) and they also witnessed the muezzin’s call (Azaan) for the evening prayer.