Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
January/February 2007

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Visit to Wimbledon Mosque

The Wimbledon Mosque

On Monday 6th November a group of 45 people from all the Christian Churches in Barnes gathered at the green domed Mosque in Durnsford Road, Wimbledon for the first in the CTiB organised programme of inter-faith visits. We were ushered into the Mosque, having first removed our shoes, the ladies with covered heads, where we were warmly welcomed by the Imam, Shoaib Vawda.

The ground floor room was very large and peaceful with a magnificent fitted carpet with its rectangular pattern slightly angled to face directly towards an alcove in green mosaic at one end with the First Pillar of Islam inscribed around the top. Here the Imam takes position. This 'Mehrab' (encavement), which is in mostly every Mosque, is positioned directly in the line to the Ka'bah in Mecca. Beside it was a small raised platform (called the 'Mimber') with 3 carpeted steps and the only other decoration is on the walls at the same end - a silver framed tablet bearing the 99 Attributes of God and a series of clock faces showing the times for prayer. The room is lit with chandeliers. This ground floor is for men only. The ladies go to the room above via a separate outside staircase. The prayers and sermons are relayed to them by microphone. This Mosque was the first or second to be built in this country (1971) and replaced a house which had previously been used for worship. The 500 plus followers each Friday and on Festival Days when the Mosque is full come from a very wide area and they are hoping to add a further floor to accommodate the growing number.

Imam Shoaib, who has been at Wimbledon for 10 years, talked to us for more than half an hour explaining the Muslim faith and then answered our questions. He told us that he had studied for 7 years to become a Scholar of Islam and then further study may be followed in a specialism eg Islamic Law or in his case in the recitation of Holy Koran. He quoted often from the Koran, always in Arabic first and then interpreting the words in English. It is not possible here to tell you everything I learned so I will mention the points that really struck me, particularly the similarities with our Christian belief as one of the three Abrahamic religions and some of the differences.

To be a Muslim the follower must believe in the 6 Articles of Faith. The most important meaning of Islam is 'submission' - submitting one's will to Almighty God. The Articles of Faith are to believe - in Allah as the only One God; in all the Angels God has created; in the last message given to the Prophet Mohammed which was the Holy Koran; in all the books (of the Abrahamic Faiths) including the Bible and the Torah and all the books revealed by God; in all the Prophets; in pre-destination; in life after death and the resurrection in the hereafter to paradise or hell.

It is required of the Muslim to fulfil the five most important duties, the first of which is to accept the Oneness of God (there is none worthy of worship besides Allah and the Prophet Mohammed is his messenger). The adult Muslim accepts total submission in prayer and is required to pray prostrate 5 times a day so that he never forgets. He prays in the Mosque if he is able as it is important to demonstrate Unity and Brotherhood. Before praying they complete ritual ablutions of the face, arms and feet. There is a place for ablutions in the Mosque. Everything for women is separate.

Festivals have a key significance and particularly Ramadan when the faithful fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is in the ninth Lunar month. Fasting, as the Prophets before, for example Moses, Jesus, have done is the third pillar of the faith and increases spiritual awareness. The Imam pointed out that dawn to sunset in some parts of the world is a very long time. Lunar months define the Islamic calendar but astronomers have differed in the sighting of the moon over the centuries so there are variations in the festival Eid in different parts of the world.

The 4th pillar is a command to feel for the poor and to give alms (2.5% of income or more). The last pillar is to make the Pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj) as the most Holy Place in remembrance of Prophet Abraham and his family.
The Koran gives the pathway to the Almighty. The people are encouraged to learn it all by heart, even if they don't speak Arabic. The Friday service includes a lecture for about 30 minutes (or longer) which may be delivered in English, Urdu, and even Gujerati depending on the needs of the brothers, followed by a 10 minute sermon in Arabic. The service is completed by a 10 minute prayer which includes bowing down, prostrating (sign of total submission to Almighty Allah) and reading from the chapters or verses of the Holy Qur'an. There is no music allowed but 'sound effects are permissible'.

The group asked a number of questions, most of them of a 'practical' nature. Many felt afterwards that they had been too reticent but time was short. So we discovered: that a committee of men elected by the Community looks after the Mosque; that there is a special watch indicating the prayer times in all parts of the world and a compass to show the direction of Mecca which people use when praying in their home; that the difference between the Shia and the Sunni arises from a different interpretation of belief since the Shia have followed down the ages the leadership of the closest relative of the Prophet whereas the Sunni accept only the word of Allah and the Prophet. The Imam acknowledged that differences - 'man made divisions' - have 'crept in'. They do have a mission to convert through explaining the benefits and inviting people towards Islam. They believe in the All Knowing and All Seeing God Almighty and in heaven and hell. Only Muslims will go to paradise.

Mohammed preaching to his followers

He explained that children are born Muslim and teaching starts on the mother's lap. At 5 or 6 they start to read the Koran and keep the fasts. They are taught the Koran by the Imam at evening school, every day between 4.30 and 6.30. From puberty 'they are on their own' and 'make their own choices' but everyone is there to help and support them. There are no ceremonies of admission to the faith such as Christians have.

To be a Muslim is a decision within yourself and constantly renewed through acceptance and knowledge of the teachings of the Koran in prayer. The Muslim is required to 'steer always on the path of righteousness and to avoid temptation, to blame themselves not Satan'.

Those participating completed a questionnaire. The great majority had found it 'very interesting' and the talk had improved their understanding of Islam 'quite a bit' and they had all learnt something new. Many felt there was too much to take in, as I did, but of course we can follow up with reading. It would have been good to have had more time so that we could have asked more in-depth questions. In fact the Imam generously gave us more than one hour and our departure was signalled by those arriving for the afternoon prayer time. We were all grateful for this very special opportunity and on behalf of the group Father Logan thanked the Imam not only for the wealth of information but for showing us the human face of Islam.

What next? The overwhelming 'vote' is to visit a Sikh Temple and then a Synagogue and Buddhist Temple. Watch for dates in BiC and on this website.

Cathie Sacré

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