My Masjid is two separate houses side by side, one for men, and one for women. Each has its own wudu facilities and multiple rooms for salat. We have speakers in our side to hear the prayers announced and to hear the khutbah (though on warm days we leave the windows open so the speakers aren't always needed). One special thing about our Masjid is, is that the woman's side isn't actually attached the men's (the Masjid proper) and so it is a Musalla (prayer hall) rather than a Masjid. That means, if you have your period, you can still come to hear the khutbah, and women who are interested in learning about Islam, don't have to don hijab to just come in and listen/speak to us. I find this has been very easy for us in terms of dawah oppurtunities, and our convert community is, alhamdulilah, growing especially in terms of women.
We have cooking facilities as well, as and the Musalla acts (since it is not a Masjid) as a social gathering point for different Islamic occasions, such as studying sessions (Qu'ran and ahadith), ikikahs (Islamic baby showers:D), iftars.... Our imam is also very approachable for the women in that he will email you back about anything, providing sources of hadith ect, or if you disagreed with or did not understand something in the khutbah...
Since our Masjid is separated from the men, I can wear whatever I want inside. I can wear the minimum requirements for salat instead of full jilbab, and if I am not praying, then I can be comfortable in non-hijab clothes... When coming into the masjid, I tend to like to wear traditional abaya (black, maroon, green, brown---ya know, the darker colours), and wear my shayla over my face (I pull it over my eyes and nose---lol, I am not one of those women with what men consider a sexy mouth LOL, unlike a few other sisters I know, hey there Boxie and Aalia ...I know to cover my eyes). When I'm inside I just pull the shayla back up over my forehead since I believe it is best to pray with an uncovered face. I only wear a mouth covering niqab if I know I have to be seated among the men for some event, like when we had an educational program at the University for non-muslims about fasting where Boxie, S, and I were the only women among the brothers.
BTW, these are all my clothes, but some of the women posing in them are not me (my little sister for example). Please do not remove or repost from this blog any pictures that could be me without my written permission. Love you all for the sake of Allah! And P.S Coffee Catholic: the Masjid, is the Islamic Mosque, one and the same:D
Comments
I'm in the same position here ~ living on an island way up north, no muslims anywhere. It's hard to learn about Islam! I know that there are websites and free books. I've read a lot of the *basics* but what I'm looking for is more in depth studying. Are there such materials available for non-Muslims living a bazillions miles outside of civilization? And can they be aquired with discretion? Out here, everyone sees the mail and they'll be like, "Michelle had a box of Muslim materials delivered to her house!!!!"
I have visited a lot of Muslim forums and things and while the people there are very helpful it usually boils down to two things: addresses for free info about the basics and, "Islam is the true faith so CONVERT RIGHT NOW!" LOLOL!
Also, I have locals that cyber-stalk me and read everything I post on forums and things... it's so creepy. So now I don't really feel safe asking in-depth questions on the internet. I feel like a paranoid wacko. Everyone's watching me... LOL
I'm so homesick. I wish I was back home in America in a city with my husband and kids. But I'm stuck here for life! I never, ever realized that I would feel like this but racism is everywhere it seems! No one can escape it.
Actually, at first, my masjid can be kinda scary for new-commers (aproachable in form but hard on listening), in a sense that our Sheikh uses Qu'ranic language (such a kafirun) to refer to non-muslims... But when you know him and understand more than language of the Qu'ran itself, you know when things are personally meant (on a human level) or on Allah's level. As a new Muslim, I couldn't pic up the difference and the Sheikh and his daughter were very patient with me. People also often misunderstand the term for jihad. They mix it with terrorism, when what he means is, pray five times a day people, wear proper hijab women, take your sons out of school to attend the firday khutbah at the masjid people, fast ramadan, save for hajj, give in charity, stop backbiting and watching things on TV and the radio that you shouldn't.... LOL. Don't talk about Palestine until you've been there or talk to those who have. Ect. Actually, he isn't scary at all:P And is one of the few Sheikhs that is all up front with convert and virginal girls about sex and marriage and the like from an Islaic stand-point. He is highly protective of the women here in our community. So that's nice.
http://catholicorkney.blogspot.com/2009/06/golgatha-monastery-papa-stronsay-island.html
can you ask aquestion please for me to your imam? insha'Allah
i wanted to know about praying in a room with pictures of human beings or animals. i know those pictures are shirk and angels dont enter houses with those pictures. but what about if i go to someones house and its time for praying, and they have those pictures. do i pray there? or do i not and wait until i get home? what about i live in a house whith people who refuse to take them off and i have no choice but to stay in that house. do i still pray there? thanks a lot
Your clothes are stunning! <3
i have been always against dividing women and men because in the time of the prophet salalahou alayhi salam it wasnt done that way. but reconsidering that we women dont wear the same attire than the sahabiyas did. and men dont lower their gaze. we have no choice. during the jumuah prayer, we always tell the men not to use the womens door. they dont listen they use it anyway
Would it be easier to give you my email? I don't know (o_O)
-Ducky
I'm just curious, when you wear makeup...it doesnt get on your niqaab? How does that work?
Yes, it does. So my black niqabs have lipstick stains.... It really doesn`t matter cuz the stain doesn`t go through. And it`s not like, he he he, having a drool or soup stain...