Do non-Muslim wives attend masjid?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The thread about whether Muslim men can attend church got me to thinking. How about the other way around? If you're not Muslim, do you go to masjid with your husband or fiance? If not, why not? If you do, what is it like for you?

Edited November 28, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[maggieNomar 0]

I don't go because I don't know all those prayer moves and would stand out like a sore thumb. Also the service is in arabic and I don't speak enough to understand.

[MrsAmera 41]

Really? They do the whole service in Arabic (my husband would like this) most of the mosques that we have gone to conduct the khutbah (sermon) in Arabic with an English translation. Most also had the prayers transliterized in English and available for anyone to use. Thought it was interesting. Hmmm...if you're just curious in knowing what's going on there are several transliterized versions of prayers available and are inexpensive (not trying to prosthyletize just in case you were curious what they are saying.)

[polarbear 0]

Really? They do the whole service in Arabic (my husband would like this) most of the mosques that we have gone to conduct the khutbah (sermon) in Arabic with an English translation. Most also had the prayers transliterized in English and available for anyone to use. Thought it was interesting. Hmmm...if you're just curious in knowing what's going on there are several transliterized versions of prayers available and are inexpensive (not trying to prosthyletize just in case you were curious what they are saying.)

They do the lectures and khutbah in English in my masjid, but my SO would love it if there was one that did everything in Arabic. As for the prayers, there are several non-muslim women who just sit in the back and watch. Most of the women come to the masjid for the social aspect after prayers. On Friday nights we have dinner after prayers and a lecture, so alot come just for that.

My masjid is pretty open and friendly and always welcoming to new people, but I know they aren't all like that. I know it is intimidating going there and not knowing anyone and not knowing how they are going to treat you.

[caybee 21]

My husband told me I would be welcome to go and sit with the women, and that I wouldn't be expected to pray or do anything, just to cover out of respect. He said the sermon is in English and that there are little kids milling around, a relaxed atmosphere. I haven't gone yet, mostly from shyness, but I'd like to soon. He overcame his shyness and went with me, so it's only fair.

Edited November 28, 2007 by mona_jamie

[ya falaha! 0]

Some of the women at our mosque don't cover (wear head covering) until they're actually going to pray. I'm surprised at how some of them dress (tight tops, tight jeans/pants) to go to the mosque.

There are a few women who go to our mosque who are non Muslim married to Muslim. They sit out during prayers...no one looks at them strangely.

My husband told me I would be welcome to go and sit with the women, and that I wouldn't be expected to pray or do anything, just to cover out of respect. He said the sermon is in English and that there are little kids milling around, a relaxed atmosphere. I haven't gone yet, mostly from shyness, but I'd like to soon. He overcame his shyness and went with me, so it's only fair.

[sereia 0]

my husband doesn't go to our local mosque. but if he did, i would go with him and check it out.

Edited November 28, 2007 by sereia

[Nasturtium 500]

I went once to check it out before he came. I'm not interested in going-- it's tiny, I went and was stared at the whole time, and I couldn't be with him anyway

[a1angied 0]

He has went to church with me and he goes to the mosque and I don't. He told me that if I wanted to go that it would be ok but he knows that I don't understand Arabic and that it is done in Arabic. I will go with him to functions if he goes, most things he does it with just men only and he enjoys this and I am very happy for that.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

my husband doesn't go to our local mosque. but if he did, i would go with him and check it out.

What does he do? Why doesn't he go to the mosque?

Bassi isn't here, I'm curious because we had some trouble at our local mosque and now he says he isn't going to go. The imam and a couple others were arrested for links to terrorists. I don't know what ever happened, they're just gone now. The Federal gov't has them and the imam had a pizza shop which has closed down because his wife couldn't run it alone, or wouldn't run it alone. I feel bad that Bassi is already turned off the mosque because of this. He says he doesn't want to be associated with anything bad when he first comes to the country. And I guess I understand. Just wondering what your husband does and why he doesn't go to the mosque at all.

[maggieNomar 0]

Really? They do the whole service in Arabic (my husband would like this) most of the mosques that we have gone to conduct the khutbah (sermon) in Arabic with an English translation. Most also had the prayers transliterized in English and available for anyone to use. Thought it was interesting. Hmmm...if you're just curious in knowing what's going on there are several transliterized versions of prayers available and are inexpensive (not trying to prosthyletize just in case you were curious what they are saying.)

They do the lectures and khutbah in English in my masjid, but my SO would love it if there was one that did everything in Arabic. As for the prayers, there are several non-muslim women who just sit in the back and watch. Most of the women come to the masjid for the social aspect after prayers. On Friday nights we have dinner after prayers and a lecture, so alot come just for that.

My masjid is pretty open and friendly and always welcoming to new people, but I know they aren't all like that. I know it is intimidating going there and not knowing anyone and not knowing how they are going to treat you.

One of our former MENA members who lives near me used to be a missionary in Nador or near Nador, which is where she met her now husband. I thought she would be a great resource for learning, but she now doesn't know where she stand with either relgion or any religion She did tell me about a new mosque in our area. Maybe after we are back from Morocco we can go check that one out. It would be nice to meet some local nice muslim ladies.

[Nutty 2]

First of all, it depends on the Mosque in question. There are mosques that don't allow women to enter at all (like the one in Srinigar, Kashmir) and other that have seperate rooms for women.

As for being a Christian, I have entered into some Mosques (in Iran and India). But I do not know if that is also dependent on the "culture" rather than the religious rule.

One sidenote: In China, the Chinese government (I won't call it communist since the Party no longer adheres to basic socialist/communist tenents and principles) encourages the Chinese muslims (Hua) to have female Imams. And yes, these female Imams give religious instruction to Chinese muslim women.

This was a shock to my male muslim, friends in Kashmir. A woman being an Imam???!!!

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

My bro in law is muslim and my sister is christian and she went with him once or 2 times to the mosque... and she wore a head covering and modestly dressed. She went out of curiousity and to be with her husband. Likewise, he has been in a church with her. They respect each other, even though their beliefs are very different.

[slbois 0]

Our masjid is not very big. Anytime that someone new comes, she is stared at like a freak in a sideshow.

I have to admit that I have found myself staring at people, I don't know why I do it because I know what it feels like. I think that it's the curiosity, everyone wondering what made this woman choose to come to the mosque.

I have to say also that nobody sits in the back just to "observe". I have seen women pulled up onto their feet by other sisters and instructed on how to pray. Guess they're just making sure that everyone gets the full experience...