Mosques in my city

 

 

 

 

There are approximately 30 mosques in my city . . . and I have the goal of taking pictures of all of them. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly where all of them are! However, I do know about half of them and one of these days, I'll head out on my photographic journey.

There are two kinds of Muslims in China . . . those who know, understand and practice the faith and those who are born into an ethnic group that claims the Muslim faith. Most of the Muslims I know have never entered a mosque and aren't that interested in the belief system. They like the cultural identity of being Muslim, but don't know or care much about Islamic teachings.

The following is a little background on mosques:

A mosque is symbolically very important to Muslims and is a humble way for man to recreate pure divine presence on earth.

Muslims pray facing the direction of the qiblah that is the Ka’ba, the House of God in Mecca. To show them where this is a mihrab (niche) in the middle of the front wall of the mosque. To the right of the mihrab is the minbar a platform with steps where the Imam, the local religious leader addresses the worshippers during the Khutbah (talk).

Mosques have a roofed area in front of the mihrab and doors are placed in the wills where the mihrab is not.

Men and women pray separately and there are special sections for women. Mosques having washing facilities in order that worshippers can perform wudu (ritual washing) before prayers.

Muslims will try to find a mosque which is used by people belonging to their own creed (Sunnis, Shi’ites). Most mosques are however seen as neutral and are used by all creeds. Most mosques are situated in centres of cities there are very few lay in open areas.

When entering a mosque, a person should take their shoes or sandals off. You should also enter a mosque with your right foot first, while uttering a blessing to Muhammad and his family. Once inside you should talk quietly in order not to disturb other worshippers. Muslims on Friday wear the best clothes to the mosque and perfumes are recommended.

The Qu’ran or sunna does not prevent women from entering a mosque however many are closed to women either by local rules or by habits.

The sunna states that prayers in the mosque are 20 to 25 times more valuable than praying at home.

KA’BA: The most holy structure in Islam. Situated in Mecca and according to Islam is the centre of the world. A pre-Islamic holy place rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ismail. The Ka’ba is a rectangular building made of bricks.

(The first photo is the interior of the mosque in the last two photos. I have no idea why it jumped around like that. The second photo is what I call "The Silver Mosque." The third is "The Gold Mosque." The last two are of the Grand Mosque in our city and it is indeed, downtown in the center of things.)