Benefits of Visiting a Mosque School
Mosque School Visit and Tours
Visiting a mosque school can be an enriching and enlightening experience. Whether you’re planning a solo visit or organising a group tour, understanding the significance and the structure of these institutions can enhance your experience. Mosque schools, often known as madrasahs, serve as centers for religious education and community activities. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your visit.
Mosque schools are integral parts of Muslim communities around the world. They provide religious education, focusing on Islamic teachings, the Holy Quran,Hadith and often include general education subjects as well. These institutions play a crucial role in preserving Islamic culture and teachings.
Religious Instruction: Primarily focuses on teaching the Quran, Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad), and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).
Community Engagement: Many mosque schools serve as community hubs, hosting events, seminars, and gatherings.
Cultural Preservation: They contribute to the preservation of Islamic traditions and values.
When planning a visit to a mosque school, it’s essential to be respectful and considerate of the customs and traditions of the place. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth and respectful visit:
Contact in Advance: Reach out to our mosque school administration to schedule your visit. This ensures that your visit doesn’t coincide with prayer times or other significant events.
Group Tours: If you’re organising a group visit, inform the administration about the size of your group and any specific interests.
During your visit, you may have the opportunity to observe classes, interact with students and teachers, and learn about the daily operations of a mosque school. Expect an environment that is both educational and welcoming.
Guided Tour: Our Mosque schools offer guided tours that provide insights into their educational programs and facilities.
Q&A Sessions: Engage with teachers or administrators to learn more about the curriculum and the mosque’s role in the community.
Cultural Exhibits: Our Mosque exhibitions showcasing Islamic art and history.
To make the most of your visit, approach it with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Here are a few ways to enhance your experience:
Ask Questions: Be curious and ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of Islamic education and culture.
Participate Actively: If invited, participate in any activities or discussions.
Reflect: Take the time to reflect on the knowledge gained and consider how it might apply to broader cultural or religious contexts.
Visiting a mosque school can offer a unique perspective on education and cultural practices within the Muslim community. By planning thoughtfully and engaging respectfully, you will likely find the experience both educational and inspiring.
At the end of the visit
1. At the end of the visit, everyone should gather back together and reect on what they’ve learned. Did everyone
manage to complete their discovery hunt?
2. Ask if anyone learned anything new. It might’ve been people’s rst time visiting a mosque or interacting with the
Muslim faith.
3. Ask everyone if the mosque looked like you expected it to. Was there anything you expected to see which wasn’t
there? People may have noticed there were no images or statues of Allah or the prophets. Why do people think that
is?
4. Ask if anyone was surprised or interested in anything you saw or found out.
5. Ask everyone how a mosque is similar or different to other places of worship you may have seen.
6. Everyone should think about how they’d like to thank the mosque for hosting them. You may want to write a card or
simply say thank you.
After the visit
1. Take some time to reflect on your visit. It’s up to you whether you return to your normal meeting place and talk there, or whether you stay at the place of worship and ask parents and carers to collect everyone from there.
2. What did you like about the mosque? What did you and interesting about it? Has your visit changed your perception of other people’s beliefs and faiths?
3. Ask everyone why it’s important for people to learn about each other’s faiths and beliefs, even if we don’t have a faith ourselves, and what’s important to them? It can help us understand, respect and relate to others, and it also gives us opportunity to reflect on our own personal beliefs and values.
4. Ask why places of worship are important for people. They’re a space people can gather, pray and celebrate. They’re also a calm space to r reflect.
5. Think about a place that’s special to you, makes you feel calm or allows you to be relaxed and how happy you feel there. It might be a youth group, a community centre, a place of worship, Scouts or your local football club. That’s how some people feel about the place they go to worship or to share in their found community.
Reflection
This activity was an opportunity to get to know more about a particular faith and learn about your community.
You could take the opportunity of being in the calm and contemplative environment of the mosque to spend time reflecting.
You could combine some quiet time for people to reflect individually, and some discussion as a group.
Redhill Jamia Mosque Al Mustafa: Guided Tours
The Redhill Jamia Mosque Al Mustafa is dedicated to fostering strong relationships with the community by welcoming schools and local organizations for guided tours. These visits aim to provide an educational, interesting, and enjoyable experience.
Important Information for Visitors
To ensure a respectful and pleasant visit, please adhere to the following guidelines:
– Terminology: While “Mosque” is commonly used, the term “Masjid” is the correct term used by Muslims for their place of worship.
– Footwear: Remove shoes in the foyer area. Avoid walking on the blue mats with shoes on.
– Clothing: Wear clean socks and clothing. Adults should dress modestly, and females are required to wear a headscarf.
– School Uniforms: These are considered appropriate and modest.
– Respect: Maintain the peace and respect the prayer of worshippers inside the masjid.
– Food and Drink: Not allowed inside the masjid, except in designated areas.
– Cleanliness: Keep the masjid and its courtyard clean by disposing of litter properly.
– Mobile Phones: Should be switched off or set to silent mode.
– Behavior: Avoid running or shouting within the masjid.
Visiting Days and Times
Preferred visiting days are Monday to Wednesday. A typical visit lasts about one hour and can be scheduled from:
– 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
– 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
If these times do not suit, please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements. Visitors are welcome to arrive earlier to explore the masjid grounds and appreciate the external architecture.
Cost
Visits are free of charge as the mosque is a charity organization run by volunteers. Schools and organizations are welcome to make voluntary donations, which will support future educational visits.
Parking
Parking is available on a side road nearby the mosque.
We look forward to welcoming you and hope that your visit will be both enlightening an enjoyable. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Make it accessible
Get in touch with the place you’re visiting and ask about accessibility. Does it meet everyone’s needs? You may need to think about level access, suitable toilets, or quiet spaces where people can take a break if they need to.
A mosque, known as a masjid in Arabic, is a sacred space where Muslims gather for prayer and community activities. While the primary purpose is for collective prayers, mosques serve multiple roles in the lives of Muslims worldwide. Let’s delve into the various aspects of mosques and their significance.
Mosques are open for worship at any time, allowing Muslims the opportunity to pray five times a day, either at home or within the mosque. The five daily prayers are central to Islamic practice, emphasizing discipline and devotion.
On Friday afternoons, a special congregational prayer known as Jummah takes place. Instead of the usual midday prayer (Zuhr), Muslims gather to listen to a sermon delivered by an imam, who leads the prayer. This communal worship highlights the unity and collective spirit of the Muslim community.
Mosques are also gathering places for celebrations, such as Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. These occasions foster community spirit and provide an opportunity for communal joy and reflection.
Education is a key function of mosques. They offer classes on the Qur’an, the life of the prophets, the Five Pillars of Islam, and practical guidance on living as a good Muslim and citizen.
Mosques frequently serve as community centers, hosting activities such as food banks and youth clubs. These initiatives support the social and spiritual well-being of the community.
Mosques are renowned for their beautiful architecture and unique design elements, each serving a specific purpose:
Minaret: A tall tower used traditionally for the call to prayer, often the most recognizable feature of a mosque.
Ablution Area (Wudu Area): A designated space for washing before prayer, symbolizing physical and spiritual purification.
Prayer Hall: A large, open space for prayer, typically with separate areas for men and women. Prayer mats are used instead of chairs.
Dome (Qubba): Often positioned above the prayer hall, representing the vault of heaven or Allah’s universe.
Mihrab: An ornate alcove in the prayer hall wall, indicating the direction of Mecca, which Muslims face during prayer.
Minbar: A raised platform from which sermons are delivered, typically found to the right of the mihrab.
Decorations: Mosques are adorned with calligraphy from the Qur’an, decorative patterns, mosaics, and hanging lamps. However, they do not include pictures or statues, adhering to Islamic teachings.
In the UK, there are over 2,500 mosques, with the first established in Woking, Surrey, in 1889. Globally, the largest mosque is located in Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia, a key destination for millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage.
Mosques play an integral role in Islamic life, providing a space for worship, learning, and community support, all under the guidance of their rich traditions and beautiful architecture.
Organising a discovery hunt or quiz at a mosque can be an enriching experience for all participants. This activity encourages learning about the features and significance of a mosque in a fun and engaging manner. Below is a guide to help you plan and set up this activity effectively.
Engage with Your Hosts: Begin by sharing your ideas for the discovery hunt or quiz with the hosts of the mosque. They might have valuable insights or suggestions that can enhance the experience. Ensure that the activities align with the features of the mosque and the interests of your group.
Group Dynamics: It’s likely that you will be guided around the mosque, so it’s important to plan activities that can be done as a group. Discuss and agree on a format that everyone is comfortable with. This could involve taking photos, asking questions, or making observations.
Rules and Permissions: Confirm whether it’s permissible to take photos or ask questions to people within the mosque. If not, consider alternative ways for participants to engage, such as drawing or note-taking.
Organise Materials: Prepare your discovery hunt or quiz sheets in advance. Decide whether each participant will have their own sheet or if they will work in groups.
Here are some engaging activities you can include in your mosque discovery hunt:
Find a Copy of the Qur’an: Note down where it is located.
Draw the Hanging Lights: Observe and sketch the design.
Prayer Mat Observation: Draw the mat, noting its shape, color, and any patterns. Discuss where else you may have seen similar designs.
Community Support: Identify one way the mosque supports the local community and write it down.
Crescent Moon Symbol: Locate and draw this symbol.
Minbar Steps: Count and document the number of steps on the minbar.
Identify the Imam: Write down the name of the person who leads the prayers.
Prayer Area Etiquette: Note that shoes are removed before entering.
Next Prayer Time: Search for the set of clocks indicating prayer times.
Minaret Exploration: Photograph the minaret and speculate on its purpose. Bonus: Find out its height.
Mosque Establishment Year: Discover when the mosque was built.
Calligraphy: Note where you find the word “Allah” in Islamic calligraphy.
Prayer Beads: Count and log the number of beads.
Direction of Mecca: Identify the direction from the mosque to Mecca.
Include the following questions to test participants’ knowledge:
Mihrab Function: The Mihrab shows the direction of Mecca, which Muslims face when praying. This is:
a. An alcove
b. A cross
c. A window
Mosque Usage: True or false: A mosque is used for prayer only.
Answer: False. Mosques also host community activities, learning sessions, and festivals.
Holy Book: The holy book of Islam is called the:
a. Torah
b. Qur’an
c. Bible
Weekly Prayer Day: What day of the week do Muslims gather for collective prayer?
a. Friday
b. Saturday
c. Sunday
Ceiling Decor: What may be found hanging from the ceiling in a mosque?
a. Lamps
b. Crosses
c. Stars
Prayer Tools: What do Muslims use when praying?
a. Prayer mats
b. Chairs
c. Cushions
Uncommon Mosque Items: What will you not usually find in a mosque?
a. Statues
b. Calligraphy
c. Mosaics
Mosque Roof Feature: What can often be found on top of a mosque?
a. A triangular flag
b. A tall tower
c. A star
By following these guidelines and incorporating these ideas, you can create an educational and enjoyable discovery hunt or quiz that will leave participants with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the mosque and its role in the community.
Head Imam Sajid Latif Qadir
M 07828 783 600
E info@surreymosqe.com
Imam Hafiz Waseem
M 07598 780 272
Use the Contact Us form to let us know when you would like to book a mosque visit and we will get back to you asap.