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Helpful Guidelines
for a Visit to a Mosque
General Information
A mosque ("masjid" in Arabic) is a place of prostration.
Worshippers sit on the carpeted floor during the sermon and for the prayer (unlike the seating arrangement in a church).
Muslim prayer requires men and women to engage in a series of physical movements involving bending and prostrating. In order to preserve the modesty between men and women, men pray together as a group and women pray together as a group. In most mosques men are in the front and women are in the back. Some mosques have a physical separation between men and women such as a curtain or even a separate room.
Muslim men and women dress modestly and wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. In addition, women also cover their hair with a head scarf ("hijab" in Arabic). Some men wear a small cap on their heads. While this practice is not required of people of other faiths who visit a mosque, it is encouraged in order to give visitors the opportunity to play an active role in their mosque visit and have a lasting experience of it. Some visitors may also feel more comfortable this way.
In accordance with the modesty requirements in Islam, men and women are encouraged to avoid physical contact with one another unless they are married or related. Therefore, it is not common for a man to shake hands with a woman or vice versa. Shaking hands with the same gender is fine.While at the Mosque
Shoes are not worn inside the carpeted prayer area. Please leave them on the shelves in the entrance area.
Some mosques have separate entrances for men and women.
Before the start of the prayer, there is a call to prayer in Arabic ("adhan" in Arabic).
When people have assembled and the Imam (person who leads the congregation in prayer) arrives, there will be another, shorter call to prayer ("iqamah" in Arabic).
The prayer lasts 5-10 minutes at the most. Visitors can observe the prayer. Please make sure not to step in front of worshippers while the prayer is in progress.
After the prayer, some people disperse while others stay and offer optional prayers.