What is included in open mosque house?
Every year hundreds of mosques around the country organize open mosque houses, aimed at educating the public about Islam. The open houses often include a guided tour of the mosque, a brief lecture about Islam with Q&A sessions, free educational materials about Islam, and fun activities consisting of hijab tutorials, henna tattoos, and Arabic calligraphy. The organizers of the open houses often report that the misconceptions about Muslims to be the main drivers of their outreach.
The Coachella Valley Mosque of Southern California reopens its doors after extensive repair after a molotov cocktail was thrown in the mosque as members were gathering for Friday prayer. The mosque, which is led by the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, resumed its open mosque day- an annual event since 9/11. The Imam asserted that despite the threats and harassment the mosque receives, it will continue opening its doors to everyone. In addition, the Imam speaks at local churches and schools with a series titled, “Discover Islam.”
The Waltham Islamic Society in Waltham, MA, hosts an open mosque day. The event featured a tour of the mosque, speeches from the young members of the Mosque about Islam, women’s rights in Islam, and a question-and-answer session. About 200 people attended the event.
Islamic Society of Edmond hosts a mosque open house in Edmond, OK. The event was part of a state-wide initiative, sponsored by the Islamic Council of Oklahoma. Sheryl Siddiqui, spokeswoman for the Islamic Council of Oklahoma, said that Muslims and Islam is on the news almost daily, but most Americans never get a chance to ask a practicing Muslim what he or she thinks, so the events are aimed at providing such spaces.
