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Field Trip #2 – Islamic Mosque

1). Give some brief background on the religion

2). Give a "detailed" (thick) description of where you went and of the service you attended (where you went, when you went, what you saw, etc)

3). Offer a reflection of the experience

Overall the word Islam means peace and submission in accordance with God's will. This is accomplished through humility, reverence, peace and happiness in submission to God. In the Islamic religion they fully believe in only one God who truly is "the God." This God is eternal, aware, powerful, and merciful and will live forever. For them there is no other God worthy of worship than this God. In addition they fully believe that Muhammad is God’s messenger. This religion seeks to provide a personal and social peace that allows us to progress.

On Friday 9/28/06, I visited the Bait-Ul-Hameed Mosque (an Islam Ahmadiyya Movement) in Chino, CA. Uncertain as to the exact time to arrive (as I wasn't able to get a hold of anyone via phone about the exact start time) I decided to get their around 1pm. When I arrived the parking lot was fairly empty, however I met a fellow student from our class who also had trouble discerning the right time the service would start out.

We both proceeded to what looked like the largest building and when we got there we were met by someone from the Mosque. We introduced ourselves and explained how we came to visit the Mosque as a field trip assignment. Our guide mentioned that they normally take their shoes off before entering the main room, so we took our shoes off and he invited us in. Inside he introduced me a few of the men who were there early and provided me with several pamphlets regarding their beliefs. He told us that the main prayer session didn't start till 1:30pm. My fellow student, a female, was also notified that she could stay however, she may prefer being in the other side where the women were meeting (as I had read, Muslims men and women worship separately.)

Since I was early, I was able to chat with a few of the men who where there early for the service. One who had come from Pakistan told me how not all Muslims believe in Jihad (Holy War) and that even Mohammed would only fight when attacked and not attack on his own. Another one of the men I spoke to was a younger white male who explained to me how he had discovered Islam. He had been raised Christian (actually Catholic), but found Islam more suitable to his beliefs. When I asked why he converted from Christianity to Islam, He explained how he had studied several major religions and found that what all of major sources seemed to have the same basic beliefs and he found it hard that they could all be wrong and since Islam embraced belief in all of the major prophets leading up to this time (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, etc..) he felt he was on the right track. I also had asked my guide about the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. He explained that the Shiite Muslims thought that the successor to Mohammed should have been passed to down to someone within the family line. Sunni’s did not believe this to be true.

Overall, everyone I spoke to told me that they were a very peaceful religion who only wanted to seek, surrender and follow God’s will. I was asked many times that If I had any questions to feel free to ask. I was fortunate that my guide explained to me what would take place and gave me some brief narratives as the service began. The guide explained how Muslims pray five times a day. Friday afternoon was the main day for public prayer. They believe that when they pray as a group, they receive stronger blessings. This was the first week of the holy month of Ramadan (which was the anniversary of when the Koran’s revelations started and also marked the migration of Muhammad from Mecca.), during this month Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Later that night they would have a meal together. I noticed that as each man came in, they would begin their prayer by first standing, then kneeling, and bowing to the floor, which I was told was the five positions of worship (submission). Men and their sons trickled in throughout the service. As each came in, regardless of what was going on in the service, they would do the same prayer.

Interestingly I noticed that there were no statues, ritual objects, or pictures witan the mosque. The only things that I saw were many clocks just behind were the one who was leading the service. I assumed that each corresponded to a different time zone in different parts of the world.

About 1:15-1:20pm, one of the Muslim men began chanting out load. My guide explained that he was doing the traditional call to prayer. He said in the old days, before PA systems, one would ascend to a high tower and begin the chant out loud giving everyone the signal that it was just about time to pray. As they worship they gather shoulder to shoulder together in lines. Since there were some chairs in the back, I choose to sit and observe.

They started the main part of the service with a prayer in Arabic (I think.) Then the one who was leading gave the English explanation. The service centered on the importance of Ramadan and the blessing they can receive if they participate in it together. Most of the service was in English. After the leader spoke all the men stood up and began a prayer. Interestingly I noticed that their service had no music.