Hello All,

My name is Suzie and I am seriously considering converting to Islam. I have read some and so far I am impressed. I think it will be a good fit for me. I am thinking that I am going to try and visit a Mosque in the near future, possibly for Friday prayers.

My question is what can I expect to see by going to Friday prayers.

That is, what happens there. I have read that it is commanded to do ghusl (take a bath for the purpose of purification) on Friday. Is this correct. If this is the case do I have to do Wudu also?

Thanks,

Suzie

Hi Suzie

Welcome to muslimconverts.com

May Allah guide you to Islam and make you our sister in Islam.

Since you may be attending the Masjid (Mosque) before converting to Islam. You will need to know a brief outline of what you will see happening during the Friday prayer.

Firstly I advice you to phone the Masjid, if possible, and tell them you wish to attend the Masjid and which day and time you wish to attend.

If they do not have a phone number for the Masjid then just go to the Masjid.

When you see a Muslim tell her or him you are thinking about converting to Islam and wish to speak with the Imam of the Masjid.

If the Imam is not there or busy then ask them were is the sisters entrance of the Masjid.

Go to the sisters entrance of the Masjid and if you see a sister there tell her you are not Muslim yet but are considering becoming a Muslim and can she arrange for you to meet with the Imam after the prayers and in the mean time can she tell you were to sit so you can observe the Friday prayers.

So what will you expect at the Masjid during the Friday prayers.

The Masjids (mosques) have a separate entrance for men and a separate entrance for women.

Inside the Masjid Complex there are 2 shoe areas, 2 wudhu (ablution, washing ) areas (which also contains toilets) and 2 prayer halls. One for males and the other for females.

When you enter the Masjid leave your shoes in the shoe area, then go to either go to the Sisters wudhu area to wash or go straight to the sisters prayer hall.

Inside the prayer hall there is a Mimbar (a pulpit) for the Imam to stand to deliver the Friday sermons.

The floor of the prayer hall is usually carpeted. It does not have much furniture as the Muslims sit and pray on the floor in the Masjid. There may be a few chairs for people who are unable to sit on the floor.

What you should do is enter the Masjid through the sisters entrance as you are a woman and go to the prayer hall and sit down on the floor.

I would recommend siting at the back of the Prayer hall and close to one of the sides.

The reason being is that you are just going there to observe and not going there to pray and thus you will not have to move when the actual prayer starts and the sisters start to line up for the prayer.

So now you are inside the Masjid and siting in the sisters section of the Masjid prayer hall. What will you see.

You will see Muslims coming into the Masjid, taking of the shoes and making their way into the prayer hall. Then before siting down the will pray and then sit down and wait for the Imam to come.

Then the Imam will come to the front and ascend the Pulpit and greet the congregation with saying As salamu Alaikum, The congregation will reply with walaikum Salaam.

Another man (known as the Muathin) will call the adhan (call for prayer) and the congregation will repeat the words after him.

The the Imam will start to deliver the sermon (khutbah) and the congregation must speak during the sermon but rather they should listen attentively.

After a while the Imam will sit down on the mimber and rest for a brief moment and then get up again and deliver the secound part of the sermon.

Those people who came late will perform the prayers for greeting the Masjid before they sit down to listen to the sermon.

After the Imam has delivered the sermon (khutbah) the Muathin will call the Iqamah and the congregation will start to stand up, form straight lines, filling any gaps in the lines .

They will be standing facing the direction of the Kabbah in Makkah (the Holy city in Saudi Arabia). They will stand shoulder to shoulder and feet to feet (i.e. their shoulders and feet will be touching the shoulders and feet of the person next to them)

The prayer will begin. The Imam will lead the prayer and the congregation will follow whatever he does.

After the completion of the prayer. Some people may start to leave the masjid and others will remain siting and performing the prescribed Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)

After this some will pray some more optional prayers and some will leave the Masjid and perform the optional prayers when they get home.

This is briefly what happens in the Masjid during the Friday prayers.

What to wear when attending the Masjid ( Mosque)

Since you are not Muslim yet. You do not have to wear islamic clothing whilst attending the Masjid.

However ideally women who are not yet Muslim should try to be dressed as modestly as possible. Wearing a long loose dress (such as a maxi dress or a loose top and long skirt.

By long I mean as as far down to the ground as possible and the cleavage should not be shown and if possible you can rap any scarf on your head. (or even have a hoodie to cover the hair.

These are just guidelines. If you do not have such type of cloths then do not worry.

Usually the knowledgeable people in the Masjid are very happy to see a non Muslim women (and men) come to the Masjid in whatever she is dressed in order to learn about Islam or convert to Islam.

With regards to ghusl. Yes a Muslim should do ghusl on Friday as described on following link https://muslimconverts.com/prayer/ghusl.htm 

By performing Ghusl he/she becomes in a state of wudhu. If one breaks this state of wudhu by releasing wind, going for the call of nature etc. He/she should perform wudhu upon going to the Masjid or when you attend the Masjid you can make your wudhu there.

Take care

Muslimconverts.com Admin

Note the Friday prayers replaces the Friday Dhukr prayer (which is the secound prayer of the day) So if you attend the Masjid on any other time of the day on Friday or any other day the Imam does not give any sermon.

Instead the Athan (the call to pray is made and then after a while the man who called the Athan will call the iqamah and the worshippers line up to pray and Then the Imam starts the prayer and the worshippers follow what he does.

Dress code for for Men who are not Muslim and want to attend the Mosque to convert or just for a Visit

Guidelines are similar to what I explained to Sister Suzie except you need to go to the Men’s Entrance and Men’s Pray hall.

Clothing guidelines for men who are not Muslim is you should not wear shorts. So trousers and shirt (or t-shirt) is fine for now.