uncomfortable at the Mosque

Jenni wrote: I have the idea of starting your own Masjid. This may sound strange but the Turkish people in my area who are very family oriented and fun loving did. Anyone is welcome, and it is a very kind place. They simply rent some space and share the cost. More people need to take a stand and I would love to start my own Masjid where women and men pray together(women in back or course), the Imam is accesible to all for questions and assistance, and the place is warm and inviting for the communty!

Asalaamu alaikum:

that would be a wonderful idea! Now it would be nice to not be closed away in a suffocationg little room and not see the main part of the masjid!

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Edited by Hanan

I am with you on  the virtual mosque!

 

 

So true, so True...
I have been in this area for a little over a year. At the mosque I attend, muslims' nationalities are very diverse. And most sisters tend to stay within their groups. I am still struggling with the community... sometimes i get very upset with the attitudes so I take "time-off" and don't attend the mosque for a couple of weeks; I need the time to regroup and rethink my strategies of communication ; i have tried numerous, here a sampling:

1) volunteer at the mosque any chance you get- the mosque I attend has a full-time school and I volunteer for anything and everything I can do - from cooking for the Friday food fundraiser or for the school fundraisers, at Eid to baby-sit for an hour;

2) be assertive - make your presence constant and known; I wish every sister who comes into the door; I shake their hand and make eye contact; kinda force them to acknowledge me ; if i see a sister sitting by herself; i talk to her like i've known her forever; i have met many who are new to the area;

3) I do little things around the mosque; like vacumming the prayer area after salat or hallway on weekends;

4) take the initiative - our mosque has a sister's committee but most sisters in it are from the same country and they tend to stick together and make their decisions - so i approach a sister and ask about stuff that is going on - when approached individually they are more helpful and forthcoming;

it is only now, after a whole year that the sisters have begun to take the initiative to talk to me. Good-Luck!