DownloadSept. 7, 2009 issue
Praying at the mosque
When a Christian joins Muslims for prayer, doors open for conversation and understanding
By Palmer Becker For Mennonite Church CanadaPage:
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BETHLEHEM — Every day at dawn, noon, midafternoon, sunset and at 9:30 p.m. the imams go to their microphones and in a loud melodic voice call everyone to prayer.
Men and boys stand in reverence before prayers. The mosque was full, so they gathered outside. — Photo by Palmer Becker/MC Canada
Five times a day men and boys gather from their homes and places of work for 10 minutes of prayer — a total of nearly one hour per day. God used these Muslim calls to prayer to speak to me about my own Christian prayer life.
“These folks are praying a lot more than I am!” I told myself.
One evening I cautiously responded to the sunset call. I slipped off my shoes at the doorway of the mosque and took a seat in the back. I began to pray to God as I know him in Jesus Christ.
After prayers, I was welcomed by those around me. Are you a Muslim? No, I am a Christian. Do you want to become a Muslim? No, I am very happy in my faith. Do you know how to pray? Yes, I converse with God and find it very meaningful. But you don’t pray the right way; can we teach you how to pray?
While it is highly unusual for a Christian to go to a mosque to pray, that is what I did about twice a week for three months this year. This led to many discussions and friendships. I got invited to homes for coffee and discussion, or I invited others to our home.
One day when I knelt in my chair to pray as we did in my home church, a man came to me out of concern, asking, Do you want to go to hell? No, I am going to heaven. But you can’t pray like that! He was concerned that I was turning my back to Mecca. He demonstrated what he felt was the right way to pray.
I have become convinced that most of the men who come to pray do so out of deep devotion. They begin by standing reverently before God, seeking to free themselves of all selfish emotions and distractions. They bow before God, recognizing that he is great and that he alone is God. They touch the floor with their foreheads in submission to his will.
“We ask God to forgive us,” they told me. Like me, they recognize that they are sinners who need daily forgiveness and guidance from God.
To watch and talk with committed Muslims has helped me to understand that many have much more than a religion of works. Like me, they seek to give full respect and obedience to God.
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Comments
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I thought your approach to this was brilliant and certainly not something one woudl expect from regualr 'church goers'. I am greatly concerned for the relatinship between muslims and christians and found this story not just interesting byt inspiring as well. Thank you for not only pubolishing thesotry but for the fact that you engaged in the actions in the first place.
peace and blessing
Greg
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I am doing a reflecting on Peace Practices exercise right now in Mindanao, Philippines and just had a Muslim friend tell me that "if Christians would base their lives on the Bible we would have peace." These kind of interactions are humbling and challenging. Lord have mercy!
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