Islam in Britain

On Wednesday, January 28, I visited a mosque for a field trip, providing me with a better glimpse into the life of a British Muslim. London is an extremely diverse area, which is apparent just by walking down the street and seeing the many ethnic restaurants. Because of this diversity, it is easier for minorities to assimilate into society. Our tour guide affirmed that it is easier to be a Muslim in London than other cities because there is a more general openness from the British. This openness has, however, changed since the 2005 London bombings. Following the bombings, the Muslims were targets of ridicule from the Londoners. In our first British Life and Culture lecture, Dr. Wendy Stokes discussed the uneasiness the British felt towards the Muslims after the bombings, explaining that two Sikh men posted flyers of “What a Sikh Looks Life” so they would not be placed into the category of possible terrorists along with the Muslims. Although our tour guide explained that the British are more open-minded towards the Muslims, stares from fellow Londoners are still a part of everyday life. His ability to simply shrug off these occurrences would be extremely difficult, yet he has so much confidence in his faith that other’s opinions have no impact upon him.

Simply being in the mosque and witnessing one of their five daily prayers provided me with great insight into the role that being a Muslim plays in one’s daily life and culture. For Muslims, Islam is not simply a religion, but rather a way of life. Worshipping Allah is not simply praying five times a day, but rather "everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. This, of course, includes rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of one's fellow human-beings."

The men who worshipped at the mosque did so with such great sincerity that I could easily view the dedication that they had for their faith. Five times a day, the Muslims set aside time for God, and throw themselves whole-heartedly into the worship. Although one can worship wherever he is, it is recommended that prayer is done at the mosque, because community is of great importance to Muslims. Along with the help that praying with others adds to one’s spiritual life, the mosque is also central to a Muslim's social life. Before and after prayer is a time for socializing. Although we arrived 30 minutes prior to prayer, there were already men sitting in the mosque chatting. The mosque is also central for family and community activities.

This trip to the mosque showed me the importance of the mosque for both the religious and cultural aspects for Muslim life. It is not only a place of prayer, but also to bring the community together.

Source: The Concept of Worship in Islam