Upholding the principle that ‘khuda ka ghar’ must remain open to all, an over three-decade-old Madrassa and Masjid Mohammadiya in Vikhroli, Mumbai, recently hosted around 50 non-Muslims as part of the ‘Prophet For All’ campaign.
The event, held in celebration of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday), aimed to foster understanding and dispel misconceptions about mosques.
The mosque’s general secretary, Khursheed Siddiqui, led the hour-long tour, offering insights about rituals in namaz, the status of a mosque, and its imam in Islam.
“This outreach is an effort to bridge gaps and clarify misconceptions about mosques,” Siddiqui explained.
Unlike the typical setting where worshippers pray on mats, chairs were arranged for the non-Muslim guests to sit comfortably inside the prayer hall.
Visitors were particularly moved by the experience, with many leaving with a new perspective on Islamic practices. Ranjan Kedar, a member of the local peace committee, expressed his appreciation, saying, “The mosque is simply a space for congregational prayers. Initiatives like this promote peace and unity.”
Dr. Pervez Mandviwala, who has organized similar events in Mira Road, noted the curiosity of non-Muslim participants. “Visitors had intriguing questions, such as whether ‘Allah’ refers to cosmic energy and why Muslims keep beards,” he said. Mandviwala explained the Muslims believe in a formless God and the significance of beards is a part of the Prophetic tradition in Islam.
For many, the visit was an eye-opening experience. Civic worker Poppat Satpute described his awe at witnessing Islamic rituals up close, including live demonstrations of ablution, the call to prayer (azaan), and the prayer itself (namaz).
Imam Mufti Mohammed Sharfe Alam Qasmi, who leads prayers at the mosque, said that the visit enabled non-Muslims to see what actually happens in a mosque.
“At the time of the evening prayer, we made the group sit in a side room and see how we offered namaz. We also explained what is mehrab (the place in the mosque where the imam stands to lead prayers),” said the imam.
Yusuf Abrahni, president of Islam Gymkhana and a key person behind the ‘Prophet For All’ campaign, shared that several mosques have opened their doors to non-Muslims in similar outreach efforts recently.
