Not so long ago I defended my Mosque claiming it provided everything the Muslim community needs. It provides praying facilities for both men and women, provides Islamic education for children and adults. The Mosque is there in times of celebration and in times of needs.

From the age of 4 until the age of 17 I attended my local Mosque for my madrassa education everyday Monday to Saturday, two hours a day. I was taught to recite the Qur'an, memorise essential duas, taught to do wudhu, taught to read salaah, and was told many stories about the Prophets (may peace be upon them all) and sahabas, I even learnt to read Urdu so I could learn hundreds of rules and regulations that I will probably have no need for!

At times I hated it. I wanted to take part in after-school events. I wanted to watch Saturday Morning Live. However, at 18 I went to university met many young Muslims some of whom didn’t even know the basis of their faith and felt pride in how my Mosque and my community had educated me in Islam. It had done a good job in teaching me everything I would need to know to be a good Muslim. Or had it?

Now at 24, I am only just beginning to broaden my reading and find out the ‘real’ world and only now do I realise the extent of my Mosque’s failure towards me. I know nothing about Judaism, Christianity, Zionism, the Muslim struggle and of course Islam and its history beyond the life of the four Khalifas. I have little understanding of what the Zionist movement is. I have little appreciation for what the Palestinians go through on a day-to-day basis. But worse than this I know not how to defend my faith, my religion and my beliefs which is just as important as praying my salaah and keeping my fasts.

However, it’s never too late. It’s not too late for us and it’s not too late for our children. We can still teach each other and our children about our history. We can help understand the causes of today’s problems. We can educate each other on what we can do to show our support. We need to arm ourselves with knowledge, only when we do this we can educate others and show them the beauty of Islam.

To learn more about the Role of the Mosque in our communities and what we can do to improve them come along to our free event:

 Join us on Saturday 24th, May

"We are all better than we know; if only we can be brought to realise this. We may never again be prepared to settle for anything less"
Kurt Hahn

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