We have spent the past week traveling through Kwazulu Natal on our excursion, staying in Hluhluwe, Durban, and the Drackensberg Mountains. The key to this excursion, let me point out, was specifically to relax and simply enjoy ourselves. However, we did manage to squeeze in one educational activity (by choice) and ended up visiting the largest Mosque in southern Africa.We were given a tour through this beautiful and grand mosque but were first asked to remove our shoes. Entering through the foyer barefoot, we were met by a huge marble pool stretching up to the ceiling with about twenty stools around it where people may sit and wash before praying. We then proceeded into the main room with elaborately decorated walls and a very high ceiling. The carpet was red with decorative gold outlines indicating where each person will pray. At the front is a place fixed into the wall where the Imam or priest hosts the prayer; everyone faces this point which points towards Mecca.
We then sat in a semicircle around our tour guide as he told us the basics of Islam. He discussed the five pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, zakah (the financial obligation to the poor), and the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) and taught us some typical prayers. He also made an effort to clear up a lot of misconceptions about Muslims such as extremist views, treatment of women, and race relations.
He brought up that not all Muslims are extremists and almost all of them condemn terrorism. There are just as many if not more extremists of Christianity and other religions as there are of Islam. It’s sad that many Americans still think that all Muslims are terrorists or even that Islam promotes terrorism, as was evident of the assault of many Muslims and even those who “looked like” Muslims after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Islam also tends to get a bad reputation for subjugating women and treating them as lesser beings. However, contrary to popular belief, the only thing the Quran says to this effect is that women should dress modestly. It is not the Quran or the Islamic faith that has declared that women should dress a certain way such as wearing burkas. These restrictions are completely by choice or imposed by society, not religion.
Race is a big issue in South Africa and racial tension is a reality on a daily basis. Our tour guide addressed this by saying that all people are welcome in Islam regardless of race. When it comes down to it, religion is all encompassing; it is about coming together to worship God. Race is irrelevant. It is nice to think that all different people can come together under one common goal even in such a divided country as South Africa.
Visiting the Mosque made me remember how much I love learning about different religions. It is so interesting to see how religion impacts on different cultures and how it can shape certain societies. I think religion and spirituality is an integral part in understanding people different to us. This experience really makes me want to take better advantage of the knowledge and experiences of friends who are of a different faith by attending worship with them or simply discussing religion more frequently.
Jumah Mosque: Corner Grey and Queen Streets, Indian Quarter, Durban, South Africa
