I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard we were going to a Mosque; maybe a big dome and tower? It certainly wasn’t a building that looked like a grand house in the country.
I went with 21 other young people from 3rd Portchester Sea Scouts to the Al Mahdi Centre, near Fareham, to learn more about Islam as part of our World Faith badge. After we took off our shoes the Imam, Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo, was proud to show us the ways in which the al Mahdi mosque was special from the conservation of the environment and energy saving initiatives that had been taken into consideration. The purpose built centre which was built in to the orientation to Mecca (the direction for prayers) included special washing facilities, prayer hall and classrooms. It was sunset and we watched as the Imam said his prayers. Muslims should get up at dawn to say the first of the five prayers said during the day. He taught us the Muslim greeting and I read translation from the Quran.
Everyone had lots of questions. I found out that lots of things I thought were important to all Muslims were more to do with different countrie
s’ cultures and traditions. There was a young girl who told us that she was not forced to wear a hijab but she chose to and that it didn’t stop her from swimming or doing anything else she wanted to do.
A Scout from my group asked about Jihad, The Imam explained that Jihad, a word in the Arabic language, really meant to struggle, to do ones best and to lead a good life of devotion to faith. He said: ‘We should all strive to do our best.’ He said that he had been a Scout in Africa when he was young. He said being a Scout who strives to do our best is jihad. He also said that the important thing to remember is that Islam is a religion of peace and killing of innocent lives is sinful. The current fighting is about politics not religion. Some people have chosen to distort the teachings of Islam. He told us there is nothing Islamic about bombing and killing.
We all had so many questions that we stayed really late and the Imam tried to answer them all.
It turned out to be an amazing evening where I was warmly welcomed. I would definitely recommend others to make a visit to the mosque to meet a Muslim and know the faith better.
As a Scout I think it’s important to learn about other cultures. There are Scouts all over the world and it’s important to know their culture as well. I think doing activities like this helps us to understand other people better and that will help our community. Scouting in Hampshire is always looking for adults to help young people learn more about their communities. Find out more at hampshirescouts.org.uk.
- Article written by an attendee