Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
Reimagining Muslim Spaces: Creating Welcoming Mosques For All
ISPU conducts objective, solution- seeking research that empowers American Muslims to develop their community and fully contribute to democracy and pluralism in the United States. ISPU MISSION
ISPU Research Making an Impact Social Policy: Public Thought Policy: Leadership: Develop Contribute Innovate
ISPU Making a Difference Discover Educate Enable
Reimagining Muslim Spaces
Mosques Matter ▪ Frequent mosque attendance linked to: – More volunteerism – Better mental health – Higher civic Engagement ▪ Yet, mosques often are alienating to many people, especially – Women – Converts – Young People
Challenges ▪ Many young adults, women, and converts are alienated from the mosque. ▪ Mosque leaders complain about a lack of volunteers and the lack of commitment of attendees to the mosque. ▪ Mosque attendees complain about a lack of unity, the lack of a sense of belonging.
Why Make Mosques Welcoming? ▪ Increases volunteers ▪ Sustains donors ▪ Increases cleanliness ▪ Increases spiritual engagement ▪ Promotes stronger more vibrant communities ▪ Builds hubs for hope ▪ Provides sanctuaries of support in hostile environment ▪ Grows the next generation of Muslim Americans
Finding Answers ▪ Develop a vision of the Prophetic Mosque as a guide and a goal. ▪ Research the situation.
Project Overview ▪ The goal of our “Reimagining Muslim Spaces” project is to produce research-driven recommendations for mosques that are: – Welcoming: Inclusive and engaging – A Hub for Hope: A source of community service
Project Overview ▪ We accomplished this through: – Extensive literature review – Focus groups across the country – Analysis of every available poll – One-on-one interviews – Advice from a diverse taskforce of experts
Project Output ▪ Report: “Creating A Welcoming, Inclusive, Dynamic Mosque” ▪ Case Studies ▪ Community Tool Kit ▪ Links to Resources www.ispu.org/RMS
Case Studies
Project Team
Project Taskforce Marwa Aly - Filmmaker, “Unmosqued” Dr. Altaf Husain - Vice President, documentary, Previous Muslim Chaplain, Islamic Society of North America, Assistant Trinity College and Wesleyan University Professor, Howard University School of Shahed Amanullah - Co-Founder and Social Work Director, Affinis Labs, CEO and Co- Saleem Khalid - Executive Director, founder, LaunchPosse, CEO and Founder, Muslim Enrichment Project Halalfire Farhan Latif - President, El-Hibri Hazem Bata - Secretary General, Islamic Foundation Society of North America Atif Mahmud - Filmmaker, “Unmosqued” Ahmed Eid - Filmmaker, “Unmosqued” documentary documentary Hind Makki - Curator and Founder, Side Maryam Eskandari - Founder, MIIM Entrance Blog Designs, Undergraduate Advisor, Harvard Sarah Sayeed - Former Board Member, University Department of Architecture Women in Islam, Inc., Author, “Women Tannaz Haddadi - Founder and Friendly Mosques and Community Centers” President of the Board, Next Wave Muslim Initiative
Project Findings
General Recommendation ▪ Foster a Welcoming Environment
Focus group participants agreed that the most attractive aspect of a masjid for them is the sense that they are welcomed. To develop a sense of community, a sense of belonging, you must develop a sense that people are welcomed. FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS
“Automatically I was welcomed. The smiles, the warmth, the salaams… And just a sense of, it doesn’t matter if you’re new or you’re not one of us, you are one of us because you’re here.” “The thing I most love [about my mosque] is the sense of generosity and hospitality; the sense of belonging .” FOCUS GROUP ATTENDEES
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another, so spread salam among yourselves” (Sahih Muslim). THE PROPHETIC MODEL
Foster a Welcoming Environment ▪ Form a Welcoming Committee which will: – Give salams and assistance to all who enter for Jum’ah and other events – Strike up conversations afterwards to get to know people – Find out their interests and expertise; have them fill out an information card – Encourage involvement in events and committees
Foster a Welcoming Environment ▪ Develop a culture of everyone being welcoming: – Say salam to people praying next to them – Say salam to one another after Jum’ah; even when ethnic groups form, go around and say salam – When new person comes in, give a smile and salam – Give khutbahs on being welcoming; leadership should provide the example
Local Case Study: 100 Days of Rahmah
Recommendation for Young Adults ▪ Stay Relevant ▪ Be Dynamic
“[They] give extremely relevant khutbahs… So every time it seems that it’s not some really abstract concept… It's usually something that’s very relevant and they can actually implement, things that they see every day in their lives.” “I just want something relevant.” FOCUS GROUP ATTENDEES
Stay Relevant ▪ Mosques must invite inspiring, knowledgeable speakers and khateebs who can speak eloquently and powerfully to the topics of interest in the community, whether the topic is spiritual or worldly. ▪ Khutbahs in particular need to be regularly evaluated.
Be Dynamic with a Sense of Mission The dynamic masjid offers numerous opportunities for participants to become involved, and as a result, the mosque feels alive, vital, and exciting.
Be Dynamic ▪ Develop a clear understanding of the mosque’s mission which is tied to the vision of Islam and the Prophetic mosque. ▪ Conduct a strategic planning process to identify the mosque’s mission
Be Dynamic ▪ Identify interests and facilitate the formation of small groups.
Recommendation for Women ▪ Create an Inclusive Environment for Women
The believing men and believing women are guardians of one another. They advocate virtue, forbid evil, perform the prayers, practice charity, and obey God and His Messenger. These — God will have compassion on them. God is Noble and Wise. — Surat Al-Taubah: 71
“I hate the fact that I can’t see the speaker (while in the balcony),… it drives me nuts.” “When I see a woman on the Board I automatically feel that mosque is more open to women.” FOCUS GROUP ATTENDEES
Fiqh Council of North America, Yasir Qadhi, Omar Shahin, Omar Suleiman, Mohamed Magid ▪ We call upon masjids to ensure that women have access to the main musalla to perform salah, listen to the Jum’ah khutbah or attend and participate in lectures or discussions. ▪ The Prophet (pbuh) did not have a formal shura process, but he did set the example of consulting with all segments of the Muslim community, including women. Masjids in North America, however, do have formal decision-making mechanisms, and it is, therefore, incumbent that women participate in all processes of formal shura, including serving on the governing bodies of masjids.
Create an Inclusive Environment for Women ▪ Women should have the choice to pray in the main musalla or in a separate area. ▪ Women should serve on masjid boards and be a part of masjid leadership.
Recommendation for Converts ▪ Address the Social Needs of Converts
Converts Make Up 20% of Community ▪ According to Pew, one in five Muslim adults was not raised a Muslim. ▪ Same study found that the same number of Americans were raised in a Muslim household but no longer identifies as a Muslim. — Religious Switching: Change in America’s Religious Landscape The Pew Research Center 2015
“I [a convert] feel most comfortable when I know that I have a friend there to talk to.” “When the experience in a mosque is … really great is when I make a friend. So that’s like stellar ... so I don’t feel socially uncomfortable and awkward where I’m trying to make social talk with people.” FOCUS GROUP ATTENDEES
Round Table Discussion
Round Table Instructions ▪ Prioritize Recommendations – Choose your top 3 ▪ Discuss Feasibility – Which recommendation can be implemented right away? – Which recommendation needs additional capacity? – What steps do you need to take to implement this recommendation?
Report Back
Next Steps ▪ Contact ISNA to have a workshop in your area. ▪ Workshops – Creating the Welcoming, Inclusive, Dynamic Masjid – Characteristics of Good Masjid Governance – Creating the Women-Friendly Masjid – Creating the Green Masjid
To Learn More ▪ Join our mailing list ▪ Read the full reports – www.ispu.org/RMS ▪ Become a sustaining member
www.ispu.org/RMS
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
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