Why are there no benches in the prayer hall?
The Islamic prayer is a full body experience. There are elements of standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. When listening to a sermon, the worshipers sit on the floor as long as they are able. There are always chairs available for the elderly or injured on the side.
What should be avoided in the masjid?
Upon entering the space, a Muslim ready to worship should be in the state of wudu, or having performed the ablution that is necessary before touching the Quran or praying. He or she should know, now is not the time to engage in arguments or shouting. Phones should be silenced. Many Muslims will enter the space and perform an optional two cycles of prayer individually to greet the masjid before taking a seat, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do before services commence. During actual prayer, there is no talking—that in fact breaks the prayer and necessitates it to be repeated. One should not be loud and run around, and any other activities that could disrupt a fellow person’s worship should be avoided.
It is important to note, men and women have different spaces designated to sit during the prayer. They either have an entirely separate area, or in the very big prayer halls, a shared but divided space to prevent free mixing. The mosque is a sacred space to focus on God and prayer, and it should be free of any temptations and potential for sin that can result from men and women being in unnecessary contact.
No comments:
Post a Comment