Today we got go "under the veil of Doha" and what an experience we had. We were up and out by 8:15am and headed to tour the State Grand Mosque of Doha. I was personally extremely excited about what we were about to witness and feel - the women were asked to cover out of respect which was a new and unfamiliar experience for all of us.
Many westerners believe that women being covered is a sign of submission or "being kept". They misunderstand the true meaning of the abaya and the reasons behind this cultural part of the Muslim women in Qatar. The covering is a sign of modesty so that women do not attract unwanted attention. They are revered and respected and this veil and covering helps them to maintain their purity.
According to my friend, Wiki...
The Qur'an has been translated as stating:
"O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the faithful to draw their outergarments close around themselves; that is better that they will be recognized and not annoyed. And God is ever Forgiving, Gentle."
The veil varies depending on which region you are in. Qataris wear the full black abaya and shayla (together called a burqa). Other cultures simply cover their head in a scarf and wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. And have no fear - these women are stylish. One year the SBP at TAMQ had her abaya "Aggie blinged" for Ring Day - you can even shop online for the latest in fashion.
I asked if any of the women were nervous or uncomfortable and while none of them said yes, I could see a bit of nerves in the newness and unfamiliarity of it all. Me included - it was strange and different. I wasn't used to the shayla and felt like a hot mess because it kept falling off. I was uneasy when it shifted off my hair as I didn't want to offend anyone. And for those of that know me well, my middle name is not Grace for a reason. I lacked a certain quality to look like these women that surrounded me.
After about 15 minutes, we were ready to tour the mosque and meet up with our male counterparts.
The men were impressed with their female counterparts and had a few questions about the process and what they were feeling.
We had a few minutes to walk around and explore the courtyard of the mosque. The beauty of this space actually reminded me much of a Catholic church with the intricate designs and colorful details. I was really taken back by the beauty and peacefulness of the space and Rachel said that this mosque was actually very modest and plain. I can only imagine the overwhelming sense of awe and wonder I would feel visiting the Vatican.
Our tour guide was actually a British expat named Dominque, former Roman Catholic that "reverted" back to the religion of Islam (it's ok, Dad). And, yes, you read that correctly. They do not refer to it was "converting" rather "reverting" back to what they believe to be the first religion. He did an excellent job of providing the history of the Islam, what being Muslim requires, the rituals and structure and their beliefs regarding Allah.
I think it's pretty safe to say that we all learned so much. That some of our own misconceptions were cleared up and maybe even surprised to learn about many of the similarities between Islam and Christianity.
I was so proud of these students. They were so attentive and eager to learn. They were willingly moving beyond their comfort zone and immersing themselves in a different culture and way of life. Their own religious views and beliefs varied from within but they equally opened themselves up to new thoughts and ideas into understanding the other.
We made our way into the library greeted by beautifully ornate windows ...
and bookshelves filled with what felt like artwork instead of books.
Radley would have loved all the colorful patterns.
Before you can enter the mosque, you must clean yourself. Dominique explained the symbolic reason why this is done and I was reminded of the sacrament of baptism and how we are cleaned from sin. While the two aren't interchangeable, I was able to better understand this practice of our new Muslim friends.
He did a quick demonstration for us before we entered.
(We were not required to do so since it was not an official prayer time and clearly we are not Muslim.)
The prayer space was breathtaking. I can only imagine what it must feel like when it was filled with people in prayer. I believe it is much like we feel during a worship service or mass. As the room is filled, people begin to kneel along the lined carpets and are lead in prayer by the Imam. I asked if this position was only held by men and he explained that customarily, yes, but that women can serve in this role if they are leading another group of women.
With our remaining time we were welcome to ask questions and the students took full advantage of this.
Megan asked how they defined church community, since that is a very large part of the Christian faith. His response was "a gathering of people."
Jenny asked if Muslims believe that God is the father of everyone - he replied that He is our creator.
They believe in the same God that Christians believe in.
They believe in Moses, in Abraham, in Noah, etc... but what struck me the most is that they, too, believe in Jesus Christ. They believe he was born of the virgin Mary and they believe that the only person that will come again is in fact Jesus. They do not believe that he is the Son of God.
Later, that night the women visited the home of a female Qatari student. They asked their beliefs on the resurrection and the mother of the student explained: They believe that in fact, he never died. That when Judas betrayed him, Allah took Jesus to heaven and Judas face was transformed to look like Jesus and that Judas was in fact crucified, not Jesus.
They follow the teachings of Mohammed, who they believe was a prophet 1400 years ago.
As our time came to end I reflected on my own faith. I felt energized and affirmed more than I can remember in a long time. The words that they pray five times each day are actually very powerful and beautiful - much like a prayer that Christians would offer.
But as I fell asleep I was grateful that Jesus died for us. That he gave his life for my sins and that I am here today because of the sacrifice of Him.
What a beautiful experience indeed.
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