Special room allows women to pray: Khan
The new Masjid Hanifa mosque at Sonaisali, Nadi has a special feature. It also has a prayer room dedicated specifically for women.
Wife of founder and financier of the newly built mosque Azreena Khan said they decided to include the special prayer room is because most mosques don’t cater for women. “Like in our religion, for the men, its best for them to go to the mosque and do their prayers. They get more rewards for doing that,” Mrs Khan said.
“But for the ladies it is best to do prayers in your own homes, we get more rewards staying home and praying,” she said.
“With this fasting season we can now accompany our husbands to the mosque and open our fasts.
“We pray in our prayer room while the men pray together separately.
According to Mrs Khan because the mosque is centrally located those travelling can drop in to pray and then continue with their journey.
“Actually what is happening is when we are travelling and we see a mosque and just want to stop for a little while, do our prayers and go,” she said.
“Here in Fiji we don’t have that facility along the way; most of the mosques they don’t allow ladies like they don’t cater for ladies.
“This mosque is centrally located; we are going to get a lot of traffic through people, through travellers let alone the villagers. Travellers would have an easy stop; just stop over do your prayers and continue with your journey.”
Following the sighting of the moon on Tuesday night the Ramadan started on Wednesday.
Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
“When they are coming past the mosque and it is time to open you fast please feel free to just join us because we going to have aftari for 30 days.
“If you are just passing by, do drop in, visit our beautiful mosque and make the most of it.”