THE MOSQUE

The Masjid Al Noor mosque is the biggest mosque in Christchurch, and it is one of the oldest in New Zealand. Built in 1984-1985, it is managed by the Muslim Association of Canterbury. Seven days after the tragedy, the mosque was handed back to the Muslim community by police. Mr Gamal Fouda, an imam who survived the attack at Al Noor mosque, said, “Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist, but today from the same place I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of New Zealanders and human beings from around the globe”. The Linwood Islamic Centre was opened in early 2018, the second mosque to open in Christchurch.

A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, and it serves as a location for prayer, Ramadan vigils, funeral services and more. Mosques often have segregated spaces for men and women, and all mosques have rules regarding cleanliness. Shoes must not be worn inside the carpeted prayer hall. A prayer rug or prayer mat is a piece of fabric used by Muslims, placed on the ground for worshippers to kneel on during the various positions of Islamic prayer. Muslims wear clothes that portray modesty. Men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not reveal the shape of the body. Likewise, it is recommended that women at a mosque wear loose clothing that covers their body to the wrists and ankles, and cover their heads.

As mosques are places of worship, those within the mosque are required to remain respectful to those in prayer. Loud talking within the mosque, as well as discussion of topics deemed disrespectful, is forbidden in areas where there are people praying. In addition, it is disrespectful to walk in front of or otherwise disturb Muslims in prayer. Under most interpretations of sharia (religious law derived from precepts of Islam), non-Muslims are permitted to enter mosques provided that they respect the place and the people inside it.