Exploring John City Mosque: Impressive Architecture and Design - Essay Sample

Introduction

I visited the Islamic center of Johnson City, held on Friday afternoon. I was highly impressed by how the Mosque was designed and had different shapes. John City mosque had almost everything I had earlier learned about the Mosque. I saw a minaret, a slim tower normally attached to the wall of a mosque. I was impressed by its octagonal shape, which pointed to the roof. I was happy to learn that minaret tower is used to make the call for Adhan, a prayer (Sonn, 2015). When I entered the Johnson City mosque compound, the building was covered with beige and white color. Musalla was the mosque hall, which was typically an area where prayers were conducted. When I entered the mosques, I was impressed by how people had to remove their shoes before being ushered inside.

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In the first ten minutes, I was very nervous where everyone could feel that I am a visitor, but later I felt very well-come. I was impressed by how the first prayer was conducted before the holy book of Qurans was reads. I was told to join one of the groups where the Quran was read aloud, and discussion began. In our group, we shared what is considered to be sinful and lawful in Islam. I felt welcome in the debate since most Mosque does not restrict the interaction between the members present as every person stands in the same direction line up close to one another doing the same course. The presence of Minbar, a raised platform space, is deemed by Muslims as the most sacred space based on its nature of the raised platform. Minibar is the area where an individual leading imam prayer stands (Al-Faruqi, 2012). I was convinced by this perception since the person stands at a higher platform, making him have more advantages than the congregation. I thought that Imam makes the man much closer to God than the rest of us. The way people kneel and bow, the Adhan, the minbar, and the carpet makes everyone to be the focus and committed to what they are doing. The Holy Quran is the sacred and the holiest book used in the worship session. I was impressed by how some Muslims could quote the Quran directly without readers, whereas others rely on the use of the Quran.

In my visit to Johnson City mosque, I discovered that Muslims believe in one God and Muhammad as God's messenger. In the context of Muhammad being God's messenger, I was told that he was troubled by the moral ills of the communities and the Arabs' worship of idols. At the age of 40, he had a voice and meditated over it. Muslims believe that the voice of angel Gabriel telling him to proclaim. When Muhammad asked what to proclaim, he was told to proclaim the name of God. Muhammad, a young lad, came from Mecca in approximately 570 years from now (Sonn, 2015). He was an orphan at a tender age where he was under the custody and care of his uncle. At a very youthful stage, he was one of the shepherds among the Bedouin. The call made Muhammad real surprise since, at the time, he was an illiterate merchant called to perform a noble task to God. However, he got more substantial support from his wife to accept the call. In his entire life, Mohammad was committed to spreading Islam.

My encounter with Islam made me understand the similarities with the Bible in broader contexts. Every Muslim understand that the Quran has a sacred text that God revealed to Muhammad. Apart from teaching about God, the Quran also expounds exclusively on how a Muslim should live a faithful and good life. The Quran also outlines and set harsh consequences for murdering and stealing.

In the Muslim faith, people are guided by five strict rules, namely, to conduct the Hajj, during Ramadan, there is a need to fast from sunrise to sunset, giving charity to the less fortunate, daily prayer, and that there is no other God except God and Muhammad. Besides Muhammad, God also sent other prophets Moses, Abraham, and Jesus (Sonn, 2015). However, Muhammad was the greatest and last of the prophets. Muslim believers are encouraged to pray anywhere but, in most instances, prefer Mosque as the place of worship. In conducting their daily prayers, they should extend it towards Mecca, the holy land. In this context, the Hajj is Mecca's pilgrimage. At least once, the Muslim is required to visit Kaaba. Other Muslims seek for effort in God or Jihad as one of the essential duties.

In my experience with Islam, I realized that Islam is divide into two distinct sections, namely Shi'i and Sunni. The two divisions have their distinct rituals and values, which establishes an unconquerable schism. The division gap can be twisted by Sufism, which is typically an Islamic faith. Sufi society's mystic perception makes the belief more appealing to Shiites and Sunnis, including the new people joining the Islamic faith (Al-Faruqi, 2012). In essence, Sufism applies the appealing quality and unification quality to make Islam the strongest religion. I realized that Sufism is grounded on the idea that Muslims could directly relate with God on a face-to-face conversation via mystical practices.

My encounter with the Islamic religion has made me resourceful to advise any newcomer to Islam. With my little experience, I will advise that Islam is a peaceful religion than people think about them. I will tell the visitor that Islam has some basic approaches to life. Such that their faith is very simple, one only needs to understand that there is no other god except Allah (God) and Muhammad his messenger. Believing in this pillar will make a person to be at peace with Muslims. The other concept I will talk about is Salat. I will advise the person to be aware of the Islam love of making daily prayer to God. I will advise the new person to make prayer while facing Mecca. I will also encourage the person to love giving to the poor to be at peace with Islam. Zakat is one act of charity that is highly regarded by the Muslim.

I will brief the new individual that Islam, just like Christian, has a sacred book called the Quran. I will educate the person that the Quran not only teaches about God but extends to issues concerning human welfare. As Muslim, one is expected to fast from sunrise and sunset during Ramadan celebration. The visitor should that Muslims are counted righteous if they believe in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the scriptures, and prophets. I feel that if the visitors understand these concepts, they will not have any problem.

References

Al-Faruqi, I. R. (2012). Islam: Religion, Practice, Culture & World Order. International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).(n.d.). Home | MCNET. https://www.mcnetonline.com/

Sonn, T. (2015). Islam: History, Religion, and Politics. John Wiley & Sons.