Easton's Jamia Masjid alongside more than 250 Mosques across the UK, will be taking part in this year’s National Visit My Mosque (VMM) Day. The largest mosque open day event in the UK that has grown since its 2015 inception when there were only 20 mosques taking part.
Easton Jamia Mosque has regular open days which they use as an opportunity to dispel some of the common misconceptions about Islam. A YouGov Poll commissioned by the Muslim Council of Britain in 2018 found that almost 70 per cent of Britons hadn’t seen the inside of another faith’s place of worship, and almost 90 per cent hadn’t been inside a mosque.
The Visit My Mosque initiative is a step towards changing that and with it, perceptions around Islam and Muslims. Abdul Malik, the chair of Easton Jamia Mosque, said that the open days give people the chance to ask anything they like.
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The mosque on St Marks Road looked like any other building for almost 40 years until it underwent extensive renovations in 2017. The Grand Opening of the mosque after the dome was completed during Ramadan 2017 generated so much interest that it was suggested by the local councillor that they have the event outside and it became the very first ‘Grand Iftar’.
The first year of what has now become an annual event on St Marks Road was particularly important in 2017 in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing. Like the Grand Iftar, the mosque open days are important in bringing communities together and helping people understand how the vast majority of British Muslims practice their religion.
Mr Malik has made it his mission to challenge the misconceptions people have about Muslims, views which he believes became particularly problematic in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Mr Malik said: “Islam is a large religion and a lot of people hesitate to ask questions sometimes because they’re worried about offending people.
“What I found is that when people come into the mosque and they get friendly with you, they ask a lot of questions and it gives you a chance to talk about the religion and what it really is.
“No question is offensive to me, I think it’s really important to be open and honest and allow people to express themselves. Sometimes we even agree to disagree with people but it’s really nice to have an open day.
“Since 9/11 I think there are a lot of people who have made their mind up about Islam, the more we open the doors, the more we give opportunity to people. I know it shouldn’t be needed but if that’s the way people feel then I think it’s important that we address that.”
On previous open days different aspects of the religion have been discussed such as the practice of praying five times a day and women’s rights in Islam. Mr Malik said that for some members of the public it was just interesting to see what a mosque looks like from the inside and to have a chat.
The open day will also be a chance for the award winning Easton Jamia Mosque to showcase the work they have done in the community and teach people about its unique history since opening in the early 1980s. The day will be a chance for the mosque to celebrate the diversity of British Muslim communities and hold an indoor exhibition.
Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed said: “Mosques have been opening their doors to the wider community for decades, building friendships and breaking down barriers. Visit My Mosque, a flagship campaign of the Muslim Council of Britain, builds on these local efforts to make a national impact.
"This is an opportunity for diverse communities of all faiths and backgrounds to come together, developing trust, understanding and friendship. We hope all will take this invitation to attend and join in the celebration.”
This year, Visit My Mosque takes place on September 3 and 4. This year’s national event is particularly special, as it returns to being a physical event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and so, the theme is: “welcome back, welcome in.” Easton Jamia Masjid on St Marks Road will be open for the public to drop in this Saturday, September 3 between 11 and 5pm.
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