05.11.08 Tea with mint in the mosque

The guided tour in the mosque in the Emmastraat in Enschede was quite interactive and unexpected. Sitting on the carpeted floor in the prayer room, we heard a bit about the Muslim Moroccan community that has ensured that the huge building came into existence. The mosque is a place where they can pray, eat and play. When there is something to celebrate, for instance a marriage or a new born child, meals are eaten in the prayer room.

The Iftar meals/gatherings, to which students (especially those who are far away from home) are invited, are held elsewhere in the building. There are two kitchens, a small shop and a separate room for women where they can pray if they wish and where the children and babies can play around.

We assisted to their short afternoon prayer that did not last more than 8 ms.

Our young guides told us something about the way in which they live and experience their religion, and how they see other religions.

Later on, they offered us some green tea with mint (and loads of sugar) and sitting in the men’s room (three of us were women), we had an interesting discussion. An interreligious dialogue, one could call it.

After 2 ½ hours, we were pretty hungry and went to the Turkish grillroom on the other side of the street. Lekker!