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Open House Program Guidelines

With regard to the mosque Open House, Muslims must let their attitude, conduct and speech reflect these Islamic qualities to the fullest extent.

From du’a’ to salah to hajj, Islam is a din based on carefully choreographed programs. It is, therefore, important for Muslims to keep in mind the following principles of good programming:

1. Keep all speeches and comments brief, low key, nonthreatening and non-confrontational.

2. At all times, avoid being combative, argumentative.

3. Avoid hyperbole. Exaggerations generally weaken your case. They reduce your credibility.

4. Only say what you know to be true. Otherwise, stay quiet and let it go. If you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer, openly and clearly say so. But at the same time, offer to find out the answer for the person who asked the question.

   Make sure you know how to contact that person once you have the answer.

5. Do not attack or insult the beliefs, behavior, values or practices of your non-Muslim guests.

6. Stress commonalities of belief and behavior between Islam and other faiths such as Christianity and Judaism. For, that is the way of Allah in the Qur’an.

   For example, belief in God; personal and social responsibility; accountability for one’s decisions and actions; and family values.

7. Stress shared concerns. For example, future of children, education, growing violence, crime, hope and economic opportunities for the future.

   Point out that security of person and property is a common concern of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

8. Use simple, non-technical language when presenting Islamic teachings and beliefs.

9. Focus on ideas and concepts rather than on heavy Arabic terminology.

10. Focus on the main points and avoid getting bogged down in details and fine points.

11. Do not argue. Make your point in a clear, concise, simple and gentle manner and move on.

12. In general, limit questions and comments to non-Muslim guests. If you have Muslims making comments, make sure they are brief.

13. Keep your own answers to questions brief, simple and to the point.

14. Speak softly, clearly and respectfully at all times.

15. Scrupulously observe punctuality.

A Suggested Program Outline*

Welcome speech                                                                         5 minutes

Guided tour of mosque and premises                                10 minutes

Presentation on Islam & Muslims                                        15 minutes

Questions & Answers by non-Muslim guests                   20 minutes

Refreshments & informal time                                               15 minutes

The entire program should not take more than two hours.

* I am indebted to Tanweerul Haq of the Islamic Centre of Central New York, Syracuse, for parts of this  section.

Follow Up

It is important that you have clear a follow up strategy to keep in touch with those who attended your Open House. The following ideas may help:

Have quality literature available for free distribution.

Encourage the non-Muslim guests to look at the literature and help themselves.

Train selected Muslims to mix with non-Muslim guests and answer their questions or entertain their comments.

Provide names and telephone numbers for your non- Muslim guests to call in case they wanted to follow up with questions or comments.

Invite your non-Muslim guests for a more leisurely follow up visit to the Mosque at their convenience.

Inform them about special occasions such as ‘Id and Ramadan and encourage them to visit the mosque during those occasions.

Encourage your non-Muslim guests to call with their questions and comments.

Inform your non-Muslim guests about the next scheduled Open House.

Ask them to encourage their friends and acquaintances to attend the next Open House.

Ask your non-Muslim guests for ideas and suggestions on how to reach other non-Muslims in the community.

Hold a meeting of the Open House committee to discuss the outcome of your Open House: Evaluation Session.

Carefully and systematically analyze the Open House and decide on future changes and modifications if any.

Brief the Muslim community in the Jumu’ah Khutbah, or after Jumu’ah prayers, on the last Open House.

If there were to be any conversions to Islam, present the new Muslims to the community just before or after Jumu’ah prayers.

Get set for the next Open House.

Get in touch with your neighboring Muslim communities and encourage them to embark on a similar Open House project. Share with them your experiences.

Once the neighboring communities agree to have their own Open House, provide them whatever help and ideas you can.

Conclusion

An Open House of this kind is something the Muslims must do at all times.

Given the troubled times in which we live today, it has become all the more important.

Prejudice is a common human phenomenon. North America is no exception to this general rule. Given all that has happened in the recent past, Muslims have become the main target of prejudice in North America.

One way to deal with this pervasive anti-Muslim prejudice in the society is to hold an Open House for the local Mosque.

If non-Muslims understand what Islam is, they would also understand who the Muslims are.

This will bring the communities together and build peace in society – and in the world.

For Allah is peace – Al-Salam

And so is Islam – a message of peace.

And so must Muslims be – people of peace.

END

© 2001 Syed Husain Pasha

Revised Oct./Nov. 2001 and Later.

For Limited Distribution.

Do not copy without authorization

Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional 
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at] 
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com

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