ETIQUETTE FOR A VISIT TO A MOSQUE
The opportunity to visit a place of worship/ community centre is a valuable way of learning
clothes with large slogans on them are not appropriate in a place of worship. Females
about a religious community. Students on field visits are representing your institution and
should cover their arms, legs, chest and neck. Males are also required to wear loose
would be expected to behave in an appropriate manner. This would cover dressing
garments, covering in particular the area between the navel and the knees.
appropriately, acting respectfully, listening to instructions and responding accordingly. In
addition to these general expectations places of worship would also ask that visits respect
Behaviour in the mosque
particular religious and cultural requirements.
Visitors are asked to respect cultural understanding of male/ female interaction within
Islam. This would prohibit the shaking of hands between a man and a woman who are not
Etiquette during visit
related. Thus in general males and females do not shake hands with members of the
Students should be reminded to behave appropriately within the precincts of the mosque;
opposite sex.
this would cover loud behaviour, smoking and dropping litter.
Secondly, visitors should behave respectfully during their visit to the place of worship,
listening to instructions on how to behave. This will include not interfering with other
Removal of shoes: taking shoes off occurs on entry to the mosque, and there will be shoe
activities that are taking place during their visit. Scheduled prayer occurs five times a day,
racks inside the entrance. You will understand the need to remove shoes as prayer positions
but private prayer may take place at any time, so visitors should not interfere with
include prostration, putting your head on the carpet in the sanctuary. You should make sure
worshippers. Your group may be invited to observe communal prayer and directed to sit at
that you have clean feet/ socks on for when you take your shoes off. It is a good idea to
the side or back of the prayer hall. Separation of your group into male and female may be
wear shoes that are easy to remove and replace. (It might be a good idea to check that all
appropriate for such activities. In addition to quiet observation, visitors should not sit with
students have turned off their mobile phones at this stage.)
their feet pointing towards the mihrab at the front of the prayer hall. (Students or staff who
need to sit on a chair can be catered for.)
Guidance on clothing and modesty
Head covering is required for males and females, Muslims and visitors. Females would
Refreshments
usually wear a scarf and males a hat or cap. This is a requirement for many religions and is
You may be offered refreshments, likely to be a soft drink and a biscuit. These items do not
linked to the respect that many religions would expect visitors to show.
have any religious significance so visitors can consume them with no qualms of
conscience. They should be consumed in the area provided and not taken into other areas of
Modest dress: this is a requirement for all visitors and is met by wearing long, loose-fitting
garments that are not transparent. Decoration within mosques avoids pictures of images of
living creatures; visitors should also follow this in their dress. In addition it is advised that
the masjid.