Hyderabad: Open mosque programme to be held at Masjid-e-Quba

Hyderabad: In an effort to dispel preconceptions about Islam, a city mosque for the first time will conduct an “open mosque programme” on Sunday and invite people to know more about the religion and culture.

The management committee of Masjid-e-Quba, Nanalnagar, Mehdipat-nam, will be holding the programme in collaboration with religious organisations and NGO.

“Our intention is to end the ignorance among the public about mosques and its activities. We plan to promote inter-faith harmony,” said mosque committee member Mohd Akhtar.

The daylong event will be inaugurated by Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar. “We invite people of all communities to visit the mosque to understand the principles of Islam and its preaching. It has nothing to do with conversions,” he said.

Participants will be shown the mosque and briefed on the duties of the imam and the muezzin and the significance of the five prayers a day. People can also sit and watch how the namaz is read and observe other activities related with the prayers.

Mr Akhtar said the concept was common across the world, especially in the United States and Europe.

“It is a trust-building measure we are initiated. Hope all the mosques in the city will soon follow it,” he feels.

The mosque committee will also be a conducting an ‘Id milap’ the same day in the masjid where visitors will be served ‘sheer kurma’ and snacks.