All welcome in Muslim tea room 3!

[squishinglittlefatcheeks]

Salaam and hello to all.

Thought I would take the liberty of starting a new thread as I didn't get to say Eid Mubarak on the last one and I do like checking in with you all

So come in, pull up a chair and have some lovely biryani - and there's baklava for dessert

Hello, I hope you don't mind me popping in with a question - do tell me to go away if I'm interrupting.

On Monday I'm due to give blood in a local mosque, I'm not Muslim, I've never actually been in a mosque before and I'd like some etiquette guidance please. Can anyone advise me how it's likely to be different from where I've given blood previously (mainly leisure centres etc). Should I cover my hair? Remove my shoes? Will I be guided on if there is a particular entrance to use etc?

Many thanks.

What a beautiful feeling to come on here this evening and read these wonderful messages of sisterhood and humanity.

To the Christian sisters, your words are incredibly touching, you brought tears to my eyes. I've been listening all day to my colleagues, here in France, murmuring about islamists, salafists, watching updates on events in Paris.... it's been so saddening and it's therefore been so refreshing to read your words of support.

I really believe that women of faith such as ourselves will be the ones to build bridges, strengthen communities and hopefully raise the next generation to be warm, generous, and a reflection of the love we have for our creator.

Peace to you all from a rainy corner of France that feels a little less lonely this evening.

Hi Nightfall - good on you for giving blood! That's a great thing to do. I was thinking about doing it recently but as I'm pregnant i can't, and so am trying to convince hubby to do his bit for the both of us. Not got round to it yet...

I've never heard of a mosque organising blood donation, though of course it's great. Particularly as it might encourage those in the muslim community who have never done it or might be afraid of it. Lovely that you're going along. I hope they will be warm and welcoming, and give you a nice juice and biscuit (if they still do that these days?). In terms of dress, they should welcome anyone, but it's very thoughtful of you to ask. It's generally considered appropriate for men and women to dress modestly in a mosque, so covering arms and legs. A headscarf should not be obligatory, but if you have a scarf it would certainly be a nice gesture to put it over your head.

Do ask if you have any other questions. And thanks for doing your bit (I'm going to nag hubby now!)

Thank you for being so welcoming Rumple It took me a while to get back to giving blood after having my son so I'm trying to go regularly now - my DH is terrified of needles and would never go so I like to think I'm giving for both of us :)

I'll definitely be expecting a juice and biscuit - that's the main reason I go! Well that and half an hour of peace away from DS (mostly joking). No problem on dressing modestly - I'm not much for showing skin anyway, particularly at this time of year and I'll be in my usual jeans and hoodie - well T-shirt for the actual giving bit I guess. Something to keep in mind if I end up donating there again in the summer though. I will fish out a headscarf - I'm certainly happy to wear one and would gather show respect in any place of worship.

I don't think there is anything else - I might pop back if I think of anything. Unless you or anyone else has anything to add that I should or shouldn't do.

Salaam sisters,

I send you prayers for peace after the atrocities happening in France at the moment. May there be peace, understanding and healing in your land. God willing.

It may be another area within the mosque being used for the blood drive rather then the prayer area dependant on the amount of space your local mosque has. We have areas used for other activities like playgroups or exercise classes (a bit like a church hall).

I think if you wear trousers or a long skirt and socks just incase you need to remove you shoes you will be convered for both possibilities.

i would think (and hope) If they are running an event like this they will be expecting people to be unsure of etiquette and have someone on hand to explain and treat you as guests.

Good on you for donating blood too!

Salaam all,

I am absolutely chuffed to bits reading all the lovely messages of support and compassion. It makes me feel soooo relieved that people still care deeply about others, despite what we see happening all around us. Thank you so so much for these lovely words of support.

I also feel ashamed by how christians are treated in some muslim countries and long for that time to come when we all start treating each other like human beings. We are more than capable of living together side by side, we share more in common, than differences.

A big thank you to all you lovelies!

Nightfall, I am delighted that the mosque are organising a blood donation. I think they will be prepared for people to come in their everyday attire, so please don't worry too much. I am touched by the fact that you are willing to wear a scarf, it is a lovely gesture and you don't have to do it if you do not wish to. for being such a lovely considerate blood donor

Crescent, you still awake? Or gone to sleep now?

Ops! I had started hoovering! All done now! My place is sparkling!

Not ops! I meant oops!

Salaam friends. Just wanted you to know my thoughts are with you, you lovely lot.

Salaam luis,

Thank you for posting. You are also lovely, though you have menacing teeth

Yes crescent, Ahmed gave up his life trying to protect those who mocked his faith. I am proud to say #je suis Ahmed.

Woops! Went missing to take the clothes out of the washing machine! I am doing all the housework at this time of the night! Need to get a life! Good night everyone, I am off to load up the washing machine again! Such excitement! Ignore my typos, cant stop them coming!

Hi I hope someone can help. I want my friend to come over for a visit. She is a fully practicing Muslim and wears the veil. I don't want her to feel bad for her choice. Will she be able to move around on the tube without issue? Also which touristy areas are best and which should we avoid both inside and outside London. She has travelled to Australia and Canada before and has had a very positive experience. Thanks and I hope I didn't offend anyone. I don't have any exper

Salaam ladies. I'm also a Christian, and wanted to add my support and sympathy to all Muslims in the wake of the events in France this week. Such an atrocity committed ostensibly in the name of a peaceful religion is grotesque indeed and I understand how painful this must be for you, as well as dealing with the fear and difficulty of those who want to put all people of the Muslim faith in the same box as these terrorists.

I lived for a number of years in a Muslim country, and learned so much about faith from the experience. I always felt that although my religion is different, in also having faith, I had something very important in common with my Muslim friends, colleagues and neighbours. I only felt mutual respect and understanding from others. I wish this could be the same in all places....

Salaam ladies, just wanted to touch base with you all. If I'm honest I felt drawn to this little sanctuary in light of what has unfolded over the past few hours. I want to defend our beautiful faith, yet the bigotry and hatred is staggering and I'm wondering if it's worth the upset when such people seem beyond rational discussion.

Hope you are all well both health and faith wise.

Some of the comments about Islam in light of what has happened in France are becoming very wearing and upsetting, how lovely to find so many thoughtful messages of support and peace on this thread. It does mean an awful lot, so thank you.

Peaceful thank for you posting those quotes, they are so apt and helpful at a time like this.

peacefuloptimist I would like to give you messages of hope re how my family members in the west of Scotland overcame the issues of sectarianism but sadly they remain divided, defined by their blind prejudice.
I have just looked at the links provided above. Thanks for sharing them. Apart from my time at university I have never really had any Muslim friends, (and uni was a long time ago and we have lost touch). I live in a city which doesn't have a high proportion of Muslims and so rarely have day to day contact with anyone of the Muslim faith. Watching those 2 links just brought it home to me how rare it is to stumble across a link to a positive representation of Islam (unless I was to go proactively looking) in the media today whereas there is a constant barrage of the negative. So while my initial reaction to your neighbors questioning LittleTulip is just despair at the ignorance out there it is not difficult sadly to see why it exists. I pray that people of all faiths and persuasions, agnostics and atheists can focus on the common humanity which unites us, which is so much more than that which divides us.

cresentmoon reading this thread has made me aware that the reason that the terrorists and the right are winning is that they are not afraid to say what they think.

We on the other hand (or me at least) tie ourselves in knots over saying something /anything in case we offend!
You wouldn't believe how much I questioned every post I've made here previously.
Seriously - when did spreading kindness become something to worry about. Do we/i really think that people can't see the kind intention even if something ignorant is said?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we try to see each other as people, but more importantly let each other KNOW that we see them as individuals we may be on the way.
I will smile at ladies wearing the burka. But if they don't smile back it just possibly be that they have something on their minds (making dinner, getting the poo stain out of the carpet)
If you smile at me and I don't smile back maybe I'm thinking of getting Dd2 to her mmr jab (or more likely I'm catatonic with tiredness because she never sleeps)

If we don't take it personally but keep smiling we will eventually return the smile, have the conversation, form the friendships and win against the forces on all sides that want to take peace away from us.

Then the terrorists, nigel farage etc will be powerless because we won't be scared (utopian idea i know)
Each small gesture will help.

Saying all that I'm so sorry your neighbours asked that littletulip. It must have been hard to hear.
I hope your answer helped to break down the barriers a little.

Peace to you all and forgive the monster essay

Salaam sisters.

Today has given me hope in the media. It was only "Any questions" on Radio 4, but Maajid Nawaz was awesome.

It's what he said, not his political association (Liberal).

Peace be with you x

Dear all, I was lying awake last night feeling sick at heart about what some of my Muslim sisters have to face in terms of hate and prejudice and some of the stuff on social media I've seen and heard in the last couple of days. It breaks my heart to think of how people treat others and I felt I needed to come on here and say I stand with you - then saw all the other messages from my christian prayer thread friends (hadn't been on a couple d days due to illness) - so I stand with them and with you dear sisters as you face some of this stuff. So sad to read the post where someone was fearful of going out because of hate out there. I have several Muslim friends although don't see them except on fb as I moved away but yes I guess I'd like to talk this stuff through, to show my support and solidarity and to try together to find ways of helping each other and fostering greater understanding.

Just wanted to send love and prayers to you all this morning.