A century of peaceful co-existence-Jamia mosque open day for October 18.
The event is being held under the theme “A century of peaceful co-existence,” and it will be part of a series of activities commemorating the 100 years' journey of Jamia mosque
In yet another programme aimed at fostering interfaith cohesion and understanding, Nairobi’s Jamia mosque will be holding its open day event on Saturday, October 18.
During the event, the mosque doors are open to people of other faiths who are given the opportunity to visit the mosque and have a first-hand experience of learning about Islamic beliefs and practices.
Since 2018, the mosque has organized the event aimed at educating non-Muslims about Islam as well as serving as a platform to demystify prevailing misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.
The event is being held under the theme “A century of peaceful co-existence,” and it will be part of a series of activities commemorating the 100 years' journey of Jamia mosque which started off from a humble beginning as a mabati (corrugated structure) to one of the leading Muslim institutions in East and Central Africa.
Among the activities of the day will be a guided tour of the mosque, an open question and answer session where a panel of scholars will respond to queries about Islam, a portrait exhibition of Islam, and a live experience of the Islamic prayers (Salah). Free copies of the translated copies of the Noble Qura’n and Islamic literature will be provided to the visitors.
“The reason we have open days is to provide people of other faiths the opportunity to come in and ask questions openly about Islam. There are many misconceptions and a lot of misinformation about Islam. We are offering them the chance to come to the mosque and receive authentic answers—not from the media, social media, or the internet, but directly from us,” said the mosque Imam, Sheikh Jamaludin Osman.
“We are facing many challenges as human beings. As humanity, we are experiencing a lot of injustice, and we need to work together. Even if we do not share the same faith, we can collaborate to make the world a better place,” he added.
In past events, hundreds of people have turned up for the open day, including members of the Christian clergy and students from theological institutions.
Located in the heart of Nairobi, Jamia Mosque serves as a community center dedicated to preserving Islamic values based on the teachings of the Qur’an and the traditions (Sunnah) of Prophet Muhammad.
Constructed in 1925 under the leadership of Sayed Abdullah Shah, the mosque is among Nairobi’s oldest landmarks, and in the past 100 years, it has played a significant role in promoting religious education, nurturing a vibrant Islamic community, providing community leadership, and advancing Islamic values, making it a leading centre of Islamic heritage in the country and beyond.