Can a Muslim pray in a Christian church?

[Matthias]

Can a Muslim Pray in a Church or a Synagogue? | About Islam

It is permissible to pray in any place, as long the place is clean). However, praying in a church, temple or any other religious place without necessity is makruh.

aboutislam.net

Islam allows it but doesn’t encourage it. Do Christian churches allow it?

As a Christian, what would you think, what would you say, what would you do, if a Muslim prayed (or asked to pray) in the church you attend?

 

[Gray_Joy]

Can a Muslim Pray in a Church or a Synagogue? | About Islam

It is permissible to pray in any place, as long the place is clean). However, praying in a church, temple or any other religious place without necessity is makruh.

aboutislam.net

Islam allows it but doesn’t encourage it. Do Christian churches allow it?

As a Christian, what would you think, what would you say, what would you do, if a Muslim prayed (or asked to pray) in the church you attend?

In Islam Muhammad said,the earth has been made as a Mosque and a source of purification.

So,if a Muslim,and how could I tell they are Muslim on sight, wanted to pray in a church I was attending,I'd have no problem with that.

In fact,I would ask what accommodations they required so to honor their faith in doing so.

 

[Matthias]

In Islam Muhammad said,the earth has been made as a Mosque and a source of purification.

What is Makruh in Islam? - THE SUBMITTERS

Makruh (Arabic: مكروه) in Islam refers to actions that are disliked or discouraged but not sinful if performed. While avoiding Makruh acts is recommended

thesubmitters.org

I would wonder why the Muslim desires to do something that is disliked, discouraged, or detested in Islam.

So,if a Muslim,and how could I tell they are Muslim on sight …

Here’s an example.

… wanted to pray in a church I was attending,I'd have no problem with that.

I would, because I don’t believe Yahweh and Allah are the same deity. Do you think Yahweh and Allah are the same deity? Do you think they aren’t the same deity but it doesn’t matter?

In fact,I would ask what accommodations they required so to honor their faith in doing so.

That’s very considerate of you but I’m uncomfortable with the idea. (See above for the reason.)

 

[Matthias]

I attended a mosque as part of a classroom assignment when I was a Bible College student. I had to obtain approval from the professor, as the assignment was for students to attend a service at two different denominations than the one the student normally attended or identified with. Being a much older student than my classmates, and having already visited many different denominations in the course of my life, I proposed an alternative to the professor -> that I be allowed to attend a service at a mosque and a service at a synagogue. He initially rejected my proposal, but soon changed his mind after I persisted.

Did I pray in the mosque? Yes. Were the Muslims aware of it? No.

I was praying to the God of the Jews, not to Allah.

(Did I pray in the synagogue? Yes. Were the Jews aware of it? Yes and no.)

The imam knew I‘m not a Muslim. I went with my Muslim co-worker / friend. He knows I‘m not a Muslim. I suspect most of the Muslims knew I’m not a Muslim. I stuck out like a sore thumb, and they had arranged beforehand a special accommodation for me which served to emphasize the ”them vs. me” dynamic. (A few “Christian” members here persist in falsely accusing me of being a Muslim.)

What would the Muslims have thought if they knew I was praying during the service? What would they have said? What would they have done? I don’t know, but I suspect it might have caused an incident if they had known.

P.S.

I wasn’t there to teach them anything. I wasn’t there to evangelize them. I was there to learn about them, from them.

 

[Gray_Joy]

What is Makruh in Islam? - THE SUBMITTERS

Makruh (Arabic: مكروه) in Islam refers to actions that are disliked or discouraged but not sinful if performed. While avoiding Makruh acts is recommended

thesubmitters.org

I would wonder why the Muslim desires to do something that is disliked, discouraged, or detested in Islam.



Here’s an example.

I would, because I don’t believe Yahweh and Allah are the same deity. Do you think Yahweh and Allah are the same deity? Do you think they aren’t the same deity but it doesn’t matter?



That’s very considerate of you but I’m uncomfortable with the idea. (See above for the reason.)

OK

 

[Matthias]

Was I welcomed in the mosque? Yes and no. I was an outsider and treated like one. The imam sought me out after the service concluded and gave me a personal message from Allah. Jesus was never mentioned by me, nor by the imam, nor by any of the Muslims.

(Was I welcomed in the synagogue? Yes and no. I was an outsider and treated like one. The rabbi went out of her way to invite me to eat lunch with them after the service concluded and they engaged me in serious but polite conversation about Jesus during our meal.)

 

[Gray_Joy]

Was I welcomed in the mosque? Yes and no. I was an outsider and treated like one. The imam sought me out after the service concluded and gave me a personal message from Allah. Jesus was never mentioned by me, nor by the imam, nor by any of the Muslims.

(Was I welcomed in the synagogue? Yes and no. I was an outsider and treated like one. The rabbi went out of her way to invite me to eat lunch with them after the service concluded and they engaged me in serious but polite conversation about Jesus during our meal.)

Muslims believe in Jesus. His name in their faith is Isa. They do not believe him to be the son of God. The Koran tells them Allah has no sons. But Isa is respected as a messenger of Allah.
The I'ma should have told you this.

Also,it would be disrespectful to enter a mosque if one does not first learn how this is done as a kafir, non-Muslim.

 

[Matthias]

Muslims believe in Jesus. His name in their faith is Isa. They do not believe him to be the son of God. The Koran tells them Allah has no sons. But Isa is respected as a messenger of Allah.
The I'ma should have told you this.

He didn’t need to. I was already aware of what they believe about Jesus. My friend had made him aware of it before my visit.

Also,it would be disrespectful to enter a mosque if one does not first learn how this is done as a kafir, non-Muslim.

The only instruction I was given was to remove my shoes, to sit in the chair provided in the back of the room (where I sat alone) and not to enter the area reserved for the women and girls. I complied with the instructions.

(At the synagogue I was given a kippah to wear and a Jewish man was assigned to sit next to me. I was allowed to recite in Hebrew when the congregation did. I was escorted out of the service, unfortunately, at one point during the service - the Birkat HaMinim - and then escorted back in when that portion of the service was completed. I didn’t know that was going to happen. The Jews planned it without telling me beforehand. They didn’t want to offend me.)