The masjid board has done their best to give seperate but equal space to women, and this is appreciated. There is a snack store and bookstore as well, and women business owners are encouraged to bring their product there to sell. However, people who do not follow the Salafi way may feel uncomfortable or unwelcome there. Despite the attempts of the imam to prevent it, congregants will try to drive out women who are not wearing black, who are not in jilbab, or who are not wearing niqab. Some of the sisters and brothers are also intolerant of people who pray according to a madhab and have been known to physically prevent people from praying "differently." That said, I have never encountered an instance of racism or bias here. There are no ethnic cliques, and most of the people are sincere and kind.

AmericanMuslima

2005-11-13