PLUMSTEAD MOSQUE: A FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCE AT THE MOSQUE by BENSON AGOHA

* Plumstead Moque.

For the non-Moslem, I had an experience today you may like to read about. An experience that took some courage on my part. I was inside a mosque for the very first time.

I had struggled with the idea for a very long time. In fact, since Abubakar, my friend and work colleage at the Bakery, gave me a Quoran, and thought me how to do `ablution' before stepping into sacred areas, I had fantasized with the idea of actually visiting - and witnessing a prayer session in a mosque. I had the opportunity today - and indeed, witnessed one.

For the non-Moslem, being in a mosque maybe a taboo. Or even an aberration totally unimaginable. Yet being in one, at least teaches you a few things about other faiths - and practices.

For example, being in one today, I saw first-hand how friendly and welcoming adherrents of the Moslem faith really are - at least inside and around the mosque. I learnt that men and women do not pray together - or do they? At least, not inside the Mosque in Plumstead, because I did not see any lady in the same room.

But why did I go the Mosque? Well, I had gone there for a little tete-a-tete with the Imam, and got caught up between prayer sessions. I arrived at 1pm today Friday 4, January 2013, just as they were preparing to start their Afternoon Prayer session and was told to be back at 1.30pm, when the sesion was expected to finish. I couldn't quite make it, arriving at 1.45pm. I had to wait for my turn as someone else was already receiving the Imam's attention.

I was ushered in at about 1.50pm, to wait inside the mosque. I had removed my shoes, and stepped into the room with my socks. No chairs. So I sat down on the carpeted floor, like other `brothers' in the room. At 2pm, the Imam had to lead the prayer session. The room was quickly filled up again and I found I was the only one inside the room with my bag, sitting out-of-line.

No one challenged me, but when the others stood up for the first time, I had to stand too and was called into line by one `brother' - a man standing next to me, on my right.

From my observation, Moslem prayers go through a cyclical process - moving from sitting, standing upright, bending (or prostrating) to knee lenght, kneeling to bowing to the ground. Then, the cycle is repeated - for about six times before the prayer is over.

Since I am not a Moslem and, did not actually know what or how the prayers are said, I prayed silently (like the others) but in english language, as I would have prayed in my local church, instead of arabic.

When the prayer session was over, the Imam called on attendees to greet one another - on their left and, on their right. This was easily done by the others and, at that instant, I was looking around me like a novice. Of-course I got caught out by that same `brother` on my right as he pulled back, close to my ear and whispered "are you a Moslem?".

"No!" I replied.

"I came to speak to the Imam and got caught in."

He lept forward and spoke to the assistant to the Imam, who himself also lept forward to have a word with the Imam. Within seconds, I was ushered in to speak with the Imam and, had my chance.

Are you about to condemn me? Well, as President Obama once said, "Don't question my religion!"

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Have you ever prayed in a Mosque? What was your experience like, the first time? We will like to hear from you. Write in and share it with us through my email: bensonagoha@yahoo.com.