Pamphlets from our table
The same ones we hand out at the market. Each one takes a few minutes to read.
Why “neighbour”?
“Gabriel kept urging me to be good to neighbours, until I thought he would make them my heirs.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, in Bukhari and Muslim
Muslims are taught to treat neighbours almost like family. The Quran tells us to be good to “neighbours near and far” (4:36), and the Prophet ﷺ said that someone whose neighbour isn't safe from their harm isn't a true believer.
So here we are. We shop at the same stalls and our kids go to the same schools, and we'd much rather you hear about Islam from us than from a headline. Ask anything. You won't offend us.
Questions we hear a lot
Short answers to what people ask us most at the table.
Do Muslims believe in Jesus?
Yes. Muslims believe Jesus is one of the greatest prophets, the Messiah, born to the Virgin Mary. We don't believe he is God or the son of God, but you can't be Muslim without loving and believing in him.
Is Allah a different God?
No. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Arabic-speaking Christians use it in their Bibles and prayers too. Muslims worship the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Why do some Muslim women cover their hair?
For most, it's an act of worship and a personal choice about modesty, which the Quran asks of men and women alike. If you're curious, ask a Muslim woman. Most are glad someone asked instead of assuming.
What does Islam say about violence?
The Quran allows self-defence under strict rules and forbids attacking people who aren't fighting. It also says “there is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). Muslim scholars around the world condemn terrorism, and most of its victims have been Muslims.
Do you have to be Arab to be Muslim?
Not at all. Only about one in five Muslims is Arab, and the country with the most Muslims is Indonesia. There are Muslims of every race and nationality, including many people who chose Islam as adults.
What is Ramadan?
The month when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset: no food or drink, and extra effort to be patient, generous and kind. The fast is broken at sunset, often with dates and water. Many mosques host open iftars (fast-breaking dinners) where guests are welcome.
Can I visit a mosque?
Yes, and you'd be welcome. Dress modestly, take your shoes off before the prayer area, and don't worry about getting everything right. If you'd like someone to go with you, message us and we'll show you around.
Look at their fruit as it grows and ripens. In this there are signs for people who believe.
Quran 6:99
Come say hi at the market
Want to read more?
Places we trust for learning more. Or just message us; that works too.