Part of growing closer to your Muslim friend is that you both begin to desire to share important parts of your lives with each other- such as your interests, personal details, and faiths. This means that you may want to invite your Muslim friend to church with you and your Muslim friend may want to bring you to the mosque with them.

This invitation means your friend is opening a door into their life so you can see and experience something very important to them. It may also mean they are trying to convert you to Islam by introducing you to their worship place where you may hear a presentation about Islam. Accepting this invitation is a way to connect on a deeper level with your friend and learn about where they are in their religious beliefs. Here is what we recommend doing if this occasion arises.

What to do and say when your Muslim friend invites you to join them at a mosque

We believe that so much good can come from learning about your Muslim friend’s faith firsthand. It may be uncomfortable, but it is a great opportunity for you.

You can set boundaries with your Muslim friend before you go to the mosque with them. Ask about what will take place when you go and how long you will be there. Make it clear that you are not interested in Islam, only seeing the mosque because it is important to them. If you are truly too nervous to go, tell them you will defer their offer until a later time.

Here’s how you can prepare to go to the mosque

Mosques often have informational meetings for local people to come learn about Islam. It is probable that your Muslim friend will bring you to this, or they will bring you when there is a prayer session or sermon for you to observe.

Before you go into the mosque, pray and ask God to guard your heart. Ask that He will make it obvious to everyone you meet that you are set apart so they are curious about what you have that makes you different. You can ask your Christian friends to pray for you as you go as well.

If you are going through a rough time in your faith, protect your heart and wait to go until you are in a secure place. In general, do not go to a mosque multiple times, because this may lead your Muslim friend to believe you are becoming interested in Islam.

Wear modest clothes that cover most of your body (a headscarf is not necessary for women) to be respectful of your friend’s place of worship. Make sure your phone is silenced or turned off so there are no random notifications pinging. Be ready to take your shoes off if part of the visit is to enter into the worship sanctuary of the mosque.

How to talk to your Muslim friend about your experience

After your trip, go out for a meal with your Muslim friend to ask them questions. Talking about your experience at the mosque is a fantastic way to segway and talk about your own faith.

Ask them about their beliefs, what certain things mean, and explain your beliefs about the topic too! Here are some questions you can ask that will lead to a beneficial conversation:

• What does going to the mosque mean to you?
• I heard that performing your prayers inside the mosque has much more rewards than praying anywhere else. Do you feel you are not doing enough if you do not come to pray here everyday? 
• If your friend is a man: Why is it required for you to come to the mosque every Friday?
• If your friend is a woman: I heard that it is preferable for women to pray at home rather than at the mosque. Why is that? 
• What do the verses on the wall mean?

Talking about these things can open up a door to discussing what your Muslim friend believes about Allah and what their relationship with him is like. This can reveal how you can pray for them as well as minister to them.

Do not try to change how you act or speak to “fit in” at the mosque. If you feel the Holy Spirit urge you to talk openly about your faith with your Muslim friend, do it and trust God!

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:13-14

It is great after visiting a mosque for you to invite your Muslim friend to church. Read this article for tips: What you need to know about inviting your Muslim friend to church

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me this friendship with my Muslim friend. Please allow me to be Your light in their life. Show me how I can share the Truth with them. Amen.