*~ Asalam'alaykum wr wb ~*
Most every night alhumdulillah my friends and I go to pray taraweeh at the masjid closest to us. Although, there's this large, beautiful and extravagent masjid that almost EVERYONE goes to, we decided to support our local masjid instead. Its a cute masjid, which is frequented by men mostly, but thank god, it has a totally seperate entrance and salat area for the women. Yet, there's something odd about this masjid.
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On late nights, after taraweeh and most often Isha, and especially Friday and Saturday nights, you might find yourself fighting around crowds of people decked out in their club clothes. These people are all waiting to get into one of the hottest sheesha (hookah) bars in NYC, which is located right next door, even sharing a wall with the masjid. Hey makes it easier to just whip off the hijab and place it around your waist for some dancing... OMG j/k astaghfr'allah! Sorry i couldnt help myself :p Still, I don't really put it past someone actually doing that.
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Anyways...I guess this is what you'd call the quintessential craziness of New York City. Talk about temptation and then being turned off by it! If i was going to check out a sheesha bar and saw the masjid next door, where sometimes people exiting after isha prayer, i'd be turned off in a heartbeat and my guilt would most definitely eat me alive.
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Nowadays after leaving taraweeh, my friends and I often come face to face with the roped off portion where people are waiting to get in and, yes, some of these people are even fellow brothers and sisters in Islam. Takes ogling in the hallway of the masjid to another level now doesn't it hanna? lol
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wasalaam,
madiha :)
p.s. make sure to watch that vid i put up too! jazakallah!!!! :D