Controversial 'Open Mosque' in S. Africa marks Christmas

Rasa - South Africa's controversial "Open Mosque" received Christians celebrating Christmas, as well as Muslim woman wearing no headscarves during Maghrib prayer.

News ID: 1879

Date: 24 December 2014 - 00:55

RNA - Four days to Christmas, South Africa's controversial "Open Mosque" organized a special Christmas celebration attended by approximately 40 persons, mostly Christians.

"We are serving society tonight," Open Mosque founder Taj Hargey, said, adding that the event marked the "first Christmas celebration held in a mosque."

Meals were served at tables set along the side of the mosque that physically resembled a storage area.

Addressing the gathering, Hargey asserted his belief that the hadith – the sayings of Prophet Muhammad – were unnecessary.

He stated that one must simply "accept a sovereign creator who can be called by any name" in order to be considered a believer and find acceptance in his "Open Mosque."

Hargey also criticized South Africa's Muslim community.

He described the dinner on Sunday as a “historic occasion that has never been (seen) anywhere in the world before”.

The call to Maghrib (evening) prayers was given by the Malawian caretaker and a total of nine Muslims stood in the same line and performed prayers.

No headscarves were worn by the women during the prayer as the "Open Mosque" views the hijab as a means of oppressing women.

Christian onlookers carried on with the social event as the nine Muslims performed their prayers.

In an interview with Cape Times on Monday, Hargey said: "The strange part is that there has been no backlash and not a single nasty comment or telephone call."

The "Open Mosque" was built three months ago by Derek Hanslo, Hargey's childhood friend, who also manages it.

The land on which it sits had been previously used by auto mechanics.

Hargey and his "Open Mosque," have drawn the ire of the majority of South Africa's Muslim community.

The Cape Town-based Muslim Judicial Council, however, has been most vocal in its opposition.

"We strongly advise our community to absolutely refrain from attending the so-called 'Open Mosque' based on their interpretation of aspects of Islam that clearly contradict Quranic and Prophetic directives, as well as centuries of Islamic scholarship," Council President Maulana Ihsaan Hendricks declared in a statement.

The council insists that Hargey's institution be referred to as "place of worship" rather than "mosque."

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