Nearly a decade ago, I reconnected with a childhood friend whose parents, as did my own, attended the nightly Ramadan lectures at our local mosque and left us to run freely in the mosque’s recreational room for hours at a time.
I asked if she still attended the mosque, not quite registering the sensitivity of the question, and her response sticks with me still.
With a maturity beyond her age at the time, she sought more than just a prayer space; she looked to the mosque for security and encouragement. She had instead come to feel judged, unaccepted, and at odds with the older generations that dominated mosque leadership.
Her story is personal but not uncommon. Many who turn away from the mosque or who feel disenchanted by its congregants describe similar reasons.