Travelogue Germany - Part 6

The masjid, Bangladesh Islamisches Zentrum is situated at the most awkward place in the middle of a red light district. There were Muslim-Arab bars close-by selling wine and liquor. At night, the area transformed into vice centre with drug trafficking and prostitution dominated by middle eastern people.

We took turns among us to meet muslims at the bars in the vicinity of the masjid and we also made ghast patrolling the streets, meeting muslims from house to house with the help of a local guide. Once a woman followed us for some distance handing a  flower to us, trying to tell us something that none of us could understand. Back home only children sometimes follow us when we made ghast.

After a couple of days at the Bangladesh Masjid, a squad of police in three or four vehicles called upon us when were listening to hadith of Rasulullah SAW in the morning. Imam Suhayl attended to the police queries while we carried on with the ta'leem. Our passports were thoroughly checked with a portable device carried by the police. After a while, a male and a female police officers came in the masjid to talk to us. We had a pleasant surprise when the officers, speaking in English, apologised to us for the inconvenience. The female officer told us that she had been to Malaysia and she was treated very well by the locals during her stay. She explained that they had to respond to a complaint lodged against us, and I believe it came from someone in the area who felt offended by our presence.We were very calm and I must say it was rather exciting and thrill for me to have the police as our visitors. 

Imam Suhayl was a very nice person and a wonderful host. He had spent time for four months in the path of Allah and frequently travelled in dakwah missions throughout Europe. He had a room in the masjid and he taught mostly Bangladeshi children the Holy Quran and shariat. I still remember when we fried anchovies in the masjid's kitchen for our food and it gave unpleasant smell in the masjid. As it was near Friday prayer, poor Imam Suhayl frantically tried to get rid of the unpleasant smell by spraying deodorant. Lesson learnt by us - never fry salted fish or anchovies in any kitchen in the masjid.