The Role of Mosques in Promoting Well-being in Muslim Communities

Abstract

The mosque holds an invaluable role in Islamic tradition; it has historically offered many religious and health services for its communities while also addressing relevant social and political affairs. With the steady increase in Muslim populations in Canada comes the need for more services and programs geared towards supporting Muslim individual and community well-being. It is important to utilize the full potential of mosques in supporting Muslim communities and revive the Islamic notion that mosques are hubs for service provision. My thesis research used digital qualitative methods to understand the ways in which mosques in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) support the well-being of Muslim communities. The main question that drove my research is: How do mosques in the GTHA support the holistic well-being of Muslim children, youth, and families through their programs and services? The digital qualitative methods comprised of 17 semi-structured interviews as well as three sources of observational data: 40 hours of observation of live and archived video and audio content; website content analyses; and environmental scans. Analyses of the interview transcripts were the most detailed form of analysis. Analyses of the observational data were used to support and strengthen the themes that were generated from the interview transcripts. My findings demonstrate that mosques strive towards promoting individual and community growth by strengthening individuals’ spiritual relationships with Allah; developing programs and services for individuals across the lifespan; and serving as social service providers for marginalized groups. Furthermore, while equity, diversity, and inclusion emerged as elements of practice that are being integrated into service provision, there was also recognition of the need to better implement equitable practices in mosques. Overall, my research illustrates that mosques function as therapeutic spaces for Muslim communities and foster individual and community well-being. It is essential that the practice of psychology recognize mosques as complex institutions that can serve and benefit Muslim individuals and communities.