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I am considering converting to Islam at a mosque in my area. I have never been to a mosque before, so this will be my first time. I'm not sure what type of mosque this mosque is
I am not sure wether it is a Sunni mosque or Shiite, and I don't want to be rude by going right up to someone and asking.
So what is the best way to tell?
Actually, the mosque is same in Sunni and Shiite. The prayers are also same; there may be small differences in the body movements in prayers, but more than those differences exist in among Sunni mazhabs.
The difference between Shiite and Sunni is not in the shape of Mosque, or in the practice of prayers. I don't say that there are no differences, there are some small differences but these differences are not a completely related to being Sunni or Shiite.
One of my friends from University was Shiite, am neither Shiite or Sunni, and we were having our prayers in a Sunni Mosque. There was nothing strange for us, it was all natural.
EDIT: About prayer times in a day.
Siites also pray 5 times a day like Sunnis do, but they shorten it to 3 times when they are busy in the day.
The simplest way to tell is by looking at how they pray. Shi'a typically pray 3 times a day (5 prayers, 3 times) and Sunnis pray 5 (each on their own time). One of the main Shi'a sects prays with little black pebbles near their heads.
In all probability though, the masjid you're talking about is Sunni. For telltale signs of a Shi'a mosque, look at the literature. Post some of the names of the books you find and someone here can quickly tell you the affiliation.
Shia pray with open hands and Sunni pray with closed hands. But Shia and Sunni may pray at mosque of each other. In fact mosque is not for Shia or Sunni. It depends on local population of Shia or Sunni. Also for converting no need to go mosque. Only changing beliefs are enough.
The Mosque of both shia and sunni is same. The difference is in prayer and there beleaves. Shia pray prayer different than sunni like shia pray prayer 3times a day but sunni pray prayer 5 times a days. But both have same religon.
What is the difference between Sunni and Shiite mosques? There is no clear difference between Shiite and Sunni mosques. Only in some areas a minaret is built next to the dome, which is also seen in some Shiite mosques.
