HORSHAM’s Islamic mosque opened in 2014, but devout Muslims have been praying together in prayer groups in Horsham since 2007.

It’s essential for Muslims to pray five times a day, either at home, or in groups.

The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.

They are at dawn, immediately after noon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night, respectively.

They are not at the same time each day as they are timed by the sun, which changes path throughout the seasons.

Horsham Islamic Welfare Association president Mahabubur Mollah is an engineer and scientist researching climate change, and has lived in Horsham for more than 10 years.

Dr Mollah said before the Horsham mosque was built, and even before rooms to pray were offered to the city’s Muslim community, he used to pray in his office at Grains Innovation Park and got permission to pray with his friends.

“We used to come to my office at prescribed times to pray,” he said.

“Horsham Rural City Council then helped the Muslim community to find a room at Wimmera Business Centre to use.

“Then when we were building the mosque, Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Corporation hosted us – they were very friendly.”

Dr Mollah said Horsham’s Muslim population fluctuated depending on who was working in the region.

“Muslims are professionals, doctors, engineers, highly technical people, and when the jobs or contracts finish, they move on,” he said.

Fitting prayer into his life is not always easy, but Dr Mollah said many people in society ‘juggled’ activities and it was a matter of prioritising the important things in life.

“Every morning, I work at the mosque and pray,” he said.

“Then, I work back (late).”

In terms of making prayer a priority, Dr Mollah said Muslims could not make up for five prayers within the one prayer session.

“It has to be five individual prayers,” he said.

“In Ararat, lots of Muslims work at the abattoir, and in the course of their job they get sprayed by lard.

“They finish at 3pm, showers are provided at their workplace to clean themselves, and then they’ll come together to pray.”

He said Ararat Rural City Council had provided a place to pray, and Ararat’s Muslim community had plans to build its own mosque.

In terms of Islamic prayer, Dr Mollah said the Koran was the Holy book the Muslim community prescribed to, and it had 666 pages, 114 chapters and 6666 verses.

“There is lots of agreement between the Bible and the Koran,” he said.

“We defer from Christianity in that we believe that every person is responsible for our sins and our own remorse.

“If sins are heavier than remorse, I will go to hell, so I have to ask forgiveness direct from God.

“He has shown how to do the right thing.”

Dr Mollah said described his faith as “a way of life”.

“You cannot take one thing out,” he said.

“Other people go to the Prime Minister or their local MP with problems, but we believe only God can help.

“He controls everything, the leaf of a tree will not move without the permission of God.”

As a scientist, Dr Mollah said his faith sat comfortably beside his profession.

“If I remember God, he will remember me,” he said.

During prayer, Dr Mollah said the mind should be ‘truly focused,’ likening it to Mark Philippoussis winning the Davis Cup.  

“When I am praying, I am thinking about my connection with Almighty God, the Creator, nothing else,” he said.

“You forget the whole world, your concentration is so deep.

“Philippoussis said ‘when I was playing my game, I did not hear any noise at all’ – his concentration was so strong.”

However, Dr Mollah said it was natural to be distracted, wondering “is my iPhone working, is it in my pocket, have I lost something?”

“But the environment in the mosque should be serene, so people feel comfortable and connect with God,” he said.