I attended the 9th Muharram majlis at this mosque and left deeply disappointed. In my opinion, the resident Maulana Asghar Mehdi delivery was completely inappropriate for such a solemn occasion. Rather than offering thoughtful religious guidance and reflection, much of the speech felt theatrical, sensationalized, and at times insensitive to the significance of the commemoration. I found his choice of words and presentation to be inconsistent with the dignity and reverence that Muharram deserves.
What disappointed me even further was that after nearly two hours of speaking, the Maulana had still not reached the masaib. The lecture felt unnecessarily prolonged without meaningful structure or direction. I sincerely hope the mosque leadership reflects on the style and content of these lectures and encourages a more respectful, educational, and spiritually meaningful approach that honors the sanctity of the occasion.
As a woman, I attended the ladies’ section and was equally disappointed by the atmosphere. Throughout the majlis, people were constantly coming and going, holding conversations, and paying little attention to the recitation of the nohas. Children were understandably active at times, but I was surprised that even some of the ladies responsible for organizing the gathering were speaking loudly, adding to the distraction instead of helping maintain order.
Many attendees in the women’s section appeared disengaged for much of the program. At several points, remarks made by the Maulana prompted laughter from parts of the audience, which I personally found inappropriate given the solemn nature of the occasion. Muharram is a time of remembrance, reflection, and respect—not entertainment.
I also found the overall organization of the majlis lacking. There appeared to be little sense of decorum regarding the start or conclusion of the gathering, and the event felt disorganized throughout. In my experience, this lack of order extended beyond the women’s section to the mosque entrance and the men’s area as well, creating an atmosphere that felt more chaotic than reflective.
Another aspect that disappointed me was the overall atmosphere. The community felt very cliquish, with little sense of openness toward newcomers. As a visitor, I did not experience the welcoming environment I had hoped for. While every mosque naturally has its own local community, I personally felt there was very little visible cultural diversity or effort to make newcomers from different backgrounds feel included. Given that the message of Imam Hussain (AS) transcends ethnicity and nationality, I had expected a far more inclusive atmosphere.
Unfortunately, this experience did not reflect the values or atmosphere I was hoping to find in a majlis. I would not recommend this mosque to anyone seeking a respectful environment to learn about the message of Karbala through thoughtful, intellectually engaging, and spiritually uplifting lectures. I truly hope the mosque leadership takes constructive feedback seriously, as the community deserves majalis that uphold the dignity, reverence, and spiritual purpose of these sacred days.
Based on my experience, I will not be returning.
