Editing Mosque (section)

===Political mobilization===

The late 20th century saw an increase in the number of mosques used for political purposes. While some governments in the Muslim world have attempted to limit the content of Friday sermons to strictly religious topics, there are also independent preachers who deliver ''khutbas'' that address social and political issues, often in emotionally charged terms. Common themes include social inequalities, necessity of [[jihad]] in the face of injustice, and the universal struggle between good and evil.<ref name=ODI/> In Islamic countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, political subjects are preached by imams at Friday congregations on a regular basis.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,411903,00.html |title=What Muslims Hear at Friday Prayers |access-date=October 31, 2010 |magazine=Der Spiegel |date=April 19, 2006 |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516160649/http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,411903,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Mosques often serve as meeting points for political opposition in times of crisis.<ref name=ODI/>

Countries with a minority Muslim population are more likely than Muslim-majority countries of the [[Greater Middle East]] to use mosques as a way to promote civic participation.<ref name="tc">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tc.edu/muslim-nyc/research/projects/role%20of%20muslims.html |publisher=Teachers' College – Columbia University |title=The Role of Mosques in the Civic and Political Incorporation of Muslim American |last=Jamal |first=Amany |access-date=April 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928143701/http://www.tc.edu/muslim-nyc/research/projects/role%20of%20muslims.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> Studies of US Muslims have consistently shown a positive correlation between mosque attendance and political involvement. Some of the research connects civic engagement specifically with mosque attendance for social and religious activities other than prayer.<ref name=westfall>{{Cite web|url=https://pomeps.org/2018/12/18/mosques-and-political-engagement-in-europe-and-north-america/|year=2018|title=Mosques and political engagement in Europe and North America|author=Aubrey Westfall|website=Project on Middle East Political Science}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  American mosques host [[voter registration]] and civic participation drives that promote involving Muslims, who are often first- or second-generation immigrants, in the political process. As a result of these efforts as well as attempts at mosques to keep Muslims informed about the issues facing the [[Ummah|Muslim community]], regular mosque attendants are more likely to participate in [[protest]]s, sign [[petition]]s, and otherwise be involved in politics.<ref name="tc" /> Research on Muslim civic engagement in other Western countries "is less conclusive but seems to indicate similar trends".<ref name=westfall/>