Posted on 01/15/2007 2:06:40 PM PST by Cagey
Amid the cheering Northwestern football fans at Ryan Field, all Ashar Wasi wanted was a quiet place to pray. The only place he could find was a spot of less-than-clean floor in a public walkway.
"We had to pray in front of the concession stand, in front of all the people," the McCormick junior said.
Perhaps someone noticed. At last Wednesday's ASG meeting, the Muslim-cultural Students Association proposed a bill establishing a designated prayer area at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Muslim students for football and basketball games.
McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game.
"Oftentimes while students are at sporting events, the prayer time falls during the game," the Weinberg senior said. "If there was a space to pray, or even an opportunity for students to leave and re-enter, things would be better. Right now, it can be difficult."
John Mack, associate athletic director of external affairs, said McSA contacted him about the problem as early as mid-October. Despite discussing the request in staff meetings, Mack said they couldn't provide a solution.
"This is a request we took seriously," he said. "We appreciate all student support, but we didn't feel there was a suitable area for prayer. There's not enough space in the arena."
Mack said the athletic department doesn't allow any spectators to leave and re-enter the facilities during an event.
"When you give preferential treatment, while respecting their group's religion, it's tough to determine where to draw the line in terms of our entire fan base," he said.
Regardless, some Muslim students said the current rules present an inconvenience that warrants more discussion.
"Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," said Ramah Kudaimi, a Medill senior. "It's a lot more convenient to have a designated area than having to pray at different times."
Kudaimi said she occasionally uses the designated prayer area in Parkes Hall on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Another area was established in the Technological Institute for a similar purpose.
"It's a lot more comfortable for other students who may not want to come upon someone praying," she said.
Siddiqui said he hopes the ASG resolution, if passed, will open up a dialogue with the athletic department.
"If we just had an opportunity to talk, we could find a solution," he said.
For his part, Mack said he would be willing to listen again. He doubts, however, that much can be changed for this season.
But Wasi, who frequents the prayer area at Tech five days a week, wishes it were different.
"All I want is a little bit of privacy, he said. "Carpets would be nice. It doesn't need to be soundproof, just clean."
...aren't we supposed to "Separate Church and State" or is the ACLU going to sue on behalf of these guys?
Worlds smallest record player playing my heart breaks for you.
(Spinning forefinger and thumb and laughing at the muzzie)
Go back to where you came from
Muslims observe the formal prayers at the following times:
Fajr (pre-dawn): This prayer starts off the day with the remembrance of God; it is performed before sunrise.
Dhuhr (noon): After the day's work has begun, one breaks shortly after noon to again remember God and seek His guidance.
'Asr (afternoon): In the late afternoon, people are usually busy wrapping up the day's work, getting kids home from school, etc. It is an important time to take a few minutes to remember God and the greater meaning of our lives.
Maghrib (sunset): Just after the sun goes down, Muslims remember God again as the day begins to come to a close.
'Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night, Muslims again take time to remember God's presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.
Theres a stall in the back of the men's toilet that is suitable for meditation and prayer. What more can they ask for????
I always thought there were designated times, simply because I've encountered Muslims praying in awkward places -- rest areas, hallways, alongside the highway. But this person's statement leads me to believe that there is some flexibility on the time, just so it is done. As far as the time zone is concerned, I guess the local one is the one they would go by -- and they would wind up having someone praying somewhere in the world at every hour.
"designated prayer area" aka "weapon assembly area"
Screw them. Religion is a private matter, take it to a private place at your own expense.
Or better yet, become a Christian. You can pray anytime anywhere without bothering people.
As soon as the soccer stadiums in Saudi Arabia open prayer rooms for Christians, then we should open prayer rooms for Moslems.
Don't attend the game then.
LOL
A. The Islamic prayers are fixed at the same "time" period each day -- before dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. Because of the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the earth around the sun, the tilt of the earth, the various latitudes of the earth's locations, daylight savings time, etc. -- the "times" (according to the clock) for these prayers do change from day to day and depend on location. Islamic prayer times were traditionally set according to the movement of the sun, not of the clock, and this is how they continue to be observed.
--
In modern times, daily prayer schedules are often printed which precisely pinpoint the beginning of each prayer time. To determine the prayer times for your area, choose your location from the following tool:
http://islam.about.com/bl_prayertimes.htm
(You're suppose to pick a country, but I couldn't find the United States on there; I could be wrong.)
Exactly.
I'll donate a "quiet room" for them....it's called a grave.
You don't go a football stadium if you want it to be clean or quite.
It's like going to a rock concert and complaining that the music is to load.
Time for a Hail Mary pass...
Thaaaaats right!
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