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."
Thanks, Gritty! Someone finally said it!
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
Exactly. Think there's any chance the University would allow Christians and Jews a public place to pray during games?
Any chance the ACLU would go along?
BTW, where's the ACLU on this?
Violates the seperation between church and state, the college is state funded and it would be showing support of Mulims above Satan Worshipers even though Satan worship is higher up the ladder.
No it does NOT have to be clean. Muhammad had dogs walking in the mosk, peeing. People pass wind and pee in the mosk, and Nobody cleans it up. They don't even sprinkle water on the dog pee. therefore, go pray by the urnal trough.
Bukhari:V1B4N137 "Allah's Apostle said, ‘The prayer of a person who does Hadath (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs ablution.'"
Muslims praying in public places should be banned. It is unsanitary due to urinating and passing stools during prayer
Bukhari:V1B4N139 "I asked Allah's Apostle about a person who imagined they passed wind during prayer. He replied: ‘He should not leave his prayer unless he hears sound or smells something.'"
Offensive to non-muslims.
Bukhari:V1B4N174 "During the lifetime of Allah's Apostle dogs used to urinate and pass through the mosque. Nevertheless they never used to sprinkle water on it."
Obviously, these students are lying. As can be seen here, clean floors are NOT required.
No. Sandy got the day off because it was the Jewish new year.
or how about Gitmo?
Maybe we Christians need to demand our own special space, too? Don't forget the Jews and Hindus,too!
I think these Muslim demands are getting totally out of hand and I'm sick and tired of it!
To say nothing of the fact that the object of the game is made of the skin of a pig.
See my post #28
"Let's see: Baptist over here; Catholics over there; Mormons here....
Well, you get the idea."
These people can learn to pray silently or go and get comfortable somewhere else.
This is beyond Reason. . .and limits that define it.
Allah does not have ears; and does need them.
Why, is God deaf the rest of the time?
No, he's busy in hell torturing people.
Qur'an 104:4 "He will be sure to be thrown into that which breaks him into pieces, flung to the Consuming One. And what will explain to you that which Breaks him into Pieces, Consuming and Crushing? It is the fire kindled by Allah which leaps up over them penetrating the hearts of men." [Allah is in hell, kindling the fire.]
That's why I think they should get one. Heavily reinforced interior walls and a blow out exterior wall. Video cams and microphones. A claymore would be a nice touch.
I'm pretty sure it was Koufax's call and he made the decision on his own. He could have pitched had he chosen but he went to services and fasted that day. Drysdale pitched the opening game.
A muslim co-worker (who's husband is an Iman) said there is a range of time for each prayer if you can't go to the mosque. Here's backup:
"The times of prayer
The Early Morning Prayer (Salatu-l-Fajr), which may be offered any time after the dawn and before, a total period of about two hours.
The Noon Prayer (Salatu-z-Zuhr). This prayer may be offered anytime after the sun begins to decline from its Zenith until it is about midway on its course to setting. For example, if the sun sets at 7:00 p.m. the prayer time begins a little after 12:00 noon and continues until a little after 3:30 p.m. Soon after that the time of the next prayer begins. However, there are accurate calendars telling the time of each prayer. But if there is none available, one must resort to one's best judgment.
The Mid-Afternoon prayer (Salatu-l-Asr), which begins right after the expiration of the Noon prayer time and extends to sunset.
The sunset prayer (Salatu-l-Maghrib). The time of this prayer begins immediately after sunset and extends till the red glow in the western horizon disappears. Normally it extends over a period of one hour and twenty to thirty minutes.
The Evening prayer (Salatu-l-Isha), which begins after the red glow in the western horizon disappears (nearly one hour and thirty minutes after sunset) and continues till a before the dawn."
http://www.allaboutturkey.com/pray.htm
The muslim students are just trying to annoy and inconvenience people, much like the Minneapolis airport imans.
This is just a new tactic, muslim athletes in the past never asked for or even hinted at this accommodation. Did Ali asked for any special consideration? How about Iron Mike?
I saw former WWF champion The Iron Shiek praying proudly in his corner to a portrait of Khomeini before a match, he didn't try and annoy the people by asking for special rooms.
I hope that Northwestern tells them to pound salt.
It has nothing to do with God, muslims pray to ALLAH, which is not GOD in any language.
So there is a pretty good window there where they can pray?
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