Praying in the street

[jomifl]

Why do muslims feel compelled to pray in the street when they do not have access to a mosque (this practice has just been banned in France)? Why don't they pray in a garden or park where they will not be a public nuisance.

[tiggerblue10]

I haven't seen this happen myself, however, there is a woman who gets on the bus I get on most mornings and starts talking or preaching (whichever way you look at it) to everybody on the bus about Jesus and that we should all believe.

[sara3]

she might just be a fruitcake, tigger :o)

[tiggerblue10]

Well it did cross my mind Sara, lol

[Frank97]

There is a couple of taxi drivers that regularly prat in the car park by me in town! I can't say they're causing a nuisance although one did turn rather abusive when my dog went over to see what he was doing crawling around on the floor.
I know the dog should be on the lead btw but this is a huge car park that is empty at night apart from taxis.

[Frank97]

"regularly pray"

[pastafreak]

Should we all now start complaining about the 'Jesus freaks' who regularly set up in town centres to rant and remind us that we are all going to hell?
I doubt Muslim street praying is all that frequent an occurrence-so I'd say live and let live. Life is too short to moan about every little thing.

[Bobbisox]

*what Yankee said *

[keyplus90]

Jomifl – To answer your question. Yes it is “preferred” in Islam ton do your prayer in congregation (together) as it is considered 27 times better than prayers offered on your own. Usually in Muslim countries you have masjids (mosques) almost at walking distance from wherever you live so people do go there five times a day. However if you do not live near a masjid then you may do your 5 time prayer at home. But still (2 or more) people at home or anywhere (without causing a problem for others) can offer prayer and that would be considered as congregational.

I go to play cricket on weekends and I usually offer my afternoon prayer where ever we are playing match. I usually find a quiet corner where I would not offend anyone, and whole prayer takes only about 3 to 4 minutes. Having said that Islamic prayer has not got anything that should offend anyone. Because for occasional prayer there is no special requirement whatsoever. Apart from enough space for a person to sit, clean space without any clear filth and that’s all. But if few people feel that they have to be offended then there might be a different reason.

[keyplus90]

One more thing I forgot to mention. In these countries (Europe etc) I have never seen number of people increasing so much where they HAVE to do prayer outside of the mosque during normal 5 time a day prayers. Only on Friday for after noon prayer it happens as Friday supposed to be special prayer. But still. As I said if it creates problems for people then Muslims should try finding a solution. But then comes the question about “problem”. That what few people would call a problem. At my local masjid traffic gets congested on Friday for maximum 30 to 45 minutes. And I have seen people making fuss about that and the same people may not have problem in getting stuck in the traffic for hours every day as long as that traffic jam does not include few people with prayer hats on their heads.

[pastafreak]

I think some people get their knickers in twist over the 'who'...more than any thing else.

[jomifl]

Thanks keyplus, I think that has answered most of my question.

[ludwig]

// Is it doing anyone else any harm? //

Yes, I tripped over one once.