When using airports and all is sorted - luggage checked in, boarding pass obtained, customs procedures and perhaps a list minute shopping done I like to spend my remaining time before departure in the prayer room. Just taking a few deep breaths, calming down and absorbing the peace I found to be very beneficial for me and my spiritual routine. Best of all is that I am usually alone there and only on occasion I am joined by another person of whatever faith as in Europe those prayer rooms are generally designed for all faiths. I also like to quickly spend a few minutes in churches, temples or mosques when strolling around in pedestrian areas or elsewhere.
A Lack of Prayer Rooms in the Middle East
During one of my recent flights, I stopped over in the Middle-East and I asked if there is a prayer room for a Christian like me and was told there isn´t. I was told that I also cannot use the Muslim prayer room and having lived in a Muslim country before I was aware that as a non-Muslim I am not to be in a mosque or similar during prayer.
A Muslim Prayer Room in a German Department Store
I lived for 25 years in a big city in Southern Germany and have since moving away visited, shopped, and spend considerable time “back home” so to speak. Last year while shopping in one the traditional departmental stores I discovered that there is a Muslim prayer room established inside the store. It was a new development and obviously it was to accommodate shoppers with Muslim faiths. It made even more sense to me as there is an increased influx of immigrants from Muslim countries and so it made sense to me. My first thought was that it is wonderful to consider the Muslim community followed by asking myself where my prayer room is? Where in this store do I or any non-Muslim go and pray or find some peace and rest?
A Wish for More Inclusive Prayer Rooms
I do not know what exactly motivated the departmental store to setup a Muslim prayer room and I certainly agree to accommodate the Muslim fraternity. At the same time it remains my wish that all other faiths would also be considered e.g. at stores or airports across the world for them to conduct prayer, meditations or any spiritual practice. I think it would be a useful contribution to mankind in general in an increasingly globalised world.