Florida Airport to Open Muslim Prayer Room: ‘We Want to Accommodate … All Our Passengers’

[Son_of_Niall]

ORLANDO, Fla. — An airport in Florida is set to open a new prayer room to accommodate Muslims using its airlines.

The Islamic “Reflection Room” is expected to open at the Orlando International Airport by September 1, and according to reports, is the result of added flights to Dubai from the location. It is part of a $250,000 building project that includes a lounge and electronic charging stations.

“Orlando is truly becoming a global community, and we want to be able to accommodate and provide high-quality amenities for all our passengers,” Director Phil Brown told the Orlando Sentinel.

christiannews.net/2015/08/15/florida-airport-to-open-muslim-prayer-room-we-want-to-accommodate-all-our-passengers/

 

[captainrick]

I wonder if they have a chapel for Christians, and a room where Jews can daven?

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Yes, this is what they are building. It’s a room for all faiths, as the article states.

It has benches for those who want to sit and pray, carpet for those who kneel, and a bunch of other helpful amenities.

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In the context of literally daily news from the mid-East, it is difficult to picture Muslim faithful tolerating the presence of Jewish and Christian worshippers in a “Muslim prayer space.” In Muslim countries women aren’t even allowed to pray in the same space - how then are Christian women to be permitted? I am not against a prayer / meditation space, just puzzled at its implementation.

 

[captainrick]

Yes, this is what they are building. It’s a room for all faiths, as the article states.

It has benches for those who want to sit and pray, carpet for those who kneel, and a bunch of other helpful amenities.

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Yes, the article states: “While the room is being constructed for Muslim needs, it will also be open to those of other religions.”

I didn’t see anything about benches or carpets, but it does mention other airports with accommodations for all.

 

[Irishmom2]

Yes, the article states: “While the room is being constructed for Muslim needs, it will also be open to those of other religions.”

I didn’t see anything about benches or carpets, but it does mention other airports with accommodations for all.

Oh yeah, like I would even consider going in there…it is being constructed for Muslim needs.

Why? How do you choose one religion and construct something specifically for them?

 

[808Catholic]

I wonder if they have a chapel for Christians, and a room where Jews can daven?

 

[ctb95]

I don’t see a problem with this.

 

[808Catholic]

This is what I call a good example of freedom of religion and respect for all faiths.

If a lot of travelers were kneeling in the middle of the airport or in the bathroom, that could cause difficulty and danger for people rushing about.

Makes sense to have a room for it.

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I see your point though, as a Christian, not having a special place for me to pray has never stopped me from praying. I even pray in my seat during the flight. After I bless myself, the passengers to either side of me tend to stay on their side of the armrest! LOL! Blessings all around.

 

[HolyCrusader007]

In the context of literally daily news from the mid-East, it is difficult to picture Muslim faithful tolerating the presence of Jewish and Christian worshippers in a “Muslim prayer space.” In Muslim countries women aren’t even allowed to pray in the same space - how then are Christian women to be permitted? I am not against a prayer / meditation space, just puzzled at its implementation.

In many Muslim majority countries there is unity and friendships between Jews and Muslims just as it is here in the USA. See Morocco for example.

youtube.com/watch?v=4307RJA6MOo
youtube.com/watch?v=1ti-e2bY0mE

I like the idea of having a prayer room for folks at the airport,
*
While the room is being constructed for Muslim needs, it will also be open to those of other religions.

“This is the place where we welcome people of all faiths,” Roman Catholic priest and airport Chaplain Robert Susann, who leads services at the airport chapel, said. “I’m here to bring the presence of God to them.”*

christiannews.net/2015/08/15/florida-airport-to-open-muslim-prayer-room-we-want-to-accommodate-all-our-passengers/

Its wonderful news IMO.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Oh yeah, like I would even consider going in there…it is being constructed for Muslim needs.

Why? How do you choose one religion and construct something specifically for them?

It seems there are two routes to go:

1 A space where symbolse of all faiths are allowed. But where does one draw the line? Wicca? Rasrafarian?

2 A space with no religious symbols. I have seen some very nice spaces like this for prayer and reflection but without symbols it seems empty.

I woud have no problem praying in a room even if constructed for Muslim needs. God is there also. But I wold not be there for their prayer Jum 'ah.

 

[peace2u2]

Why? How do you choose one religion and construct something specifically for them?

This happened at the hair salon that I go too - not a prayer room - but a female customer asked for her hair to be done in a private area so no men would see her hair…so they accommodated her in the break room. But what happens when all her friends want their hair done privately in the break room also? Next you have a law suit on your hands or accommodate these women and watch your hair business grow.

 

[Allegra]

In the context of literally daily news from the mid-East, it is difficult to picture Muslim faithful tolerating the presence of Jewish and Christian worshippers in a “Muslim prayer space.” In Muslim countries women aren’t even allowed to pray in the same space - how then are Christian women to be permitted? I am not against a prayer / meditation space, just puzzled at its implementation.

This room is probably not intended for worship services, but as a place for Muslim to do their daily prayers that they do at specific times during the day. The Muslims I’ve encountered will do these wherever they have to, regardless of who else is present. I’ve had Muslim students in the past that do them in an alcove in the library.

 

[SuperLuigi]

This is what I call a good example of freedom of religion and respect for all faiths.

If a lot of travelers were kneeling in the middle of the airport or in the bathroom, that could cause difficulty and danger for people rushing about.

Makes sense to have a room for it.

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The bathroom? Have you seen that before?

The O’Hare Airport in Chicago has a multi-faith chapel.

I don’t a problem, really.

 

[pnewton]

Seems like a waste of money, or at least a violation of common sense to put a specific religious label on it. The only time I have gone into an airport prayer room, the had pews, kneelers and pray rugs. The had various religious symbolism, none o which seemed offensive to anyone and most everything was accommodated. Just build a chapel, prayer room, quiet room, or any other generic name.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Seems like a waste of money, or at least a violation of common sense to put a specific religious label on it. The only time I have gone into an airport prayer room, the had pews, kneelers and pray rugs. The had various religious symbolism, none o which seemed offensive to anyone and most everything was accommodated. Just build a chapel, prayer room, quiet room, or any other generic name.

Apparently they have many passengers who are Muslim so they want to serve them better. I guess that is their perogative. I would not feel comfortable praying in their unless there was a crucix and a painting or statue of Mary. I doubt if Jews would feel comfortable praying there. I am not sure about Buddhists or Wiccans or Scientologists or Jehovah’s Witnesses or 7th Day Adventists or Mormons.

 

[808Catholic]

I think the kind of prayer you are doing–that can be done anywhere quietly, from a sitting position–is easier to do discreetly and would not be disruptive in an airport or plane…indeed, many people might not even know you are praying!

But for the kind of praying the Muslims do on the ground, in a specific position, and taking up a certain amount of space…it could get dangerous to have hundreds of people per flight every few hours throughout the day in the middle of the floor in a busy airport as people are rushing to their gates.
So I can see why someone thought this up, for sure; they are thinking ahead to prevent problems in that way (one article stated that the airport already would see many theists stretched out on the bathroom floor in prayer).

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Yes, Catholics may use many postures while praying. I know of a handful of Catholics who prostrate themselves similar to Muslims while praying. This is a very old prayer posture and appropriate to Catholics at times. I know Christian non-Catholics who refuse to kneel as well. The Holy Spirit moves everyone in different ways.

Because they may not be familiar to American airports, some Muslims may inadvertently become safety challenges but I’ve also witnessed a small group of Muslims gathered in quiet prayer in the corner of an airport terminal and away from any pedestrian traffic so there must be some room for flexibility. Depending on the group of Muslim faithful of course. I certainly am very aware of my location while I’m in prayer and make it a point to position myself outside the busy areas so I don’t become a traffic hazard to others and so I can pray with minimum interruption.

 

[KathleenGee]

My BIG problem is that Muslims will not accommodate anyone in their land much at all unless they have a secular government so to speak.

So they come across as very political, very imposing and having a hidden agenda.

 

[MartinJordan]

Let’s see how this pans out. However let’s hope no one starts asking a Sunni part and Shiite section.

MJ