Job Discussion Forums

RedLightning · Joined: 08 Aug 2015 Posts: 137 Location: United States

Living in Iraq last year, albeit Kurdistan, business would carry on as usual during the prayer times- you would continue your tea and conversation while the prayer emanated from the mall speakers.
Compare this to Saudi Arabia where, as I understand it, everything shuts down. What then is the role of a (non-Muslim)Westerner?
If I am walking down the street when a prayer begins, do I stop what I am doing out of respect, perhaps even bow my head?
If I am in the middle of a lecture, does class 'stop'?

Thanks all

johnslat · Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:52 pm Post subject:

Dear RedLightening,

No, if you're outside, you don't have to stop and bow your head. In fact, you probably won't even be outside because you soon learn to schedule your events around prayer times. Why be outside if everything's closed?

You can go to restaurants before prayer time, and though the restaurant will lock up during payer time, you can keep dining.

The same holds true for classes, which, in my experience, were always scheduled taking prayer times into account.

Regards,
John

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

You do not have to stop doing what you're doing. Shops will do one of three things: lock you in for 30 minutes, shut down the registers for 30 minutes, or kick you out for 30 minutes, the length of the praying time in general. As for the teaching if a student wants out to pray when the calling begins, don't stop him regardless what the academy says, unless the academy has a high degree of control, it's for you to decide. Usually schools, academies have set times for prayer they may coincide with the calls or may not. Generally the set hours only mean there is a time around that time for praying. The wise give a lot leeway when it comes to praying,

On the other hand, keep in mind you're not teaching at Guantanamo, no throwing sacred books or farting when you walk past while they are praying in the prayer room.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

halebob · Joined: 03 Jun 2015 Posts: 31 Location: uk

I work at KSU women's campus and it is in the University rules that students aren't allowed to leave class to pray. They have time integrated within their timetables during the day for it. One of my classes finishes at 1240 and the students don their abayas and hijabs to pray in the classroom I teach them in. There are also prayer rooms dotted around the buildings.
I often go to the mall and purchase meal just before everywhere closes for prayer. I sit in the food court and chow down. There are many people who are still around, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. it isn't really an issue.
The local supermarket shuts but if you're inside you can continue shopping. You just can't pay for anything till it's over.

RedLightning · Joined: 08 Aug 2015 Posts: 137 Location: United States

I appreciate the responses- for some reason it's hard to come by this type of information/advice

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Your teaching colleagues will be quite helpful for these types of questions.

buravirgil · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:01 am Post subject:

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

buravirgil · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Sensible employers - which are few and far between - will have some system in place of giving newbies a mentor to show them around.

The dodgier employers of course, have no one who has lasted more than a few months.

buravirgil · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 2:45 pm Post subject:

Good shorthand, Scot47.

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy