Readers will remember MPAC.ie’s calls for accommodation and inclusion with regard to prayers within school hours. During our discussion with the State Examinations Commission, a number of possibilities were considered (e.g. an Imam visiting a school to administer prayers, etc). However, the Clonskeagh consortium stated that they ‘had no plans to pursue the matter with the commission’ and in one fail swoop ruined the opportunity for our brothers to perform the obligatory Jum’ah prayer in congregation – may Allah give those who oppose Islam what they deserve.
Our call was prompted by the Commission’s earlier praiseworthy accommodation for a handful of Jewish students who were unable to sit the rescheduled examination on their Sabbath day.
While we would ordinarily expect a proactive role on the part of such governmental bodies, especially with regard to religious sensitivities, statements such as those from Clonskeagh do little to help Muslims and the indolence of the Muslim community is counterproductive.
In the coming weeks we hope to raise awareness of this pressing concern with the relevant departments with a view toward not simply initiating prayer time allocations during exam times, but establishing regular Jum’ah prayers where there is a need.
We ask you, the Muslim community to support our call to establish the prayer in schools. This is an obligation our young men and women are failing in because we will not stand up for their rights.
“Guard strictly the Salah, especially the middle Salah. And stand before Allah with obedience.” (2:238)
“Oh you who believe! When the call is made for the Salah on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is better for you, if you only knew! And when the Salah has ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.” (62:09-10)
“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them; When they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness, only to be seen by men; and they do not remember Allah but a little.” (4:142)
“(And remain always) turning to Him (only), and be fearful and dutiful towards Him, and perform Salah and be not of those who commit Shirk.” (30: 31)
“Then, there came after them a generation who gave up Salah and followed lusts; so they will be thrown in Hell.” (19: 59)
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الخميس 16 محرم 1431 at 1:40 pm
Muslims need to pray everydau 5 times a day, the disruption to students on an ongoing basis would be unfair considering prayer does not work.
الخميس 16 محرم 1431 at 2:39 pm
Don’t enter a debate you cannot possibly win Ross.
الخميس 16 محرم 1431 at 3:56 pm
Mujaahid I have won every debate we’ve had. You’ve made a habit of being wrong. You’ve left countless post unanswered. Please rebutt my point if you think I don’t have a leg to stand on.
الخميس 16 محرم 1431 at 7:52 pm
Self-praise Ross, can be put in the same class as anything else you get for nothing. Perhaps if you were to investigate the prayer times you’d understand why your post was unworthy of a detailed response.
الخميس 16 محرم 1431 at 7:57 pm
There’s only one prayer that usually takes place during school time Ross, and that’s at lunch time.
When I was in Secondary school, our headmaster gave us a small room. In the beginning it was only me and another Muslim brother, but pretty soon most of the Muslims in the school were praying with us. We had about 10 people praying regularly, it was brilliant and it gave us a real sense of brotherhood. Now I’m in UCC, we have our own ISOC.
I really encourage the Muslims to get their prayer spaces in schools, most teachers are friendly and helpful and won’t oppose it. And if they do, then write to the MPAC guys, they seem to make things happen.
Was salam
الجمعة 17 محرم 1431 at 7:04 pm
Grand then the children can pray during lunch, I couldn’t care less what they do in their free time as long as it doesn’t disrupt other pupils whose parents have allowed them to make up their own minds.
الجمعة 17 محرم 1431 at 8:34 pm
Yep, like all those little kids going to Communion and Confirmation have made up their own minds. Or for that matter those who don’t go and whose parents choose for them to opt out. Ross, think about what you’re saying mate.
الجمعة 17 محرم 1431 at 9:46 pm
Finally something which will push the Department of Education to completely remove prayer from schools.
Please keep up the efforts to force more religious nonsense into schools! You not only draw attention to the issue but will force authorities to treat everyone equally- through secularism.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 3:54 am
Alex you have all the zeal of a first year college student, but sadly lack the wisdom. Don’t you see that an ‘equality’ that enforces inequality is anything but impartial? To deny religious adherents the right to worship and carry out their faith obligations is nothing short of discriminatory. Shame on you.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 7:23 am
Hardly “discriminatory” whatever else you want to call it, if no one else in the classroom is allowed to do it either. If the little ones are out on prayer time they might miss that vital lesson about how creatures come into being and up coming out of school not knowing, for example, how a Yorkshire Terrier came about.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 5:09 pm
The thing is Mujaahid those kids will be allowed to make a choice when they’re old enough without the threat of being killed if they choose not to believe BS. I know from attending a Catholic school that religion is not shoved down your throat like it is in islamic culture.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 5:54 pm
Mujaahid- Your response is nonsensical. Equality=Inequality? You clearly are of the mindset that secularism equals atheism. That is obviously false.
No one is “denying” you anything. I have no desire to prevent people worshiping or believing what they want. However asking for special treatment because of what you choose to believe is not equality. Students can do what they want (within limits) during lunch breaks. If they choose to pray or play Pokemon who cares? However taking up school hours which should be used for education to pray or learn the Koran or prepare for Communion or other such rituals is unacceptable. Immams, priests, pastors, preachers and religious symbols have no place in the public, state-funded, secular classrooms of this republic.
Your agenda is clear. You want religion in the Education system. I would have no problem with an unbiased comparative religion course (like the one I took many years ago). However you want worship and that has no place in a secular institution.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 6:04 pm
There was a time when Catholicism ruled the roost here in Ireland Alex, that was a time when people like yourself rallied for rights and special treatment – in fact its still very much the case. You want the constitution changed, you want to insult religious adherents – why? Why should your minuscule sect be granted special privileges? You little rants show people exactly why secularism will never be acceptable to the majority.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 6:42 pm
Once again Mujaahid you fail to argue the points people are making and try to sidetrack the issue.
السبت 18 محرم 1431 at 7:28 pm
Sidetrack – no, a valid point. No one is asking for any more or less than is constitutionally granted. That you and others would seek to deny Muslims that right simply because they are Muslim is both shameful and unforgivable. I hope by the time Islam dominates the landscape we can forgive and forget this indiscretion