Prayer in Lounge
Feb 24, 2013 | 11:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
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Prayer in Lounge
Sitting in the "Borromini" Alitalia lounge at FCO in the desk area working on my laptop. A group of guys comes into the desk area, take of their shoes, face Mecca and start praying.
Now I'm all for freedom of religion, but I personally find the time and place to be offensive, especially since there are non-denominational chapels in just about every airport these days and FCO supposedly has prayer rooms. http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-r...oms-and-chapel
Even more so when it's in the desk area which is generally supposed to be for work purposes.
Should lounges be a "no praying" zone?
Now I'm all for freedom of religion, but I personally find the time and place to be offensive, especially since there are non-denominational chapels in just about every airport these days and FCO supposedly has prayer rooms. http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-r...oms-and-chapel
Even more so when it's in the desk area which is generally supposed to be for work purposes.
Should lounges be a "no praying" zone?
Feb 24, 2013 | 12:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
Muslims have to pray 5 times a day, at certain times. If you travel to Muslim countries, you will see people praying in public places - they don't have to go to a mosque or special prayer area.
As long as it is not blocking a heavy-traffic area, it would not bother me.
To me, it's no different from a Christian family praying before eating a meal in a restaurant.
As long as it is not blocking a heavy-traffic area, it would not bother me.
To me, it's no different from a Christian family praying before eating a meal in a restaurant.
Feb 24, 2013 | 12:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: Mucci, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 591
Sitting in the "Borromini" Alitalia lounge at FCO in the desk area working on my laptop. A group of guys comes into the desk area, take of their shoes, face Mecca and start praying.
Now I'm all for freedom of religion, but I personally find the time and place to be offensive, especially since there are non-denominational chapels in just about every airport these days and FCO supposedly has prayer rooms. http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-r...oms-and-chapel
Even more so when it's in the desk area which is generally supposed to be for work purposes.
Should lounges be a "no praying" zone?
Now I'm all for freedom of religion, but I personally find the time and place to be offensive, especially since there are non-denominational chapels in just about every airport these days and FCO supposedly has prayer rooms. http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-r...oms-and-chapel
Even more so when it's in the desk area which is generally supposed to be for work purposes.
Should lounges be a "no praying" zone?
Feb 24, 2013 | 1:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 788
Feb 24, 2013 | 1:43 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: New Zealand/ UK
Programs: NZ, EK, QF, SQ.
Posts: 776
Feb 24, 2013 | 1:53 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 100
Prayer in Lounge
So long as they are silent/quiet (non-disruptive) and not blocking tradfic, should be a non-issue. My empathy ends, regardless of if this is in a lounge or not, when feet are washed in drinking fountains. Also, when sinks are used and the bathroom floor is left with obvious puddles and zero attempt us made to wipe them up.
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Feb 24, 2013 | 2:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 788
So long as they are silent/quiet (non-disruptive) and not blocking tradfic, should be a non-issue. My empathy ends, regardless of if this is in a lounge or not, when feet are washed in drinking fountains. Also, when sinks are used and the bathroom floor is left with obvious puddles and zero attempt us made to wipe them up.
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Feb 24, 2013 | 3:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BOI, et. al
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This actually happens all the time in lounges I've been through, its just the person who is praying usually finds an out of the way part of the lounge they can have some privacy to do it.
This actually sparked a conversation with a Muslim about how they find Mecca on travel, and it turns out there's an app for that too.
This actually sparked a conversation with a Muslim about how they find Mecca on travel, and it turns out there's an app for that too.
Feb 24, 2013 | 3:16 pm
#11
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I remember some airlines also have a mini prayer room in the back.
Feb 24, 2013 | 3:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,574
I can't help but wonder if we'd even be having this conversation if it were Christians instead of Muslims praying in an airport.
Anyways, I dislike all religions equally and in an ideal world, I'd never have to see anyone pray, but until my dream of a religion free utopia becomes a reality, this wouldn't bother me as long as they weren't in the way or being loud.
Anyways, I dislike all religions equally and in an ideal world, I'd never have to see anyone pray, but until my dream of a religion free utopia becomes a reality, this wouldn't bother me as long as they weren't in the way or being loud.
Feb 24, 2013 | 4:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PHX
Programs: AA GLD
Posts: 355
I can't help but wonder if we'd even be having this conversation if it were Christians instead of Muslims praying in an airport.
Anyways, I dislike all religions equally and in an ideal world, I'd never have to see anyone pray, but until my dream of a religion free utopia becomes a reality, this wouldn't bother me as long as they weren't in the way or being loud.
Anyways, I dislike all religions equally and in an ideal world, I'd never have to see anyone pray, but until my dream of a religion free utopia becomes a reality, this wouldn't bother me as long as they weren't in the way or being loud.
Feb 24, 2013 | 5:09 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
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So long as they are silent/quiet (non-disruptive) and not blocking tradfic, should be a non-issue. My empathy ends, regardless of if this is in a lounge or not, when feet are washed in drinking fountains. Also, when sinks are used and the bathroom floor is left with obvious puddles and zero attempt us made to wipe them up.
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Would all the other respondents declaring non-issue have the same response if instead of someone praying it was someone using the same space to post up, lie down, and take a nap on the floor?
Feb 24, 2013 | 5:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BOI, et. al
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Posts: 219
As far as I remember, Muslims believe in God too, so I guess us Christians are in the same boat as them as far as proper lounge etiquette around atheists are concerned. Maybe we should all get together in a big prayer circle for you atheists. 