Middle East Government Makes Prayer Rooms Mandatory

Published: December 19th, 2008

"Is there going to be a Prayer Room in the Ibis or Radisson?"

It’s a surprising question at the best of times, especially when it’s fired across a high-powered architects’ office on a dusty building site. As someone who loves 24-7 Prayer, and has done my share of stints with the Lord in Prayer Rooms over the years, this question certainly made me prick up my ears.

"Not sure..." came the reply.
"Or will the guests pray in their rooms ?"
"Mike, where's the Prayer Room going in the Ibis?"
"There are two Prayer Rooms on Level 1” replied Mike. “One for females, one for males."
 
Major hotels are incorporating prayer rooms into their multi-million dollar plans! Is this a sign of revival? Sadly not. You see, I’m working in the Middle East and we're talking about standard issue Muslim Prayer Rooms, which are mandatory in all public buildings.
 
It makes me think, though, that with mandatory prayer rooms in public buildings, and the haunting Call to Prayer echoing out from every mosque five times a day, it’s sad that so many Christians consider the idea of Jesus-centered prayer rooms and regular seasons of 24-7 Prayer extreme, or unusual, or weird. Working amongst Muslims reminds me that it is the most normal thing in the world to center our lives, our work, and yes, even our accommodation requirements, around life’s top priority: the call to prayer.

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