Give us a Prayer Room

By Nathaniel Muhammad

 

Interestingly, I read a letter in a local Malaysian newspaper (News Straits Times, Wednesday, August 04, 2010) and the author of the letter stated that his wife was admitted to a local hospital for a serious ailment. He kept a constant vigil by her bedside. He goes on to state and I quote “that he noticed that facilities had been provided by the hospital for Muslims to pray but there was none for non-Muslim.”

Furthermore, he stated and I quote that he “wish to appeal to the government to allocate one room for non-Muslims to pray. It will be a great relief to family and relatives during these difficult moments.”

 

I have lived in Malaysia for the last 17 ½ years, and I have never heard anyone, other than myself, to voice out as to why the Muslims are allocated a room in a building to pray, whereas, there is not a room provided for non-Muslims to pray. I was really surprised that such letter was even published in the local newspaper.

 

I couldn’t have agreed more with the author of that letter “Give us a Prayer Room.” For the life of me, I have yet to find an answer as to why only one group of people or shall I say, one religious group have been provided with a room to pray whereas other religious groups do not have such a luxury. I call it a luxury for that is truly what it is. One can go to almost any public places, be it a hotel, shopping mall, restaurant, school, university, rest area along the highways, you name it and there will be a place for the Muslims to pray. Because of the ritual of the Muslims cleansing oneself before pray, a bathroom or ablution area is also provided adjacent or very near the prayer room. That is a luxury.

So I ask myself, are the Muslim the only religious group of people in Malaysia who should and are allowed to pray conveniently? Malaysia is comprised of primarily three religions: Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. Yes, each religion has its own places of worship. However, why is it so convenient for the Muslims to pray yet so difficult if not impossible for the followers of other religions to pray?

Do not get me wrong. I am not against the Muslims for having the convenience of praying in Malaysia. However, I am against the belief that all Malaysians are citizens of Malaysia yet, not all Malaysians are treated equally. Religion is a big thing here in Malaysia, yet not all of the religions practiced here are given the same importance.

The author of the letter, “Give us a Prayer Room”, is a Malaysian, yet he found it inconvenient and in so many words, unfair not to have a room for prayer like the Muslim. Notice, he wasn’t greedy. He didn’t request a separate pray room for each and every religion that is practiced in Malaysia. Notice what he said and I quote, “he wish to appeal to the government to allocate one room for non-Muslims to pray.” He asked for ONE room for non-Muslims to pray. In other words, he was being humble. He was requesting that one room be for the Hindus, the Christians, the Buddhists and others. He was being the Good Samaritan, speaking up on behalf of his brothers, irrespective of their faith and beliefs.

In conclusion, giving the non-Muslims in Malaysia a room to pray in all public places is a great start. It will help bridge the gap that exists between the Muslim and non-Muslim in this country. It would be wise to not only show to the citizens of Malaysia that you are united as a nation and as a people, but show the entire world that you as a nation is truly One Malaysia.