When Mulslims show no respect for their own places of worship where does that leave us?!?

[-Cassandra-]

For several months now I have been praying in the Muslim prayer room at my college and it's been enough time for me to determine that far too many of the Muslimahs at my school do not care for Islam or respect the house of God as they should (I mention only Muslimahs because there is a womens room and a mens room and I have not been in the mens prayer room for obvious reasons).  Every time I go in there I never come out feeling better.  My only consolation is that I make my prayers on time and occasionally in asmall group.  However mostly I just end up feeling frustrated, sad, and even angry.  This is because the sisters who are using the this room have no respect for it.  First and foremost not all colleges would give the students a prayer room (let alone two so the genders can pray seperately).  This in and of itself makes me feel like I should be extra thankful to my school and respect the area given out of their generosity.  However, it seems like the other sisters take this for granted.  Everytime I go in the room I find myself having to clean it.  Sisters are using the room like a locker leaving books, bags, jackets, and clothes everywhere in the room.  Just thrown on the floor most of the time!  The room is a prayer room and as such should be treated as a house of god not a locker.  It's okay to set your things in the room while your praying buyt you shouldn't just leave them there for no reason other than being too lazy to carry your things.  Other students who are not muslim or somali do not get to put their things in a room so they too can walk without burden.  Beyond this I have found empty coffee cups, used gum, dirty tissues, and more lying on the floor.  We are too lazy now to pick up even our trash?  The next thing that really bothers me is the sisters who come inside to take a nap!  I've gone to school after 24 hours of no sleep and not taken a single nap... If I can do it so can they!  My qualm lies in several differnt issues revcolving around this.  Number ione the room is meant to be a place for us to pray and it is only about the size of two smaller office cubicles at best.  This means that there's not a ton of room.  If one person is sleeping there it  dramatically cuts down on the amount of space to pray.  Often it two people sleeping in there!  This makes it very difficult to pray.  Secondly the opther female students are not given a private room in which they can nap without being looked at by men so why should we be able to have such a thing.  My next problem with the sisters there is that many of them eat there.  I find dirty dishes with crusted on food and everything in there.  I also find lots of crumbs and food bit on the floor where we are supposed to be able to pray.  This is haram!  We should be clean not leave messes.  Especially not in God's house.  Then there's the matter of people studying in the room.  The sisters like to study here because they can lay down inside whereas the could not do so outside the room for fear the other students would see them in this position.  However I already mentioned the size issue of the room and the frequent sleepers.  They only take up more room but, beyond that they have an entire school to study in including a large quiet library and many study areas, yet only one room to pray in.  Yes many many masjids were also centers of learning but come on this is INSIDE a college use the other areas for this.  There isn't room for other muslimahs to pray!  Finally the sisters conastantly talk on their cellphones on the room while others are praying.  When I asked one woman if she could take her calls outside the room and finish them there because it was distracting during pray she seemed shocked like how could that distract someone!?  Then she said sorry and the a few minutes later got another call and still didn't take it outside the room!  It's this kind of behavior that is making muslims look bad I presonally it almost makes me feel ashamed to be muslims beacause I don't want others to aassociate me with this messy dirty prayer room!  I don't know maybe I'm over-reacting but...

[ummrami]

Nov. 16, 2007 at 8:28 AM I know how you feel unfortunately it's not just in prayer rooms at school it's in every woman's room that I have ever prayed in . We're women our room should look and be kept in better condition . I understand what you mean about no room . This is so disrespectful . I have gotten to where I kick things to one side . If some one doesn't like it they can relocate their junk -that's the way I see it . It often makes me wonder what the homes of some of these women looks like .

[calilove12]

Dec. 7, 2007 at 3:18 AM Is there a way that you or someone can post a sign about no cell phones, leaving behind items etc... on the door then if someone does something it is clearly noted you can point out that there are rules in the room.  I would also include that clothing etc.. left behind will be tossed due to current conditions of the room.

[-Cassandra-]

Dec. 12, 2007 at 2:12 AM Actually I made up those very signs and put them up, I believe I made 3 of them.  The next day they had removed them well, at least all but one which they moved to an inconspicuous place that's not very visible.  I also take anything that's been there for more than two prayers and drop it off at the lost and found.  I've just had enough, I don't even use it anymore because it makes me both sad and angry at the same time that they would do this.  I've thought about talking with my schools Muslim Student association which operates the room but, between school, kids, studying, and everyday life I just don't have the time.  Instead I've given up and I just miss my prayers and do them at home.  The prayers I offer at home may be late but at least I can give Allah all of my attention and offer quality praer and have peace of mind while doing it.  If I pray there I can't focus and never feel as though I'm relaxed enough to offer a decent prayer.

(Original Poster)

[Rose87]

Aug. 4, 2011 at 7:39 PM

Unfortunately, some people have no shame.