Sara Elghobashy
September 24, 2009
People can’t be left to their own free will. They do all sorts of crazy things, like forget to pray on time. This is why one Saudi newspaper, Aen Hail (Hail’s Eye), decided to do the “noble” thing by closing down its website for 20 minutes during each of the five prayer times because let me tell you, news is the reason people don’t pray anymore.
As a part of the growing debate in Saudi Arabia on whether to stop commercial activities during prayer time, Aen Hail believes that “prayers comes first” (and rationality second?). Some have praised the site, which has built in automated software that replaces the index page with one that says “Closed for Prayer” and includes a countdown to when the prayer break is over. (It’s like New Year’s five times a day!)
Professor Mohammed Al-Nojaimi of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University’s High Judiciary Institute *inhale* and member of International Islamic Fiqh Academy says, “Closing a Saudi website for half-an-hour during obligatory prayers is a noble Islamic act. It’s free from any search for fame or unacceptable rigidness. It contributes to reviving the habit of individuals praying on time.”
But does it? Does closing down a website (or other businesses for that matter) guarantee that people will pray on time? Many don’t seem to think so. The site has been heavily criticized since it unveiled the prayer practice this month.
“Praying is a sacred act of worship that connects human beings to God throughout the day… encouraging people to pray on time isn’t going to be achieved by closing websites,” wrote Al-Watan newspaper columnist Amal Zahid in an opinion piece. “What if the person wishing to surf the page is a non-Muslim?” she adds.
The issue is much larger than that though. It’s one of freedom. The religious police already make it mandatory for anyone in public to attend the daily prayers at their prescribed time and some Saudi clerics are certainly pushing for more businesses to hail all activity for a short period after the adhan. As these prayer break debates continue, I can’t help but fear that the voluntary actions of one site may become mandatory for others.
The debates also make me wonder - when is it okay for a state to act like a parental figure? We understand when it comes to things like requiring citizens to wear seat belts in cars. It’s a safety precaution for your physical health. However, mandated prayer breaks? Is that a safety precaution for your spiritual well being?
Because frankly, that is no place for government (stay away from my soul!), even though Saudi Arabia may think otherwise.
Photo Credit: Hussam Yaish
Comments
Good article. I hope that rationality hits some of these people soon. It’s always time for prayer.
By sweetznyc on 09/27/2009 at 03:53pm Report Abuse