posted November 02, 2005 11:59 PM              

Why do muslims congregate during 5 times a day prayer? Can't they pray individually then?

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quote:

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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- Five Muslim football fans were detained and questioned during a game at Giants Stadium because they were congregating near an air duct on a night former President Bush was in the stadium, the FBI said Wednesday.

Some of the Muslims said they did not know they were in a sensitive area, and they complained that they were subjected to racial profiling while they were praying, as their faith requires five times a day.

"I'm as American as apple pie and I'm sitting there and now I'm made to feel like I'm an outsider, for no reason other than I have a long beard or that I prayed," said Sami Shaban, a 27-year-old Seton Hall Law School student who lives in Piscataway.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/02/football.muslim.ap/index.html

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posted November 03, 2005 07:59 AM              

They can pray individually. They can also congregate. The power of group prayer is acknowledged in all religions, as far as I know. Personally, I prefer to be alone but I understand the point of being in a group. Both ways have it's advantages.

posted November 03, 2005 04:35 PM              

5 times prayer is crucial in islam it is one of the 5 pillars.

for muslim men, praying in groups is like 1000 times the brownie points versus praying alone. for women, there is no instruction or indication that one is better than the other.

personally i believe that if they were at a stadium they should have forgone the congregation, espeically since here in America not many people know about the importance of congregation in our faith. they could have gone home and prayed individually or in congregation there.

however, like i said, there was overreaction on both sides. no need to suspect them of being terrorist just because they are muslim. some of the most highly educated people in america are muslims. are u gonna start a witchhunt for them all? it sure feels like it, like we are not welcome anymore even when we have high intellectual and monetary contributions to this country.

and the muslim mens reactions were overblown too. if u were praying near the air ducts like that, u might be suspected. move on with it, apologize for the misunderstanding. no need to get emotional.

posted November 03, 2005 06:21 PM              

quote:

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espeically since here in America not many people know about the importance of congregation in our faith.

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Not where I come from.

I agree with the rest though

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Gemini sun, Cancer rising, mercury in Gemini, moon in Taurus *29, venus in Taurus, mars in Libra

posted November 03, 2005 07:03 PM            

It may sound like overreaction to watch these areas, but it only takes one time to release something chemical that makes a lot of people sick... that has a forward effect.. meaning then people are afraid of attending games.