muslim prayer

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 18, 2016

Your post is four days old, and I am not Muslim so I'm not sure how much my response will be appreciated. I'm Catholic.

That said, here is my take on it: talk to your priest or rabbi or minister or Imam or whoever gives you spiritual guidance. It could be that some of the requirements of your faith -- as some of the requirements of mine -- will be relaxed somewhat because you are considered to be doing God's work in caring for the sick. It may be impossible for you to leave the floor and your patients several times a day for prayers, especially if prayers are supposed to be at a particular time. Patients don't always hold their crisis until the time is convenient for us! Perhaps your spiritual adviser can give you some tips on how you can practice your faith in alternative ways.

A discreet, silent prayer is almost always possible, and sometimes warranted!

olamuri · Oct 18, 2016

Thank you Rubi, your response is most appreciated

marienm, RN, CCRN · Oct 19, 2016

I am also not Muslim, but I wonder if night shift would make it a little easier? What do Muslim night shift workers do in other fields? Do the times of day for prayer correspond to the sun or to the person's activity? (If you pray "before bed" but you go to bed at 9am, do you make this prayer at 9am or do you make it at 1130pm when 'most' people might be going to bed?) I am genuinely curious! As to how to make it work, I agree there will be days when it's nigh impossible to stop working, much less leave the floor at a specific time. Is it permissible to pray silently while doing something else, as Ruby suggests?

olamuri · Oct 19, 2016

Yes the prayer corresponds to the timing of the sun in someway (i.e before sunrise (dawn), when the sun is just past it`s meridian, in the evening time, sun set and night).And yes the change in the lenghts of days and nights (i.e shorter days and longer nights) does affect the timing of the prayers.

However this is a night offer (most of it 4 new grads) and all I really need is a space on the unit (probably an empty locker room, unused conference room, empty office or the likes).I would mostly have have to do it once since I would be working at night (the prayer) and it last just 3 mins much like a bathroom break.The challenge is if I should ask my supervisor if I can get such a space/use intuition because I do not want to go against protocol.I also have a portable prayer mat with that fits into my scrubs.

TuesdaysChild · Oct 19, 2016

I agree with Ruby Vee about talking to your spiritual leaders. I am Protestant Christian so we do not have the same kind of requirements, but I had a good friend who was Orthodox Jewish and I recall that in situations where someone needed help they did not need to keep the rules of Shabbat (Sabbath Day) if it precluded them from giving aid to someone in need.

Glycerine82, LPN · Oct 19, 2016

I would just scope it out and see what ends up looking like it could work for a space that you could pray in. I wouldn't say anything to your manager, as horrible as that sounds. Although it's not legal, moral or ethical for them to discriminate, I fear it could bring you unwanted negative attention. I hope you find a solution that works for you!

olamuri · Oct 19, 2016

Thanks, advice appreciated

kalycat, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2016

Yes the prayer corresponds to the timing of the sun in someway (i.e before sunrise (dawn), when the sun is just past it`s meridian, in the evening time, sun set and night).And yes the change in the lenghts of days and nights (i.e shorter days and longer nights) does affect the timing of the prayers.
However this is a night offer (most of it 4 new grads) and all I really need is a space on the unit (probably an empty locker room, unused conference room, empty office or the likes).I would mostly have have to do it once since I would be working at night (the prayer) and it last just 3 mins much like a bathroom break.The challenge is if I should ask my supervisor if I can get such a space/use intuition because I do not want to go against protocol.I also have a portable prayer mat with that fits into my scrubs.

As-salamu alaykum!

I'm not Muslim, but I agree with the other poster; I would just scope out a spot and wouldn't necessarily mention it unless you really needed too because there was a problem.

For such a brief period of prayer I believe this could be worked out without too much trouble. I bet you can work this in to your work flow just fine once you get a rhythm going. Ruby is right though, sometimes crises happen at inopportune moments. I also have to add that I think it's quite neat that you have a prayer mat that fits in your scrubs! :yes:

olamuri · Oct 20, 2016

Thanks so much

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 20, 2016

As-salamu alaykum!
I'm not Muslim, but I agree with the other poster; I would just scope out a spot and wouldn't necessarily mention it unless you really needed too because there was a problem.
For such a brief period of prayer I believe this could be worked out without too much trouble. I bet you can work this in to your work flow just fine once you get a rhythm going. Ruby is right though, sometimes crises happen at inopportune moments. I also have to add that I think it's quite neat that you have a prayer mat that fits in your scrubs!

I agree with not mentioning it unless there is a problem. Not because you are Muslim, but because your coworkers haven't gotten to know and appreciate you yet. Anything that comes across as you being "high maintenance" won't be looked at as you being a team player. Breast pumping, cigarette breaks and anything else that requires scheduled (or relatively scheduled) absences from the patients won't be well-received until your colleagues have realized that you're a hard worker who has their backs.

olamuri · Oct 21, 2016

Thanks, that is an important to also consider6