Muslims are required to pray at least five specific times each and every day. Each prayer time has a different name: Fajr (right before sunrise); Duhur (noonish); Asr (mid-afternoon); Maghrib (sunset); and Isha (evening). Businesses in Saudi Arabia are required by law to close during all prayer times for at least 30 minutes or more. Many shopping malls provide areas for customers and workers to wash up and pray. Men and women pray in separate areas.
8 comments:
No wonder businesses stay open so late to make up for all the time closed during the day.
Absolutely, Gaelyn - but it still feels strange to be in a mall in mid-afternoon and more than half the stores are closed...
So annoying, it's not even an Islamic law, another way of trying to control the people
Why, it's not an Islamic law, forcing people to pray by closing store, does it work? No
It's something that I just don't understand here as well. Especially larger stores with more than one employee working - why can't they stagger their breaks so the stores can remain open? It's such a pain the way they do it.
I totally agree - forcing people to pray is not right and totally misses the point of prayer. It's so insincere and doesn't come from one's heart.
i know this post is kind of old one but I want to clare the idea of this in not forcing people to pray and yes it is Islamic law that you cant make business during prayr time that's all
Hi Anonymous - I beg to differ. I have been in the malls at prayer time before when troupes of religious policemen have come through herding up all the men to go and pray. Admittedly it doesn't happen every day, but I have seen this with my eyes. In my opinion, this would be called "forcing" people to pray.
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