By Anna Otieno
What’s Happening
• Muslim prayers have been answered: The Mall of America in Bloomington is setting aside a room for its Muslim customers to pray.
• Muslim religion requires that observers pause five times each day for prayer. Some find that when they are shopping or working, they can be far away from their normal places for prayer.
• The Mall of America prayer room opened on the day many Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, a religious festival. It’s one of a growing number of establishments making accommodations for Muslim customers, along with doctor’s offices, grocery stores, and banks.
What This Means to Business
• Respect the consumer and the consumer will respect you. Religious restrictions have stopped some consumers from using certain products and services. Considering these restrictions and making accommodations will open up the doors for more business.
Does your religious doctrine require you to pray at 5 specific times during the day? If it did I bet you'd find it difficult too to spend a day shopping. But no - most of you can pray whenever, where you want. Heck, even hotels have put bibles in their rooms for you so that you can read up & pray before going to bed. What does it matter to any of you that the Mall Of America decided to be religiously sensitive to the needs of Muslims and have a room available for people to pray so that their daily lives are minimally disrupted? Did that space infringe on you or your religion? Doubtful. And I really can't believe that people are complaining that Christians aren't accommodated.....last time I checked most businesses don't give people vacation time for Hanukkah or Ramadan & the money you use every day doesn't say "In Buddha We Trust". Give it a rest.....really. Grow up & show at least a smidgen more compassion for the rest of the world's cultures.
Posted by: Colleen | December 02, 2010 at 03:05 PM
shut up all of you, cuz dubai is an islamic country so of course they would do something for their religion! common sense
other countries that are christian they would bother do a muslim praying room so its the same treatment.
Posted by: Rayan | March 21, 2010 at 01:41 AM
What a joke!
Posted by: Fred | March 04, 2010 at 01:20 PM
Can I get a confessional at a convenience store?
Posted by: Brian | March 03, 2009 at 03:08 PM
So where is the chapel so I can pray. Why is it that we can't accomodate Christians, or even mention "Christ" but we can accomodate other religions?
Posted by: Debbie | March 03, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Do Christians get a chapel too?
Posted by: Bill Sweatt | March 03, 2009 at 02:38 PM
So, I'm Methodist, and YES......we pray as well. Is MOA going to put aside a room for the Methodists to pray??? I think at times we go a bit too far to please one group or another. I think if it is time for someone to pray that they should not be shopping, but praying.
Posted by: Robbie | March 03, 2009 at 02:19 PM