Prompted by the members of Quran Study, Niles West High School has designated room 1646 as a prayer/meditation room in order to allow students and staff to pray and/or meditate during school hours. The room will be available periods 6-7.
Quran Study members advocated the idea of a prayer/meditation room since Muslims are obligated to pray on a daily basis, and during daylight savings, the time to pray falls during school. Quran Study also felt that people of other religions should also be allowed to practice their faith in any way they wish.
“The Quran Study students pushed this idea because faith is something they practice every day. Therefore, they value prayer every day–throughout the day–as something that helps them relax their mind and connect with the Divine. Although one can technically pray anywhere, a place that’s conducive and comfortable for prayer and not in the way of others at the same time was what the students preferred and wanted, and that’s what they requested,” said sponsor of Quran Study and math teacher Tayyaba Ahmad.
Last year’s president of Quran Study and alumni Zarin Sultana believes it’s nice to have a room where no one will be distracted from their meditation or other activities.
“It would be nice to have a quiet, peaceful room in which anyone of any faith can go and preform any acts of faith or just meditate without having other people there to judge or distract them,” Sultana said.
Quran Study got the idea of a prayer/meditation room because such a room exists at Niles North. Ahmad also believes that this room is open for everyone.
“Just like the prayer/meditation room at Niles North, this room is for anyone of any faith to take a few minutes out of their day to devote to spirituality and and self reflection. Personally, I think that’s beautiful and essential for taking care of one’s emotional self, regardless of the faith background and how devout or religious one may be,” said Ahmad.
Shameer Riaz • Dec 10, 2013 at 6:33 PM
I believe it’s also available Period 5
bob • Nov 17, 2013 at 4:25 PM
I agree with you chris, but the article says It’s only two periods. I’m sure you’ll catch some grief from caleigh about that. Just because you are offended caleigh, does not mean you’re right. Oh, you’re not offended?
Matthew • Nov 14, 2013 at 10:16 PM
I wish this room was available some other time. I have class during 6th and 7th. 🙁
Amina • Nov 16, 2013 at 6:23 PM
I agree. I don’t have time during 6th or 7 and I have no free time before that. With times getting earlier and earlier its hard to make time to pray. By my free ninth period it’s too late.
But one thing I’m glad is that teachers are willing to cooperate and give you time when you ask.
Nashiha Alam • Nov 13, 2013 at 10:57 PM
I wish they had something like this when I attended NW.
I’m glad they have a spot now. It was always inconvenient before, trying to squeeze in prayers in empty classrooms/ the stacks of books in the IRC.
@Michale, please note that the room is designated for any meditation/prayers. This is merely an act of accommodation by the school.
Hafsa Wahid • Nov 13, 2013 at 10:01 PM
This is NOT a requirement, or part of a curriculum that is being enforced on students. If they wish to use the room they may. If they do not want to, they don’t have to.
michale • Nov 13, 2013 at 9:24 PM
Separation of Church and School, plz.
Caleigh • Nov 13, 2013 at 11:12 PM
It’s not church, its religion, something that is valuable to many members of our school. The idea of separation of church and school is that religious ideas are not taught in classrooms and pushed on students. This prayer/meditation room allows an opportunity for students to practice religion without disrupting the learning process and away from ignorant comments. This doesn’t even effect you if you don’t go into the prayer room, it’s simply giving students the freedom to believe and practice what they choose, a luxury we don’t often have at school.
Kyle • Nov 17, 2013 at 12:46 PM
You’re over-looking the position the school has taken in allowing the facilitation and accommodation of religion. Regardless whether or not the school also provides for meditation, or if the school hasn’t designated a specific religious purpose of the room, the school has still officially supported religious practices. As an institution of the state (Public School) this stance is bound to conflict with some viewpoints. Toleration is separate from accommodation, and, taking this into account, the school has not only tolerated religion, but it has also accommodated religious practice. However, you’re right about it not effecting people who choose to avoid the religious practices accommodated by the school. So, it can be appreciated as objectively positive.
Chris • Nov 17, 2013 at 4:21 PM
A church is a place of worship, Caleigh. Now we have a church in the school. I have heard stories about clubs and teachers asking for space to store things, the administration denied their requests, so you can say it is affecting more people than you bother paying attention to. Now we have an empty room that no one will use. It’s nice to see we are paying attention to the majority.