A Muslim prays five times a day, regardless of where he or she is. On campus for example. Until now people had to make do here. But last week the meeting room on the second floor of the Vrijhof was transformed into an islamic prayer room.
It does not look very complicated decorating a mosque. A new dark blue wall-to-wall carpet was laid, and a partition curtain hung to make sure that men and women cannot see each other during prayer. A sound system as used in a regular mosque is not necessary; the space is small enough to be able to hear the imam without artificial help. And the blind covering the windows facing the hallway was already there. 'I don't mind if that remains open', Said Benayad says. 'There is nothing secret about islamic prayer.'
Benayad is student counsellor and spokesperson for the islamic community at the UT. He and his fellow Muslims have already been talking about a prayer room for almost two years. Until now Muslims at the UT pray wherever they can find space. There is a centre of silence, also on the second floor of the UT, but this is unsuitable for Muslims. 'In islam the unity of God is central. But there are pictures of Mary in the centre of silence. A Muslim will not pray there.'
That is why everyone looked for his or her own space. 'I have the luxury of having my own room, not everybody has that', the counsellor says. 'Some students can pray in the rooms of phd-students, but that is not ideal.' In part because prayer is preceded by washing, which will be made easier in future when a wash room is made in the Vrijhof. 'That still needs doing, in a broom cupboard for example. We now have to wash our feet in the sink, which does cause some surprised faces.'
Looking for a room was not simple. 'We started two years ago to find out whether there was a need for a prayer room. There was. We also received positive responses from non-Muslims. Everybody was prepared to help, but it just did not go very smoothly from an organisational point of view.'
The Bastille, the TW/RC building, and the former bank building were brought forward as possible spaces for a mosque. 'The Student Union did not think that a prayer room would fit in the Bastille, the TW/RC building is supposed to be primarily for education and research, which led to the Vrijhof. The meeting room's timetable has now been cleared for us.' It still remains a temporary solution. 'When a number of services will move to the Bastille we will get a new space in the Vrijhof', Benayad says.
He is happy that the UT finally has a provision for Muslims. 'It is essential for a university. In Rotterdam they have already had a prayer room for 25 years. At the UT the composition of the student population has also changed in the past few years. This requires new facilities. The UT itself also profits from it. If we want to characterise ourselves as an international university, we have to be able to offer our guests something.'
The prayer room is in use since 1 November and will only be accessible to UT-students and staff. Benayad expects that the approximately 40 Muslims at the UT will come and pray at fixed times.
A festive opening will come later. 'We will shortly be discussing the how and what', according to Benayad.
