Radio Islam and Agencies | 21 February 2017

New pull-out musallas (prayer carpets) fixed in different parts of Doha, have become a boon for worshippers visiting places that do not have fixed prayer places. The Qatari Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has launched a unique project to provide prayer places to worshipers at public places, remote areas and those away from mosques.

Some ten makeshift prayer areas, that can accommodate 25 to 30 worshipers at a time has been already put up in different parts of the Qatari capital city.

The carpets, placed in a metal box can be pulled out easily when needed and rolled back into the box after use. The carpets even have separate slot for the Imam (one who leads the prayer) and is positioned in a way that the person faces towards the Qiblah while praying.

“As Phase One of the project, we have fixed some ten makeshift prayer areas in Doha Corniche and in some public parks. It can accommodate up to 30 worshippers at a time,” a senior RAF official told The Peninsula yesterday.

“The carpet is kept in a metal box so that it is always clean and protected even from harsh weather. We have a team of supervisors from New Life Centre at RAF to follow up the facilities and change the carpet if needed periodically,” he added. The project aims at providing facility for worshipers to pray in group in areas away from mosque like parks, picnic places and camps that do not have prayer places. The project also hopes to make people aware about the obligation to pray on time and in group(Jamaah), said the official.

“The prayer carpets in public areas is part of RAF’s social responsibility,” the official added.

The carpet by now has become much talked about on social media.

“It was heartening to see such a facility specially at Corniche, where we visit frequently. At times, it is difficult to go to mosques near Corniche, and with the new facility, we can comfortably join prayers without worrying about the hygiene or other issues. I have also taken pictures of the facility and shared it with my contacts on social media and they too praised the authorities for the initiative,” said Mohammed, who regularly visits Corniche with family.

This is second project implemented by New Life Centre at RAF to provide prayer places to worshipers where they did not get mosque around them. Earlier the centre launched mobile facility equipped with microphone for announcing prayer time and carpet enough for 100 worshipers. The move aimed at helping worshipers perform the daily prayers at some gathering areas which have no mosques.

The ‘mobile mosques’ are available across Doha and its suburbs specially those having gathering of youth like Sea Line, beaches, picnic places, Corniche, Aspire Park among other places.

Performing Salah on time 5 times daily is an obligation for all Muslims, that is to be adhered to whilst at home and on travel.

Situated in the Persian gulf, Qatar has a population of just over 2 million, of which approximately 80% are Muslim.