We are fully aware, can relate and empathise- fully! Praying in a predominantly non-muslim environment can be tricky. Not necessarily because people will stare or make you feel uncomfortable, but more so because there are some places that just don’t facilitate for Salah. Depending on the workspace, some places do not have a quiet hidden corner or an extra room handy that may double out as a contemplation room. There are some places that only leave us with the fire exit (true story) which is a health hazard should a fire occur. Finding practical solutions can be intimidating, especially if you are the only Muslim in your workplace.

Here are a few tips for finding better solutions for Salah at work

1. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask

It is completely within your rights to feel accommodated at work, especially for something that plays such a huge part of who you are as a person. To put it quite simply, you pray 5 times a day, it is a large part of what makes you who you are, put it somewhere up there with water, and oxygen. This is an important need that MUST be fulfilled. It is life or death, spiritual death can be painful, and having a place you can retreat to daily, is incredibly important for your wellbeing. Just ask your boss, tell them why it is important to you, they shouldn’t have a problem finding you space.

2. Think ahead book a room

Many women who work in corporate jobs often don’t have the luxury of just retreating to an empty room, with meetings in full flow during the day, it is worthwhile finding out about available rooms during Salah times and booking them for half an hour. If your workplace is not understanding about using the room, just say you have an important call to make. (The call is with Allah- you don’t get more important than that.)

3. Educate your colleagues

Some people, quite simply just don’t know, this is a requirement of yours, just like someone who is allergic to nuts would require ensuring the lunch menu is clear of nuts. If your colleagues are in the loop about your practices, chances are they will become more understanding and will want to help whenever they can. Even if it means covering for you, as to why you are not at your desk. Communication is key to most of life’s problems.

4. Explore your building

Whenever you have lunch break spend 15 minutes each day scaling the building, finding little spaces or empty rooms, chances are, you will come across loads. All you truly need is 15 minutes for 1 prayer. If booking a room isn’t an option try to do some investigating of your own.

5. Create cultural and religious awareness

Some workplaces are quite clinical in their approach to colleagues, as showing support of cultural or religious practices in some way may reflect that they are endorsing these views. So educating supervisors, HR personnel, about your requests are necessary, not just for you, but to pave the way for others to follow suit in the future. You may be doing an act of ibadah by merely enlightening people about your needs, to help facilitate Salah for future workers. It can also bring a tremendous amount of Baraka to your work.

6. Be flexible

There is no harm in showing you are accommodating, understanding, and respectful of your workspace. Showing your boss or HR team you have thought well about how you can execute this, will show 1. that you are serious and this isn’t just a time you take for a bit of yoga. 2. that you don’t wish to colonise the workplace with the athan ringing out loud through all the tannoys. Showing them that all you require is a quiet place, where dirty shoes are not often walking all over the floor.

7.  It’s law

Federal and provincial codes mandate that employers must accommodate employee religious practices. Some companies do panic when the subject of religion comes up, but just know it is actually within your rights to ask, and receive some help.

8. Have courage & conviction

It is not easy to do but stand by your beliefs. If the workplace is incredibly difficult about your request, take a step back and assess who you are working for. Are you giving your precious time, and hard work, to those who don’t appreciate that it is their duty to look after your wellbeing? Its a tough one but perhaps pray Istikhara about if this is the right place for you. Judy Neal, founder and executive director of the International Center for Spirit at Work says, “be very courageous, and take a clear stand. It’s important to live in alignment with your deepest faith. I put faith ahead of career. If your company is not willing to accommodate you, you need to think about maybe not working there.”

Send us your funny stories of finding a prayer space at work contribute@amaliah.com we would love to hear it!