BMJ 1997;315:1625 (13 December)

Letters

Quiet room is needed in hospitals for prayer and reflection

Editor–Prayer has a pivotal role in the life of Muslims. Five times a day, at specified times, a Muslim will turn directly to God to seek guidance and strength in his or her attempt to walk through life upright. The ritual itself is both physical and spiritual as Islam takes a holistic view of life, recognising the need to unify the different facets of human existence.

There are roughly two million Muslims in Britain, many of whom are observant of their prayers. Included among these are a large number of Muslim doctors and other health professionals, who practise in hospitals throughout Britain. Many of these practitioners work in extremely stressful environments, and prayer often has an important role in helping to alleviate such stresses.

For Muslim patients and health professionals who feel the need for prayer, it is unfortunate that many hospitals do not have adequate provision. Those of us . . . [Full text of this article]


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