Hundreds of Muslims gathered in New York City’s Times Square to break the first fast of Ramadan on April 2, 2022. This news made headlines all over the Internet, and similar news pieces continued to surface throughout the month of Ramadan. In many areas, roads known for heavy traffic were filled with Muslims observing the month-long fast. Being tolerant, we may cordially allow this fun and frolic for a particular day or occasion. But would it become a matter for concern if it developed into a standard practice around the globe? What if it became a weekly routine?
Imagine that these gatherings descend on some major roads and sit down to pray. They halt traffic, causing immense inconvenience to others in the process. When the crowd is done controlling the streets, they advance toward public parks and playgrounds. The crowd is allowed to pray for the love of communal harmony. The question is, how healthy will this practice prove for a diverse society? What does the public think about public assets being controlled by one community because they must pray and do it in the open?
In 2021, a group of Muslim children decided to offer their Friday prayers right across one of the busiest roads of the Hazaribagh-Chatra area in the state of Jharkhand, India, bringing the heavy evening traffic to a standstill. A netizen uploaded a picture of this demonstration on the Internet, which instantly went viral, sparking massive controversy. The local police arrested those who shared the picture on social media, instead of acting strongly against the adults under whose tutelage the spectacle was put on by the children.
There was a months-long altercation between Muslims and Hindus over prayers in public places of Gurgaon. The Hindu side demanded that the hijacking of car parks, market areas, and government-owned land for prayers must be stopped. Residents of the city assert that parks are created for their children to play and elderly parents to take a stroll. Understandably, Friday evening is the most relaxed time for most urban families, and they may want to spend some of it at the park. But a public park meant for social enjoyment becoming a religious center for a congregation of a particular faith trying to project their command and show off the changing face of Indian demography does not sit well with the locals. Many see this as a show of the Muslims’ growing power and influence in a town or city. Though it didn’t spiral into a violent riot, the controversy damaged the “harmony” between the two groups.
It’s not unusual to find hundreds of Muslims praying on railway tracks or platforms. A dead railway track, a government property, automatically qualifies as a prayer site these days. After witnessing this and noticing this pattern for decades, the silent majority decided not to stay silenced anymore. They have voiced their concern and, in some cases, vehemently opposed the practice of transforming public assets into Islamic properties.
Recently, Hindu activists in Bangalore staged a protest against the unlawful conversion of the public spaces inside the Krantiveera Sangoli Rayanna railway station into a mosque. They alleged that the mosque was set up by converting a porters’ restroom that members of all communities used before being turned into Masjid-e-Noorani 10 years ago. Reportedly, non-Muslims are now banned from visiting this particular room. To support their claims, activists have also released videos from this mosque on social media.
Illegal mazars mushrooming on railway platforms has become a familiar sight in various parts of the country. Only if a citizen anyone sums up the courage to report such encroachment in the name of faith and prayer is a police notice sent to take down illegal constrictions; otherwise, they are allowed to thrive. The authorities seldom take cognizance of such structures, and turn a blind eye to them.
Religious leaders often complain that mosques are crammed with more devotees than they can contain, and complain that their demands for more land/mosques are being overlooked. But how many mosques would be enough to accommodate the prayers of an ever-expanding population? As per the latest studies, there are over 700,000 mosques in India. The country is home to an estimated 204 million Muslims. That translates to 1 mosque for every 291 Muslims. And yet many Muslims are determined to pray in parks and streets on Friday evening, and this remains a bone of contention between the two dominant communities in India.
We conclude this discussion with the opinion of a Quora user, and we quote: “It’s not about prayer, it’s about display of the imperialist tendencies and the political nature of Islam. The goal is to block roads and cause inconvenience, while calling anyone who opposes it, communal.”
somehistory says
The last paragraph sums it up. It’s all about taking control by forcing others to be subdued; it’s arrogance and demonic submission.
mozlums want the entire earth. They would demand the moon too, if they thought they could block some roads there and hinder the activities of other people.
Hindu American says
It’s more than that. According to their faith, any place or land where they pray is termed a “masjid or masajid” and, technically, they can claim that real estate as theirs by default. Try arguing against this in a court of law.
somehistory says
Yes, I know, but my comments would be way too long if I put everything. So, I leave it to others to say what they think on the subject.
As for “arguing in a court of law,” I can think of some things that would work against them. It would just depend on the attitude of the Judge and Jury if the arguments worked.
gravenimage says
Also true, Hindu American.
Fred Alan Medforth says
Switzerland: Muslim students occupy the stairs of the University of Geneva to perform their prayers there
https://medforth.biz/switzerland-muslim-students-occupy-the-stairs-of-the-university-of-geneva-to-perform-their-prayers-there/
PRCS says
“The university does not provide a space where the devout students can perform their five daily prayers…….they are denied it because the desired use would be illegal. This is because the law on the secularity of the state, updated in 2018, states that any acts of worship in public spaces are forbidden, as Rector Yves Flückiger explains in his decision to refuse: “The University of Geneva guarantees freedom of conscience and belief as well as strict religious neutrality, from which the prohibition of any acts of worship in all its buildings results.”
They undoubtedly knew that before enrolling, but will push, and push, and push to change that.
As always.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that link, Medforth. Disturbing stuff.
And thanks for that information, PRCS.
I’m sure there are also Christians and Jews at school there–and probably Hindus and Buddhists, as well. I’m sure they have off-campus places of worship.
Of course, Muslims could do the same. But they want the ‘filthy Infidels’ to have to provide Mosques or prayer rooms, and pay for them themselves. Another aspect of Jizya.
PRCS says
Their typical excuse re: off site prayer space is—we have to pray 5 times a day and it takes
too long to travel there and back during school hours.
I don’t recall where I read that Muslims who are unable to pray at required times can do so later, but if true, their excuse should be easy to refute.
gravenimage says
Yes, this is true, PRCS. Even in the Muslim world often there are no facilities supplied for 5-times-a-day Muslim prayer.
Samer Ibrahim says
As the influence of Islam is increasing in Western countries as a result of the increase in the number of Muslims, the future of these countries will be one of the following two scenarios if immigration from Islamic countries is not restricted: The first is the outbreak of a civil war between Muslims and non-Muslims. Muslims will certainly lose this war. The second, with the aim of avoiding the outbreak of this war, is the establishment of a dictatorship that bans all religious activity and works by force to subject everyone to its authority, just as happened in communist regimes.
gravenimage says
Uh huh. For one thing, any conflict between the natives of a nation and Muslims would not be a civil war, but a war started by invading Muslims.
Then, the implication that the only way to address Muslim violence is via Communist dictatorship that bans all religion is just grotesque–never mind that this has not been sufficient bulwark against Jihad either.
Note he doesn’t say why all faiths need to be crushed to oppose Jihad.
Samer Ibrahim used to pretend to be an Iraqi Christian, but I haven’t heard that from him in some time.
In any case, note that his vision for the West in both cases is violence and oppression. This should not surprise–he has many times gloated over how Infidels deserve to suffer and how he loves to see it. *Ugh*.
Hank says
Or third, demands for a Muslim autonomous area which eventually ends up carving out an Islamic pseudo- State in the non-Muslim host nation. Politicians need to deport the problem.
gravenimage says
New York to New Delhi: The art of hijacking public property for prayer
…………..
This is not prayer in the sense that civilized people use the term, but instead an aggressive grab for dominance. No Infidel nation should allow this.
somehistory says
some “good news.” from NY….and a mozlum wanting “political power.”
‘Justice Democrats-endorsed New York candidate drops out of race due to redistricting”
“Aprogressive Democrat backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has dropped out of her congressional race, blaming redistricting for denying communities of color an “opportunity for representation.”
Aprogressive Democrat backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has dropped out of her congressional race, blaming redistricting for denying communities of color an “opportunity for representation.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/justice-democrats-endorsed-new-york-candidate-drops-out-of-race-due-to-redistricting/ar-AAXYlKM?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=4d0a15770675415a90e8c1dace47c9e8
Avinoam Ben Dor says
Now that the Muslims have established their caliphate over Eurabia, they moved on to the conquest of America.
Michael Copeland says
“The followers of Mohammed will conquer America”
Banner carried in a street procession. See internet.
Black Sabbath says
Minneapolis, which is infested by islamist jihadis, will be broadcasting islamic “prayers” on the loudspeakers.This will lead to more loudspeakers all over the country, where moslems will scream and annoy local residents five times a day. Minneapolis will become London.
OLD GUY says
Coming to America ISLAMic rule and sharia law soon at a neighborhood near you.
The migration invasion of America from Islamic countries is well into its beginning stages.
America already has Islamic/muslim politicians who are pushing for changes in local, state and federal laws to expand their power.
Alfredo says
“Do not do as the hypocrites do…”
1
“And when you pray be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in public and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray in public places and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us today our daily bread.
12
Forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us.
13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil.”
Matthew 6: 1-13