... to be annoyed at the Muslim who prays next to me in work?

[Beethoven]

I share a small office with two other people. A new guy has started who's a muslim, and will roll out his mat and start praying behind me. I know it doesn't hurt me, but I feel a little uncomfortable for the few minutes that he does it.

Am I being an unreasonable bigot?

"A" coffee lounge might be, ours wouldn't. It was very large yet cramped, lots of tables and chairs lots of noise lots of card games.

"Why?
It will be a cold day in Hell when a muslim says merry Christmas or Happy Easter to a Catholic"

Not true I wish happy Easter and Happy Christmas to my neighbours and friends. I lead a non religious toddler group and make Easter and Christmas decorations too, it looks a bit surreal to some people as I am very Muslim in appearance.

We are the only Muslims on our street, every Eid we tour the neighbours with chocolate boxes to share our festivities and they do the same at Christmas. Having a different faith does not in any way mean that we cannot live together in a friendly manner.

I guess if you do not get wished happy Easter or Christmas by any Muslims, it probably means you do not have Muslim aquaintances.

our muslim neighbours send us a card at christmas and bring round quality street etc for the boys

at eid they usually bring something delicious round and we wish them a happy eid - it's just being friendly, isn't it?

gorionine could I ask a (probably) ignorant question. I always thought Ramadan was nearer wintertime? Its just with the long days it must be really difficult to fast? Does Ramadan change every year then? My neighbours are Muslim and I like to wish them a Happy Eid and pop a card through the door so am just a bit taken aback that Ramadan is so early this year.
Sorry, going off subject a bit.

Our muslim former neighbours used to send us a Christmas card every year. The dc's muslim classmates send out christmas cards just like most other kids do (catholic school), and their parents say 'happy christmas' to people, and attend nativity plays etc.

Obviously there are very strictly orthodox/fundamentalist muslims who wouldn't be okay with that at all, but presumably they wouldn't choose to send their dc to a christian school. Best not to generalise, I find.

Crisproll, Ramadan is the name of a Muslim month but because Muslim months are lunar (28 days) the same month will be 10 days earlier every year if you refer to the calendar we all use IYSWIM.

I do,thanks gorionine. I am a bit as I thought Ramadan was the name of a festival. Apologies for my ignorance.

As I understand it there's a relatively large window for prayer and a coffee lounge would be a great place to have set times where people could come for private prayer.

Crisprolls, it is in a way. As muslim fast during the entire length of that month it just took the name I suppose.

Posie Parker it depends what time of the year. Now there is quite a few hours between prayers because the days are still young, in Winter the prayers from lunchtime til sunset are much closer.

Days are still long, not young!

We have a 'multi-faith room' at work, where people can go and pray during the day, though I imagine it wouldn't be worthwhile having in a small office. I'd find it a bit odd to have a colleague praying beside/behind me at work (whether it was Muslim or a Catholic with rosary beads or whatever) but it's not causing any harm or disturbance to anyone, and there are far more annoying things people do in shared offices than praying quietly. So you probably just have to ignore.

Rather praying than swearing or smoking (as people did in ye olde days)

We should all make an effort not to impose our personal foibles or habits on people, whatever they are.
I share anoffice with someone who plays the radio. Drives me nuts. I have to ask her (politely) to switch it off every bloody time I come in. I can't understand why she hasn't the courtesy to just switch the bloody thing off when she sees me coming.

There are Muslims who really enjoy being ostentatious about their praying ('Look at me, I'm so religious'). I am surrounded by them and have many pointed out to me by other Muslims.

Having said that, many people enjoy making a show and dance of theri religious principles with outward signs (praying, clothes, wigs, ringlets, skullcaps, religious books) so Muslims by no means out on a limb here.

a prayer lounge!?!?! If I were the employer, I'd say, em, pray at home!

Valium - you can't always pray at home as prayers have to be done within a set time

I'm not fasting Ramadan this year as pregnant but when I have been fasting, have had to put up with people bringing in chippy to the office, Maccy Ds and frequent eating at their desks - the smell has really set my taste buds going and been very hard at times but I have just had to suck up and get on with it as its their right to eat just as much as its my right to fast

Live and let live I say

And Jason - I celebrate Xmas with my non Muslim family and they celebrate Eid with us so lots of faith tolerance going on there and both sides giving the appropriate celebratory greetings

1st day of ramadan.Assalamu alaikum.

what a daft op. if the colleague farted,was smelly,flicked his bogies object yes. some quiet praying is no biggie

The company I work for is owned by a Muslim family and employs many Muslims.

I have worked there for years and have never observed anyone praying at work. I assume if they do, it's in private. When I asked my ex-boss if he fasted during Ramadan, he replied, "Yes, but only in my head." Perhaps he prayed 'in his head' too.

Valium - so, do you also want people to eat at home, go to the loo at home, never check personal emails, etc. etc.? If so, best start lobbying to have employment law changed!

my muslim friends wish me merry xmas attend xmas party,why wouldnt they?what a daft thing to say.i get xmas cards from lots of denomination

i gave my friend a ramadan card today,im not muslim

Valium its a legal requirement for them to have somewhere to pray @ work, boss can not just say pray @ home

i do agree office is not ideal im sure the brother himself would have prefered a private prayer room, but if not available he didnt have much choice. so yabu & just get over it really op, its not a big deal

emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Tricky question LRD. I'm Irish and I thought Ireland was a relij country but I'm beginning to think we are beginners compared to the muslims! I can honestly say that I have never seen anybody pray at work, and can only imagine how that would be recieved. In fairness though, my boss used to say can you wash that splodge off your face please when people used to come back to the office with ash on their foreheads!! there are a lot of religious people out there, but it seems very readily understood in the workplace (here) that you don't bring religion into work.

Seems to be more blurry in the UK, if I understand correctly.

(on Ash wednesday)

Firawla, a legal requirement? ok. Never knew that. i am living and learning.

no prayer room provision isnt legal requirement.The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 do not require that an employer provides facilities for religious observance. However, most commentators think that if a request is made then it would be difficult for an employer to refuse. This facility could be a quiet room, even one which has another purpose but which could be set aside for the relevant period when needed.

from ACAS - Do organisations have to provide a prayer room?
A The Regulations do not say that organisations have to provide a
prayer room . However, if employees request access to a
quiet place in which to meet their religious obligations and such a
place is available without it having any adverse impact on the business
or other staff, then employers may be acting in a discriminatory way if
they refuse such a request.
Example: It may not be reasonable or practical to provide a prayer room
for staff in a small motor garage employing 12 staff, where the only
space available is a communal kitchen/rest room.
However, a larger organisation with meeting/conference rooms that are
often unused may be considered unreasonable if it is not willing to
organise its operations in such a way as to make such a room available
for prayer at specific and known times each day.
If employers are able to do so, it is good practice to consider providing
a suitable area for religious observance or private contemplation by
anyone wishing to use it for that purpose.
Be careful when providing such a room not to put staff that do not
have need of a prayer room at an unjustifiable disadvantage. For
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 31
example, if an organisation were to convert their only rest room into a
prayer room then staff who do not have need of a prayer room would
be disadvantaged and may have a grievance on the grounds of
religion or belief.
It is a good idea to consult with staff representatives or individuals
about policies for the use of such a room.