Below is some brief information that you may find useful in understanding the needs for Walking Football Players, who are Muslims, relating to praying and the availability of a Prayer Room for use during a Walking Football Tournament. You should also talk to someone you know who is a Muslim and get their input as they will have thoughts worth considering as well.

When do Muslims pray?

Muslims pray 5 times a day (called Salat). This is done at designated times and there are “time periods” in which they need to complete each one. This may coincide with times when they are scheduled to play a game, especially during a whole day Walking Football Tournament.

Where to pray?

A Muslim would require 1.2m x 0.6m of clean space to pray. This can be a room to accommodate many Muslims or any designated space which is not used for people walking to and from. 

However, if ONE large space is provided, it would be sectioned off according to gender (males in the front part and females behind). There is no co-ed prayer space for Muslims. If organizers don’t do it, fellow Muslims are apt at managing this as taught by the their Mosque/Muslim classes. 

It is best to allocate space which has walls and is not where there is large traffic (people passing) as the act of prayers would require prostration. This is particularly more so for females who are more modest of being seen bowing and prostrating in public.

Muslim pray facing Mecca which is situated towards the Northwest in terms of direction in Australia. Muslims may use a Qibla (Qiblah) compass to help indicate the direction to face Mecca when praying.

What accompanies prayers?

Muslims will need to use the washrooms for ablution before performing prayers (Salat). A tap with running water is much easier however Muslims living in western countries have learnt how to perform ablution at the common washrooms. 

A prayer mat, newspaper, cloth, shirt, jacket or any covering on the floor is used by a Muslim to pray so the surface is cleaner as there are acts of prostration during prayers. Cleanliness and quiet are two things Muslims would look from in the place they will perform prayers at. 

However, Muslims will not be too concerned by surrounding noise or activity, as Muslims accept that there may be usual daily activities going on when praying outdoors. 

What are acceptable manners when seeing a Muslim pray?

Don’t freak out. Lowering your voice is most welcomed out of respect, however you can go on talking or passing by someone who is praying. Usually Muslims will face a no-traffic direction so they are not interrupted but Muslims are conditioned to simply carry on praying to complete their 10-15 mins prayer session if people pass by provided it’s still safe for them to do so. 

If people mistakenly call out to a Muslim who is praying, they will not respond so don’t worry. You have not done anything wrong, so just wait till they finish to speak to them. Don’t be offended if they ignore you. This is their time with God. 

Don’t approach and touch someone who is prostrating on the floor in prayer, as this is a regular part of their praying, they will sit up and lay prostrate again. Muslim prayers are repetitions of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting on the floor. 

In case of an emergency, Muslims will stop praying, ensure the safety of themselves and others, and then continue to make up the prayer or find an alternate spot to pray.