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Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff

Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP)

college.police.uk Impact on Muslim officers and staff

Muslims require to perform their and confidence of our communities as a five daily within the allocated diverse employer of choice. time frames for each respective . observing their prayers make This document provides guidance on every effort to perform their obligatory prayer in , effective practice for prayers on time every . Each prayer police forces supporting and facilitating consists of certain units which vary provisions for Muslim officers and staff, according to the prayer. To perform and recommendations which can help these prayers, individuals need to be in create an inclusive environment with a a state of Wudhu (ablution). sense of belonging.

Although many forces do have provisions for prayer, they are not always fit for purpose and there are often inconsistences in the way staff are managed. There have been several instances where officers and staff have not been supported in performing prayers in duty time. This practice does not support diversity and inclusion principles, nor does it respect individual difference. Such practice has an adverse effect on wellbeing, our recruitment campaigns and the trust Officer praying in Masjid Al-Furqaan.

2 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Prayers in Islam

Overview It is important to understand that the Preparation for prayer Prayer is the pillar in Islam and is English word ‘prayer’ translates several Prayer for Muslims is a physical as well as considered an obligatory religious duty ways in Islamic worship. A common spiritual worship. Prior to prayer, Muslims for all Muslims. There are five prayers used by non- speakers is need to ensure their clothes are clean throughout the day which have specific the word ‘namaz’, which has Persian and they will perform ritual ablutions time slots in which they can take place. origins and is used by several South known as Wudhu. This is a cleansing This will vary throughout the . Asian communities. The Arabic word process with water for the preparation Each prayer varies in time and can last for obligatory prayer is ‘salat’ or ‘’, of prayer. It involves washing the hands, between 10 to 15 . which derives from the Arabic word mouth nose, face, arms up to the elbows, meaning to connect. This relates to hair, ears and feet. „ Fajr – Dawn, before sunrise. the connection established with Performance of prayer „ Dhuhr – Midday, after the sun passes () during prayers. There are other its highest point. terms used to describe non-obligatory Once a Muslim enters the state of Salat, prayers such as ‘’ meaning extracts from the Qur’an are recited and „ Asr – The later part of the afternoon. and ‘’ which means a series of movements are performed remembrance and may take the form of involving onto the floor. This „ Maghrib – Just after sunset. chanting or meditation. can be conducted alone or as part of a congregation. All Salat is prayed in „ Isha – Between sunset and midnight. the direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah, . This direction is called the Qiblah. Muslims should focus solely on the prayer once they have started so all concentration is on the Salat and nothing else.

3 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) prayers The is the Islamic place of The Muslim holy day is on a Friday. The The dates for religious festivals are not congregational worship. It is also known word ‘Jumu’ah’ means Friday in Arabic. fixed as the Islamic follows the as a ‘masjid’ which in Arabic means Jumu’ah prayers (sometimes referred . In Islam there are two ‘place of prostration’. Not all mosques in to as Friday prayers) are prayed in the main festivals known as Eid. the UK are purpose built, many having afternoon instead of Dhuhr prayer. This „ Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first been converted from other uses. No must be conducted in a congregation day of the Islamic . images, paintings or decorations which and is the most attended regular prayer This marks the end of the month of represent living beings are found inside as it is seen as an obligation for most . a mosque. Shoes are removed to keep Muslims to attend the mosque at this the mosque clean and ablution facilities time. A is delivered prior to the „ Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the tenth are usually located by the entrance to a prayer which is called the ‘’. day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the mosque. Salat is prayed in an open area On average the Khutbah lasts about twelfth and final month in the Islamic which is often divided into male and 30 minutes and the Jumu’ah prayer calendar. The name of this month female sections. lasts around 10 minutes. This will vary means ‘possessor of ’ as this depending on the mosque. After the is the month in which (the Holy prayers it is common for members of the pilgrimage to Makkah) is performed. congregation to gather and greet each other as they are leaving the mosque. Both these days have an extra prayer in the morning (usually sometime between 7am and 11am, depending on the mosque), which is prayed in addition to the five daily prayers. It is a considered a religious obligation for all Muslims to attend these prayers.

4 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff

Daily prayers Faith rooms additional barriers to the performance of These prayers vary according to the Muslim officers and staff tend to perform prayers. The sharing of the rooms with . For example in the summer their prayers at lunch breaks and within other faiths is welcomed as the use by all period, the five daily prayers are their standard breaks throughout the faiths will have a common element of the distributed across longer daylight day. Most forces have dedicated facilities observation of prayer. Faith rooms should which allow for a wider prayer window as – located at various sites – for prayers, ideally have prayer mats, storage (for any opposed to the shorter winter daylight but often these rooms are small and religious items), a comfortable chair/sofa, hours where the prayers are closely can only cater for a couple of people at no images of people or animals on the packed together. The best practice any one time. Where there are a higher walls, for prostration and should for Muslims is to make every effort to number of Muslims wishing to use the be free from clutter. They also need clear attend mosques to perform all their prayer room, a queue/delay is often markings with the Qiblah (direction for daily prayers in congregation, however caused, especially when break prayer). A sticker of an arrow on the this is not always practical. Prayer coincide. Also (as a general rule) both ceiling showing the correct direction is facilities enable Muslims to fulfil their sexes usually prefer separation during best practice. In the UK the direction of religious obligations to perform these prayer (there are certain exceptions to the Qiblah is southeast. prayers and are a reasonable workplace this) and therefore males will wait until accommodation. any female users have finished and vice versa. Movable partitions could be placed within prayer rooms to allow for more flexibility of use. All faith rooms should ideally be used for prayer and not a multi-purpose activity such as wellbeing, as this can sometimes cause

5 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Ablution facilities not ideal. When possible, forces should Ideally Muslims will require a seated take a pragmatic approach and provide washing facility to perform their ablution Wudhu facilities to support their Muslim (Wudhu). The washing facility should officers and staff. In addition to the be located either within the prayer Wudhu facility, it is common practice rooms (behind the direction of prayer) for Muslims to use water to wash when or nearby. Common practice involves using toilets. Consideration should be Muslim staff using disabled or general given towards providing toilets that toilets. This can sometimes cause other have a built-in bidet or similar. users and the Muslim individual to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. Time required In general terms, approximately Wudhu involves washing certain parts 15 minutes should cover the time of the body. For example, it requires required for each prayer. This would the individual to wash their feet. The include the performing of the ablution absence of appropriate facilities for this, and prayer. However, location of ablution and the other steps of Wudhu, means and prayers facilities in relation to the that ablutions (often done at a sink individual’s workstation/place may mean in a toilet facility) can result in water more time is required. spillage and may be deemed to be a health and safety issue. Many Muslims recognise this and clean up the area after use, however toilet facilities as the only option for performing Wudhu is performed in Shipley police station.

6 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Friday prayers hours or adjusted shift patterns so they These prayers are considered a religious do not miss their Friday prayers. Where obligation and take place within mosques operationally possible, line managers or similar dedicated premises where should accommodate this. large gatherings are held for prayer. Unlike other daily prayers, Friday The current practice varies from force (Jumu’ah) prayer must be performed in to force and, although functional, congregation, led by a suitably qualified there are health and safety risks to and cannot be made up later be considered for officers carrying once missed. Supervisors should look protective equipment. Policy or guidance favourably to support Muslim officers is recommended to safeguard Muslim and staff wanting to attend these officers and police support community prayers wherever possible. The total officers (PCSOs) choosing to attend abstraction should be approximately prayers and the line managers who 40 minutes but travel time to and from support them. the mosque also needs to be taken into consideration. General practice is Officers and PCSOs attending Friday for Muslim officers and staff wishing to prayers while on duty may need to attend Friday prayers to do so during remove kit to perform ablutions and their lunch break. Flexible working prayer. Their radios are also turned off arrangements can also be an option to while engaging in prayer. These decisions cater for the needs of Muslims choosing are subjectively and dynamically made to observe their religious obligations. As by the individual officers and to an example, Muslim staff may choose this has worked without any adverse Congregational prayer in the to work shorter and condensed implications or risks. West Midlands.

7 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Eid prayers new . Annual leave requests for Muslim officers and staff will need to Eid should form part of any workforce attend Eid prayers as it is a compulsory planning meetings and requests should faith requirement and the prayer itself be approved well in advance so as to is actually the integral part of the Eid avoid last staffing level issues. celebration. Therefore if Muslims are unable to perform their Eid prayers In the rare of Muslim officers or for whatever they will feel that staff having their leave refused then there they have missed out on Eid and will should be the opportunity and some have to wait until the following year to flexibility to be abstracted for an get the opportunity to perform them. or so, to allow them to perform their Eid Every effort should be made to support prayers. The time allowance, including Muslim officers and staff to attend travel and performing prayer, does not Eid prayers which take place between vary much from the Friday prayers, sunrise and midday. There are several except the numbers in attendance are congregations held at different times far greater so there may be more traffic, within this period to cater for the large congestion and parking issues. numbers that attend the mosques. Ideally most Muslims will book time off for Eid providing approximate dates in advance as the exact dates are not confirmed until the night before Eid. This is because the determination of Eid is dependent upon the sighting of the Dua performed after salat.

8 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) NAMP recommendations

Balancing Islamic criteria with „ Officers and staff notify their control organisational obligations around health rooms of their attendance and inform and safety, the NAMP supports the their colleagues so as to be assigned following recommendations for Muslim to this. officers and staff: „ Officers and staff consider wearing Recommendations for all Muslim disposal shoe coverings as used by officers and staff some forensics staff. This should be

„ Local agreement with supervision at the discretion of the individual should be arranged regarding officer, who will be best placed to abstraction for prayers. make an informed decision.

„ Early notification of leave requests „ Officers and staff perform their should be provided for days such as prayers at the rear/side of the Eid to ensure cover can be arranged. congregation to allow for easy exit if required and to also act as Recommendations for operational reassurance for the congregation, Muslim officers and staff especially at heightened times of vulnerability. „ Officers and staff are responsible for their protective equipment at all times.

„ Officers and staff take their radios with Salat in the multi-faith room in Shipley them and only switch them off during police station. the actual performance of prayers unless in urgent emergency situations.

9 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Recommendations for supervision off for Eid. If the Muslim officer or staff member is working, workplace „ Supervisors are advised to support adjustments should be considered officers and staff by allowing them at for the opportunity to be abstracted least an hour in which to travel and for the of Eid prayer at the take their lunch break. nearest location available (including

„ Muslim officers and staff wanting time for travel and time taken to to attend Friday prayers should be observe Eid). supported without adverse impact on their work entitlements/rights/ Recommendations for prayer and practices. It is advised that officers ablution facilities

and staff taking longer than an hour „ Faith rooms should be considered inclusive of travel and lunch break in all workplaces, particularly with should make up the excess time. new builds, larger stations, training premises and areas with significant „ Supervisors should consult with their numbers of Muslim officers and staff. Muslim officers and staff to see if

there are any workplace adjustments „ Provisions for prayer should be required for prayers, considering provided and the room should be fit all options available. Written for purpose. agreements should be in place to „ Ablution facilities should be ensure consistency. Leicestershire Police FHQ multi-faith considered and installed within or in room. „ Supervisors are encouraged to look close vicinity of faith rooms. favourably on requests for time

10 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) Benefits of the recommendations

„ Clear demonstration of inclusivity by forces, delivering against their equality, diversity and inclusion strategies.

„ Aid retention of officers and staff feeling a sense of belonging.

„ Lead to significant enhancement in internal trust and confidence.

„ Gives real meaning to the Peelian Principle: ‘the police are the community’, and enhances external trust and confidence, especially among disaffected communities.

„ Positive impact on recruitment campaigns.

„ Fosters good relations in line with our equality duty.

„ Greater likelihood of improved community intelligence and cooperation.

11 Prayer provisions Workplace adjustments for Muslim officers and staff Guidance from the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) About the College About the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) We’re the professional body for the police service in and Wales. NAMP was established to create a Working together with everyone stronger network for Muslim officers in policing, we share the skills and and staff to address inequality and knowledge officers and staff need to unfairness within the police service. prevent crime and keep people safe. It is a constituted body that includes police officers of all ranks, police staff, We set the standards in policing to police community support officers build and preserve public trust and and special constables. NAMP’s aims we help those in policing develop the include promoting understanding and expertise needed to meet the demands awareness of Islam, supporting learning of today and prepare for the challenges and development for its members and of the . strengthening community cohesion. college.police.uk muslim.police.uk

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