Thanks to you too GD

Submitted by Muhammad (Indonesia), Feb 17, 2008 at 16:22

Well, I'am glad that you are satisfied with my response on Madrasah. I don't have the luxury to be online most of the time and this is part of the reason for my late responses. There's no complain in my part of the moderation for posting here. There are "Terrorists" (spams and the like) in the internet too and am sure we're all glad for the moderations. I am still trying to know how the AntiWikipedia discussion page should be used so we can use it for more OT issues. Looking forward to it.

You are right. In the ABC's shorter clip (Obama Debunks Muslim School Claim), Mr Obama did make it clear quote "When I was six, I attended an Indonesian Public school..eh..where a bunch of kids were Moslems because the country is ninety percent Moslems".

During my elementary school days, I don't recall learning by practising the ritual prayer (salat or salah) in the classroom. Before school age, I would sometimes immitate what my mother or father did while they were praying. Later in the classroom, the teacher would teach only the recitations and their meanings. So basically, I was learning it by doing. As shown at the ABC's video we discussed, it seems that today's students learn the ritual too.

At least at the public school the video was shot. I don't know wether it was performed at a classroom (not necessarily directed to Mecca) or at the school Mushalla (a small Mosque) shown at the begining of the clip. Most public schools here do not have their own Musholla but should it be performed in the classroom, the direction should still be towards Mecca since it is part of the ritual.

A small note, originally, the prayer was directed towards Jerusalem but later, God commanded the prophet to change it towards Mecca. Wouldn't it be interesting if today, Muslims still pray towards Jerusalem? I hope this is a clear sign that Muslims are not supposed to have any war with the Jewish people or vice versa, nor against any other people.

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