Image 1 of 2

Student Ayman Bari reads the Koran in the newly opened reflection room at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. (Jeremy Blaney)

Ayman Bari, a Muslim student at Michigan State University, used to pray in the basement of the campus library at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.

“I tried to seclude myself. I wouldn’t want people to feel uncomfortable,” Bari said of his daily praying activities, which he does as many as five times per day.

Islamic prayer, also known as salat, involves a series of physical gestures and movements. Bari said when he is on campus, he typically looks for a private area in the library basement or in a stairwell to perform the daily prayers that are obligatory to the Islamic faith.

Now, however, Bari has another option. The recently opened “reflection room,” in Room 1277 of Anthony Hall, is a designated spot for prayer and meditation for people of all faiths.

Bari said he uses the room once every couple of days.

Reflection rooms are not uncommon. Most airports of major cities have them, for example, said Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islam Relations.

The reflection room at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is a plain room, which has religious books and prayer rugs, where people can say prayers. Many universities and hospitals have similar venues.

But although reflection rooms are intended for people of all faiths, many of them are used primarily by Muslims, Walid said, adding the he has never seen a person of any other faith praying in the airport reflection room.

“I personally have never seen a non-Muslim in the new reflection room at MSU,” Bari said. “I hope people of different faiths have come here.”

Michigan State University student Rebecca Sarnum has been trying to gather donations to expand the library of religious texts that are available in the reflection room at MSU.

Sarnum, a Christian, said that reflection rooms may be used more by Muslims because of the nature of Islamic prayer.

“Prayer is very much a part of who I am and what I do,” Sarnum said. “But I don’t necessarily do physical things while I pray. I may look like I’m walking to class but actually I’m having a big conversation with God in my head.”

Walid said that while working for a previous employer, he would typically pray in a private area throughout the day. But on more than one occasion, Walid recalls being asked if he was sick by people who didn’t know what he was doing.

“Part of our prayer is prostration,” said Walid.

Prayer is about separating yourself from the world and strengthening your relationship with the creator, said Sameh Musa, another Muslim student at Michigan State University.

“When you pray,” Musa said, “you’re supposed to be in a state where you’re focused. So it’s best to find a place where you won’t get distracted.”

Musa said he generally prays in an empty cubicle, stairwell, or a conference room in a building on campus. Like Walid, he has been asked if he is OK by people who did not know that he was praying.

“I see interruption as an opportunity to inform them about what I’m doing. It’s an opportunity to clear up some of the ignorance and help people expand their horizons,” Musa said.