Bayern Munich builds an Islamic mosque on its stadium

Munich, NU Online
Bayern Munich, champion of German football Bundesliga, has decided to build a mosque in the Allianz Arena stadium to serve its Muslim players and fans.<>

The request was originally made by Bayern Munich Muslim midfielder Bilal Franck Ribery who asked for specifying a small room for Muslim players’ prayers.

To his surprise, the club administration approved the construction of a mosque in the Alaleanz Arena stronghold of the Bavarian club.

The new mosque would serve Muslim players and fans with a full time imam, an Islamic library and Islamic sessions.

The administration also announced that they will finance 85% of the costs of the building, leaving 15% to Muslim players and fans who want to participate in the mosque.

The news about the new mosque were made public via the club's official site.

Ribery, the Bayern Munich midfielder, is believed to have reverted to Islam in 2006 after marrying a Muslim woman of Moroccan origin.

Though he rarely speaks about his faith, Ribery recently told Le Paris Match magazine that he felt “safe” with Islam.

Bayern is not the first European club to build a mosque for its Muslim players after new Castle United specified a prayer room for Muslim players.

There are seven Muslim players in the leading British football club.

Muslims pray five times a day, with each prayer made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a rak‘ah.

The five prayer times are divided all through the day which starts with Fajr prayer at dawn. 

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq