Hospitals – Religious practices

Facilities

Muslims are required to pray five times a day (with some exemptions). Prayers are said while facing Mecca, which in Western Australia is located approximately west-northwest.

Prayers are usually performed on a prayer mat and include various movements such as bowing, prostrating and sitting. It is not necessary for an ill patient to make all of the usual prayer movements. Therefore, prayers can be performed in bed or while seated. Those who are not physically or medically restricted to bed may possibly find a secluded, clean and quiet place to pray in.

In practice, each hospital has its own approach regarding providing general facilities for patients and visitors who wish to perform their prayers. The following categories have been used to display the information on our Maps and List:
– Muslim prayer room is available
– Multi-faith quiet room or chapel is available for everyone
– Chapel is available
– Unknown

Before prayer, normally an ablution with water is required. If ablution with water is not medically advisable or possible, an alternative method of purification, called Tayammum, can be performed. In Tayammum, the patient strikes the palms of both hands on any unbaked earthly matter (e.g. stone) and symbolically washes in two simple steps (hands and face).

Professional guidance

Each hospital has its own approach regarding providing professional religious guidance for patients and visitors. The following categories have been used to display the information on our Maps and List:
– Your own Imam is welcome to visit
– Hospital partnership with pastoral care of other faiths is available
– Hospital pastoral care for all religious backgrounds/faiths is available
– Hospital pastoral care is available
– Unknown