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Some cars in arab countries have a feature where the "travel prayer" is recited via the speakers upon starting the car. It takes about one minute [1]. Fortunate

Some cars in arab countries have a feature where the "travel prayer" is recited via the speakers upon starting the car. It takes about one minute [1]. Fortunately our company car hat a button to turn the feature off. Of course we always turned it back on to annoy the next (non-muslim western) car user. Saudi airlines also plays the prayer (or used to?), however by someone with a really deep voice and with cave-like reverb, which made is sound quite unlike any other airplane announcement. [2] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGCPtF6XVIY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGCPtF6XVIY [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_TVsxFChrk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_TVsxFChrk

adriand 5y ago
That is very funny but speaking in practical terms, and not about UX, how does a feature like this work in practice? Does Allah respond to prayers emitted by electronics? Or is the idea that the human is supposed to recite the prayer along with the recording?
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  The idea is to keep people in line within the tribe by forcing rituals.
- kylehotchkiss 5y ago
  I have the same odd question about listening to contemporary Christian radio stations - does one become holier when the music is playing instead of the top 40 pop station?
  - prepend 5y ago
    I expect it makes people happier to listen to music they enjoy. So the same as someone listening to classical stations, or country, or whatever. Maybe people enjoy hearing prayer radios. I spent time in Nepal and people would listen to recorded meditations and chants. But I didn’t hear them on the radio, it was recorded on phones and iPods and stuff.
  - mannykannot 5y ago
    For some, maybe just holier-than-thou - but then, so too can highbrow art.
- schelling42 5y ago
  The idea is to use some peoples receptivity to religion for shifting their awareness to the risks of traveling. It can also help to center thoughts, calm down, and increase mindfulness while steering the motorized vehicle, therefore decreasing traffic accidents. (I wonder whether there are studies on if this actually helps.)
  - bbarnett 5y ago
    It can also help to center thoughts, calm down Most muslims are good folk, but unfortunately there is a small radical subset which are not. I wonder if loud prayers, whist in a plane or driving tonnes of vehicle, is a good thing in their case.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - bavell 5y ago
      Most [literally any group of humans] are good folk, but unfortunately there is a small radical subset which are not. FTFY.
      - bbarnett 5y ago
        Sure. However the thread is about Islamic prayer.
      - mensetmanusman 5y ago
        Only if there is an abundance of resources…
  - adriand 5y ago
    Ah, that's interesting. Speaking from personal experience (and as an atheist, who happened to grow up in a religious household), I think many atheists are too quick to dismiss the value of rituals/prayers/meditations. As you pointed out, there can be value even if the deity to whom the prayer is offered doesn't exist or isn't listening. For example, growing up my family began and ended each meal with a prayer of, essentially, thanksgiving, with a few other requests thrown in ("keep us safe", etc.) This delimited the meal time: we were there for the duration, we all started eating together and there was no leaving before the meal had ended. I don't remember the prayer any more but I do have fond memories of family dinners, the unity and connection we all experienced during that time and the spirited conversations they featured. Prayers of thanksgiving also center the experience of eating in one of gratitude.
- rsynnott 5y ago
  Well, there's precedent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel
silicon2401 5y ago
That's quite an ominous way to have the prayer recited, like the audio for Gandalf reciting the ring inscription in black speech. I would probably feel unsettled rather than calmed hearing that before a flight.
- sterlind 5y ago
  I assume maybe if it's your language/culture/religion you'd find it soothing rather than ominous?
  - silicon2401 5y ago
    It's not about the language/religion, it's about the audio editing. I could see reverb/delay being a part of Muslim culture, but it can definitely be jarring if it's not part of the listener's culture

adriand 5y ago

That is very funny but speaking in practical terms, and not about UX, how does a feature like this work in practice? Does Allah respond to prayers emitted by electronics? Or is the idea that the human is supposed to recite the prayer along with the recording?

lotsofpulp 5y ago
The idea is to keep people in line within the tribe by forcing rituals.
kylehotchkiss 5y ago
I have the same odd question about listening to contemporary Christian radio stations - does one become holier when the music is playing instead of the top 40 pop station?
- prepend 5y ago
  I expect it makes people happier to listen to music they enjoy. So the same as someone listening to classical stations, or country, or whatever. Maybe people enjoy hearing prayer radios. I spent time in Nepal and people would listen to recorded meditations and chants. But I didn’t hear them on the radio, it was recorded on phones and iPods and stuff.
- mannykannot 5y ago
  For some, maybe just holier-than-thou - but then, so too can highbrow art.
schelling42 5y ago
The idea is to use some peoples receptivity to religion for shifting their awareness to the risks of traveling. It can also help to center thoughts, calm down, and increase mindfulness while steering the motorized vehicle, therefore decreasing traffic accidents. (I wonder whether there are studies on if this actually helps.)
- bbarnett 5y ago
  It can also help to center thoughts, calm down Most muslims are good folk, but unfortunately there is a small radical subset which are not. I wonder if loud prayers, whist in a plane or driving tonnes of vehicle, is a good thing in their case.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - bavell 5y ago
    Most [literally any group of humans] are good folk, but unfortunately there is a small radical subset which are not. FTFY.
    - bbarnett 5y ago
      Sure. However the thread is about Islamic prayer.
    - mensetmanusman 5y ago
      Only if there is an abundance of resources…
- adriand 5y ago
  Ah, that's interesting. Speaking from personal experience (and as an atheist, who happened to grow up in a religious household), I think many atheists are too quick to dismiss the value of rituals/prayers/meditations. As you pointed out, there can be value even if the deity to whom the prayer is offered doesn't exist or isn't listening. For example, growing up my family began and ended each meal with a prayer of, essentially, thanksgiving, with a few other requests thrown in ("keep us safe", etc.) This delimited the meal time: we were there for the duration, we all started eating together and there was no leaving before the meal had ended. I don't remember the prayer any more but I do have fond memories of family dinners, the unity and connection we all experienced during that time and the spirited conversations they featured. Prayers of thanksgiving also center the experience of eating in one of gratitude.
rsynnott 5y ago
Well, there's precedent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel

silicon2401 5y ago

That's quite an ominous way to have the prayer recited, like the audio for Gandalf reciting the ring inscription in black speech. I would probably feel unsettled rather than calmed hearing that before a flight.

sterlind 5y ago
I assume maybe if it's your language/culture/religion you'd find it soothing rather than ominous?
- silicon2401 5y ago
  It's not about the language/religion, it's about the audio editing. I could see reverb/delay being a part of Muslim culture, but it can definitely be jarring if it's not part of the listener's culture