Just to reinforce the rumour. I was at the airport this thursday waiting for a flight and i got talking to some qatari and uae businessmen. Amongst other things, they were discussing this and a qatari (seemed quite an important guy) was quite confident that sat/sun would become the weekend. He also said that its being discussed that friday would be a 3 or 4 hour day with an hour extra worked over each of the remaining working days.
You've still demolished it as a family day......now the whole muslim population of qatar need to change their family day to Saturday or Sunday........I truely believe the saying that goes ''if it ain't broke don't fix it'' or something like that!!!
Why meddle with something that's been working fine for ages.....nothing good will come out of it..lili.
Dentist, No problem with that on Friday, maybe the Friday work day could start at 13:00 till 21:00 and we could still be off Sat & Sun. That would also help with the time difference.
Being out around town on Friday afternoon and evening, there are a lot of people out wanting to shop and do other things so Friday after lunch seems to be a regular day for other activities. There are sporting events on Friday. The only problem seems to be Friday morning, just move everything back a few hours.
I respect your freedom of speach and I also enjoy practicing it.
I just wanted you to understand that my enthusiasm is not out being an extremist or fanatic...I (like many other arabs) was raised with the cultural and religious belief that Friday is a religious day were we should get up early enough in the morning to read some Quran and then take a shower (it's a Sunna) and then go early to the mosque and attend the prayer then may be a preach or a lesson after the prayer.
I just don't think many people will be able to practice their religious ceremonies under the pressure of a working day especially.
I understand the point that tries to justify the change that's it's better for the economy or banks or whatever...
but actually this same point brings to my mind other very reasonable questions: (and I am asking these questions to the ones responsible for making that decision of changing the weekend):
1-How would overcome the problem of time difference, for example work starts here at 8:00 am , that would be 5:00 am GMT while in washington it would be 12 midnight!!!! So you are still losing common timing with many countries!!!!
2-What about losing trade with other arab countries??!!! I know it might not be that big trade as with Europe but you will difinitely lose a whole day of work with other arab countries.
Lastly I would just to add an advice to the leaders of this country,it's a Hadith (Saying) said by Prophet (spelling!!!!) Mohamed (Peace be upon him) and it could be translated as "This who initiates a good deed will benefit it's good return and will get the credit for the good returned to anyone who follows it, and this who initiates a bad deed will suffer the bad consequesnces of it and will be blamed for the consequesnces caused to anyone who follows it"
Dentist, I don't take anything personal, I like a good discussion, I like people that can aurge their points without getting upset. That is what "freedom of speech" is all about, being able to have an opinion, without having to ask the Govt or the Church or your husband/wife if it is OK.
I actually don't care for my personal work week, but I do know that in trying to get local banks to do things overseas, it takes extra days because of the time and work week differences. I really don't see this as a contest between East&West, I see it as a contest as to having power. Both Western & Eastern religions want to be in charge. I want both to leave me alone.
Dentist, I don't take anything personal, I like a good discussion, I like people that can aurge their points without getting upset. That is what "freedom of speech" is all about, being able to have an opinion, without having to ask the Govt or the Church or your husband/wife if it is OK.
I actually don't care for my personal work week, but I do know that in trying to get local banks to do things overseas, it takes extra days because of the time and work week differences. I really don't see this as a contest between East&West, I see it as a contest as to having power. Both Western & Eastern religions want to be in charge. I want both to leave me alone.
Please stop blaming the west for the change. This is not about the west trying to erase Islam from Muslim countries. Certainly the theory that the west wants to take your identity away is totally unfunded. Please. That comment is beyond what I consider norma,l common sense, reasoning.
Personally I think it shouldn't be changed. Business and international trade should be doing well with only 4 days a week, I don't think one more day (fridays) will make much of a difference. I would rather work towards improving services, time keeping and efficiency at the work place, as well as labour laws, which seem to be a common problem here.
This argument is not personal and I hope we can keep it this way.
I've learnt a lot from the US and I owe a lot to that country, I'm still touch with many of my friends there, they were very civilised and we had mutual understanding and always enjoyed the mature discussions.
I still insist that the "Trinity" channel represents an extreme perspective of the west for the Arab world.
Just for the record, I work 5 days full time and I am always on-call on the weekends...so my working hours will not be much affected by the change of weekend.
But instead of arguing about a silly idea and trying to make up silly excuses like trade and industry and overseas call centers let's just start by asking "Why YES "??!!!!
What makes a country changes the weekend??? this means a hell of procedures and change in every aspect of the nation's life...what purpose would that serve??!!!
That's a confusing comment....I don't think the idea for changing the work week is coming from the "West" as you imply..... Who is this they that is trying to take away the local identity..... I thought the rumor mill said that it was the local government that wanted the change.
Since Carrefour is open 7 days a week and only shuts down for a couple of hours on Friday, why can't the rest of the country do the same thing. If you visit City Center on Friday morning, you will find many differnet countries represented, including Qatar.
Maybe we need laws to shut down everything on Friday so that all families can spend time together. It seems that it is only a good idea as it applies to certain areas or people. If it is right and a good idea, it should apply to all areas.
Personally i don't think Qatar wants to be the singled out as the first Arabic Muslim nation to walk away from Friday. It will only attract attention... bad publicity and trouble. Friday and Saturday weekend is a good compromise for the business community, regardless of how far your trading partners are located. On the other hand, supertanker operations for oil or LNG, must be runnig around the clock anyway?
I can tell you in the case of Algeria, the weekend is Thursday and Friday for everybody. This country trades heavily with France, and to a lesser degree with Spain and Italy. They are cut-off completely from their trading partners for 4 full days a week (with no time difference issue in this case), it is absolute hell for communications and for achieving anything in a timely manner... but they don't seem to care!
Dweller, how is it in Turkey? although it's not an Arabic nation, but nevertheless a Muslim one.
It is an interesting topic to argue about, it seems they are taking our identity off step by step starting from the education and now the Friday ... etc
I have a good idea ....
Why don't the west change their off days to Thursday and Friday ;)
Lets see how they would react about an idea like this.
When the industry calls for different working hours to the norm, then that industry should have its own hours. You can maintain a five day week (sun-thu) and have extra shifts for required coverage. I dont see why everyone has to work the same hours because some industries need to work fridays.
People work fridays and saturdays here already because the service is required (hospitals, restaurants, police, retail outlets etc etc). If businesses need to work these days its upto them. It shouldnt be enforced on everyone.
This idea was "rumoured" in the UAE several years ago and it was downed in flames because there was alot of religious backlash. The argument was that "how can a muslim country make the jewish and christian sabbaths a holiday and ignore the muslim friday?" which i think is a legitimate concern.
I am fully in support of a 3 day weekend fri-sun :)
If you think the west is the "Trinity Channel", you didn't learn much while studying in the states. That is like saying when the leader of Iran speaks, he is all of the middle east.
Since you only heard the story and seem to believe it, can I tell you another story that what you heard was an "Urban Myth". No truth to it.
As for the time difference, US companies run longer hours for some staff so that both coasts (4 hour time difference) can do business. Do you think the outsourced call centers in India close down or run for all time zones.
Well Dentist, Others I gues the point is geetig obfuscated. In my opinion its not about West - its about being able to do business and transactions whenever the scope arises. Washington is an icon, there is considerable business in china, India and even the Far East other than West. With technology now aiding 24 hr business - that is what needs to be harnessed while allowing for individual prefrences in religious practices. I'm an Indian and in India there is a now a parallel office at night in most metros due to BPO business (this is an example of trying to harness business oppurtunities)
For those who think it's the Global trade that justifies changing the weekend:
so what do you suggest we should do to overcome the time difference between Doha and Washington or NewYork??? According to what you say we should make our working hours start at 3:00 pm and end at 11:00 pm !!!!!!!!! May be this would guarantee us the best efficiency or communication!!!!!
We always have a choice, may be you mean we don't have a power, i agree with that...but you definitely have a choice to agree or disagree....this is how nations make their own destiny.
I remember i said "I once heard a story", so i didn't read it, please read carefully before you comment.
Please don't make me sound like a fanatic, I don't believe anyone should be erased from this world...but if you wanna know where i got this idea about how the west thinks!!! Well, i got my postgraduate from the US , i lived there for 4 years and i guess i've watched too much of the "Trinity" channel ;)
I think this is an joke, there was no mention in the paper and it will never happen. In the UAE, they have thursday and friday off and everyone is content with that regardless of the international business community.
Dentist, I would like to see some place where you heard this story, sounds made up to me.
"I once heard a story about a parliament member of the British government he stood infront of the whole house and made it clear "If we are to defeat the Islamic fast growing rate then there are two things we need to erase from the muslim's minds; Quran and Friday prayer"."
I believe that this is another urban myth. The West is not out to get Islam. There maybe a few crackpots that believe something like that, just as there are some Arab crackpots who want to wipe out the West.
Why people can't leave each other alone is beyond me, more people are killed in the name of religion than any other reason.
;'( welll dentist, we don't seem to have much of a choice here, do we?..They won't care what we think, they never did...But If that's what it's all about I hope they get some kind of contrary reaction by Muslims..maybe parents will care more about teaching their kids Islam..
Anyway, This religion will never be earased , my brother
To make it clear I never claimed it's against Islamic religion to work on Friday, I only said it's a big step ahead for erasing this Islamic pillar from our kids minds..it first starts by making fridays a half working day then it ends by making it a full day (especially private sector) and give you the choice whether you would like to go for prayer then come back and stay late at work to finish what you are supposed to do.
I once heard a story about a parliament member of the British government he stood infront of the whole house and made it clear "If we are to defeat the Islamic fast growing rate then there are two things we need to erase from the muslim's minds; Quran and Friday prayer".
I think this man is absolutely right about what he said.
Yes aisha they propose to make friday a half day and add an extra hour to the rest of the week days to compensate....personally i think it's ridiculus....as dentist mentioned it's not only a day of prayer but a family day where the entire family gets together for a big lunch...it's the muslim communities weekend celebration...their reason is commerce...well loads of arab countries...very trade orientde arab countries like Lebanon & Dubai to name a few have no problem with Friday being a holiday.lili.
Dentist's quote "It's a serious rumour" about sums it up.
Qatar is governed by rumour. If reaction to the rumour is bad then nothing will happen if there is little or no reaction to the rumour, then it will come to pass.
wellll I heared that the Fridays will be shorter ..schools and other places will be closed by noon,(as a result, the other weekdays will be looonger :( ) .. it will be easier to attend the Friday prayer right after the school.Everybody will be able to attend it...they have a hell of choice , my brothers..
It's not against Islam to work on Fridays, it's just against it when its time of the special prayer and the Friday sermon which takes like 15 minutes in average..
yes, it feels bad right now to expect such a thing but it's for our good and our country's good I geuss!.. I dunno!
Well Lilpink, i think its a nice idea but i think its somehow hard specially here in qatar, for example inlebanon we used to have holiday Friday and Sunday , friday becoz for the muslims and sunday for the christians so i think its somehow hard in qatar eventhought its a good idea
by the way nice topic keep shooting us with ur topics
I don't want to stop anyone, much less the majority Muslim population in Qatar from practicing their religion. Things close down for a couple of hours most days, why not close on Friday for worship, then run a workday. Most businesses now allow time for prayers during the day, same thing. If you want real MAJORITY rule, then we would all have to be Muslim to work here. It does not matter to me which days I work, it does not matter to me which days other people work, but to be part of a world economy, some things might have to change.
That is a decision for the leaders, maybe this will be like the smoking law, it does not apply to locals. They seem to disregard the laws anyway.
growing up in the west, you are right that individuals do have the right to choose what to do with their Sundays whether it is religious or otherwise. However, your argument just denied that right to the majority Muslim population that resides in Qatar. If they were made to work on Fridays they would not have the choice to attend religious ceremonies, etc. And the majority of persons here in Qatar would choose to attend their Friday mass as they presently do so.
Thus, allowing one faith in part of the world to "choose" makes sense, but why not another faith in another part of the world?
The Monday to Friday work week would remove choice and restrict those who do want to practice their religion. As again should be mentioned the Muslims are the majority and we should be more sensitive to their needs. As in the west we do have Sundays off in order to be sensitive to our Christian majority.
If Qatar is going to join the World Economy they can't keep interacting with the World Economy only 4 days per week. Right now the main players, banks, businesses, etc operate on a Monday to Friday week. I am sorry that this is the way it is.
I don't think it is a step to erasing anyone's religion, religion is in the heart and mind of each indiviual, the government can't make or stop religion. It is up to the parents to maintain the traditions in their kids minds, not the government's job.
Sunday in the west is up to each person as how they spend that day, the government should not be making religious decisions for the people. Everyone is wants the decisions to be made a certain way, but even different parts of the same religion can't agree on some things so it should be left to the person.
It's a serious rumour that I think will become a fact very soon.
Theis is how governments usually make decisions in the middle east, they burst a bubble of rumours and they let it spread...no confirmation and no denial...they stay quiet....they remain calm...no comments made from the government....
And once they believe every one has expressed his anger already...they declare it officially and it becomes a fact.
I personally think this is a big step ahead in erasing the islamic religion and traditions from our kids minds.
Friday not only that it is the day of Friday prayer but also it has forever been a weekly celebration of families and a day for prayers and remembering God (Just like how sunday is in the west)
I hope the Qatarie government lets me down and this all it a rumour
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Just to reinforce the rumour. I was at the airport this thursday waiting for a flight and i got talking to some qatari and uae businessmen. Amongst other things, they were discussing this and a qatari (seemed quite an important guy) was quite confident that sat/sun would become the weekend. He also said that its being discussed that friday would be a 3 or 4 hour day with an hour extra worked over each of the remaining working days.
Respect
GIASI
You've still demolished it as a family day......now the whole muslim population of qatar need to change their family day to Saturday or Sunday........I truely believe the saying that goes ''if it ain't broke don't fix it'' or something like that!!!
Why meddle with something that's been working fine for ages.....nothing good will come out of it..lili.
This won't hurt...
Dentist, No problem with that on Friday, maybe the Friday work day could start at 13:00 till 21:00 and we could still be off Sat & Sun. That would also help with the time difference.
Being out around town on Friday afternoon and evening, there are a lot of people out wanting to shop and do other things so Friday after lunch seems to be a regular day for other activities. There are sporting events on Friday. The only problem seems to be Friday morning, just move everything back a few hours.
Well said Dentist...
Ayman
HelloQatar,
I respect your freedom of speach and I also enjoy practicing it.
I just wanted you to understand that my enthusiasm is not out being an extremist or fanatic...I (like many other arabs) was raised with the cultural and religious belief that Friday is a religious day were we should get up early enough in the morning to read some Quran and then take a shower (it's a Sunna) and then go early to the mosque and attend the prayer then may be a preach or a lesson after the prayer.
I just don't think many people will be able to practice their religious ceremonies under the pressure of a working day especially.
Regards
I understand the point that tries to justify the change that's it's better for the economy or banks or whatever...
but actually this same point brings to my mind other very reasonable questions: (and I am asking these questions to the ones responsible for making that decision of changing the weekend):
1-How would overcome the problem of time difference, for example work starts here at 8:00 am , that would be 5:00 am GMT while in washington it would be 12 midnight!!!! So you are still losing common timing with many countries!!!!
2-What about losing trade with other arab countries??!!! I know it might not be that big trade as with Europe but you will difinitely lose a whole day of work with other arab countries.
Lastly I would just to add an advice to the leaders of this country,it's a Hadith (Saying) said by Prophet (spelling!!!!) Mohamed (Peace be upon him) and it could be translated as "This who initiates a good deed will benefit it's good return and will get the credit for the good returned to anyone who follows it, and this who initiates a bad deed will suffer the bad consequesnces of it and will be blamed for the consequesnces caused to anyone who follows it"
Dentist, I don't take anything personal, I like a good discussion, I like people that can aurge their points without getting upset. That is what "freedom of speech" is all about, being able to have an opinion, without having to ask the Govt or the Church or your husband/wife if it is OK.
I actually don't care for my personal work week, but I do know that in trying to get local banks to do things overseas, it takes extra days because of the time and work week differences. I really don't see this as a contest between East&West, I see it as a contest as to having power. Both Western & Eastern religions want to be in charge. I want both to leave me alone.
Dentist, I don't take anything personal, I like a good discussion, I like people that can aurge their points without getting upset. That is what "freedom of speech" is all about, being able to have an opinion, without having to ask the Govt or the Church or your husband/wife if it is OK.
I actually don't care for my personal work week, but I do know that in trying to get local banks to do things overseas, it takes extra days because of the time and work week differences. I really don't see this as a contest between East&West, I see it as a contest as to having power. Both Western & Eastern religions want to be in charge. I want both to leave me alone.
Let's not forget that it's not many years since Qatar changed its weekend from Thursday/ Friday to Friday/Saturday
Oh yeahhh, I think the theory of taking the identity is right.Not only the fridays..It's so many other things that can seen by the blind.
Please stop blaming the west for the change. This is not about the west trying to erase Islam from Muslim countries. Certainly the theory that the west wants to take your identity away is totally unfunded. Please. That comment is beyond what I consider norma,l common sense, reasoning.
Personally I think it shouldn't be changed. Business and international trade should be doing well with only 4 days a week, I don't think one more day (fridays) will make much of a difference. I would rather work towards improving services, time keeping and efficiency at the work place, as well as labour laws, which seem to be a common problem here.
HelloQatar,
This argument is not personal and I hope we can keep it this way.
I've learnt a lot from the US and I owe a lot to that country, I'm still touch with many of my friends there, they were very civilised and we had mutual understanding and always enjoyed the mature discussions.
I still insist that the "Trinity" channel represents an extreme perspective of the west for the Arab world.
Just for the record, I work 5 days full time and I am always on-call on the weekends...so my working hours will not be much affected by the change of weekend.
But instead of arguing about a silly idea and trying to make up silly excuses like trade and industry and overseas call centers let's just start by asking "Why YES "??!!!!
What makes a country changes the weekend??? this means a hell of procedures and change in every aspect of the nation's life...what purpose would that serve??!!!
KaZaNoVa
guys n Girls we r in Qatar ======> which means no way they will make friday a half day work........
That's a confusing comment....I don't think the idea for changing the work week is coming from the "West" as you imply..... Who is this they that is trying to take away the local identity..... I thought the rumor mill said that it was the local government that wanted the change.
Since Carrefour is open 7 days a week and only shuts down for a couple of hours on Friday, why can't the rest of the country do the same thing. If you visit City Center on Friday morning, you will find many differnet countries represented, including Qatar.
Maybe we need laws to shut down everything on Friday so that all families can spend time together. It seems that it is only a good idea as it applies to certain areas or people. If it is right and a good idea, it should apply to all areas.
Personally i don't think Qatar wants to be the singled out as the first Arabic Muslim nation to walk away from Friday. It will only attract attention... bad publicity and trouble. Friday and Saturday weekend is a good compromise for the business community, regardless of how far your trading partners are located. On the other hand, supertanker operations for oil or LNG, must be runnig around the clock anyway?
I can tell you in the case of Algeria, the weekend is Thursday and Friday for everybody. This country trades heavily with France, and to a lesser degree with Spain and Italy. They are cut-off completely from their trading partners for 4 full days a week (with no time difference issue in this case), it is absolute hell for communications and for achieving anything in a timely manner... but they don't seem to care!
Dweller, how is it in Turkey? although it's not an Arabic nation, but nevertheless a Muslim one.
Moudir
It is an interesting topic to argue about, it seems they are taking our identity off step by step starting from the education and now the Friday ... etc
I have a good idea ....
Why don't the west change their off days to Thursday and Friday ;)
Lets see how they would react about an idea like this.
Ayman
It's not an april fools prank i assure u!!!!.lili.
AusM,
Not everyone in Dubai gets the Thursday/Friday off.
Some get Friday/Sunday and some actually get Saturday/Sunday. It depends largely in which field they are working.
It has also just hit me that the original comment was posted on April 1st.
When the industry calls for different working hours to the norm, then that industry should have its own hours. You can maintain a five day week (sun-thu) and have extra shifts for required coverage. I dont see why everyone has to work the same hours because some industries need to work fridays.
People work fridays and saturdays here already because the service is required (hospitals, restaurants, police, retail outlets etc etc). If businesses need to work these days its upto them. It shouldnt be enforced on everyone.
This idea was "rumoured" in the UAE several years ago and it was downed in flames because there was alot of religious backlash. The argument was that "how can a muslim country make the jewish and christian sabbaths a holiday and ignore the muslim friday?" which i think is a legitimate concern.
I am fully in support of a 3 day weekend fri-sun :)
Respect
GIASI
Dentist,
If you think the west is the "Trinity Channel", you didn't learn much while studying in the states. That is like saying when the leader of Iran speaks, he is all of the middle east.
Since you only heard the story and seem to believe it, can I tell you another story that what you heard was an "Urban Myth". No truth to it.
As for the time difference, US companies run longer hours for some staff so that both coasts (4 hour time difference) can do business. Do you think the outsourced call centers in India close down or run for all time zones.
Well Dentist, Others I gues the point is geetig obfuscated. In my opinion its not about West - its about being able to do business and transactions whenever the scope arises. Washington is an icon, there is considerable business in china, India and even the Far East other than West. With technology now aiding 24 hr business - that is what needs to be harnessed while allowing for individual prefrences in religious practices. I'm an Indian and in India there is a now a parallel office at night in most metros due to BPO business (this is an example of trying to harness business oppurtunities)
loool :-) good argument!
For those who think it's the Global trade that justifies changing the weekend:
so what do you suggest we should do to overcome the time difference between Doha and Washington or NewYork??? According to what you say we should make our working hours start at 3:00 pm and end at 11:00 pm !!!!!!!!! May be this would guarantee us the best efficiency or communication!!!!!
Aisha,
We always have a choice, may be you mean we don't have a power, i agree with that...but you definitely have a choice to agree or disagree....this is how nations make their own destiny.
HelloQatar,
I remember i said "I once heard a story", so i didn't read it, please read carefully before you comment.
Please don't make me sound like a fanatic, I don't believe anyone should be erased from this world...but if you wanna know where i got this idea about how the west thinks!!! Well, i got my postgraduate from the US , i lived there for 4 years and i guess i've watched too much of the "Trinity" channel ;)
I heard it being said as fact actually where i work....they must have got it from somewhere.lili.
I think this is an joke, there was no mention in the paper and it will never happen. In the UAE, they have thursday and friday off and everyone is content with that regardless of the international business community.
Dentist, I would like to see some place where you heard this story, sounds made up to me.
"I once heard a story about a parliament member of the British government he stood infront of the whole house and made it clear "If we are to defeat the Islamic fast growing rate then there are two things we need to erase from the muslim's minds; Quran and Friday prayer"."
I believe that this is another urban myth. The West is not out to get Islam. There maybe a few crackpots that believe something like that, just as there are some Arab crackpots who want to wipe out the West.
Why people can't leave each other alone is beyond me, more people are killed in the name of religion than any other reason.
;'( welll dentist, we don't seem to have much of a choice here, do we?..They won't care what we think, they never did...But If that's what it's all about I hope they get some kind of contrary reaction by Muslims..maybe parents will care more about teaching their kids Islam..
Anyway, This religion will never be earased , my brother
! (Yoreedoon leyo6fe2oo noor Allah? :-) )
I think if qataris object they should do something constructive and make their voices heard.lili.
To make it clear I never claimed it's against Islamic religion to work on Friday, I only said it's a big step ahead for erasing this Islamic pillar from our kids minds..it first starts by making fridays a half working day then it ends by making it a full day (especially private sector) and give you the choice whether you would like to go for prayer then come back and stay late at work to finish what you are supposed to do.
I once heard a story about a parliament member of the British government he stood infront of the whole house and made it clear "If we are to defeat the Islamic fast growing rate then there are two things we need to erase from the muslim's minds; Quran and Friday prayer".
I think this man is absolutely right about what he said.
Yes aisha they propose to make friday a half day and add an extra hour to the rest of the week days to compensate....personally i think it's ridiculus....as dentist mentioned it's not only a day of prayer but a family day where the entire family gets together for a big lunch...it's the muslim communities weekend celebration...their reason is commerce...well loads of arab countries...very trade orientde arab countries like Lebanon & Dubai to name a few have no problem with Friday being a holiday.lili.
Dentist's quote "It's a serious rumour" about sums it up.
Qatar is governed by rumour. If reaction to the rumour is bad then nothing will happen if there is little or no reaction to the rumour, then it will come to pass.
Personally I think it would be a good idea.
Hi,
wellll I heared that the Fridays will be shorter ..schools and other places will be closed by noon,(as a result, the other weekdays will be looonger :( ) .. it will be easier to attend the Friday prayer right after the school.Everybody will be able to attend it...they have a hell of choice , my brothers..
It's not against Islam to work on Fridays, it's just against it when its time of the special prayer and the Friday sermon which takes like 15 minutes in average..
yes, it feels bad right now to expect such a thing but it's for our good and our country's good I geuss!.. I dunno!
KaZaNoVa
Well Lilpink, i think its a nice idea but i think its somehow hard specially here in qatar, for example inlebanon we used to have holiday Friday and Sunday , friday becoz for the muslims and sunday for the christians so i think its somehow hard in qatar eventhought its a good idea
by the way nice topic keep shooting us with ur topics
best regards
Kamal
I don't want to stop anyone, much less the majority Muslim population in Qatar from practicing their religion. Things close down for a couple of hours most days, why not close on Friday for worship, then run a workday. Most businesses now allow time for prayers during the day, same thing. If you want real MAJORITY rule, then we would all have to be Muslim to work here. It does not matter to me which days I work, it does not matter to me which days other people work, but to be part of a world economy, some things might have to change.
That is a decision for the leaders, maybe this will be like the smoking law, it does not apply to locals. They seem to disregard the laws anyway.
HelloQatar
growing up in the west, you are right that individuals do have the right to choose what to do with their Sundays whether it is religious or otherwise. However, your argument just denied that right to the majority Muslim population that resides in Qatar. If they were made to work on Fridays they would not have the choice to attend religious ceremonies, etc. And the majority of persons here in Qatar would choose to attend their Friday mass as they presently do so.
Thus, allowing one faith in part of the world to "choose" makes sense, but why not another faith in another part of the world?
The Monday to Friday work week would remove choice and restrict those who do want to practice their religion. As again should be mentioned the Muslims are the majority and we should be more sensitive to their needs. As in the west we do have Sundays off in order to be sensitive to our Christian majority.
If Qatar is going to join the World Economy they can't keep interacting with the World Economy only 4 days per week. Right now the main players, banks, businesses, etc operate on a Monday to Friday week. I am sorry that this is the way it is.
I don't think it is a step to erasing anyone's religion, religion is in the heart and mind of each indiviual, the government can't make or stop religion. It is up to the parents to maintain the traditions in their kids minds, not the government's job.
Sunday in the west is up to each person as how they spend that day, the government should not be making religious decisions for the people. Everyone is wants the decisions to be made a certain way, but even different parts of the same religion can't agree on some things so it should be left to the person.
it's not a joke,
It's a serious rumour that I think will become a fact very soon.
Theis is how governments usually make decisions in the middle east, they burst a bubble of rumours and they let it spread...no confirmation and no denial...they stay quiet....they remain calm...no comments made from the government....
And once they believe every one has expressed his anger already...they declare it officially and it becomes a fact.
I personally think this is a big step ahead in erasing the islamic religion and traditions from our kids minds.
Friday not only that it is the day of Friday prayer but also it has forever been a weekly celebration of families and a day for prayers and remembering God (Just like how sunday is in the west)
I hope the Qatarie government lets me down and this all it a rumour
Great ! I feel closer to my home. hehe.
It's just a joke or they changed to Sat and Sun ?