(WASHINGTON D.C., 8/18/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a template letter for American Muslim parents to request school officials provide Muslim students religious accommodations for daily early afternoon prayer (Dhuhr prayer) at school and requesting leave on Friday to attend Friday Muslim congregational prayer, or Jummah.
[NOTE: Dhuhr prayer is the second Islamic prayer of the day that starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith. Jummah is the congregational prayer Muslims hold every Friday during the afternoon instead of the Dhuhr prayer.]
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE LETTER TO SCHOOL OFFICALS.
In a statement, CAIR Director of Government Affairs Robert S. McCaw said:
“It is important for schools across the country to accommodate the sincerely-held religious beliefs and practices of American Muslim students and faculty. Schools providing space of early afternoon prayer and excused leave for Friday congregational afternoon prayer are protected by the U.S. Constitution and reflect our nation’s value of religious freedom. We urge all Muslim parents whose children attend schools that do not already have formal prayer spaces or a leave policy for Friday congregational prayer to contact their schools and request that their children be accommodated.”
TEXT OF CAIR’S TEMPLATE MESSAGE TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR MUSLIM PARENTS TO REQUEST AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY PRAYER ACCOMODATIONS:
[DATE]
PRINCIPAL/SUPERINTENDENT
SCHOOL NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
EMAIL | PHONE
RE: School Early Afternoon and Friday Prayer Accommodation Request
Dear [PRINCIPAL/SUPERINTENDENT]:
My name is [your name], and I am the parent of [student name], grade [number], at [school name]. [Student name] is Muslim, and our family seeks an accommodation for [him/her] to pray their daily early afternoon (Dhuhr) prayer, in a quiet and respectful place, at the school’s premise, with other Muslim students.
Our family also requests [student name] be granted temporary leave, from the school’s premise, accompanying me [or another listed family member] to attend Friday afternoon (Jummah) congregational prayer at our local Islamic center.
I am requesting that this momentary leave for Friday Jummah prayer be recorded by the school as an excused absence. [Student name] would leave the school from [X:XX AM/PM] and return at [X:XX AM/PM], to make their Jummah prayer in accordance with [his/her] sincerely held religious beliefs. [Optional: Another option would be to allow Muslim students on campus lead their own Friday congregational prayer.]
Dhuhr prayer is the second Islamic prayer of the day that starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith. Jummah is the congregational prayer Muslims hold every Friday during the afternoon instead of the Dhuhr prayer.
Many school districts across the country work to ensure that Muslim students have access to religious accommodations, as required by federal and state law, for religious clothing and attire, prayer during school hours, meal accommodations, observing fasting, and attending Friday congregational prayers.
Because Islamic prayer times themselves are dictated by the position of the sun, including the daily early afternoon prayer and the Jummah prayer, our family will make sure to send an updated letter in the fall, winter, and spring to adjust the time frame for these requested accommodations.
For decades, courts have agreed that these breaks are reasonable and do not pose an unreasonable burden. As the parent of [student name], I request that they be allowed to observe their daily and Friday congregational prayers in accordance with their beliefs and well-established law. Allowing brief breaks for prayer during the day is reasonable and will not interrupt school and other administrative functions.
Any schoolwork missed or tests can be made up. Please do not hesitate to contact me to further discuss providing these accommodations while continuing to promote a safe and supportive school environment.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[PARENT NAME]
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
EMAIL | PHONE
— END OF LETTER —
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com