Sam Klein, Editor

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University is a Catholic institution with a rich history of educating students in accordance with Lasallian values, and its founder John Baptiste de La Salle in effect. Crosses are present in just about every classroom and Christian Brothers, of whom reside on the University’s campus, work within each of La Salle’s academic buildings. 

As a result, there is no denying that the Catholic faith is a fundamental part of what makes La Salle, La Salle. Yet in a city so diverse, the University has come to recognize that their Christo-centric pride might deter students from freely and safely practicing various religions. 

In an attempt to cultivate an inclusionary space, the Interfaith Prayer Room was born. 

In partnership with Christian Brother Robert Kinzler, Assistant Vice President of Ministry, Service and Support, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) pushed for a prayer room to be integrated into Lasallian life to serve as a private space for daily prayer. 

During its first few years, however, the Interfaith Prayer Room was primarily used for religion-based classes who inhibited the space for meditation. Although still used widely for meditation today, the room is now predominantly utilized by members of MSA. 

Currently 78 self-identified Muslim students frequent the Interfaith Prayer Room, otherwise known as the Sallah Room. One such student is President of MSA Diana Alhamaiel who heard of the room through friends and relatives that previously attended La Salle. 

“The Interfaith Prayer Room is truly a special and often overlooked space,” Alhamaiel said. “It provides a peaceful sanctuary where practicing Muslims can perform their five daily prayers with comfort and tranquility.”

While prayer is fundamental to many religions, it serves as the cornerstone of the Islamic faith that requires daily and habitual prayer to connect with Allah. For this reason, the necessity for a safe and inclusive prayer space is non negotiable for many Muslim students. 

“It’s become my second home on campus,” Alhamaiel said. “Without it, I honestly don’t know where I would go to unwind and find an outlet. It’s been my anchor throughout my college years as a Muslim student.”

Alisa Macksey, Vice President for Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion at La Salle, has noticed the positive effects that the prayer room has had on students like Alhamaiel. However, she hopes to increase promotion of the Interfaith Prayer Room to La Salle’s student body to ensure students know the space is designed to be used respectfully by everyone. 

“I think that’s our responsibility as a Catholic institution to help all students explore, whether it’s spirituality or faith,” Macksey said. “Some students don’t like organized religion, and they might want to have a more spiritual life versus a traditional organized religion.”

Macksey, along with Director of Inclusion and Intercultural Engagement Cherylyn Rush, are hoping to continue improving the space by adding inclusive murals, access to water for Muslim users and increasing engagement among the student body about the room’s existence altogether.

According to both Macksey and Rush, the intended use of the space is whatever the user spiritually needs, as long as it fits within respectful confines. Whether that individual need consists of meditation, solo or group prayer, or even just a moment to breathe, the Interfaith Prayer Room is welcome to all. 

“It helps us connect to people so that they know that there are more ways than one to find that higher power, that spirituality, that… space where they can just be and celebrate their faith or non-faith,” Rush said. 

The main Interfaith Prayer Room is located opposite the De La Salle Chapel in a room originally designed for telethon services. After clearing the space out, recarpeting and repainting, the Interfaith Prayer Room was finalized in 2017 in La Salle’s College Hall where it exists today.

“I love that I walk by a space where Catholics worship to reach a place where Muslims worship,” Alhamaiel said. “Both spaces [were] created for the same ultimate purpose: to connect with the Creator and worship God.” 

An additional Interfaith Prayer Room has also been added in the Multicultural Center, located across from main campus on 20^th Street, to even further the accessibility of a safe spiritual space. 

Students can visit the Interfaith Prayer Room in College Hall as long as classes are taking place within the building from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Multicultural Center Interfaith Prayer Room is open to students during the workday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well. 

Alhamaiel encourages Muslim and students of other faiths alike to visit either Interfaith Prayer Room for the values and message it emulates to all students. 

“As a Catholic institution, I believe the Interfaith Prayer Room embodies the values I associate with the Catholic faith,” Alhamaiel said. “[These] values… have been reflected in how every brother and practicing Catholic staff member has made me feel about my own religion here at the university: accepted and welcomed.”