FLORIDA – An American Muslim photographer has published a series of photos that capture the different places US Muslims perform daily prayer, showing a wide range of Muslims praying in different places and atmospheres.
Sana Ullah told BuzzFeed that her goal is not to “flaunt the idea of piety or prayer,” but to demonstrate the ease with which Muslims pray and to portray a side of Muslim life rarely covered in media.
“(The) majority of Muslims are not the evil that hurts this world and its people on it, but rather Muslims (are) constantly taught to love it sincerely and find peace with themselves five times a day,” she added.
Ullah first got the idea for the series when her family was at the mall during prayer time and prayed in a dressing room.
Posting a wide variety of Muslim worshippers praying in different places on Instagram’s folder “Places You’ll Pray“, Ullah usually asks subjects to take them to a place they remember praying in the past, and then photographs them there.
Ullah said that she often accompanies her subjects in group prayer and then photographs them during their individual “sunnah” prayer.
“The first time I prayed here was in 7th grade with about 15 other brothers. At first, it was awkward praying in the courts, but after some time, it felt like every other salah at the masjid,” a Muslim, who was praying in a Florida basketball court, told Ullah.
For her, the photo series gave her a hope to “build a bridge of communication about Islam” while embracing her Muslim identity.
“You are your own best narrator,” she said.
“You know yourself more than anyone else and you can tell your story the best.”