There is certainly no shortage of mosques in most of Indonesia, but one woman decided she was going to pray in the middle of the road despite heavy traffic in a video that has gone viral recently.
The video, which was taken last Friday, shows a woman in full Islamic prayer garb performing the Salat on a prayer mat in the middle of the road. Instead of escorting her away from the dangerous situation, a soldier stood right by her, making sure that she isn’t hit by moving vehicles.
As confirmed by local police, the video was taken in Tulungagung, East Java. The police say they believe the woman, who hails from a nearby village, is suffering from mental issues as she has not been able to fulfill her lifelong obsession of going on Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
“We suspect she was depressed,” Tulungagung Police Spokesperson Endro told Tribun.
Endro added that the woman prayed at the exact same spot some time ago and that she was escorted home by the police.
Praying in a public space is permissible in Islam, provided that it poses no danger and inconvenience to oneself or others. That said, the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) said there must be a good reason to do so (such as the absence of a mosque or time constraints), and warned against using prayer as a means to achieve fame.
