On board an Islamic cruise that attracted controversy
As the passionate wail of the azan, or Muslim call to prayer, rang through the dimming evening sky, hundreds gathered to pray on the deck of the luxury cruise ship. Singaporean Jamelah Sulaiman described the experience of performing the congregational prayer on board the Italian-owned Costa Victoria as “very special”. “It’s amazing. Even though there’s a lot of people, I don’t see anybody else. It’s just the sky and me, my creator and myself,” the 49-year-old kindergarten owner told The SundayTimes. “Praying under the stars, under the moon, it’s really beautiful.” She was among 40 Singaporeans and over 1,000 Muslims from 12 nationalities – mostly Malaysians – who went on the spiritual voyage across the Malacca Strait last week.
