Awaited Redemption

...Tuesday Night | Walid

Walid

The Mosque was packed, with people of every age, height, and skin colour.

There crowd was more then usual, and my heart did a little leap at the sight.

This much crowd only gathers at the Mosque during Ramadan Kareem. More specifically, during the last ten or five days of the sacred month.

I wondered what the occasion was today, but couldn't come up with anything.

Before I could rack my brain more for a reasonable explanation to justify the situation, I saw that the males have started to synchronize themselves in straight horizontal lines, standing shoulder to shoulder, and in parallel to the line of men ahead of them and behind them.

The prayer was about to start soon.

I plunged myself in, and stood on the last row.

I realized that there was no more space left on the sheets that were spread outside in order for the rest of the males to pray.

I spread my prayer mat vertically beside the sheet on the last row, removed my shoes, placing them on the side, going back to the prayer mat, standing tall, and getting ready to pray.

But soon before the prayer started, I saw a young teenager running towards the direction where we all were standing, getting ready to pray.

I knew that there was no space left on the sheets, and the boy wouldn't be able to find himself any.

I moved backwards and off the prayer mat, I picked the prayer mat up, and laid it down horizontally on the ground again, making place for the boy to pray beside me.

I went over to him; who was wearing a white shirt and dark jeans, his head was tilted and he was standing on the toes of his shoes.

Most likely looking for an empty space to pray. I slightly tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned.

I was met with forest green eyes, shaded with confusion.

"Yes?" The boy asked.

"Asalam O Alikum. Looking for a place to pray right?" I asked the boy, just to confirm my assumption.

He nodded his head then said, "Is there any space left?"

I smiled, "Yes, there is space beside me."

He smiled back, and we both started walking towards the last row.

The boy looked at the prayer mat when we reached it. He looked towards me then raised his eyebrows.

"We can share." I explained quickly.

He looked at me and nodded.

And his eyes, they smiled.

We both stood on the prayer mat, and the prayer soon started.

I lost myself in the heart wrenching sweetness of His words. The All Mighty's words.

The peace that overcame my heart when I touched my nose and my forehead to the ground.

Relishing the moment as I praised Him.

How ironic it was that the only time excessive peace enters the premises of heart is when there is no ounce of ego left within.

The ego that is willingly destroyed day and night as the believer bows down and places their nose on the ground in front of their Lord.

Only their Lord. The Most Beneficent and The Most Merciful.

But the most beautiful thing about this ordeal is that as much as you bow down to the Lord and obey His decree, you get as much elevated in this world as well as the next.