Friday Prayer

Today was the first Friday of the Holy month Ramadan ( the rest eleven are unholy ). The imam was adamant that the Satan has been bounded with chains and the doors of blessings have been let open. If this is the case then all the sins committed during this and all the Ramadans before have been solely committed by humans. Sheesh ! Now that's a scary thought. We are capable of pretty vile things. Aren't we?

The mosque ( masjid farishton wali ) was clogged. Surprisingly the very first row on the first floor was completely empty. As soon as I stepped onto it, thinking that rest of the sheep ( read Muslims ) will follow suit, a very firm voice halted me. " This row is in front of the imam ( who is on the ground floor )", a man in the back row announced. Of course I wasn't expecting now that he would move aside to make space for me or at least point to some vacant area. He kept sitting there with rest of the sheep (read Muslims again) nodding in a retarded sort of way.

It's not the first time something similar to this has happened. On another occasion during the Eid prayer sermon, the imam told the whole gathering that a madarassah has been established with the donation of some notable figures of the area ( heavy donators). It was announced, without even a hint of consideration that people from all walks of life were gathered there, that only children of educated families will be allowed to this institution. Just because that they may send their children without fearing that they might have to mix with children who usually turn towards madrassahs due to lack of financial support.

It's Brahamans and Shuddars all over again. In today's world a mindset like this can even make a cave man blush.