mrislam

Praying a salah (ritual prayer) in congregation, in Bangladesh the whole congregation prays voluntary salah in the Mosque immediately after the compulsory prayers — making it difficult for anyone to walk out to pray the voluntary prayers in the optimal way, at home.

The compulsory prayer is completely in sync, more or less, and everyone prays together. The voluntary ones are prayed individually however, and it will be an assortment of people in various positions, praying at their own pace. It is incredible to find anyone who prays at the same speed as you.

I found someone like that. When I bowed, he bowed. When I prostrated, he prostrated. And we were praying at the same pace for over 10 minutes — there were so many variables, but I had found someone who is like a clone of me.

I was thinking of how I was going to greet him afterwards, and remark how remarkable our link-up was. I finished prayer a few seconds after him, but right after he picked up his shoes and left without a glance.

Then I realized — while I was busy building a relationship with him in my head, he was busy cementing his relationship with Him.