The young boy

It was almost exactly 20 years ago to the day when a young Ahmed got up before the crack of dawn to ride his bike on the empty streets of Male`. He heard his dad snore as little Ahmed strained to reach the house keys dangling a few feet above him. His parents were still sleeping and unaware of the soft clinking of the chains in Ahmed`s bicycle as he maneuvered it somewhat clumsily out of his house and into the street.

Ahmed was proud of himself; they had told him he could not ride his bike when there was traffic in the streets or at night. He had overcome these two obstacles and waited patiently outside his house for the first rays of light to hit the still sleeping community. Finally his moment had come, it was light now, well it was not night but before he could push off from the curb where his house stood an old man came walking by. The old man looked surprised at first at seeing such a young boy awake at that time but just smiled and was about to walk away when Ahmed nosy as he is asked,

Ahmed: Where are you going so early old man?

Old Man: I`m going to the mosque, for the morning prayers.

Ahmed: Ok.

But then Ahmed noticed the old man was limping, so he again asked another question.

Ahmed: Old man, you seem sick why don’t you pray at home?

Old Man: Well, it is said that every footstep however painful you take from your home to the mosque with the intention of going there to pray is rewarded by all mighty Allah.

Ahmed: So if I lived in another Island and came to Male` to pray would i get loads of points?

Old Man: Points?

Ahmed: Sawwab.

Old Man: Technically yes, but don’t you think Allah will appreciate someone who obeys him because he wants to, not to just collect 'points'?

Ahmed: I don’t know. My mom always tells me I can’t ask questions about why God did this and that. Just recite Quran and pray five times a day and I’ll go to heaven.

Old Man: and what do you think?

Ahmed: I have a lot of questions but no one seems to have the answers. For one thing in school we learn ABC and learn the language, we understand what we are saying. But when I recite Quran it has no meaning, I don’t know what I’m saying. My mom says it doesn’t matter and I’ll get Sawwab if i recite it.

Old Man: Well she is not lying about that but i understand what you mean about meaningless recitation. Do you plan to learn the Arabic language then?

Ahmed: No. Why would I, if I get points for just saying it?

The Old man starts laughing at this point.

Old Man: Yes. Why would anyone for that matter? But as you grow up you will understand something’s and something’s you won’t. Just don’t let anyone else tell you what being a Muslim is, find out for yourself.

And without another word the old man starts to walk away from Ahmed and this time Ahmed did not have any more questions for the old man, he had just remembered his mission and his new bicycle. He did however turn around to look at the old man one last time before pushing off from the curb but to his surprise the old man was gone. The old man could have turned a corner or just vanished into thin air but Ahmed did not think about the old man for a long time. It took him a little more than 20 years to fully understand what the old man had asked him to do. And even if he still did not understand what it was to be a Muslim, he had taken a few steps forward thought the 25 year old Ahmed sitting at 5 in the morning, in the mosque waiting for the morning prayer to be called.