Student’s memory highlights Allah’s love

Jameel Azher

January 1, 2011

“Don’t forget to pray,” my dad says with a soft affirming nod. His eyes fix on me gently as he hands me my plane ticket.

I am instantly brought back to a vivid memory from my childhood.

I am 7 years old. I feel the heat of the sun beating down on me. The humid air fills my lungs. I am in Saudi Arabia again.

The sun is blocked by a tall figure. I am caught in my father’s shadow. My vision slowly comes into focus and I realize that I am hearing the Athan (the call for prayer). I am at the gate of his house waiting for him to close the door. He turns to me and offers to hold my hand. I nod and extend my hand.

We walk to a mosque that is at the other end of the neighborhood. When the call for Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer is being sounded, people tend to swarm in with their vehicles, and I don’t want to get in their way.

We reach the mosque and quickly find two spots inside near the front. I watch my father sit and intently focus on the sermon. I do not understand what the Imam is saying. His voice crackles over crummy speakers, and his voice is filled with anger and disgust. He apparently views everyone as impure, because they do not meet the standards of Allah.

After the prayer is over, we begin our short walk back. I ask my father, “Why was the Imam so angry?” He replies with a frown, “Because he has no love.”

I remember my young mind trying to grasp such an essential concept. He continued: “Allah, the gracious and almighty, asks very little of you. Allah shows love through affection. It is not about the rules. It is about learning from his message. He sent the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to show the power of love, and we should learn from his example. Simply, your salvation is love — the amount of good and positive deeds you give to humanity.”

I remember that day vividly because I learned something very valuable.

For me, prayer is such a little task to uphold. In fact, it is not a task. It is a way of showing my appreciation for everything that I am blessed to see around me in this magnificent world.

Vision in itself is a gift from Allah. If the Imam chooses to live his life in despair and misery, I will not confront him. To me, he is ignorant of the blessings surrounding him. He is choosing sadness and hate. I will not — I will choose to see the love in people. All I can do is try to be the best person I can be … to live each day as if it were a new beginning.

“I won’t ever lose my love,” I reply, as I give my dad a hug.

I get in line to board my plane, only wishing I could tell him of my recollection.

Jameel Azher is a student at the University of Oregon and attends the Eugene Zendo. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of individual faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community and the world. For information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 541-344-0430