Even Mosques

Even mosques are sometimes full of contradictions. One of the lessons the sermoner taught us today is that we prayers must not hasten to have our seats at the first rows if we happen to come late. For this might cause other prayers inconvenience. Islam, the preacher stressed, has taught us this as part of our behaviour as muslims, particularly inside the mosque. This may remind us of the common saying that goes thus: First come, first served. I frankly appreciated this particular act and have found it logical. Whoever comes late must not take the places of his fellow prayers, causing disturbance. Instead, they have to sit at the back. Surprisingly enough, towards the end of the sermon, I spotted some empty places at the very front that appeared very much like a patch. And I did not understand for whom they were left. On the spur of the moment, several senior officials dressed in white and a red fez appeared and entered the door next to the place where the sermoner was preaching. They immediately sat down and listened to the five minutes left of the sermon. I then knew that the very front was reserved for them. I did not know before that corners inside a mosque could be reserved. Contrary to what the preacher said, the late comers were the ones who sat at the very front. Still worse was the fact that the sermoner saw them. To be frank, the sermon should have been directed towards the senior officials, not the common people. In short, no one can deny that those who live in the ivory tower are usually the first ones to break not only the rules of citizenship and humanity, but also those of religion.