A Prayer

By Javed Memon

The ablution...wudu
Walking into the bathroom, already feeling the pull that comes after a long dry spell...
A cold winter’s night, saving on the heating bill, heater on low
The perfect mix of warm and cold water, definitely more warm than cold.
Hands under the stream, scalp tingly, the cold windchimes within-
intensifying the warm surrounding each finger
A thought: "forget that three time thing, ain’t nobody said twenty times was forbidden."
Laughter, savoring. Looking into the mirror,
"Why, hello there..."
Making faces, a pretend comedy show for friends, making them laugh

Mmm. The water just got warmer.
Washing the face now, warmth on the eyelids- one of the best feelings in the world..
Almost as wonderful as when a mother places cloth
on her child's irritated eye, bringing her mouth to it,
and letting her warm breath through,
Soothing it with her grace.
Heaven is most definitely under that woman's feet.
Droplets lingering on the chin…
Arms are always the hardest; afraid they’ll be cold as soon as the water stops, they always are--
until remembering to bring a towel to the bathroom.
Head, ears and neck, no big thing, but the feet,
are another potential problem area.
Never been too fond of the whole water over the sock thing.
cheaters.
alhamdu.......lilah The praise is............... to God.

The connection, the prayer.

The full call to prayer, the iqama is too short, forget that.
Those windchimes are still lingering.
Each word, each phrase with a breathy breath.
Yes, that’s it, a breathy breath.
Force it out of you,
A whisper, a hoarse whisper.
Feel what the words mean, with every syllable. Aoothu bil-lah
I seek refuge with God. Tingles just typing it.
Allahu............... Akbar. Separate. Distinct.
God................... is [infinitely] greater than [anything].
Back up, standing. [breath] Sami3-Allahu...............[breath] liman hamidah.
Again, a breath with each phrase. [breath]God listens.................[breath]to who praises Him
An afterthought, a direct statement to God: [breath]Rabbana....... [breath]wa laka al hamd.
[breath] Our Lord..........[breath] and to you is The Praise.
Down. Full prostration, pausing at each step on the way.
The longest pause, when the forehead is about to meet the ground.
Forehead down, the ears feel warm, engorged with blood.
Bet they’re real red too.
[breath] Subhana Rabbiyal.................[breath] A'ala.
[breath] Glorified is my Lord............[breath]The most high.
Fascinating.
While at the lowest point, A statement that God is most High.
An after thought, a thank you.
Kneeling, [breath]Allahu..............[breath] akbar. Greater than.
Prostrate. Slowly. Remembering to breathe, a hoarse whisper, with every word.
First breath. Subhana Rabbiyal.........
Second breath A'ala.
Indeed, the Most high.

Head to the right, [breath]Assalamu alaikum................ [breath]wa rahmatullah. Peace............
and God's mercy on you
To the left, [breath]Assalamu alaikum..................[breath]wa rahmatullah. but letting the last syllable linger, so it stays till the next prayer...

A rinsing of the soul, and repeat.

Listen to "A Prayer" as read by the author, set to music.

Javed Memon is currently finishing up his undergraduate studies at a large state university and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in something Islamic Studies-related. He publishes Hijabman.