Adrenaline Rush

I must admit, that night, I set out to the masjid with a bit of turmoil in my heart, as I hid my camera under my cloak to take a few pictures of the inside of the masjid. Why I even considered the thought of fooling the sisters I had earlier praised, still escapes me. All I know is that I was as discreet as humanly possible and after taking two pictures I got caught! One of the sisters grabbed me by my wrist and forcefully dragged me to an office inside the masjid. Ashamed and fearing the repercussions, I reassured her that I only had taken two pictures and could erase them. The sister who brought me to the office left me in the hands of another one, who would not even let me show her the pictures in my digital camera, but wanted to figure out the camera and delete the pictures herself. After deleting the pictures, I asked her if she would send me to prison, jokingly and nervously at the same time. She said I would not be sent to prison but be asked to sign a register. I did so, and as I walked out she gave me a smile and a small booklet about umrah.

As I stepped out the masjid, my heart still in my throat, I walked away through the courtyard and took a few pictures of the minarets. Shockingly, another guardian sister came all the way from the door of the masjid and locked hands on my wrist and camera, and dragged me inside the masjid to the same office I had just left.

I thought: “Now, I am really going to jail!” I had previously taken pictures in the courtyard, so I tried to defend myself by saying I thought the prohibition applied only to the inside of the masjid (as if I hadn't broken that one too). She would have none of it. She dragged me inside the masjid and left me there with the sister who dealt with me earlier.

Alhamdulillah she was kind enough to excuse me and explain pictures should be taken far away in the courtyard, and not in the courtyard sections immediately adjacent to the doors of the masjid. I was again free to go but no without appreciating how serious these sisters take the responsibility bestowed on them.

On my way back to the hotel, I decided to stop by the bookstore recommended by the sisters at the masjid’s library earlier that day. To my astonishment, as I set foot in the bookstore I saw a familiar face to many: Sheikh Hamza Yusuf from the US. I was blessed to converse with the brother about the affairs of the ummah, and the revival of this deen.

Needless to say, all the events and emotions from the day caught up with me and I headed to the hotel for a night of restful sleep.