TAQWACORE WEBZINE

Written by Shahjehan Khan

I had a little reminder yesterday about just how easily annoyed, sensitive, and downright insecure I am about my “public muslimness”. Let me set the scene.

It’s 40 days after the death of a close friend of mine. We’re having a service (chehlum). I have been asked to give the adhaan (muslim call to prayer), and, not to toot my own horn (well, actually, to do exactly that) but I do a pretty bang up job. You can check it out here:

I will be the first to admit that I don’t pray very often, it’s a personal thing that I do when I’m inspired. Maybe hell-fire awaits me, that’s nobody’s business (did I mention the insecurity?).

ANYWAY, we are lining up to start the prayer, when this kid who is easily 10 years younger than me blurts out:

“Heels on the line.”

No ‘excuse me brother’, or ‘I don’t mean to be rude but’… Instead, a stupid ‘I am an awesome Muslim’ smirk on his face. You know, one of those ‘I have to say my prayers aloud to know I’m alive and ejaculate everytime the Prophet’s name is mentioned’ type brothers. Of course now my concentration is completely FUCKED, ironically for the one extremely important prayer I’m going to do for God knows how long.

And you know the worst part? He was probably very proud of himself. I hate him.