The All-Mighty Allah

I used to be a crusader. You know, one of those religious-types that would go around and convert people to my religion, all the while thinking I was racking up points for my eventual entry into "heaven."

I would say that was during a more idealistic phase of my life (maybe it was because I was twelve.)

Tonight's cab ride proved insightful into the other side of things, especially how I must have seemed so long ago. It all started with a simple question. I asked my driver, "Did you say you just got done praying?" It was, after all, 11pm at night. I mean, who prays at 11 at night?

This lead into the history of the Muslim faith. Mind you, this was a ride to Brooklyn, with my driver explaining everything from the creation of man to the 124,000 prophets of Allah. The whole ride I kept silent, mostly because I couldn't get a word in edge-wise, other than me pointing for the next turn. My passionate little missionary proceeded to make arguments about how many people converted to Islam after 9/11 and how it is necessary for Muslims to make a pilgrimage to Mecca every year. And even why, allegedly, men "don't have bones in their pee-pees" anymore. No really. He went there. (Apparently, it was the work of an angel.) The whole time I thought Adam only lost a rib, but I guess that was wrong. (And to think this whole time...)

Yes, even after we stopped, I endured another 5 minutes of explaining all to come to the point of what I learned by tonight's dissertation, that I should walk away understanding that "Muslim" means "submission," as in "all things in the world are in submission to Allah." And then I got handed a few (five) little pamphlets with an invitation to join my newfound "friend" when I wanted to convert to his church.

A very nice man, indeed. One thing, though. I never got to ask why you need to pray 5 times a day to Allah. Had it not been for my lesson in the Muslim faith, I think I would have had the chance to ask that.

I guess some things are better left un-asked.

And I guess some people have to pray at 11.