I am surprised and shocked alike

I am in Kuwait since 1978 and undoubtedly it being an Islamic country, there are mosques all over the country and can be found at all the places be down town, suburb, rural or even borders but what I personally experienced in this city-state on 13^th instant is just opposite to what I wrote till now, which as such, necessitated me not to keep it to my chest but to share the same with you.

I was fasting (Holy Ramazan is still 19 days away) on the day and 1852 hours was the fast breaking time whereas same day I had been invited by H. E. Nada Yafi, French Ambassador to attend her country’s national day function during 1900-2100 hours at Salva Banquet Hall, Marina Hotel (owned by H. H. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Amir of Kuwait) and it created quite a typical situation to be handled accordingly.  Marina is built on man-made island whereas Salva is right on beach and the whole area is very expensive and buzzing with different commercial activities. The nearby residential complexes are very luxurious and expensive. The Everyone, without any exception and even without reference to topographical situation, immensely loves his/her family so I cannot be an exception to such internationally recognized practice but I go a step further in a sense that I keep on calling my wife or daughter or both as and when we three are in the same city but not together and such like constant touch keeps me at complete ease without any fear or worries. However, what I am to do when my wife or our daughter travel either individually or jointly but without me was and still is an unanswered trifling and baffling question for me.

It is not a secret that many of us offer special prayers (nafal namaz) as and when they travel and the practice is in vogue for centuries but I wished to go a step ahead of it and it kept me on guards to find out something more appealing than this but different. Way back, around 20 years if not mistaken, I at my own without consulting any book or an academician or even a seasoned clergy man decided that I will fast as and when my wife or daughter travel outside the country independently or together during fasting hours without me and I am sticking to the principle. A few persons even objected and advised me that I cannot and should not do something like this which is not an established practice but I am sticking to my guns without caring the least as to what others say. Areej studied 6 years (September 2005-June 2011) at Lugansk State Medical University, Lugansk, Ukraine and obtained MD and on 10^th instant she had to finally leave her alma mater to travel back to Kuwait. She boarded a train from Lugansk at 1650 hours which reached Kieve, capital of Ukraine at 0800 on 11th. I had to fast not on 10^th but 11^th as she was in bus from early morning hours to 0800 hours on 11^th. She stayed for 2 nights in Kieve and flew out from Kieve on 13^th at 1420 hours reaching Kuwait on 14^th at 0255 hours. I was fasting again on 13^th and had she reached here even half an hour later (0323 is Fajar prayer time) then my 3^rd fast was also due.

Coming back to the caption, I had brought few dates, a croissant and a juice with me from my house to break my fast at 1852 before attending French evening. I quite intentionally and purposely parked my car in the adjacent parking lot and avoided Salva parking arena so that I am not spotted eating in my car by any invitee to French evening. I was constantly seeing the time at my wrist watch, mobile and car watch and at 1850 I lowered the front glasses of the car windows to listen to ‘aazan’ but surprisingly I did not hear it at all. I not in sheer desperation but for confirmation of the time switched on car radio and heard the aazan which means it had already clocked 1852. I had to shut the window panes again before eating as it was still a bit heated though at peak it must have been sizzling heat. It is 124 F now when I am writing it.

I still cannot believe that there was no mosque nearby but most probably heavy vehicular traffic on the Gulf Road (3 lanes on a side) could obstruct the sound which I was too desperate to listen to break my fast.  Generally speaking Kuwait mosques are very nicely furnished and it will not be wrong from any angle whatsoever to say that a few of them are very much luxurious both building wise and furnishing wise. One day I will certainly go again to the place but at any prayer time to remove my doubt that aazan cannot be heard at Salva Banquet Hall.

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With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait