I have no intention whatsoever either imputing or accusing my fellow Muslim brothers from any angle, howsoever remote it may be, rather on the contra, I will narrate nothing but facts, but on the simple but very important condition that neither you are annoyed from me nor you pounce upon me. I am an ordinary Pakistani male living in Kuwait since 1978 and hence I will punctuate my this article with local examples though it will be very much applicable to Pakistan and for that matter the rest of the countries as well, of course varying in percentage.

Today, Saturday 27^th September, 2008 is the 27^th Ramadan as well which means that we Muslims are to fast for another 3 or 4 days more depending upon sighting of the moon. In Kuwait, for example, the holy month of Ramazan started on Monday 1^st September and, therefore, from the very first fasting day till yesterday, Kuwaiti mosques have been thronged with Muslims offering not only 5 daily obligatory prayers but also praying special Ramadan prayers (Taraveeh) and, of course, not missing late mid night prayers (Qiam ul laial ) as well which are designated for the last 10 days of the month (21^st to 29^th/30^th). So far so good and I, despite my all sources and resources, simply can not find suitable words to applaud and appreciate all those Muslim brothers who are now so regularly going to mosques to offer prayers.

I am pretty confident that most of you must would have already reached to the deep depth of the caption but let me pose some very intriguing and irresistible questions to thrash out the proposition to the finest details so that even a commoner can understand me fully. What surprised me most not only this year but each year earlier too is that how come, only during the month of Ramazan, thousands of Muslims turn to the mosques of their own localities? I will go one step further also to record my appreciation for those Muslims who even stop in between to offer the prayers though they were heading to thier houses, friends, offices or businesses etc. How many Muslims, both Kuwaitis and expatriates put together, were in Kuwait on Sunday, 31^st August, 2008- just a day before the commencement of Ramazan? Did thousands of people renounce their earlier religions and embarace Islam on 1st Ramazan? What was the territorial area of the country on the same date? How many mosques were in the country on the same day? All these four questions have a common reply that ground realities have not changed even a bit without any relevance to a date be it 31st August or 1st September for that matter. On 31^st August, which Muslim did not know that in Holy Quran, Allah has repeatedly ordained that each and every Muslim be Kuwaiti or expatriate, male or female, rich or poor, governor or governed, educated or illiterate, married or single, white or black, strong or weak, employer or employee, government officer or company executive etc, and the list goes on and on, must daily offer 5 times prayers? Why such a drastic and phenomenal change is a billion Kuwaiti dinars (US $ is much too much weaker to KD) question which will be answered by me too but still it will remain unanswered unless and until each Muslim including myself fully commit from the core of the heart to pray each and every day as Allah has asked for?

Kuwait is not only an Islamic country but very much rich too and resultantly not only its government but also its private individuals have built far too many beautiful and spacious mosques in each and every corner of the country. Some of the mosques, believe you me, are truly magnetic both in architecture and appearance and hence it can not be that easy for a Muslim to repulse the magnetic effect of such  mosques.  I am not exaggerating that in and every residential sector, one finds more than two mosques which can very easily accommodate the residents of the area and each of the mosque is centrally air conditioned, fitted with cozy carpets and water coolers. Each mosque has its own sweeping and cleaning staff which not only keeps it neat and tidy but also smelling so nice and soothing that the worshipper is at complete ease to fully concentrate and pray in the utmost relaxing atmosphere. It goes without saying that each mosque has number of copies of holy Quran and other Islamic books also for those who can read them before or after the prayers. Mosques also have chairs for older people or for those who for some practical reasons face difficulties in bending down. In nut shell, there is no reason, whatsoever as to why we Muslims do not want to go to mosque 5 times a day on any day other than Ramazan month.

Today, Arab Times, the most leading newspaper of Kuwait has flashed two color photographs on its page 3 showing the spilling crowd offering late mid night special prayers at the Grand Mosque- the biggest mosque in the country, on Thursday 25^th September corresponding to 25^th Ramazan. The pictures very clearly expose and prove that even the biggest mosque of one of the richest Muslim countries on the face of earth could not accommodate all those who came to the mosque to pray inside and not outside in the parking lot, roads and walk ways etc but what could be done otherwise. The mammoth crowd at this one mosque only must have been around 60,000 which is not a small figure in any case. All over the country each and every mosque had spread additional extra praying mats proves that each and every facility had run to the maximum capacity. The mosque in Mahboola which is next to my residential complex and where I offer daily prayers can rightly boast of attracting approximately 3,000 worshippers for the special late night prayers and the same is true of other mosques as well. It must be noted down that physiologically speaking each person, without any exception whatsoever, automatically wants to sleep during night time and mid night time is the peak time when we are in deep sleep irrespective of the day, place and atmosphere. However, it is very pleasing and heartening to know that despite the human weakness, thousands of us are offering prayers rather than sleeping proves that at least now, if not before, we Muslims realized that we are rewarded thousand times more during these hours in Ramazan than ordinary days so why not to cash the opportune.

What will happen after Eid ul Fiter prayers is the only question which I very seriously and humbly beg you to answer, if not insulting? I do know that on Eid prayers still the more people will come to pray not only in the mosques but also in open areas, schools and halls simply because all those who did not go for prayers even during Ramazan can not afford to miss Eid prayers and resultantly on this single annual prayer, the worshippers will be the maximum possible one can think of from each and every angle and perspective. Isn't it the right and ripe opportune for me to introduce litmus test? Guess! How many Muslims will pray mid noon prayer (Zohar) which will be held after just few hours and it will be the 2^nd prayers on the happy Eid day? Should I quip that mid noon prayer is one of the 5 prayers of each day which each and every one is obliged to pray under all circumstances including sickness and travel etc?  Who will pray in after noon (Aser) on the day? What about the attendance at sun set prayers (Maghrib)? Who can figure out as to what number of people will be in the mosque at the time of last prayers of the day (Isha)?

Summing up, I am not only sorry but also ashamed and pricked to comp unctuously pronounce that after offering Eid prayers, just a very few only will be going to the mosques to offer 5 daily prayers and it can be said without any fear and prejudice that this year too we Muslims will behave in the same manner as we have been doing from time immemorial. Why shouldn't I avail this golden opportune to record that special prayers during the month of Ramazan are extra prayers and even Eid prayer is not obligatory so from this angle if some one does not offer Ramazan prayers and Eid prayey then Almighty Allah will not question as to why one missed these annual prayers but it should not be forgotten that all adult the Muslims will be asked to give account of 5 daily prayers from the date of adulthood to the death. I am not loud mouth to impute and or unnecessarily slur mud on my Muslim brothers but yet in most of the mosques, regular worshippers of daily 5 prayers can be personified and accounted for, which in turn triumphed me perhaps proving that some of us are seasonal Muslims in each and every country without any exception and exemption excpet that its percentage will vary from a country to country.

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With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / Former Pakistani diplomat / zaidi_exdiplomat_kuwait@hotmail.com / Tel + Fax 3715102 / Mobile 66229897