On the face of it the caption may look odd to some and for others it could be even foolish and I a writer simply can not differ with both of them for the very obvious reason that they are perfectly justified in their own spectrum and it is besides the point that eventually all of you whether in Pakistan, my beloved country, or overseas like me will agree with me which necessarily does not mean that you pat me.

It was Saturday 22nd August when Ramazan started here in Kuwait where I am living since 1978 and believe you me the mosque which is next to my housing complex had turned out to be like the biggest mosque of the rich tiny oil export country if not the Middle East and that too at the time of Fajer prayers which is around 4am. My goodness, what a phenomenal increase in numbers of worshippers and it will not be exaggeration to say that the total number of worshippers at Fajer on the day had out numbered the total number of people who had prayed all 5 daily prayers in a week in the same mosque. If I am not offending my compatriots I would like to quip that the situation back home in my Pakistan must not be that different either, or for that matter, in any other Islamic country as that noticed in Kuwait. Who pushed these extra men and from where did they come is my only question to both self and you alike?

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the territorial limits of all Islamic countries which were physically shown on the face of earth as on 1st of Ramazan have not increased hence there is no question to think that increase in worshippers is subjected to increase in the boundaries of the country under reference. On the other hand, this is also very much true that not bulk majority of people have converted to Islam as the holy Ramazan started but then it gives birth to the question that from where did extra Muslims come from on the day. How did it happen and what could be the reasons for such an upsurge is the most shameful and trifling question and at least I am too na�ve to answer the question unless I am my own enemy?

All Muslims including myself  and without any exception whatsoever are ordained to pray 5 times on daily basis wherever they are and this commandment has absolutely no reference to either Ramazan or Shabaan or Rajab for that matter. We are obliged to pray daily 5 times be it summer, winter, spring or autumn and likewise whatever could be one�s topographical situation one is to pray under all circumstances. I, for my own safety and security, need not ask as to how many on us stick to the eternal rule or why we do not discharge the obligation for which we are to answer on the dooms day. Why our mosques are virtually empty on each day when is it the time to offer prayers like Fajer, Aser and Ishaa? Who stops us, if not the self and self alone, not to pray on an ordinary days or alternatively why do we pray in greater number only on Friday prayer, even excluding 4 other prayers of same Friday?

Now during the holy month of Ramazan our mosques will be full, in fact over full, even when extended by erecting tents, spreading extra praying mats and utilizing the grassy plot. I am too simple and brute to predict though have no authority either implied or explicit to pronounce now much in advance that all previous records of prayers� attendees will be tumbled on the day when we the Muslims are to offer Eid ul Fiter prayers. The present mosques which had already accommodated extra worshippers in Ramazan will not be in a position to house Eid worshippers and hence far too many new avenues like parks, open places and compounds will be added and converted into mosques facilitating all to offer the annual prayers.