goin’ to the masjid…be back soon

in islam men
get the full reward
for making their prayer in congregation at the masjid
while women are rewarded equally
for making salat at home.

i just recently was enlightened
with some personal insight
into this, really, non-issue.

sometimes it’s hard to pray at home.
and it’s hard to give my full attention to the prayer
because of the girls runnin around being children,
of me thinking of what i need to do next
with the children,
or the dishes,
or laundry,
on the ‘net,
or with a hangnail that keeps getting caught on my scarf,
and on and on and on.

sometimes i’d get jealous
envious
of ishaq’s ability
to just get up
go out
and leave it all,
making salat
in the relative tranquility of a nearby masjid.

i would imagine him
sighing a breath of relief and release
as he closes the front door behind him.
taking a unhurried, rejuvenating stroll in the fresh air on the way to the masjid.
slowly and deliberately praying with the correct concentration
and proper reverence.
and then afterwards
listening to reminders about our religion,
or having quick, stimulating conversations,
or participating in relaxing small-talk about local events.

contrast that with
turning the rice down so it doesn’t burn
while trying to steal time to make prayer
before this child calls on me for something,
or these other children who will remain
totally obvious but nameless
get into yet another disagreement about who had whatever first,
or the phone or door bell rings
– “don’t they know it’s time for salat?” i think –
or, from the times when i had TV,
i’m just trying to wait for a suitable time to break away from the
never-ending chain of suspense the producers are holding me with,
or something.

but then i realized,
subhanAllah,
Allah sends the men
– my man, in particular –
out of the house
because they
– (cough) he —
can’t handle all of the latter.

yeah, i could use a break,
i may even need a break,
but while i can manage without one,
can work through it,
my husband is about to crack.

and when he comes back
he is a new man,
fresh batteries powering that supply of calm.

…for about 30 minutes
until the girls start screaming again.