“So do you believe in God?”

The customer asked the hairdresser.

“No, God doesn’t exist” the hair dresser answered, “if there was God there wouldn’t be any misery in the world.”

“I see, in that case you don’t believe in hair dressers either. Right?”

The customer asked with a calm voice. The hair dresser wrinkled his forehead and said

“What? What do you mean of course I believe in hairdressers, I’m standing right behind you and giving you a hair cut.”

While the customer and the hairdresser were discussing a man with messy hairdo and beard passed by the salon and was shown in the window. The customer said,

“If hair dressers existed there wouldn’t be anyone who needed hair cut, like that guy”

and pointed at the guy with messy and over grown hairdo.

There are stories that you hear which give you an impression and you will remember them for a long time. For me the above mentioned is one of them. I believe that you have to seek for something to find something and get something in return. As a Muslim grown up and living in the west, Ramadan is the time of the year which I see as an opportunity to learn more about my religion Islam. I see it as a time to find the needed inner peace in the stressful life and to learn more about how to handle with life’s ups and downs. Ramadan for many Muslims around the world is mainly known for fasting. As one of the five elements a Muslim should fast, not eat and drink between sunrise and sunset for a Month. Because of my health condition I can’t fast during the entire month of Ramadan. I asked myself

“Is there anything I can do to still participate and feel the unity with Muslims around the world during Ramadan?”

I’m blessed to live close to a mosque, where I go for Friday prayers and the Friday before the first day of Ramadan the imam was brightening up mine and other attendees’ ideas about fasting.

In the khodba the imam said that fasting shouldn’t only be about not eating or drinking during the certain time. He said that one should fast with the seven body organs, the eyes, ears, tongue, mouth, hands, feet and heart. The imam explained what he meant, fasting with eyes – avoid watching what’s inappropriate, fasting with the ears – avoid listening to ghaibat, fasting with the tongue – count the words (my favorite!), avoid saying things that might hurt someone and avoid ghaibat, fasting with the mouth – don’t eat, drink or smoke anything haram, fasting with the hands – don’t use the hands to harm anyone, fasting with the feet – avoid going anywhere where you might hurt someone or get hurt, and finally fasting with the heart – even if you don’t say it but think about someone’s bad its like ghaibat, so keep your heart clean by only have positive thoughts about people.

As always I’m leaving the mosque with a smile and inner peace and once again it’s confirmed that there is an answer for every question.

I’m glad that the society I live in respects and gives me the right to practice my religion. I’m glad to hear the message from President Barack Obama who wished all Muslims Ramadan kareem, and I’m glad that my neighbor wishes my Happy Ramadan. Also I’m glad that the guy with overgrown hair has the opportunity to look for a hair dresser and get the needed hair cut.

This has been a guest post by Mallay, an Afghan who is currently based in the United states.

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