Friday past was the thirteenth of June.
It was also the day when many of my Muslim friends say that the souls of their ancestors come to earth to visit them.
Others say that it's the holiest day, one to offer up prayers for the departed, rather like All Souls' Day for the Catholics.
It is the day when Allah checks up on the spiritual bank accounts of the believers and it is one of the three holiest days in the Muslim spiritual calendar.
Shab-e-barat is also observed in memory of the Prophet Muhammad's entry into Mecca.
Palm Sunday is observed in memory of Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
When the Prophet entered Mecca he was backed by an army.
When the Christ entered Jerusalem he was welcomed by the local populace.
Then the Prophet proceeded to smash every idol in the Kabba (the biggest temple in Mecca), destroying hundreds of gods.
And the Christ proceeded to smash and overturn every money-changer's table in the Temple.
The people around the Kabba fled or stood their ground and were martyred for their faith.
The people around the Temple merely withdrew and plotted the Christ's death.
So the Christ, the pacifist on a donkey, was publicly executed for trying to start a rebellion.
And the Prophet, the pacifist with a sword, took hold of the Temple in Allah's name.
Whatever.
The highlight of Friday and Saturday was eating the delicious puddings (called halwa) so generously shared with me by my friends.
It was also the day when many of my Muslim friends say that the souls of their ancestors come to earth to visit them.
Others say that it's the holiest day, one to offer up prayers for the departed, rather like All Souls' Day for the Catholics.
It is the day when Allah checks up on the spiritual bank accounts of the believers and it is one of the three holiest days in the Muslim spiritual calendar.
Shab-e-barat is also observed in memory of the Prophet Muhammad's entry into Mecca.
Palm Sunday is observed in memory of Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
When the Prophet entered Mecca he was backed by an army.
When the Christ entered Jerusalem he was welcomed by the local populace.
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| This is a photo of my very handsome young friend Imran who loves halwa |
And the Christ proceeded to smash and overturn every money-changer's table in the Temple.
The people around the Kabba fled or stood their ground and were martyred for their faith.
The people around the Temple merely withdrew and plotted the Christ's death.
So the Christ, the pacifist on a donkey, was publicly executed for trying to start a rebellion.
And the Prophet, the pacifist with a sword, took hold of the Temple in Allah's name.
Whatever.
The highlight of Friday and Saturday was eating the delicious puddings (called halwa) so generously shared with me by my friends.
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