My time in Qatar includes four tours…to the North, to the West, a City Tour, and a Desert Adventure.
Per my guide’s suggestion, today we are combining the North and West tours. When we met this morning, I requested the City Tour first…you know, get the lay of the land…but he told me it was not a great idea since today is Friday.
Friday you ponder, what has that got to do with anything? In a Muslim culture, it means much because it is their Holy Day. On Friday, the five calls to prayer have an additional obligation of a teaching time. Out in the world, beyond basic or emergency services, people observe Friday as their day of rest. Many, many places are closed. (Thus, the City Tour would have been a significant bust.)
This morning we had some conversations around faith life and I think he was getting my pulse. Would I be open to a Mosque stop, allowing him to fulfill his Friday religious obligation?
I am in the parking lot, just outside the women’s entrance to the Mosque. (I did ask about sitting/praying with the women but I was relegated to the vehicle instead.)
As an outsider, sitting outside, it has been interesting watching the folks gather. Interesting to hear the service…clearly with no idea what is being said and yet, knowing it is important to these people.
Ahha! Listening, paying attention, respecting is important even when it is someone else’s ‘language’.
Pastor Leah
