He asked the man: “Have you prayed?” The man said no, he just needed the washroom. So baba started shouting at him. Right there. In front of everyone.
I went to mosque today for my prayer.
Near the entrance, there was a baba stopping people, asking “Have you prayed?” I told him no, not yet. He said fine, after your prayer you can sit inside for tableegh, totally normal.
Then another guy walked in.
Baba asked him the same question.
This guy said, “No, I just need the washroom.”
And baba started shouting at him in front of everyone. “This washroom is not for people who don’t pray. This is for people who pray. Why are you using it? You just came here for the washroom.”
I was about to start my own prayer but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
That guy walked in just for the washroom. But maybe if he kept coming back, one day he would see everyone praying and join in too. That’s how it happens for a lot of people. Not some big decision. Just seeing it again and again until it pulls you in.
Now he won’t. Why would he.
You can’t force anyone into faith. You can only keep the door open enough that they want to walk through it themselves.
This isn’t new for me either.
Back when I was freelancing, 2016 to 2020, I worked a lot of nights. Sometimes I would still be up at Fajr time, so I’d think, why pray at home, let me go to mosque. I started going early, even before Azan, just to sit in the front row. I had heard you get more reward sitting close to maulana sahab.
Some of the older men there used to look at me funny. One day, one of them snapped. In front of everyone. “Why are you sitting here? You’re not even half my age. People above fifty, sixty are sitting behind you. Why are you taking this spot?”
I was maybe 22.
I never sat in the front row again. Not that day. Not since.
So tell me. Who’s responsible for that? Me, for never trying again? Or him, for making sure I never wanted to?
To everyone who prays five times a day and thinks that makes the mosque theirs to guard: it was never yours to gatekeep. It was only ever supposed to be open.
Umar H.
Originally posted on Facebook on 21 June 2026.
