The Man in the Masjid

Tetovo, North Macedonia - June 2024

For a while I was looking around at the people seated in the courtyard of the “Colorful Mosque” in Tetovo, Macedonia, hoping to form a familiarity with their ethnic origins. The sun burned, but the trees provided relief from the sun’s piercing rays as the khutbah (sermon) was broadcasted to the courtyard. There was a man seated on the grass - nothing in particular drew me to look at him, he was just someone in my direct line of sight. The congregational prayer ends and everyone gets up from the grass and carries on with their day - some hastily lighting their cigarette for the relief of a smoke.

Some time passes in the day and I return to the courtyard of the masjid, seeking the same sweet shade. And there, 50 feet ahead of me was the same man - his right pant leg was lifted to reveal a large wound, surrounded in a black-ish hue that covered his shin. I couldn’t look away at the sight of the wound. I was in disbelief at the pain it must be causing him and my lack of awareness of the wound just earlier that day when he was within eyesight.

I scrambled to pick up my notebook as a thought came to mind.

It reminded me of the wounds we carry silently; perhaps waiting all day in desperation for the cover of the night to turn to our Rab (God) to reveal our wounds in secret. We carry on life with wounds, concealing as best we can to not subject others to the pain or inconvenience. Perhaps we “lift our pant” slightly for a moment to unveil our pain only to cover it again quickly so we are not met with people’s disgust and dismay.

But what good is the concealing of pain in front of the genuine, concerned soul? Perhaps a delightful opportunity awaits at the other side of opening the door of our hearts: a lifelong, deep friendship or the relief of a shared human experience.

And what a blessing it is to feel the pain that can allow us to empathize with people, become an oasis for people, and beautify the world if we choose that path.

Lift your pant leg just once, and may the doors of deep, human connection open for you.