You're Not Proper by Tariq Mehmood Page B

his beard, and said, ‘
Allah O Akbar
, Allah is great. It means no one is greater than Allah. This means we are all equal in the eyes of Allah. When we prostrate, we do so as equals. In this equality, we seek peace for us and justice for mankind. And why do we get together five times a day to pray? This is so that five times a day we have a chance to get organised and find peace.’
    He paused and pointed at the posters around the room. The words, Kashmir, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon and Palestine were written in large letters. Underneath them were pictures of destruction and horrible injuries.
    He continued, ‘And we pray for an end to suffering. For those of you who have come here for the first time, I would like you to note there is no picture of God, nor of our Holy Prophet, may peace be upon him, nor of Jesus, may peace be upon him.’
    He paused again, and said with a sly laugh, ‘And he was an Arab. Not a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy from up the road. And don’t any of you dare to think I look like him! ‘Someone laughed. I froze thinking he was talking about me.
    He continued, ‘And Jesus, may peace be upon him, felt it his duty to stand up against Rome…’
    A mans voice from the audience interrupted, ‘Didn’t Jesus say, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s?”
    The speaker brushed a lock of hair off his forehead, smiled at the questioner and nodding said, ‘It’s true brother. But Jesus also said, “And unto God, that which is God’s. And what is God’s? Life is God’s. Everything is His.” But what did Rome think? That he was a threat. Yes it did. And did he not stand up for God? Yes he did. Did he not stand up against the West? Yes he did. Today, the West is sending its crusading armies to invade Muslim lands. Is it not our duty to follow in the tradition of our prophets?’
    Everyone clapped. Waving a leaflet in his hand, he said, ‘The crusader, this country’s prime minister is coming to Manchester next week. We call upon all believers to go and protest against him.’
    As we left, Laila took some leaflets and said we could give them out at school. On the way home, I asked her, ‘I’m not sure about all this crusader stuff.’
    â€˜They get a bit hot headed, this lot, and don’t make sense,’ she replied, ‘and sometimes they’re the only ones that make sense.’
    When I got home, I said a loud
himumhidadI’mhome
and without waiting for a reply, I ran upstairs and slumped onto my bed and without thinking, I started listening to Lady Gaga.
    I heard the front door slamming shut and smiled, that had to be Dad. By the time I got downstairs, he was already watching the television, beer can in hand.
    â€˜Dad, can I go to Manchester for the day on Saturday?’
    â€˜Where were you all day today?’ Dad asked.
    â€˜I went to a meeting and learned how to pray properly, and learned what the
azaan
means.’
    He went into a deep silence.
    â€˜Can I go or not?’ I asked.
    He rubbed his hand across his face and nodded. I turned around to leave, and he said, ‘Do you want another fiver?’
    â€˜I still haven’t spent the one you gave me.’
    â€˜You’ve become so honest with all this hijab stuff,’ he laughed. I picked up a cushion and chucked it at him.
    On the way to dropping me off at Boarhead station, Dad said, ‘Just be careful in Manchester,’ ‘I will Dad,’ I said. ‘I will.’
    As the train set off, I thought how Boarhead was a world of its own. To get here by car, you come along a motorway, which runs along the side of a hill. Boarhead is hidden behind the hill. If you come by train, the rail track is on the other side of another hill, an even bigger one than the motorway one.
    I arrived early and went for a wander down Market Street. I got a text from Laila:
Running 15 mins late.
I was