Father's Absence Leaves Him Unable to Judge Sons' Mosque Behavior

A father's routine of sending his sons to the mosque for evening prayers, while he himself remains home, leads to a moment of self-reflection. Rahman consistently reminds his sons, Fakhri and Fikri, of the importance of congregational prayer and its rewards, even warning them of punishment for not attending. However, he never joins them, offering various excuses like being busy or tired.

“

Don't run around! You'll smell of sweat during prayer.

One evening, after prayers, the brothers return home and begin arguing about who misbehaved during the service. Fakhri accuses Fikri of joking, while Fikri claims Fakhri was talking to a friend. Their argument escalates, with each insisting they are telling the truth.

“

Go to the mosque quickly, before the iqamah starts. Don't joke around in the mosque.

Rahman, attempting to mediate, finds himself unable to determine who is telling the truth. He realizes that if he had been present in the mosque, he could have witnessed the events firsthand and known who was actually joking. This realization strikes him: his own absence from the prayers means he has no right to judge his sons, as he has not shared in their experience or observed their conduct directly.

“

Aren't you coming?