Do I need to answer that call?

The other morning I was awoken by something I have never been awoken by before. A call to prayer.

I sleep with a noise maker next to the bed. I have to otherwise my mind begins to race and I will never sleep. The electricity was off and the batteries in my noise maker had run dry, so no noise within our bedroom. So when the call to prayer went out I heard it, loud and not so clear since it was in Housa.

What is a call to prayer? For most that is a good question.

The call to prayer is from the Muslim Mosques that are around. I have to believe that in the US of A there is a law that keeps the call to prayer outside of the mosque quiet. But in most countries the call to prayer is loud and over a speaker placed outside. Thus the reason it is called a “call to prayer”. Muslims pray 5 times a day on a set schedule.

I have heard it numerous times since our arrival here in Jos. But that morning it was loud. Plus with no other noises outside or inside so it came thru our window very loud.

After being awoken by the call I could not fall back asleep, it was around 6 or so in the morning. All I could do was think.

Here are a few of my thoughts.

How very sad. Being a Christian I can have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He asks to chat with Him as much as possible, without a set schedule, anytime anywhere. He is saddened when we choose not to during the day but if we are in Christ we want to talk to Him. Not to be told too at specific times during the day.

They are following man in His call to prayer. It is not God speaking to their heart asking them to take some time to chat with Him a while. They seem so accustom to this mind frame that even when they commit to Christ they may wait for mans call for him to pray to God.

God never asked us to stop our life for Him as we go thru the day. Where ever they are and there is a call to prayer they stop and pray. Even driving past a Petrol station there were about 20 guys on their carpets kneeling and “praying” to their god.

They all come into the mosque, separate the male’s from the females, line up in a large open area and begin their prayers.

It just saddens me that so many people are fooled to believe that Islam is the way to God and to a life ever after.

So to answer the question above: NO I do not need to answer that call.