It is fascinating to see that there are people who are well dedicated to their jobs. I was really amazed to see this brother who was part of the security forces in this beautiful grand masjid in Abu Dhabi. I thought to myself, why does he pray here when there’s the beautiful masjid in front of him? - a thought I always had in mind whenever I see these police men in Makkah standing while people are praying.
I carried this thought until we went back to Sharjah. Sometimes we experience and see things that just linger in our minds for long or up until we get answers.
I sat and reflected and then I remembered this incident of guarding the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam during one of his campaigns, an Ansari man took arrows until his death when he performed his prayers standing still to guard the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam who was then resting. It was said that he only hasten to finish his salah in fear that he dies without alarming the others that some enemies have approached the place where the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalaam. I then realized that these security forces are much like the sahabah protecting and guarding the believers as they worship Allah. It made me remember this beautiful hadith: "To be guarding (people) for a day and night for the sake of Allah, is better than fasting and doing Qiyam for a whole month!" [Sahih Muslim] _____ Indeed, we find inspiration from everywhere. I don’t know who this man was and I only took this photo because I was amazed that he was praying there when he could have prayed inside but then when I started to reflect, I realized this photo means a lot more than what I had in mind that time. To the brothers who tirelessly guard the believers in salah, your reward indeed is with Allah. May you harvest these rewards in Jannah in full esteem and joy. Amin.
Location: Sheikh Zayed Grand Masjid, Abu Dhabi
