Today is the last Friday of Ramadan, one of the holiest days in Islam. I offered prayers at Khuddus Saheb Jama Masjid popular as Khuddus Saheb Eidgah. It is one of the biggest Masjid (Mosque) in Bangalore having space for about 4000 namazis (offerers of Namaaz) inside it (about 40 rows accommodating 55 people on ground floor and a little less numbers on the first floor) and may be an additional about 500 more outside. It is also probably among the most beautiful modern day Masjids in Karnataka. Many of Bangalore's well-to-do and educated Muslims pray here. I was expecting the preacher (known as 'Khatib' in Islam) to sermon (known as 'khutbah') about far away issues like Gaza-Israel but thankfully and to my pleasant surprise he chose something more pressing here happening midst us - the loss of morality and shameful behaviour by some people who happen to be Muslims. Though there were references to the happenings in Gaza, the preacher devoted most of the time of the sermon (known as 'Khutbah') to the recent outrage of modesty of the 6-year old at Vibgyor school allegedly by a teacher/ instructor who happened to be a Muslim. He gave examples of Caliphs in Islam (rulers of Islamic world) who went great deal in protecting their subjects and lamented at the state of today's Muslims. He said 'Yahan to bhediya ne ek 6 saal ki bachchi par hamla kardiya' ('Here's a wolf who attacked a 6-year old). Referring to this Muslim teacher who is accused of this sacrilege, the preacher said him and such men should be punished Islamic way - half buried and stoned to death. Not many in the Masjid seemed to disagree with what he said.
