Musa worked at the gas station in the afternoons, while I did the night shifts.
Then the same thing happened the week after. I did not mind; it seemed that he had something really important to take care of on Friday afternoons.
However, when I asked him the following week whether he would like to switch shifts, he declined.
The week after that, Musa pulled me aside and explained that our supervisor had caused trouble for him because he had switched shifts with me. If he wanted to keep his job, Musa had to comply and work Fridays during the day.
Over the next few weeks, whenever I met Musa, he seemed unhappy and quiet.
Then, one Thursday, he told me that he was going to quit his job because he had to work Fridays and was no longer able to attend his prayer.
I was shocked. Musa wanted to quit his job because he could not attend a prayer?
“So why don’t you go and pray on another day?” I asked him.
“That’s not possible,” he explained.
I did not understand. He must have noticed my puzzled look, because then he told me his story and explained how attending Friday prayer in congregation is an extremely important part of being Muslim.
For Musa, his religion seemed deeply important. That made me reflect and ponder: how could something be more important than having a job that helps you pay your bills?
Many Fridays have passed since that special day when I declared my shahada and became a Muslim too. And wherever I have worked since, I have made sure that Friday is my day off.
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