۱۰ فروردین ۱۴۰۳ |۱۹ رمضان ۱۴۴۵ | Mar 29, 2024
News ID: 359781
21 January 2020 - 18:18
Pakistan: Hindu custodian of mosque in Karachi

A Hindu custodian of a mosque in a Muslim majority country may sound far-fetched. But Pahlaj Rae, a local businessman has been taking care of this mosque over many years.

Hawzah News Agency (Karachi - Pakistan) - Visitors do not find any architectural attraction towards a mosque situated on Karachi’s busiest Faisal Street, but the difference in this mosque -- in the heart of Pakistan’s commercial capital -- is that its custodian is a Hindu.  

A Hindu custodian of a mosque in a Muslim majority country may sound far-fetched. But Pahlaj Rae, a local businessman has been taking care of this mosque over many years.

On a typical Friday, he reaches the mosque, much before worshipers arrive to supervise arrangements. He rolls plastic sheets on the stony floor outside the mosque, to temporarily add to the capacity to house faithful to offer prayers. 

“We began this [arrangement] nearly three years ago. There was no mosque in the vicinity, where my employees and others working in nearby offices could go and offer prayers,” Rae told Anadolu Agency.

When the number of worshipers swelled, he hired a permanent imam (prayer leader), and a muazzin (one who calls for prayer five times a day).

He also shuts down his gas station located nearby for two hours to provide space for the Friday prayers.

“I have done nothing special. I am not doing this for publicity or advertisement. It was my duty to take care of the spiritual and religious requirements of my employees, and neighbors,” said Rae.

Fearing that publicity will wash away his benevolence and invoke religious sensitivities, he refused to be get photographed. 

Rae said shutting down business for a couple of hours on Friday has never bothered him.

“It does not occur to me that there is any financial loss by keeping the gas station shut for two hours. And even if it does, I do not care. The feeling that you have done something good for your brothers and friends is more precious," he said. 

Comment

You are replying to: .