Night 10- MECCA

Asalamu Alaikum. Tonight was night 10 of Ramadan. Alhamdulillah the first ashra of the month has past. It's crazy how fast this month is passing. For tarawih I attended MECCA. No- not Mecca, Saudi Arabia (if only) but the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center of America located between the Willowbrook and Burr Ridge communities. Being only 10 minutes from my home, today was my first time ever attending this mosque, and probably a mistake on my part. The feeling of this center was overwhelming with a sense of belonging and ownership. MECCA is currently on the first floor of a 3-story office suite building, tucked behind a Chase bank and next to a retro Kmart. The past few years have been difficult for MECCA as the township had denied their expansion efforts repeatedly, but Alhamdulillah now have legal permission to go through with their strife.

Facing the jamaah from the front at MECCA

Worshipers Continuing 20 rakat

The Imam who led at this mosque was great. Every verse recited was enunciated with conviction and a deep sorrowful tone. This was also the first place I attended this month where they added an echo in the mic sound system to add an extra dimension. I've heard this echo added in several urdu naats, but quite honestly I find it all more distracting.

Overall it was a great evening of tarawih, but I would have enjoyed it all more except one reason... the man praying next to me. We started prayers and went through the opening of Surah al-Fatiha when all of a sudden the congregation says ameen the man next to me busts out his cell phone. I personally try my best to only focus my vision in one spot during prayer, but what happens in my peripheral vision- well, that's another story. In every rakah he would take out his phone and fidget with it scrolling up and down with his thumb. My initial reaction to this was is this guy really texting during his prayers?! I couldn't believe what my peripheral vision was seeing!  Eventually there was a short 10 minute break after 4 rakahs and my intrusive self asked him what the heck he was doing. He smiled and looked at his phone again. At this point I thought he completely blew off my question, but then a few seconds later he shows me the screen and says he's following what the Imam is reciting on his Quran app. 

My mind had a bit of relief, but I usually have delayed cognitive responses- why is he reading what the imam is reciting on his phone? That's not..... it doesn't........ it's not.... well that's a whole other issue in itself!