THERE is something about Guyana that makes you want to go and stay. Yes, it’s the warm weather and superb hospitality. However, my encounter this time was the generosity of hassar – a super delicious fish that is also known as ‘cascadura’ or ‘cascadoo’. I met a gentleman in the Mahaica Creek area whose immediate warmth and readiness to share was like a spell cast upon my spirit. He felt inclined without formality, to ensure his guests were treated with maximum respect and much fanfare; with tasty, tongue-licking hassar curry!
In my talks across the country at various places, I recognised the humble yet learned and deeply loving nature of the folk in the country as to what the Prophet Muhammad,  entreated towards when he said the best of you in Jahilliya are the best of you in Islam, if you have the understanding.
Isn’t feeding the guests the very first principle the Prophet  introduced in Medina upon arrival? Feeding the guests even at the expense of one’s hunger and the hunger of one’s children was the proven way of the Companions that Allah had caused to reveal – that they prefer others above themselves even if they suffered pangs of hunger!
This is the common religion this beautiful land envelopes.
This gentleman goes on to tell his story, that being a Hindu and having married a Muslim woman did not prevent him from learning to recite the Quran and sing Qaseedas – in praise of the Holy Prophet!
Well that is something not merely great but deeply spiritual. He now writes poems to his deceased wife – his therapy and unending love for a woman he never wanted to touch until marriage!
When the Prophet was proposed to by Khatija he was singled out for his trustworthiness and wisdom. To trust someone with your life and religion- knowing you will be dignified and your freedom of religion will be respected is indeed a quality that is rare. Notwithstanding the Quranic injunction, this is an experience to consider.
My other encounter was with a sister of “red” background, whose Christian persuasion did not prevent her from attending the mosque for the first time in order to learn about Mother Mary – Jesus’ mother during Christmas time.
Her dedication, care and respect, was observed when she watched carefully the practise of the Juma prayers! She later on remarked that when the men stood up in line for prayers, without any urging or discipline, it was the most poignant moment of all her Islamic experiences.
She now wants a Quran and was happy that the Imam actually spoke out against domestic violence – something Muslims and all are guilty of. That the Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, never hit a woman; should be enough to counter any misinterpreted verses from the Quran that seeks to justify killing women. It’s indeed tragic that love kills and one out of every three women is a woeful victim!
Speaking to non-Muslims in Guyana reminds you that respect is critical for all and, for a nation that honours religions and races historically, it is important that we don’t fall into ghettoes of fundamentalists’ attitudes towards one another, but see the social ills of society is everyone’s cares, as Shamal aptly writes in his mind-boggling brochures, distributed across Guyana and read for all types of persons.
When one sees the funeral attended by folk from all walks of life and prayers joined by everyone, in order to pay the last respects of a sister, a mother, an aunt it reminds you of the Holy Prophet standing at the passing of the Jewish deceased and exclaiming it’s a soul too!
So for a non-Muslim to contribute to a mosque, without any agenda, is no different from our history, where our ancestors built together, ate together and chanted together. It’s so synonymous to our tradition where the Kaba was built by Non-Muslims before Islam with halal sources – from a ship wreck off Yemen and until today the Hatem is testimony to that; as there weren’t enough halal funds to complete it.
I envisage a continuum of dialogues, events and studies to ensure that the poor are protected and loved, religions avoid backbiting and leaders take heed to this global phenomenon- we are a family working from afar, for the good of humanity.