Mosques — a haven for the poor
Sleep is described as ‘a condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed and consciousness practically suspended – it’s something we all need enough of to have a healthy body and mind.
Sleep deprivation on the other hand, is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function and makes it difficult to concentrate on the job at hand. It is a foregone conclusion that a majority of those living below the poverty line are suffering from this disorder – especially in the hot weather, when heat and sweat make life uncomfortable; there is a shortage of water; electricity is not available and disease carrying mosquitoes and bugs are an added nuisance.
Most of us have sleeping habits that make it difficult for us to sleep just anywhere but there are many who can sleep wherever they can lie down – or lay down their head, for that matter – as is proved by the picture. All the elderly labourers are fast asleep in the courtyard of a mosque, where they have the chance to get away from the noise and distractions of the outside world and before they head home to crowded living quarters. After a day of labour in the heat, this place provides temporary relief and is a comfortable haven compared to what they are used to. The prayer mats are a bonus but they would have made themselves comfortable even on the bare floor, while the groceries they are taking home provide the headrest or ‘pillow.’ Besides making the owners comfortable, kept under the head these bags of shopping are kept safe from pilferers. Yes, even in mosques, thieves are active!
Some of the bigger mosques have fans as well and many people go there to get respite from the sun during the summer months. But fans or not, mosques are the one place that people like labourers or even the homeless, are not shooed away because they are a nuisance. Yet unfortunately, because of the burgeoning sectarian divide, some restrictions are now in place and ‘security’ is becoming a priority, so this free entry may soon be restricted and those who use mosques to rest and recuperate may have to look for others places to rest their weary bones.
Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/213449-Mosques-a-haven-for-the-poor