Experiences

I have since moved on through Rabat again and on to Marrakesh. But I would like to take the time to catch up on some experiences I've had.
One of the most moving experiences was when I was praying the afternoon prayer in Fes. It was a normal afternoon prayer in the mosque in the neighborhood where I was living. (in the midevil part of the city) The people there are simple, hard working and without most of the modern conveniences which I for one am used to. I walked over the horse and donkey dung, up the narrow dirt ally, past the fountain where both children and horses were getting a drink in to the mosque. It is situated on a hill with an amazing view of Old Fes. I went to wash in the fountain in the courtyard for prayer among the local men. The prayers began in the open air mosque and ended as usual. However after the prayers ended I noticed commotion in the center of the mosque. There was a body being brought in on a wooden stretcher wrapped in a beautiful green textile with Quranic verses embroidered on it in gold. I realized right away that it was a corpse and a very strange feeling came over me. Everyone stood and we then retook our positions in the ranks and prayed the funeral prayer for the deceased. I had never done this and was actually taken aback by the experience. The body was then taken to the graveyard but I did not follow. It was such a simple yet reverent process. No parades no massive flowers. Just this mans body and the congregation. And whether you knew him or not you stopped to pray for him. Very moving.