The One-Inch Prayer

Based on a true story.

Scene:

Kadija enters a mosque in Eugene for the first time. It’s quiet, nearly empty. She’s the first one there. She picks a spot, aligning herself with the arrow on the carpet indicating the direction of prayer. Soon, others trickle in, naturally forming lines beside her.

The prayer concludes. A woman—middle-aged, Arab—leans in, lowering her voice as if about to share something of utmost importance.

Woman: Excuse me, sister… I noticed something.

Kadija looks at her, silent.

Woman: You were about an inch off from the right direction when you prayed—for next time.

Kadija stares at her for a second, unblinking.

Kadija: An inch?

Woman: Yes. Just slightly off.

Kadija: So God, who created the entire universe, the stars, the galaxies, the oceans, the mountains… the one who knows what is hidden in every single heart, is now sitting here concerned over a one-inch deviation on a carpet with an arrow that already shows the general direction?

The woman blinks.

Woman: Well… it’s important to be precise in worship.

Kadija: Precise? [She tilts her head slightly.] Are you sure you want to have this conversation?

The woman hesitates but nods, as if bracing herself to defend her point.

Kadija: Let me ask you something. If every single person on this planet became perfect—flawless in worship, sinless, impeccable in action—do you know what God says It would do in this very religion you follow?

The woman is silent now.

Kadija: It says It would wipe them all out. Destroy them. Erase them. Why? Because they are not what It created humans to be. It does not need worship. It does not need your prayers. It does not need your religious performances. It wants honesty. It wants truth. That’s it.

Kadija Quotes—

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, if you were not to sin, Allah would replace you with people who would sin and then seek forgiveness, and He would forgive them.” (Sahih Muslim, 2749)

The woman fidgets.

Kadija: You’re worried about a one-inch difference in positioning. Meanwhile, I’ve watched people in this mosque give long prayers while treating others like trash outside of it. I’ve watched people obsess over what women wear as if a piece of cloth determines the state of their heart. You really think God needs your inch-perfect alignment? Or do you think It's more concerned with the fact that half the people here are walking contradictions?

Silence.

Kadija: Let me make this easy for you. If you were truly aligned with God, you wouldn’t be standing here right now nitpicking about nonsense. You’d be looking inside yourself, not at where someone else placed their feet.

The woman swallows hard, unable to respond.

Kadija glances at her for a moment longer, then turns and walks away.

She never returns to that mosque again—to not waste energy on senseless nonsense.