More than two decades ago my father told me on more than one occasion 'Just saying Bismillah ir rahmanir raheem should suffice.' It took me almost 22 years and traveling more than 6500 kms away from home, to realise what exactly he meant.
At the cloak room of Lisco's Misurata Training Centre, one sunny afternoon in December, 2011, I came across the Libyan canteen manager doing 'wuzu' or 'wudu'. I asked him what 'kalaam' / words he said while doing 'wudu'. He replied 'Bismillah ir rahman nir rahim. It was then that I realised what my father was trying to tell me more than 22 years ago !