Missing Shoes

Muslims in Malaysia go to Friday prayers every week normally wearing a pair of slippers. Occasionally some dishonest person would come with a pair of old slippers, and leave a pair of newer ones. Colloquially known as “kena tibai”, which means got nicked. I think there’s two reasons for this bad behaviour. Firstly is the loose fitting of the slippers means they are ‘interchangeable’. Secondly the low price of slippers makes it feel less sinful (although there were also cases where nice, new shoes being stolen and sold off.)

I was however not expecting when I went to a mosque in Manchester today, when after finishing my Friday prayers when I couldn’t my shoes. They were a pair of black, old, worn out and slippery Skechers. I spent a few minutes fumbling about the shoe racks where I was pretty sure I left. But they were gone.

To be fair though they were multiple pairs of almost identical shoes that looked exactly as mine. Most likely the one who took my shies had make an honest mistake. I was a bit confused though, how is it possible to wear a pair of closed shoes and not realise it is not theirs. Maybe the feet are the same size.

Anyway I hope person finds good in the shoes.

Thank you for reading.