The prayer begins. The words flow, but they are a blur. The bowing is a quick dip, the prostration a brief touch of the head to the floor. Before the heart has a chance to settle, the body is already rising for the next movement. It looks like Salah. It sounds like Salah. But it…

The Adhan calls. You stand. Your hands raise, your lips move, your knees bend. Your forehead touches the cool ground. The movements are perfect, the recitation is memorized, the sequence is correct. You complete the final tasleem, turning your head to the right, then to the left. The prayer is finished. A task on your…