A melancholy mood can be uplifted by a mere interaction. A sad smile can turn into a smile by a simple human contact. We humans are prone to our ups and downs, and during these valleys of sadness, we feel as if we do not matter to the world. Yet, if we are contacted by another living soul, we embrace the euphoric feeling so tight thinking that it would fade away if we do not hold on to it.

It is amazing how our Muslim brotherhood is knit. We are a collective people of different races, different creed, different nationalities, yet when we come across a Muslim brother/ sister, a simple 'salaam' can break the ice. I have witnessed this through various courses of life; during my years when I was working towards my bachelors, or now at work.

The line of work that I am in deals with customers and business clients on a day to day basis. And among the clientele and customers that I come across, the ones that are Muslim are the most easiest to converse with. A simple peace offering brings about a sudden change in the manner of its recipient, and from there on, it feels as if you known the person for quite some time.

It is an amazing feeling, and a sense of pride. An "Assalam-O-Alaikum" will bring you so close to that person, that other's would be surprised at the rate at which a novel friendship starts. An aquaintence becomes a brother in the blink of an eye, and a flip of the tongue. I feel proud of being a Muslim, and this reason being one of the reasons.

Mustafa.