Good Humour

I've been particularly struck by the laughter here at Shisha. It's loud and frequent, especially when we are all eating together. But not just then. Even during prayers, at those points of transition, like when someone is being called upon to do the azan, there have been relaxed moments of shared humour. And it's the notion of the laughter being 'shared' that's so striking. The hard, sarcastic, clever, often cruel humour, with which I'm so familiar, has no place here. This is a humour of acceptance and generosity and gentleness. I'm not sure how much this springs from the character and benign influence of our ustad - some, surely - but it's pervasive.