I was at one of my favorite restaurants in Jeddah last week enjoying the outing with my other half. With good food, efficient service and a pleasant ambience, the restaurant always serves as an outlet for the daily stressors that usually builds up to the brim.
Halfway through our meal, my wife noticed that the background music had suddenly stopped. I asked the nearest waiter for an explanation, and since he didn’t know the reason, he brought over the manager.
The manager told us in a very apologetic manner that a man dining with his wife and baby in a secluded corner of the restaurant had told the staff to turn off the music. Apparently light music did not mesh with his religious beliefs, and he simply commanded that it be discontinued.
“Now wait a minute”, I growled at the rather fretful manager. “I am a customer who comes here for a variety of reasons. I like your food, your service is fine, and your music is pleasant. I like having my meals with good music playing. It adds to the atmosphere of your fine establishment. I am not a heathen or a heretic. The rest of your customers have not made it an issue, because they feel the same.
“The government has no law forbidding the playing of music in dining establishments. If this gentleman or his family does not appreciate the music or finds it offensive, ask them to leave. He is not the only patron of this establishment. And he is not the law. Now please go and turn the music back on so we can enjoy the remainder of our meal.”
My firm stare must have overcome his fidgety state, for a few moments later the music came back on, and we continued with our meals. As my conversations with my wife focused on a pressing issue, we soon forgot the music was there, immersed as we were in our dialogue. It was when I signaled for the check that I noticed that the music was once again turned off.
It was the manager who brought the check to the table. He told us that the customer had complained again, only more forcibly this time and with undefined threats of closure muttered under his breath. However, the manager was taking care of it, as another customer had also complained about the stoppage of music, and was currently confronting the first customer. Only this time, the second customer was another pious-looking fellow, and the manager thought it best for them to sort it out face to face.
Were it not for my wife’s restraining arm, I would have joined the fray against this holier-than-thou behavior. But as we had finished our meals and had another pressing engagement elsewhere, I succumbed to her pleas and we soon left.
The incident however remained in the back of my mind, and during our drive we both agreed that it was such kind of behavior cloaked behind spiritualism that was a blot on our society. Although such incidents are not as prevalent in Jeddah as in other parts of the country, they do exist and surface from time to time. And we have to put a firm and quick stop to it.
As tolerant Muslims, we cannot afford to cower in the face of extreme views promoted by such individuals, who if left to exercise their authority, would quickly take the rest of us back to the Stone Age. These individuals may march in anywhere and demand the rest of us to conform to their narrow views.
The more we yield to their irrational demands, the greater the validity and authority we hand over to such imprudent individuals.
Just what do they think gives them that authority? That they are more pious than us? That we are wrong in our beliefs and theirs is the only way? Who left them in charge?
