Swami and Mullah - Innocence Meets Faiths
What happens when a young boy’s innocent gesture challenges the boundaries of faith and brings two worlds closer together? Discover how a simple bowl of kheer sparks a lesson in understanding & unity
Some time back, I stumbled upon a short film that deeply moved me, inspiring me to write this scene. It depicts a touching interaction between a 10-year-old boy named Swami and a Muslim cleric, a Mullah.
The Unexpected Encounter
Picture this: Little Swami, dressed as if straight out of a South Indian Hindu traditional fashion show, was dressed in puja attire—a light cream dhoti covered in yellow turmeric with coconut water marks, and white vibhuti streaks paired with a kumkum tika on his forehead. Around his wrist was a yellow thread adorned with a mango leaf. He carried a shiny new steel bowl of kheer, marked with turmeric, red kumkum dots, and a yellow thread tied around it, complete with mango leaves—perfectly prepared as an offering to God during a puja. Approaching the Mullah who had just completed his morning prayers and was exiting the Masjid, Swami seemed eager.
The boy’s face lit up as he saw the Mullah. The conversation goes like this…
Swami: (earnestly, holding out the bowl) Namaste Ji, my mom told me to offer this kheer to a priest at a shrine as a ritual of Shradh. Can you please help me with it?
Mullah: (smiling gently, eyes crinkling at the corners) Beta, you’ve come to the wrong place. The temple is over there in that corner.
Swami: (insistently, with a small frown) I went there, Ji, but it’s closed.
Mullah: (chuckling softly, shaking his head) Go back and tell the same to your mom.
Swami: (determinedly, his grip tightening on the bowl) No, this is for my father who went to God a few years ago. I have to give it to a priest so he can pass on some of it to my dad. He must be hungry.
Mullah: (softening, his expression becoming sympathetic) Oh... I’m not the priest you’re looking for. Go back to your mom; she’ll figure out a way.
Swami’s shoulders droop, disappointment etched on his face.
Swami: (curiously, looking around and pointing toward the Masjid) Tho yeh kya hai?
Mullah: (sighing deeply, looking at the Masjid) This is a masjid, beta.
Swami: (anxiously, eyes wide) Aap kaun?
Mullah: (smiling gently, placing a hand on his chest) I am the Mullah of this masjid.
Confusion clouds the boy’s brow. The Mullah, noticing this, decides to explain using parallels to the temple.
Mullah: (patiently, with a warm smile) Just as a temple has a pujari, I am the Mullah of this masjid.
Swami: (brightening, eyes lighting up) Oh, you’re the pujari of a different God. No problem. Please pass this kheer to my dad through your God. My mom makes very tasty kheer. She has a secret recipe. I’ll share the secret if you do this for me. (Boy’s eyes twinkle with hope)
The Mullah, slightly irritated but remaining calm, tries to explain.
Mullah: (sighing, stroking his beard thoughtfully) This is not the God you want to give it to.
Swami: (desperately, his voice rising) Why? If I pray to your God, won't He listen to me?
Mullah: (solemnly, looking the boy in the eyes) Allahu Akbar... God listens to everyone.
Swami: (confused and disappointed, voice softening) When your God is willing to listen to me, why won’t you?
Stunned, the Mullah is taken aback by the boy's innocent logic. Realizing the profound truth in the child’s words, he smiles, understanding the simple but deep wisdom. Smiling as he grasped the simple yet deep wisdom, he developed a genuine admiration for Swami’s sincere heart and intentions. Gently taking the boy’s hand, he invited him to his home. On their way:
Mullah: (smiling warmly, leading the Swami) Acha, tell me the secret of your mother’s recipe.
—-The End—-
This heartwarming story proves that a child's innocence can shine a light on some of life's biggest lessons. Kids remind us that faith isn't just about following different religions or rituals—it's about being open-hearted and seeing things with simplicity. They show us that understanding each other can be as simple as an act of kindness or an open mind. Sometimes, it's the youngest among us who have the clearest perspective, and as adults, we can learn a lot by listening and embracing the simple wisdom they offer
Did Swami committed sin by offering the kheer to the Mullah?
Did the Mullah committed any crime by accepting the kheer?
Will Allah pass on the kheer to Swami's father?
What do you think might have happened after this scene?
How do you think Swami's mom will react when he tells her what happened?
How might the Mullah’s community react, and what challenges might he face?