October 14, 2010
Source: The Daily Tar Heel
Before sunrise, Matt Stevens is closest to God.
He wakes up every day between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. for fajr.
He washes his face and kneels toward Mecca, then puts his head to the ground to bow before God. The first thread of light has just appeared on the horizon.
He is closest to God at least four more times each day when he performs the five daily prayers obligatory to the Islamic faith.
He prays the dhuhr, asr, maghrib and isha’a , some silent and some aloud. For Matt, these are five daily reminders of what’s important to him and what his life really is.
When he kneels before Allah, you hardly notice his blond hair and blue eyes.