A MAN WENT TO A BARBERSHOP TO HAVE
HIS HAIR CUT AND HIS BEARD TRIMMED. AS
THE BARBER BEGAN TO WORK, THEY BEGAN
TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION. THEY
TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS AND
VARIOUS SUBJECTS. WHEN THEY
EVENTUALLY TOUCHED ON THE SUBJECT OF
ALLAH, THE BARBER SAID: "I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT ALLAH EXISTS."
"WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?" ASKED THE
CUSTOMER.
"WELL, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO OUT IN THE
STREET TO REALIZE THAT ALLAH
DOESN'T EXIST. TELL ME, IF ALLAH EXISTS,
WOULD THERE BE SO MANY SICK
PEOPLE? WOULD THERE BE ABANDONED
CHILDREN? IF ALLAH EXISTED, THERE WOULD
BE NEITHER SUFFERING NOR PAIN. I CAN'T
IMAGINE A LOVING ALLAH WHO WOULD
ALLOW ALL OF THESE THINGS."
THE CUSTOMER THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT,
BUT DIDN'T RESPOND BECAUSE HE DIDN'T
WANT TO START AN ARGUMENT. THE BARBER
FINISHED HIS JOB AND THE CUSTOMER LEFT
THE SHOP. JUST AFTER HE LEFT THE
BARBERSHOP, HE SAW A MAN IN THE
STREET WITH LONG, STRINGY, DIRTY HAIR
AND AN UNTRIMMED BEARD.
HE LOOKED DIRTY AND UNKEMPT. THE
CUSTOMER TURNED BACK AND ENTERED THE
BARBER SHOP AGAIN AND HE SAID TO THE
BARBER:
"YOU KNOW WHAT? BARBERS DO NOT EXIST."
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?" ASKED THE
SURPRISED BARBER. "I AM HERE, AND I AM A
BARBER. AND I JUST WORKED ON YOU!"
"NO!" THE CUSTOMER EXCLAIMED. "BARBERS
DON'T EXIST BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THERE
WOULD BE NO PEOPLE WITH DIRTY LONG
HAIR AND UNTRIMMED BEARDS, LIKE THAT
MAN OUTSIDE." "AH, BUT BARBERS DO EXIST!
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO
NOT COME TO ME."
"EXACTLY!"
AFFIRMED THE CUSTOMER. "THAT'S THE
POINT! ALLAH, TOO, DOES EXIST! THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT GO
TO HIM AND DON'T LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH PAIN AND
SUFFERING IN THE WORLD."
