Once upon a time

There lived a very pious and God fearing man who taught to others around him the way of peace and kindness, the path of righteousness and the road to salvation. He was not a young man nor was he particularly old yet he had a very young son who was just 3 years old.

Now the man was respected in all the town and was known to give the right advise to anyone in need. He had a very big following and on each evening after the prayers he would held sermons in his garden which were attended by young and old from all around the town. In his sermons the wise , pious man would bestow upon the masses useful everyday guidelines on how to lead a life with which God will be pleased.

During his sermons his young son would also be present in his fathers lap and would play around in his childish mischievous ways. The son was apple of his eye and the wise man never refused to let the child from tugging his beard or from throwing the cushions on the floor. All the town also loved the child for the playfulness he would bring during the long sermons. The child , even though just 3 years old, was extremely naughty and intelligent who knew he can get away with most of his pranks and would exploit the love and kindness of his father, but in innocent ways of a child.

One fine evening the pious man had just finished his prayers and the crowd had gathered and was patiently waiting for the sermon to start when the young son suddenly appeared caked in mud and ran towards his father laughing with mischief in his eyes. The pious man quickly get off his prayer mat and tried to gather the child in his arms , the child was too slippery from the mud and was able to wriggle free from his fathers grip and ran towards the prayer area. The pious man once more lunged for the kid and at the same time shouted to his man-servant "Jaldi Janamaz to morr do warna shaitan charr jaey ga" (translation : Hurry fold the prayer mat or the devil will get on it).

After this the man was successfully able to catch his son and took him inside and the sermon was canceled for the day. The only guideline the crowd got from the days sermon was regarding the folding of the mat.

That is the reason that to this very day we still are told to fold the prayer mat whenever we are done praying of the "shaitan" will get on it.