Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

The changing times have not changed the basic tenet of Islam that the status of a Sultan and a Fakir is equal in the House of God.

An interesting incident demonstrating the practice of equality before God in Delhi has come to the fore in a podcast interview. Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi shared such untold stories in a podcast on the YouTube channel Unfiltered Awaz, exemplifying India's shared heritage and simplicity.

Nadvi is a former Imam of the Parliament Street Mosque in Delhi. He revealed an incident from President APJ Abdul Kalam’s life, which further shows not only that India’s Missile Man was a man of simple habits but also influenced the culture of simplicity in public life.

Nadvi recalls that during his days as Imam of the mosque, he received a call from the President’s press secretary, S.M. Khan. Khan told him that President Kalam wanted to offer namaz.

Dr Kalam offering namaz with his elder brother A.P.J.M. Maracayer in Rameshwaram

When Kalam arrived at the mosque, the namaz was about to begin. He quietly sat in the third row. Seeing the President seated there, two people in the front row stood up in respect and requested him to come forward, but Kalam declined the offer.

He smiled and said, "The mosque's rule is that whoever finds a place should sit there. You sit in your place; I'll sit in mine."

The story doesn't end there. After Eid prayers, Dr Kalam followed the common practice of hugging the Imam and shaking hands with him on his turn.

As people saw the President standing in line waiting for his turn to meet the Imam, they voluntarily tried to create space for him to be ahead of others/. Kalam interrupted and said, "No, I will perform Musafa (handshake) only when my turn comes."

Not only Mohibullah Nadvi bears witness to this simplicity, but Javed Akhtar, a resident of Old Delhi, also recounts an interesting incident. Once during Friday prayers at the Fatehpuri Masjid, when the mosque was full of people who had come to say Namaz, Dr Kalam, without disturbing anyone, spread his prayer mat near the door and offered prayers.

Kalam, Ansari, Dilip Kumar prayed in the mosque 

In the same spirit of all humans being the same before God, former Vice President Hamid Ansari came to pray at the mosque opposite Parliament. He always sat in the last row so as not to inconvenience anyone else.

Akram Pathan from Lucknow recalls an anecdote about former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed once having his shoes removed outside the mosque in Lucknow and praying on the floor as the mosque was full.

Not only politicians but also Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar always offered his prayers in a mosque as a common man.

READ MORE: Non-Muslim volunteers cook sheri for fasting Muslim students of Kota

Naseeruddin from Mumbai recounts seeing Dilip sahib pray in the back rows of a mosque several times.