March 12 2004

Wave Of Bombings In Spain!

Yesterday morning 10 powerful explosions tore through trains and stations killing more than 200 civilians. And although Spain is used to get such terrible attacks from the ETA terrorist group, but still the fact that a newspaper in London got a claim from a group working in the name of Al- Qaida, made people point to “Muslim Terrorists” as their Nr.1 suspect. Other than that police found a van in Alcalá de Henares, 15 miles east of Madrid, with an Arabic tape in it.
Now whether it was ETA or Al-Qaida, innocent people have been killed for no reason. And all Muslims know that killing civilians is against the peaceful religion of Islam. Therefore people who claim doing such awful things in the name of Islam are trying to fool around and are lying to the world. They shouldn’t be called Muslims.
But what really amazes me is how the word Muslim can work like magic. Once this word is said in bad context, there is nothing that could ever beat the speed of it spreading. It is a word to name danger and savage behaviors. But when it is used to name some genius inventions, impressive activities and one of a kind creativity, this word finds no place to be mentioned, and if it did, then it will get the smallest and most hiding place. Why? Because of some maniacs who express their personal sick thinking in the name of Islam!
For more details about the explosions Click Here

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January 30 2004

Eid Al Adha And The Savage Muslims!

Well, isn’t this what most of non-Muslims say every time Eid Al Adha approaches? Yes, a lot of them think that this Eid is so cruel to sheep and is so uncivilized. But did they ever think of the reasons for this Eid? Did they ever think of the way that relieves animals most when being prepared for eating? Or do they just judge from the outside?
This is not a post to defend Muslims, nor is it one to offend non-Muslims. It’s just an an invitation to take a deeper look on the process.
In fact I am one of the people who eat meat occasionally, I’m not that fond of it. I don’t hate it but I eat only the amounts I need to provide myself with the essentials my body needs and which cannot be replaced by vegetables or fruits (no matter how hard scientists try to prove the opposite). Hey dear vegetarians don’t hate me, I respect you, I just don’t believe joining you is the right thing to do.
Anyway let me get back to Eid Al Adha, which means the “Fest of Sacrifice”. Muslims celebrate it in remembrance of the story of prophet Ibrahim. As you know God tests us all the time. And God wanted Ibrahim to prove his strong belief in him by checking if he’d do anything for the love of God. So God asked him to kill his own son, which is something impossible normally, and which was so harsh on Ibrahim, but still he chose to fulfill God’s will and sacrifice his son. But the minute he was about to kill his son, God replaced the boy with a sheep to be killed instead of the boy as a reward for his strong belief, proving once again that God tests our faith but is never willing to hurt us.
A lot might laugh at this story, but it’s serious, actually a lot of normal people test others’ loyalty towards them in different ways. Men test women’s love, women test men’s loyalty, kids test their family’s appreciation, friends test each other’s trust… etc. Some ways could be reasonable like for example a father asking his son to stop smoking to show his love for his dad, or a mother asking her little girl to eat all her dish to prove her love for her mom. And some are silly, like a woman asking her husband to sell the dearest thing he has just to prove his love for her. Or a guy asking a girl to forget about the whole world and run away with him to a new place where he has no life and no future at all, just to prove her love for him… But the difference between God’s testing and people’s testing is that God just tests and isn’t waiting for things to actually happen, and God rewards without you even doing the thing. God wants nothing in return. But people, we ask, we want things to be done our way, and then we’re just “pleased”. No rewards but a “thank you” that might not even come from the bottom of the heart.
Now back to Eid Al Adha.
I don’t know why a lot of people believe they’re animal friends and call for the rights of animals and all, when they actually aren’t any different from those who eat animal meat.
We all eat, some eat everything, some eat only vegetables, or fruits or serials. The thing is when you eat vegetables you are eating living creatures as well. And if something doesn’t have eyes nor legs, or if it doesn’t have a mouth, that doesn’t mean it’s dead! Plants are alive, they have souls, they have families, a grand tree, a baby plant … they’re just like all other living creatures.
And God has created us all to live together and improve. Animals eat plants and other animals and sometimes humans. And Humans eat plants and animals (and sometimes humans, lol, just kidding) and some plants eat other plants and insects and live on the rest of dead bodies. We’re all created as a natural circle.
Yet the difference between what God asked us to do and what people are actually doing is what destroyed the balance of nature. God asked us to be good to other creatures, care for them and when we need them, we should do our best not to hurt them.
You shouldn’t cut off the leaves of a plant for fun, you shouldn’t burn it and you should use it in a gentle way. Just like animals, you shouldn’t torture them and you shouldn’t use them in a bad way. So no negative use, but you can still use them.
“I wont eat meat. I don’t wanna have Mad Cow Disease”, anyone who says this has the right to be scared, but the problem wont be solved that way. We wouldn’t have got Mad Cow Disease nor Birds’ flue or any other animal disease if we took the right precautions before eating their meat.
Which brings us to the issue of slaughter. When you find the word “Halal” written on the animal meat, it means it was slaughtered following Islam’s instructions, which are: taking a healthy animal (sheep,cow, chicken..), then saying: “In the name of God the Merciful” to it (yes you should talk to it to calm it down and show respect to its soul as well as mercy for its body) and then quickly cut a certain vein in a certain point in the neck. And if you make a quick research you’ll find out that it’s the best way for both the animal and the human, why? For the animal because it’s so quick, and hits the point where pain is felt the least, so it doesn’t hurt the animal at all, opposite to using electric shocks and stuff which leaves the animal suffering before it’s dead. And good for the humans because this cut vein releases excess old blood (following scientific pressure rules) leaving the body with only pure fresh blood that was newly generated and that will be easily took out of the body while cooking. Oh, and last but not least, the released blood should be CLEANED away.
So meat isn’t the cause of the diseases we hear of, no, it’s us who caused those diseases because we can’t just stop messing with nature. And instead of asking your kids and beloved ones to stop eating meat, show them the right way to take care of animals, feed them right, preserve the balance of nature and know how to use the environment in the best way ever.

A reminder to all Muslims of the world
Eid Al Adha is an occasion to remember God’s mercy and the devotion and faith of the believers. It’s an occasion to share the poor and give them a chance to eat meat that they can’t afford. If you can afford buying a sheep, then never forget to donate as much as you can for the poor, this is the spirit of Eid Al Adha, it’s not about showing off nor stuffing yourself with different meat dishes. And make sure you use appropriate places for the purpose of slaughtering, and streets aren’t the place for sure.

Eid Al Adha In Jordan:
A thing I really admired in Jordan during Eid Al Adha was the presence of charity associations that gather your donations of meat, money or whatever you wanna donate. You fill a form to decide where your donations should go. The choices vary from sending to local families in need, or local associations that help the poor, or you can send to countries suffering from hunger, or going through war and so on.
I find this so ideal. I really like it.
Well and another thing I really miss about Jordan is the home-made chocolates mom used to make us in shapes of sheep 🙂 She’d prepare them around 3 days before Eid, so you can imagine how YUMMY the house smelled. She used to make them with raisins, or almonds or hazel nut, or simply milk chocolate. They were out of this world and tasted the best. I used to steal the biggest sheep (which was made to decorate) and eat it alone 😛
Not to forget the ma’moul once again. God I miss all that.

The Eid is in a couple of days. Happy Eid Al Adha to all of you out there and may God bless you all.

Category: Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
December 26 2003

Christmas, A Day Just Like Any Other!

Beit Lahm, the birthplace of Jesus, was crowded with Christian Palestinians, whose hearts were filled with worries and insecurity rather than joy of celebrating Christmas. Surrounded with Israeli army pointing their guns towards the little smiling angels “to assure a peaceful and a secure atmosphere”, the lights of Christmas were once again shut down leaving this holy city as dark as the deep of an ocean.
Israel announced that it will loosen the military blockage imposed in the West Bank to allow the pilgrims to join the city and its church at the time of Christmas. Yet most of the spectators were inhabitants of the city and salesmen of souvenirs. This almost total absence of pilgrims is a sad phenomena, for Beit Lahm used to be filled with pilgrims from around the world to celebrate and pray together. Not to forget that Israel forbid the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for the third year in a row , from sharing his people such an occasion. On the other hand, Isreal’s restrictions didn’t succeed in preventing thousands of Christian Palestinians from meeting together to attend the traditional procession of before the midnight mass, directed by Michel Sabbah, a Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
” Earlier ,people were accustomed to spending all the year awaiting Christmas. Nowadays, Christmas is one day like any other day of the year”, said a taxi driver to the daily newspaper “La Presse”. Christine Jildeh, a Christian woman living in Jerusalem added: “There are so much people who are afraid to come. Road controls are such a burden. Many people think that it is simply better remain where they are”. “There are almost no tourists, only people from here. There has been no work for three years because there are no more tourists “, said Caroline Mickel in front of her souvenir shop.
The stop signs installed in all roads of Beit Lahm and the close villages, as well as the construction work on the neighboring hills of the Israeli “safety fence”, leave the inhabitants little hope to transport and gather.
Islamic as well as Christian holy occasions have lost their taste and joy in Palestine. And while all the people of the world celebrate the birth of the three religions, Palestine, the source of all the three is left to suffer alone; left to mourn the loss of its people silently without the right to even kiss them goodbye.

Category: Palestine, Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
December 25 2003

Michael Jackson: The Legend!

I have just read the “Michael Jackson turns Jacko X” in Subzero Blue
about Michael Jackson converting to Islam. Now I still can’t believe it, for no other reason but the lack of trust in media these days.
But at the very same time, and if the news was true, then I am so happy. Happy that a star like Michael Jackson gave himself the time to reconsider his life in everyway. It shows that people are wrong when they say stars do nothing but gather money and attract cameras.
Now as I read in subzero blue post, the timing of Jackson’s conversion came at a bad period of Jackson’s life as a star. His last album revenues, the accusing of child molestation and all this made this period a hard and dark one. That’s absolutely right. But still I see nothing bad for Islam’s reputation, because choosing to convert to this religion, which already doesn’t have that great reputation, thanx to the misinterpretations and the efforts of anti-Islamists; so converting to this religion in such bad circumstances for him will only make things worse, if we look at it from the point of view of non-muslims. And I’m sure Michael Jackson knows this, so if he takes a step as converting he wont do it unless he is sure it’s the right decision for him to take and that it’ll be for his best.
I don’t care about how others look at his conversion, if it was for real that is. All I care about is for those people who converted to be really happy with their decisions. And the only thing that could harm the reputation of any religion is how its followers act, the real followers and not those who pretend to follow a certain religion when they’re way too far from it and its ethics from the inside.
Islam is known to be the religion that supports all people. A religion in which all people are equal and free. So even if Jackson converted to Islam when he felt lost or surrounded with problems, then it’s not wrong to do so if he got to know Islam well and learned a lot about it.
Let whoever it is say that people convert to Islam only when they’re in bad situations, who cares about such shallow opinions, all what we should care about is the spiritual, mental and inner satisfaction of those who converted. To know they did it because they believe in it. Even if they convert to escape a certain situation, it’s the result afterwards that counts.
If Jackson did really convert, then I don’t find it abnormal, on the contrary, and if we take a little look at what he’s been through lately, we’d see that this great star, who has spent his life singing for the pleasure of others, and gathered a fortune pleasing others with his unique and super music, this star whose success and life was dependent on the acceptance and admiration of the audience, when he was charged of child molestation, what did this audience do to him?
All what they did and will always do to him and to other stars, is nothing but buying his concert tickets, not for his interest, but for their own interest and pleasure, they’ll buy for his music which was and will always be the best and most beautiful.
But are they helping him defend himself? Are they helping him survive his problems, no, and maybe that was the thing that made him reconsider his life.
The fact that no matter what one would do for others, and no matter how successful and famous we get, the minute we slip or fall, no one helps us but the closest, and no one gives us a second chance but those who really and truly love us. And above all, no one sends us those few who love us to give us all the support we need to go on, and no one gives us the hope to continue and hold on tight but God.
If Jackson did really convert to Islam, then may he find peace in life and add to its good. If he didn’t convert, then let him know it was good to believe this rumor. May he find the missing links to make all his wishes come true, and may he find the keys to happiness. I myself will always look at Michael Jackson as a sparkling star who created a great impressive twist in the world of music. And it will be easy for a person like that to find the right way when he’s lost and to stand up after each fall. The minute you find who you really are, the minute you believe in yourself, you’ll no longer need makeup on your face to cover or to improve the look of it, you’ll be proud of your looks, you’ll be holding your head up high and wont fear anything in this world, you wont need body guards surrounding you. You wont need special costumes coz you’ll know people who truly love you, they love you for who you are not what you look like, and you’ll know by simply being yourself that you are not alone.
We’ll always believe that it’s never too late to: “ Heal The World, Make It A Better Place” 🙂 .

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December 13 2003

Environment In The Eyes Of Islam

Islam is a religion that discusses everything a person could ever think of. This is a fact, from the most personal issues such as hygiene, relationships and behavior for example, till the most general issues of life, like universe and the environment.
Whatever the question is, Islam has the answer to it. Not only this, but it also provides certain predictions concerning humanity, civilization and the future, add to it all the historical details it gives about ancient civilizations.
This isn’t what Muslims only say, but also non-Muslims who studied Islam and got deep into its details.
I can go on forever if I wanted to talk about topics in Islam and how they’re looked at, as I find it really interesting. But I wanted to talk about environment in this post.
Islam urged people to appreciate what the environment offers to humanity. It provides oxygen, protects from sun rays and poisonous gases and it offers the ground to be planted with different kinds of fruits and vegetables as well as trees to decorate the world with its beauty, add to its color, purifie air, produce oxygen, strengthen the ground and hold it together, and assure the balance of the water circulation. A lot more about environment and its importance was mentioned in Quran and by the Prophet Mohammad. People are urged to study in order to understand nature so that they can be able to protect it.
In Islam, nature and the environment are a big responsibility that humanity should take.
From the point of view of Islam, the protection of the environment starts with the person himself. One should always be clean, smell clean, and wear clean clothes. One’s home should be clean and everything personal should not be misused.
In that way children will automatically grow up with an understanding of hygiene protection.
Next comes the importance of keeping the outside clean as well. Islam stresses the necessity of dealing with the streets, neighborhood, shopping centers and public places as if they were our own homes. So throwing garbage in the streets or allowing children to mess up the neighborhood is not accepted.
In Islam every sane adult person is responsible and should help save the environment from pollution. Tree leaves aren’t to be cut for example.
And here are some really interesting points that crossed my mind now:
– Encouraging Agriculture:
Prophet Mohammad said: “if you plant a tree, and then a human, animal or bird ate from it, you’ll be rewarded”.
Adding more green spaces is something very positive for both you and the environment. And one of the trees with a special value and which was specifically mentioned in Quran is the olive tree. Because of what it has to offer: its olives, the oil of its olives and its wood. Taking into consideration the fact that it doesn’t demand a lot of watering and can survive all weather conditions.

– War Rules Didn’t Forget The Environment:
Islam forbids the following in case of war:
1. Killing women, children or old people of the enemy. They should be kept safe, untouched and never be tortured. They should never be treated as slaves, for Islam doesn’t believe in slavery. All people are equal, all people are born free.
2. Cutting or burning trees. Islam forbids Muslims from harming any single tree in the country of the enemy. They should be protected.

– Be kind to animals:Environment is not only air, soil, water and plants. There is a very important element: Animals.
· Don’t torture animals. Prophet Mohammad has mentioned a story of a woman who had a cat in her home. This woman was a very nice person in her relations with others. She did all her religious responsibilities, but still, when she died God didn’t want her to be in heaven. She was to go to hell. People were shocked to know this, for she was ideal to them (religiously speaking). When they asked about the reason, they knew it was because of her cat. She didn’t treat it well. She let it starve from hunger and thirst. God wants us to be kind to animals. Children shouldn’t take them as toys, and adults shouldn’t torture them in any way. They should be cared for as much as possible.
· Animals should be respected even after death. If you hit an animal with your car by accident, you should remove its body from the way and bury it so that it won’t be crossed over by someone else like a piece of trash and so that no other animals would mess with its body. The body should be respected and be kept safe. On the other hand burrying the body prevents the bacteria from spreading by air, affecting other living beings and causing diseases. And even if it wasn’t you who hit the animal and you just found it dead, then you have to bury it.

Other than the mentioned above, it is known that one of the Prophet Mohammad’s companions raised a cat as a pet. Which means Islam isn’t against having pets. But one animal Islam avoids as a pet to be kept inside the home is the dog, for hygienic reasons. Reasons that were studied and proved by health scientists. For the dog saliva carries certain microbes that are easily transmitted to humans and that affect the health negatively. Other than that the dog has a certain smell, now that smell signifies that no matter how hard you’d try to clean it, 100% cleanliness is not guaranteed, not like cats or birds for example.
It’s true that a lot of people have dogs at their places and are living healthy and happy, but it was proven that they suffer from either breathing or skin problems, could be in early or late stages of life. If not then they must have spent a fortune on vaccinating their dogs and themselves.
Yet Islam considers dogs smart and useful, for instance it’s ok to use dogs in security matters or in guiding blind people as long as they’ll (the dogs) be kept in special places for dogs outside homes, where they’d be offered food, water, care and a clean environment. So point is, keep them outside. Clean yourself very well in case of contact with their saliva. By the way I’m not trying to convince those of you who have dogs to get rid of them, I’m just explaining some points as Islam see them and as science interpreted, you can make research and either keep or get rid of your dogs, it’s up to you 🙂 .

To sum it all up, environment in the eyes of Islam is as a preacious pearl taken from the bottom of the ocean, we should know how to protect it and we should remove the dust from it to make sure it’ll keep glowing and we’ll keep admiring it as it shines…

Category: Nature & Environment, Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 22 2003

Eid Al Fitr Is Almost Here :)

All Muslims of the world are preparing for the Eid. Eid that will end the holy month of Ramadan to get back to our normal eating habbits.
Families are going out shopping with their kids buying new clothes, toys, sweets and anything they need and can afford. Everyone is awiting the minute they’ll wake up on the calling for Eid prayers and hear the people pray all together with their voices thanking God for what he’s giving them, showing appreciation to his blessings and expressing their love to the weak, poor and lonely.
I remember every Eid how I get to hear Dad’s voice in the mosque calling for prayers and the voices of neighbors and friends all gathering to pray and exchange Eid greetings. After that they give all the people in need what they gathered the days before: meat, food, clothes that might be new or old, money and Eid sweets. Other than that they take a portion of what they gathered and send it to countries who are poorer and living bad condition because of war, a natural catastrophy or anything at all.
Then the elder members of the family men go visit the brothers, sisters, cousins daughters and sons and grandsons. So after the prayers dad would go in the early morning to relatives and our married sister and her family carrying sweets or flowers, then come back home where the whole home smells like fresh backed delicious Eid sweets (Ma’moul) which mom spent a whole week making with her own hands, stuffing some with walnuts, ones with pistache and flower extracts, others with dates, decorating each piece with tiny little things creating most beautiful shapes. YUMMY, I miss that. She’d spend long days working as she always makes so many because she know we loves them and one of us alone could finish 30 pieces in one day, yes yes , it’s that tasty and it’s that great. No one makes ones as good as she does. I really wish I could have my share this time 😛
After coming back home we’d all gather in the sitting room exchange greetings and kisses, sit together and instead of having breakfast that is prepared to be eaten, we get a couple of bites and then attack the sweets, that are too light and way too tasty. Then the phone starts ringing from all over the world, friends, relatives and all. Even our christian friends call and visit and share us the great Eid Al Fitr.
When it’s lunch time each family gathers, some choose to keep it only parents and kids, some invite more, some choose the first in a year and then choose the second for a change the year to follow. We eat home cooked meals, the whole house is decorated with candles, flowers and Eid cards. TV is most probably on suggesting great programs to watch and enjoy.
Then we all start visiting people with our parents, and that’s how it goes: first day is for the closest, second the less close and the third for the less less close 😛
It’s great, and i miss it, as here in Tunisia it has another way to be done, which is nice as well. It’s just that I miss my family and the way we celebrate in the Middle East. Oh and I miss Ma’moul, lool, had no time to make some, and even if i had, they wont turn out as great as mom’s.
Tunisian Sweets are so Yummy too 🙂 My husband and I have our own way of celebrating, we go both of us visiting relatives and friedns. Here in Tunisia men go visiting alone normally and women wait for the men to come and visit to recieve them, but because I have no one of my family to come and visit me as they don’t live here, and because we love sharing things together, my great understanding husband chose to take me with him visiting… something I really appreciate of him. And i enjoy it this way, he does too, I guess 🙂

Happy Eid Al Fitr To All Muslims of the world, may it bring on blessed days, more love, happiness and great health….

Category: Arab Societies, Jordan, Religion, Tunisia | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 6 2003

Fasting For Body And Soul

A lot of Muslims think that if they stop eating and drinking from the break of dawn till sunset then it means they’re fasting the right way in the holy month of Ramadan. This is completely wrong, for fasting isn’t only for the body. It is meant to be for our souls and minds as well.
Our minds should fast, they should stop thinking of any bad thoughts, destructive acts or negative manners. We should be clean inside-out. We mustn’t curse or say bad words to each other, even if the other person doesn’t hear us.
We must think of our poor neighbors and all those people in need. We should try our best to help them, if not with money then at least with sharing. Sharing meals, extra or old clothes. We should help them find a job or anything we could offer. A sweet word to cheer them up, a “good morning” from the heart, and even a kind smile makes a difference to them, and shows them that they’re not totally forgotten.
Just like when you fast and stop eating for a period of time in Ramadan they feel that you share them a bit of their suffering and that all Muslims remember them.
What’s so funny and yet sad at the same time is how most of the people create an unbelievable kind of chaos in the streets and start driving crazy when “Iftar” time comes (Iftar is the time of sunset when Muslims are to end their fasting). How they’re in such a hurry and have angry faces and rush everything in a very weird way.
It’s all because they don’t want to be late one minute for food. They forget that the main reason God wants us to fast is to teach us patience and tolerance. To make us feel with the poor. And at the time tables stuffed with every kind of most delicious food are waiting for us, the time when our hunger will come to an end and our thirst will be finally quenched, they forget that the poor will still be starving and will continue to be thirsty.
The main point of fasting was never to be on yours nerves or fulfill your duties badly or maybe don’t fulfill them at all. NO! Fasting was never meant to spend large quantities of money on shopping to serve most expensive food on your table. NO! Fasting was never the cause of uncontrolled temper and chaos. NO!
Fasting was and shall always be the way to unite all Muslims of the world, make them feel for each other, make them patient, and help them tolerate tiresome days and fulfill their jobs the best way they can. They should stop being materialistic and for once put money and food in the end of their “priority-list”. If they’re late for Iftar, never mind, at least they know that there is food awaiting them. When they’re tired, it’s ok, they know they can rest. If they face a problem, they know that having faith and never giving up will solve it for them.
So to all Muslims who believe fasting was meant for their bodies only, PLEASE be fair to fasting. When you’re wrong, admit it’s your fault and stop blaming it on Ramadan. Prove to yourself that you’re free from materialism, and that your strong will can help you take your responsibilities the right way even if you were tired and hungry. You should be tough to survive, but yet you should be full of tender feelings towards your fellow humans.
Ramadan is a holy month in which our love to our humanity should grow stronger. The month in which our relationship with God should become real by fasting, praying and knowing more about our religion.
Ramadan is the reminder of some people, who are almost forgotten. Ramadan is tolerance, help, love, care, freedom and commitment…
Words that are crossed out of our dictionaries, where there is space only for materialism and interests… and where good manners no longer exist!

Category: Arab Societies, Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 1 2003

Have Faith

I got a beautiful Fwd from my little sister that says:
whenever you’ve got a problem, don’t you ever say: “God, I’ve got a problem”, but say: “Problem, I’ve got a God!”.
Actually this is one of the lovliest Fwds I’ve ever got, simply because it reminds you of the power of faith, once you’ve got faith, God will never let you down no matter what.
Believing in God and having faith in him doesn’t mean relying completly on his help, and it doesn’t mean being dependent of some kind of miracle that he might send us. No, it only means being strong, asking for your rights, struggling for a great life, believing in yourself and what you’re capable of. Have faith in yourself, and never lose hope. Never forget that you can make your dreams come true if you work hard enough for that purpose. And most important is to always remember : God is always there to help you survive, help you handle your responsibilities the best way possible and reach any goal you have in mind. You don’t need supernatural powers; you don’t need a fortune; and you don’t need violence to succeed in your life. All you have to do is believe in God and yourself…all you need is a beautiful word called “FAITH”.

Category: Just Personal, Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 22 2003

Ramadan Kareem

A great Arabic saying that means the holy month of Ramadan is generous. This is the right adjective to describe Ramadan, for it is generous in all ways.
First of all as you fast your meals are cut into two, one “Iftar”, and the second is “Sohour”, which means you’re cutting expenses 😉 On the other hand in both meals you eat less than what you are used to eating in other months. So you find that the food that you are used to eat for lunch for example is in Ramadan enough for you an a second person. When you invite people and you cook as it’s a normal day out of Ramadan, you’ll find that half the food remained untouched on the table. So your food budget decreases. Why’s that because when you aren’t eating for around half a day and then you wanna eat when it’s the time for Iftar, your stomach doesn’t accept food so easily, it takes in only the basic needs, so you find yourself “full” so soon.
Other than that, Ramadan is generous because in it you share the poor people their daily life, a life with no food and drink, so you feel with them and you find yourself sharing them your food, you go on giving them food, money, clothes and stuff that they need, and this is generosity.
And above all that, in Ramadan people feel like praying more and they have this spirit of Islam, because they share all the poor people around the world their suffering, so God doubles our bless, Ramadan is generous with rewards for good people.
And last but not least, the yummy food offered specially in Ramadan, which reminds me of this sweet that is made in the Middle East and isn’t available here unfortunately, it’s Qatayif, I MISS IT 🙁 There is a number of other tasty sweets but Qatayif is the one I miss most. Of course part of Ramadan’s generosity is the offers and low prices of good in all stores and shops, hmm, this is really nice.
Not to forget the TV channels challenging each other to offer the best shows, programs and movies, all that is generous for us as people, isn’t it!
In short Ramadan’s bless surrounds us and its generosity is in each and every way. I just wished it’s be more generous and gather me with my family which I already miss and will miss even more in Ramadan, because with my Family everything has a different taste. Our home is decorated with Ramadan lamps, lanterns, table covers, serving papers, lights and even the key medals have Ramadan signs on them…
This year it’s expected to be on either the 26th or the 27th of October, so Happy Ramadan to all Muslims of the world and Ramadan Kareem to all of you, and for you smokers and coffee addicts, hold on tight 😉
Guess I got excited… can’t wait for Ramadan to BEGIN :))

Category: Just Personal, Religion | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 16 2003

Between Believers and Nonbelievers: Is There A God?

I have come across a lot of nonbelievers who are convinced that there is nothing called God, and that everything in this life has occurred because of a certain scientific reason. So nature with all what it includes of plants, wind, water, animals and humans, they’re all there because of certain equations. Which is true, we all learned that and we all believe in it, there has to be H2 + O to have water for example, but when I asked them how did we have those H2 and O, they answered: well there must have been some sort of another equation that created such elements. I asked, and how those basic elements of the other equation were provided, they said: it’s the circulation of nature.
Keeping up with such interpretations I asked what they believe their purpose in this world is, why are we all created with everything around us, there should be a reason. I got no answers, and when I got a couple they were so uncertain, they went like: maybe just to take care of earth and protect our kind… “and then die?! why then” I asked, “I guess the reason is not yet figured” they replied, and some claimed that their life will end but they will come back to life as another creatures born, so their souls leave their bodies that die and are new born as other creatures like plants or animals or humans again. But why, they didn’t give an explanation.
I’ve always wondered, why are we really here, and I know now that we’re there because of God who created everything around us with his great powers. He created us and gave us this planet and the skies and the whole stars and other planets in the galaxy to care for, to improve, to make a civilization for the generations to follow so that they’d do the same as we did and create new ways to improve more and to make life better for all creatures. We were created so that we’d see life with its good and evil and live it the way we choose. Our choices are the ones that determine whether we passed or failed this test period called life. For life is just a temporary stage, each has duties and parts to play; each has responsibilities to be in charge of; and each has their wishes to fulfill. Things we choose how to make and how to do, so that when our time is up all that is left is nothing but our deeds. If what we did was good then we passed the test and we’ll be rewarded, if not we’ll be punished because we were mature enough to make those choices on our own.
All people believe in invisible things, like love and hatred for example, even the ones who deny believing in them, you find them happy with some people and so annoyed being around some others. Even if you don’t think something invisible exists, there has to be a time when you feel that thing one way or the other. And we can all feel God’s powers around us, but a lot of us choose not to believe in him.
Here is a conversation between a nonbeliever father and his 5 years old son, while they’re watching the news, it might help clear the picture a bit.

Son: Wow, how can we know how the weather’s gonna be dad?
Dad: By using our brains son. We were able to invent a lot of things that can help us predict weather conditions, earthquakes and many other things. we’re not always correct but mostly that we are.
Son: Where did we get that brain?
Dad: Hmmm. Well it comes as a package with our whole body when we’re born.
Son: Animals have brains right? but they can’t make cars or drive anything at all. And they don’t go to school, they don’t know math’s. How come our brains are better?
Dad: Ahhh, hmmm. Oh, it’s because we are developed creatures son.
Son: Developed?!! All of us?
Dad: Sure, no doubt in that (with a proud smile on his face)
Son: then why does mom feel sorry for the 7 year old boy next door?
Dad: Oh, Tommy, well because he is retarded, he has mental problems, he can’t speak well, he doesn’t know how to make a conversation, doesn’t understand what we say, and acts as a little baby.
Son: Why’s that?
Dad: Poor kid, his brain doesn’t function really well.
Son: So he’s not developed like the rest of us?
Dad: Exactly!
Son: I thought you said to never doubt all people are developed?!
Dad: Oh look here comes Barney …
Son: So is Tommy an animal dad?
Dad: No son he’s just not normal.
Son: Why’s that?
Dad: Well maybe his mom was sick while she was pregnant, or it could be that there was a mistake the surgeon did while Tommy’s mom was giving birth to him, or something like that.
Son: But why did his mom get sick in the first place if she took care of herself? And why did the surgeon make a mistake?
Dad: It’s meant to be son, it’s meant to be.
Son: Who meant it to be?
Dad: The show started, we’ll talk later. Why don’t you show me how you dance with your friend Barney?
Son: Ok dad…

What some parents don’t know is that all babies are born as balanced souls, they all are full of love for the people surrounding them, they all sense the completion between 2 opposite kinds and they all purely believe in the great power of God. They know that God created them. And a lot of parents are aware of this fact, that’s why you find many nonbelievers buying Christmas trees and decorating them and celebrating, when you ask, they’ll answer: well you know, there is a kid in the house and we don’t want him to feel unnatural.
But the real reason is that they have no way to explain to this innocent child that there is no God. Although if they themselves were 100% sure of what they do and that it’s the right thing, then they’ll have no problem explaining it to their children or friends. They wont feel embarrassed and they wont mind their kids not celebrating like others. But the fact is they know there is God, because they see clearly how every person longs to pray for someone to help him, even the non religious people chose different kinds of “Gods” to worship. I’m not saying that they are right, but I’m trying to make a point here. A point that we all sense God, and we all believe in him, but some choose a different God because they need something to see and touch, even if it was some stone THEY BUILT with their own hands. And some others choose to lie to their selves and say there is no God to release themselves of any religious duties. To choose the wrong and wait for no punishment.
But I ask those nonbelievers one question, if you believe there is no God, why are you afraid of death?! Is it a natural human reaction to be afraid of death? Who made you have that reaction? Oh you’re not afraid of death? then why are you afraid to lose someone close? The fear to miss that person? How is this missing implanted in you? How are you full of those invisible feelings? How were you created as such a mixture? Why did you replace a good respectful word like “Oh GOD” with a dirty disgusting thing like “Oh SHIT”? Isn’t it because you want nothing to remind of the truth that there is a God?!
Why do young people die every single day? Isn’t that to remind us of the presence of God?! Why do we take care of our health perfectly and then a new disease occurs out of nowhere causing panic and fear among us? Isn’t that to remind you of the power of God?! Why does a 3 year old kid ask you how did he get to the world? Isn’t that because he’s curious to know what’s this great power behind this whole world? Isn’t it because he sensed something beyond his own ability to explain so he thought he’d seek your help?! Why does it rain? Yes it is because of scientific reasons, but what makes the cloud full of those ions and electrons and what makes them connect? What makes the equations we discovered work? Why is the water with no color? Why is there reflection? Why our interpretations of why the sky is blue make it blue and not dark blue or yellow? Who organizes the movement of planets? Who is lifting the skies? How does a tree grow opposite gravity? Why is this flower pink, and the one next to it violet? Why do we have to get older?
Why when something happens we always know that there is someone behind it? Why can’t I say that a ship is built on its own? Why if a bank is rubbed there has to be a thief? Why in all languages there is a SUBJECT and an Object?! Why can’t things happen simply like that? Why can’t we make ourselves believe that just like we’re brought to life by nature that everything happens on its own, so no need for our kids to go to school to know the interpretations of everything. There is no need for scientists to do more research about live, no need to know, we should just live in peace.
Why is a nonbeliever always feeling lost although he chose that way? Because he feels there is something missing, even if one nonbeliever is reading those lines right now and goes like: crap, I’m not lost…why don’t you know who to turn to when you’re in big trouble? Because you know that you might be misunderstood, or you might not be forgiven, or , or , or. But a believer knows that God is merciful, doesn’t ask us that much to do, God who will understand you as he sees everything happening and why it happened, his door is always open for us to turn to, and no matter how many times you’ve made mistakes, you can always turn to him for forgiveness, and once you’ve had that moment of truth and confrontation with yourself you feel like you’re a newborn, with lots of good things waiting for you to do. You feel that a person is capable of many things, and when directed in the right way, our brains can serve not only humanity but all its surroundings making you feel proud and happy. You’ll start appreciating the smallest things, like the birds flying around you singing with joy, you’ll start experiencing the real taste of a fresh picked apple that came from a generous tree which didn’t mind it all when a human took one of its fruits to eat. You’ll start seeing world clearer, and will realize that by helping others, raising your kids, supporting your wife, being there for your friends, being honest, saying the truth, fearing nothing right, and respecting your humanity, you will realize that when doing all this you’re being your true self and your pleasing your God who asked for nothing more than that.
Take a closer look around you, have half an hour of meditation, with no outer interference, you’ll sense the presence of God who’s protecting us and blessing us, and you’ll be proud of belonging to mankind, full of hope and energy, full of appreciation for God…

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