Uganda, The Pearl of Africa- Update 1

International cricket match referee Devdas Govindjee gives us an update on his current experience in Uganda where the ICC Africa division 1 T20 World Cup Qualifying tournament is being held. The participating countries in the tournament are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Botswana. I am always happy and delighted to receive updates from him as his emails are so vivid and descriptive that I feel as though I am going through all his experiences myself. Many of my blog readers feel very much the same way. I would also like to take the opportunity in thanking Mr. Govindjee for allowing me to share his priceless and beautiful photos with my blog readers.

Greetings on a balmy Central African evening from the Hotel Africana in Kampala Uganda - after the beauty of the Western Cape where I had been since 16 January it was a tired and almost homesick soul that boarded SA 160 out of Johannesburg on Friday heading out on my very first excursion to this country.

The 4 hour flight rejuvenated me and with a time change of 1 hour found myself thinking that I was landing at some coastal city - that is the extent to which the nearby Lake Victoria's vastness influences the approaching landscape- the Entebbe International airport is on the shores of Lake Victoria.

The mind flashed back to 1976 as our flight approached Entebbe International airport - the news that made World headlines when an Air France flight out of Tel Aviv bound for Paris was hijacked and landed at Entebbe -before you could say Uganda the Israeli Commandoes rescued the hostages in what was then called Operation Entebbe!

Lets move forward from that short history lesson  - the 40 kms or so drive from the airport took about 80mins and what fascinated me that almost all the way along the roadsides there were some or other businesses being operated- it was early evening and dim lights created an almost surreal effect with the motor cars and buses jostling for prime road space with much competition from hundreds of motor cycles that also serve as taxis for those commuting shorter distances - the locals refer to them as Boda Bodas and naturally they zig-zag their way through traffic.

I finally reached the Hotel Africana in Kampala around 9.30 pm local time and managed a late supper at a nearby Nakumatt food court.

In case you are wondering- I am in Uganda to officiate for the ICC via their Africa Cricket Association  (ACA) at the 2013 Pepsi ICC Africa Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) division 1 with the participating countries being the hosts Uganda as well as Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Nigeria.

After a wonderful sleep in a very spacious room it was immediately down to business after breakfast on Sat morning as the tournament got under way- two venues being used - Lugogo and Kyambogo- fortunately both not too far from the hotel and about a 10 mins drive from each other.

Having not been able to come in as per our usual 2 days before any tournament there had been no time to conduct ground inspections etc but on visiting both venues on match day 1 it was encouraging to note that they met with required standards and everything that was needed to be done had been attended to by the local organisers.

The ICC's efforts to globalize cricket is certainly paying dividends as I sat watching play in the afternoon at Lugogo to see the very big turnout of supporters as well as their clear understanding of the game as reflected in the applause for good fielding or good batting etc. 

I felt once again that humbling gut feeling reminding me how privileged it actually was for me to be able to visit these grounds where cricket was being played - a long long way from my first games in the streets of downtown Port Elizabeth where the good old dustbin served as the wickets and words such as turf pitches or reverse sweep did not form part of our cricketing vocab! 

I walked around the field and bumped into a well dressed elegant lady who seemed a bit out of her comfort zone- she enquired from me as to where she could meet the officials of the Botswana team and introduced herself as the Hon. consular based at the embassy in Kampala - she also informed me that she had never ever been to a cricket match and did not have a clue as to what it was all about - hopefully after her day with the team officials she would have left knowing exactly what was meant by " one slip and two fine legs"  ! ( cricketing terms to the uninitiated of course!!)

The atmosphere at both venues was excellent with the sponsors providing hospitality areas with appropriate banners and signage as well as some dancers who provided some entertainment with moves to the music which was well controlled by the djs.

The standard of cricket played was good and the intensity shown reflected well on the competitiveness of the event with much at stake for the 2 teams that finish at the top of the table after the completion of two round robin matches.

Last night the officials of Kenya cricket ( now headed by the first ever Woman president of a national cricket body - Jackie Janmohammed) together with the RDM ( Regional Development Manager) -ICC-Africa Mr Cassim Suliman invited me out for supper- we went to a delightful Indian restaurant called Khana Khazana - ambiance was good with superb food and patronized by locals and foreigners once again bringing the message clearly across that parts of Africa will always attract the tourist!

I have rambled way beyond the intended short update and introduction to Uganda- that happens when one has had a 2 hour mid-afternoon nap and now at 11.15 still feels fresh enough to continue typing away!

The tournament continues tomorrow with another full day's programme of first round matches - 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon at the respective veneus.

The 2nd round matches ( each team playing the otehr twice during the week) starts on Tue and the final matches will be played on Fri morning with the presentation function that evening and I then fly out on Saturday the 2nd March.

If you actually stopped reading some paragraphs ago and then just scrolled to the end I shall not hold it against you!!!!

Until my next update- which will probably be before my departure I say take care - all pics on fb for the fb follower - stunning sunrises grabbing my attention the past two mornings! - all the best 

Dev

 The sight that greeted me on day one from my balcony at the Hotel Africana in Kampala Uganda.

 

                                 

 Day 1 like most of my days anywehre in the world has to start with a swim- no different at the Hotel Africana in Kampala.
 

 

 The RDM ICC Africa Cricket Assoc Mr Cassim Suliman together with the umpires officiating at the tournament in Kampala. Back: Rocky De Mellow, Munir Khan,Patrick Makumbi,Claude Thornburn. Front Johnny Gomez , and David Odhiambo

 

 A sight that warms the heart- little kids take to the field during the break to enjoy some cricket while groundstaff work on the pitch in the background
 

 

Monday morning's drive from the Hotel Africana to the Lugogo Cricket ground. along the way these "trunks" - am told they are very popular and come in all sorts of sizes- bought for pupils and students in boarding schools or hostels at universities.

 

Green Lush and Fertile - The Pearl of Africa. Uganda

 

 No wonder the boda bodas are so popular- weaving their way through early morning traffic a much better option than being stuck in it!

 

Loading the truck- Bananas are abundant in Uganda with the Matoke being a staple diet.

 

 Getting spoilt at Kyambogo - enjoying a plate sized Chappati! Indian food is a way of life for many Ugandans.

 

 More action from the Uganda (batting) vs Nigeria match at Kyambogo ( pronounced Chyam bogo!)

 

THE CAB RIDES I'LL NEVER FORGET

Picture - Gulf news

The last week has been extremely hectic for me. I had a hundred and one errands to run from sending all my belongings back to South Africa, to closing up banking accounts and of course doing last minute shopping. Naturally I was in and out of many cabs as I did not wish to inconvenience my friends from taking me from point A to point B. Whilst chatting to a taxi driver some time back, I recall him telling me that he has the best job in the world as he interacts with many weird and wonderful characters on a daily basis from all walks of life; each passenger having their own identity with their own fair share of problems, trials and tribulations. Over the past few years in the Kingdom I have come across my own fair share of colourful taxi drivers. Last week a friend of mine brought his sister to Riyadh for a course at the university. We had planned to meet up at the hotel around lunch time. They were residing at the Golden Tulip hotel. I called the limousine service and the Indian driver arrived promptly within a few minutes. I enquired if he knew where the hotel was located and he replied in the affirmative. During the long half and hour trip down town Riyadh in peak traffic, he did not speak a single word. Suddenly the car came to an abrupt screeching halt opposite an old delapidated building. " This is the hotel madam. You go now." he said. On top of the building there was a sign that read Golden Tulip Olaya house. I asked the driver to please wait until I find out if this is the hotel as the building looked old and run down. The entrance of the building was also closed with a chain and lock. As I got off the car the driver simply sped off without waiting for me. He basically left me in the middle of nowhere. After enquiring from a shop owner round the corner, it was established that the hotel was located there initially but has been closed down a few months ago. Eventually I had to take another cab and make my way in the opposite direction to the new Golden Tulip hotel located in the Nasriyya area of Riyadh. That same evening I headed off to Hayat mall to meet some friends for dinner. My taxi driver was a young gentleman from Pakistan who initially thought that I was a Saudi woman. He quoted me a rate that was exorbitantly high compared to the normal rate and only after conversing with him in urdu did his price come down. He was extremely shocked to discover that I was a South African woman and enquired about my roots. He wanted to know where did I learn urdu from. In Saudi Arabia your nationality determines your standard of living and governs all aspect of your life within the Kingdom. Within the taxi industry the nationality issue also rears its ugly head with Pakistani drivers complaining about their Saudi counterparts and vice versa. This driver told me not to ever travel with a Saudi taxi driver as they are not safe and a Saudi driver I met during one of my shopping trips told me that all Pakistani drivers are dogs and that they overcharge Saudi women. As you can see this is a definite case of the pot calling the kettle black. Any way, behind this Pakistani driver's bright smile lurked an inner sadness. Whilst waiting in the traffic he related a story to me about his brothers daughter who was born with a metabolic disorder. Under the auspices of the late King Fahad, the family were granted permission for the child to be treated at a hospital in Riyadh that specializes in genetic disorders. His nieces name was also Sumayya and apparently she also had beautiful eyes. When King Fahad passed away, Abdulla was sworn in as the King of Saudi Arabia and with Fahad's death, their royal decree was no more. They required a new approval. During this approval process, Sumayya became very ill and was admitted to hospital for 15 days. When she was discharged from hospital she was given a few months supply of medication. Due to red tape and bureaucracy their application requesting for treatment at the hospital was taking an eternity to process. When her medication supply was depleted her family were unable to obtain more medication from the hospital and getting the drugs from overseas would take time. Sumayya became worse with each passing day and eventually succumbed to her death. The driver had tears in his eyes and then took out a photo of his beloved niece from his wallet to show me. She was the apple of his eye. I felt sad and heart sore when I heard the driver's story. After having dinner with my friends I decided to make my way to Lulu hypermarket. Naturally I flagged down a cab from outside the mall. The driver happened to be a young 23 year old Saudi gentleman. I got the impression that he only reason he took up this profession part time was to get in touch with the female species of his nation...lol. As soon as I got into the car he was chatty wanting to know which part of Saudi Arabia I hailed from and what was my profession. He was also under the impression that I am a Saudi woman. The car weaved its way through peak traffic coming to a screeching halt on two occasions when two cars unexpectedly tried cutting in front of us. Halfway through my destination we came to a traffic signal and a young Saudi gentleman pulled up next to us in a beautiful white mercedez benz. The driver of the car rolled down his window and my driver was under the impression that the gentleman required assistance with directions. I was shocked to hear the man in the other car asking my driver to request for my mobile number. He also said that the driver should ask me to get off the car and leave me at the street corner. In that way I will find it difficult to find another cab and out of desperation I may just decide to hop a ride with him. I asked my driver to roll up his window. When the traffic signal turned green, my driver sped off down the road with the white mercedez benz chasing us until I reached the entrance of Lulu hypermarket. My cab driver seemed quite happy and excited to motor away down the road weaving his way through the traffic whilst the famous Iraqi singer Majed al Muhandis gave us company. My driver was a big fan of his and mind you he sang the songs ' ana hanyet' and 'atawassal beek" in a really melodious voice. I even suggested that he should take up a career in singing as he was very talented in my opinion. As a side note in 2010 the Iraqi public were quite disappointed to discover that their best singer Majed Al muhandis gave up his Iraqi nationality to take up Saudi nationality. Many of my Saudi friends were quite amazed at how the man got citizenship when there are thousands of people who have resided in the Kingdom for fifty years and more but have not acquired nationality. These individuals have been working in Saudi all their life. Their kids have been brought up like Saudi children with Arabic being their primary language. Newspaper reports at the time suggested that perhaps a member of the ruling family was smitten with the artists singing ability and that is why he was offered instant Saudi citizenship. The taxi driver that I will never ever forget was a Saudi gentleman in his late thirties. Mom and I encountered him a year ago during a shopping trip to Sahara mall. What really surprised me about him was the fact that he was immaculately dressed. I then discovered that he was an Arabic teacher at a well known school and because he had two wives residng in two different cities he worked as a cab driver after school to earn extra money. Whilst chatting to him he asked why doesn't my friend speak a word. He was under the impression that my mom was my friend. Mom does not know how to speak Arabic and hence she was silent during the entire trip. " Is your friend married? I have an elder brother who is not married so I can arrange for her to marry him. What about you, are you married?" he asked. I also played along in the conversation and when we finally reached the compound I informed him that I was not accompanied by my friend but rather I am with my mom. He was so embarrassed and shocked that his face turned tomato red. He got off the car and hurriedly opened mom's door. He complimented mom telling her that she looked extremely young for her age and then he apologized for asking too many personal questions. He also refused to take the money for his services rendered to us. I recall mom and I having a good laugh when he drove off. Oh and I forgot to mention my encounter with a cab driver who does matchmaking as well. He tried hooking me up with an American doctor that utilized his services on a daily basis. Whilst it feels good being able to drive a car in South Africa I do miss riding in a cab not having to worry about the stress of driving in peak traffic. South Africa needs to implement a better public transport system that is safe and efficient. According to writer Scott Murray, there is a small town in Saudi Arabia where young men aspire to become cab drivers in New York city. If they are able to fulfill their dream they then become the pride of their hometown. Whilst elite members of society may frown upon taxi drivers as being a part of a lower socio -economic group, it is the world's second oldest profession and without them the world's oldest profession may not have been able to operate.

Sophia - a novel by Shafinaaz Hassim

Shafinaaz Hassim is an artist who dabbles in words and colours. She lectures in Sociology. Being an avid fan of Rumi, it is not surprising that she is an accomplished poet as well as a women's rights activist. She is also the author of Daughters are Diamonds (2007), Memoirs For Kimya (2009) and Belly of Fire (ed 2011). Her latest book Sophia- a novel has received critical acclaim all over South Africa to the point that during the premiere night of the movie Race II, at Avalon Suncoast South Africa, the group director, AB Moosa made special mention about the book in lieu of his links to the Real Men Campaign against gender-based violence, and presented a copy to the Indian Consul-General. Having received full coverage with regards to the launch of her latest book in the Sunday Times, The Post and various other national publications, I am truly honoured to be able to interview a charismatic and dynamic woman who has chosen to highlight pertinent and hard hitting social issues that undoubtedly affects all societies across the globe through her books. Read on to find out more in her own words.

Nationality: South African

Education Background: I studied undergrad Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Wits, and then changed course and undertook an Arts degree instead. I completed a Masters in Social Science at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2003

Pet Peeve: People who don't have basic social ettiquette and respect, and who display racism, sexism, superiority etc.

Drink that you would order at a coffee shop: Cappuccino or Chai Latte

1. Firstly, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed despite your very hectic lifestyle.So tell me who is Shafinaaz Hassim? Tell me a little bit about your background. Where were you born? Basically a brief synopsis of your life from a child up until university.
I grew up in a small city called Polokwane and went to a local school in an area that was under apartheid times, reserved for children who came from Indian families. Growing up in a close-knit community meant that everyone knew everyone else, and im grateful for the nurturing environment that familiarity provided. I moved to Johannesburg when I was 18 in order to study Architecture at Wits, before I found my delight in the Arts faculty. I had always enjoyed writing, but only once I had the choices of psychology, sociology, african literature, philosophy and political science, did I realise that I'd found my place. My Masters thesis provided the inspiration for my first book which was published in 2007, dealing with women's biography and aspects of how women are objectified and the stigma of perceived deviance that they face in traditionalist societies.

2. Focusing on your latest book Sophia, the main theme of the book highlights domestic violence within a typical South African Indian family. What inspired you to write a book about a pretty much taboo subject within the Indian community? Have you been a victim of abuse or have you come across family members or friends that are a part of an abusive relationship?
As a trained sociologist, with a specific interest in women's narrative my first book, Daughters are Diamonds, really documented the begins of my research into womens lives, and the various themes that came about as a result of being subjected to the honour code. And from the courses taught based on the book, and writings that developed afterwards, I realised that the issue of domestic violence needed more debate and in order to do so from within the Indian Muslim community, I started writing it using fiction instead of analysis. I wanted to reach an even larger audience with this topic, taking debates beyond the realm of academia. The characters in the book are constructed of various interview data from stories of abuse.

3. Was writing always your passion? When did the realization set in that you wanted to pursue a career in writing?
I've kept a journal since the age of about 12, and delighted in making regular notes of my thoughts and experiences. these written journals soon became yearly cd's with documents copied off my computer, and then i began a blog called http://memoirs4kimya.blogspot.com in 2005. When the writings began to collect an audience (something I hadnt anticipated) the writing changed from personal reflections to poetry and prose that reflected the work that i was doing. In 2009 i published a blog to book collection of poetry and prose, called Memoirs for Kimya. It is a tribute to the spiritual reflections of Rumi's adopted daughter, Kimya.

4. Your books have received international recognition.I am sure that the journey though was not all smooth sailing. What were some of the hardships you faced in terms of following your dream and wanting your books to be recognized on a national as well as an international level?
Well, when my first book was launched, I could never have anticipated that it would turn national bestseller of its own accord. The intention was merely to take research that may have stood on a library shelve and put it out onto the public domain so to speak in order to allow people to read and comment on its findings. A year later I was invited to present a course based on the book at UKZN, and while presenting courses, seminars even at Humboldt in Berlin and at the University of the Witwatersrand, I began to write up the stories in fiction, either short stories, a collection of which was published as part of a collaborative work in 'Belly of Fire' in 2011 and this novel, 'SoPhia' in 2012. The response and demand for stories has taken a snowball effect, and has been able to penetrate even commercial spaces in a rather small reading market as is South Africa. Internationally, books and ebooks are sold online via the various Amazon portals as well as in the bookchains in the Emirates, and in India.

5. What topics and subjects are you the most passionate about?
Women's issues, the cultural laws that administer womens lives, and issues that pertain to how Muslim women are perceived and portrayed by media, are topics of great interest to me. I also take a great interest in ways to improve literacy in general.

6. If someone could grant you one wish and you could choose to have any skill or talent in the world, what would it be?
  I wish that I could heal pain. We're a world so filled with trauma, that I wish I could help to dissolve and erase some of it.

7. What are your favourite websites?
Twitter of course :) I get all my headlines, updates, news and interaction at Twitter.

8. What are your thoughts on polygamous relationships?
  I think that transparency is important. In many instances, women are unaware of their rights and men are not mindful of their responsibilities and so then, instead of working towards strengthening our social structure, as is the case with numerous examples in SA society, women and children end up being put to a disadvantage in terms of inheritance, issues of care, etc. if men claim that their right to remarry is a sign of Righteousness they need to also be made conscious of their responsibilities, the implications of equal treatment and fairness and not use it to exploit the women.

9. If you were not a poet/lecturer/author what would you be doing?
 I would be living on an island or at the coast, painting, of course...

10.What is your opinion about interfaith marriages?
 People make decisions on how to live together based on mutual understanding, and interfaith marriage is largely dependent on the intention of each partner and the responsibility to each other as well as their belief system. If how you felt about something as defining as a life philosophy or belief was greatly opposed to how your partner felt, the long term status of that relationship might not be guaranteed. But I believe that early on, they would need to communicate what their marriage would mean in bringing up children, etc. If they're able to define and agree on the parameters, it can work.

11. Define success...What does success mean to you?
  I may figure this out when I arrive there someday...for now, there's still much work to do

12. Where do you see yourself five years from now? What are your future plans?
I continue writing, without a timeline, as long as a shift in thinking can happen with every project, the future will take care of itself

13. As you do know that Saudi Arabia is a country where limited women's rights exist. Women are not allowed to drive and can only pursue a career path within specific sectors mainly teaching and healthcare. Only recently the King has afforded women the right to vote and be a part of the Shuraa Council. What advise would you give to Saudi women who are trying to make their voices heard within a dominant patriarchal society?
Saudi women should be writing more, making their voices heard in online and print media, and speaking in forums of engagement where womens issues can be raised and discussed, as well as where women are able to learn and be empowered around their rights.

14. What advice would you give to a young student who wants to pursue a career in writing?
Best advice if you want to be able to write, is to read! Read in every genre that you enjoy, and keep a creative journal to write in. But first, read.

15. Through your books you have given the public an opportunity to change their mindset with regards to domestic violence and abuse. What other methods could we as a society adopt in order to bring about effective change?
I think that as a society, we need to stop thinking that crime affects someone else, and that domestic violence is a private issue. another problem we encounter is victim blaming. we need to take responsibility as a society, and instead of standing back, we need to get involved wherever we can in order to find solutions.

16. I assume that you follow the Islamic faith. Do you think that our Imaams in the masjid can play a bigger role in terms of highlighting social issues such as violence against women, drug addiction and abuse against the elderly?
I definitely think that raising the issue in the mosques will do much to create a greater awareness of social ills and more than that, the lobbying of our Imaams around community issues, and their ability to bring the community together with the intention to put proactive programmes together to eradicate the problems can be a progressive and effective method. It can already be seen that faith based organisations garner much support for various forms of activism around political and societal issues.

Once again, thank you Shafinaaz for taking the time to answer these questions. Desert Moon wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!!!
If you wish to get in touch with Shafinaaz you may contact her through her twitter and facebook pages.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/shafinaaz or @shafinaaz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShafinaazHassim

You may also interact with her through her blog. I highly recommend you to visit her blog. Her writings are filled with inspiration and her poetry is simply thought provoking.
Blog Address: www.memoirs4kimya.blogspot.com


A brief review of the book Sophia - a novel in the authors own words.

The book's main characters, Zarreen and Akram, are a 30-something married couple, with three children, living in Johannesburg. Their marriage is an extremely violent one, but Zarreen believes it is her social duty to keep silent for the sake of her children. Her parents think she's happy. Akram is a successful businessman who likes to win. As a foil to the main couple, Zarreen's brother and his wife experience the typical ups and downs of married life, but misunderstandings never turn violent. We are made to see the impact that events have on each of the children. Zarreen relies on her sister for advice, and mostly she confides in her housekeeper, Selma, with whom she shares a friendship, but she in turn dispenses advice to Selma to leave an abusive boyfriend - advice she doesn't take in her own marriage.

SoPhia was written not only to tell a story, but to move beyond the assumptions we make about abusive relationships and to reveal avenues for healing both victims and perpetrators. It is about what we expose young children to, and how we treat each other, and ourselves.

'Sophia' is published by WordFlute, and is retailing at R180. The book is available at selected stores in South Africa but can be purchased online as well.

124-year-old Muslim woman refused to sell her religion for money and fame

 

The head scarf was the only hindrance in the way for the oldest woman in the world to enter the so-called Guinness World Records.

124-year-old Palestinian Maryam Hamdan Ammash, her sons and grandsons refused to meet the condition of the Guinness team for the aged woman to take off her head scarf and appear on TV.

Maryam's family members said that their grandmother who has performed the Haj (Pilgrimage) five times in her life and performed Umrah ten times refused to commit a sinful act even for getting eternal with entering the Guinness World Records.

"There have been serious discussions about Maryam entering the Guinness World Records breaking the record of the French Jeanne Louise Calment who lived 122 and a half years. A team of the Guinness team visited Maryam and her family last March to this end", said Mahdi Helmi Ammash, a grandson of Maryam in an interview with Gulf News.

"Armed with official documents including her birth certificate, identity card and other documents, we will not give up our grandmother's right to enter the Guinness World Records for the longest human lifespan even after her death," he said.

Maryam died last Saturday after she lived for 124 years and scores of people from around the world are attending her ongoing condolence session held in her home village of Jisr Al Zarqa'a, near Haifa of the 1948 areas.

Maryam who held a Turkish birth certificate and an identity card which clearly stated that the woman was born in 1888, became undoubtedly the oldest woman in the world.

"This fact is beyond doubt and that all officials who paid visits to my grandmother have confirmed it and this is documented with the family", said Mahdi.

Maryam had ten children, the youngest of whom died a long while ago. With four sons and five daughters who survived, she had hundreds of descendants, estimated at 600.

"Maryam's grandsons were grandfathers when she died as the grandmother of four generations," he said.

"Maryam's relationship with her children, grandchildren and their children and grandchildren was astonishing, knowing them one by one and following their lives in details," he said.

"The wise Maryam, despite her old age, was the spiritual leader to all her family members who trusted her views and followed them almost blindly," he stressed.

The woman was known in her village to be totally focused and balanced and she acted as a paediatrician who provided medical treatment for the newly born and infants.

"We keep instruments which Maryam carefully kept since the Turkish rule in Palestine to treat the little ones", he said, adding that visitors from around the 1948 areas visited Maryam seeking treatment which she provided for free.

The aged Maryam was an active woman despite her years and known to be a social entity who visited people on all their occasions.

When a representative of the Guinness told her that they can make her a well-known personality, she answered with a question - "And will that make me happy?"

Representative, with a little hesitation, replied that probably it would make happy her and her family.
She asked a second question:
"How old are you?" To which he replied - 43.
She smiled and said - "And most of all, you are not a Muslim ...?"
Surprised man asked why these issues may be of any importance and what she wanted to say?

To which Maryam replied.
- "You are old enough to distinguish between what is right and what is not. But you are not a Muslim. That means either you are too small to distinguish truth from delusion, or you are an imbecile. Because only a child or imbecile would believe that it will make him/her happy to be glorified among the same mortals like himself. When he risks being thrown into shame in the eyes of the Creator.
So what should I choose - the woman said - to be glorious amongst those themselves are inglorious or to be glorious amongst the lucky owners of the Contentment of the Creator, me, you, him and all those whom you represent"?

Guinness representative did not know what to say.
Maryam said:
- "Go away and grow up to start thinking if you do not have the answer. And I promise not to die until you get back - she joked at the end".

The most surprising fact was that the man embraced Islam in 7 months afterwards. And after another 4 months Maryam Hamdan Ammash died.

It is quite a mystery - why Guinness Book needed the old Muslim woman to remove her scarf ...?

Source:
http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2013/02/03/17338.shtml

My farewell ma3assalama party 2013 ..:((((((((((((((

 

 

 

 

  

 

I BID YOU FAREWELL KSA :((((((((((((((((((((((

As my journey in the magical Kingdom nears the end, my eyes well up with tears and my heart suddenly has an inner sadness. Four and half years in this country has passed by like water. I guess time flies when you really having lots of fun. When I left South Africa towards the end of 2008, I was told by many out there including family members that I am making the biggest mistake of my life by leaving behind a fantastic job and of course my beautiful home and family environment. I always believe though that what God ALmighty has ordained for us will undoubtedly happen and in the long run it will be the best decision and outcome for us. I can still remember the day I landed in Riyadh city foR the very first time and was escorted to the hospital office at the airport where I was introduced to members of the hospital human resources department. Arriving at the hospital for the first time was quite an overwhelming experience in itself as I had never seen such a huge hospital before in my entire life. The first three months at work was difficult of course as I was dealing with staff members that hail from various differing cultural backgrounds. I remember being asked by my supervisor to dispense medication at the window and naturally I was terrified as I did not know a word of Arabic. My patients would become aggressive because I did not understand them and of course I could not really blame them for displaying such behaviour because I would be equally frustrated if I had been in their shoes. I then decided to take up a course in Arabic and after being able to converse with my patients and interact with them on a personal level, I started enjoying my profession even more. I was flabbergasted with the state of the art technology and equipment at the hospital. I never knew that such technology existed in the world. I had to accustom myself to a completely Amercanized pharmaceutical system as opposed to a British system we have in South Africa. The entire experience though has been well worth it. Whilst I do know of many individuals who came to the Kingdom and left as fast as they arrived, I on the other hand wish that I could have lived here forever. The place undoubtedly grows on you. Along my journey I met many kind and amazing individuals. I have also come across rude and impolite people but they are simply there to remind us of how we shouldn't be towards another human being. They become a part of our learning process. I met people from all walks of life and from various socio-political backgrounds. I have learnt about different cultures and customs and I have had a chance of tasting cuisine from other parts of the world. Traveling has changed my mind set and has allowed me to view the world in a different light. I would like to take this opportunity in thanking all my friends and colleagues for their unconditional love and support and for treating me like a sister. To Dr. Muhammed Al shennawy, you were not only a manager but also a friend and mentor. You are the most fair and unbiased manager I have ever worked with. To Rola, Saleh, Minette, Hanna and Sayed- I am really blessed to have worked with a fantastic team, a group of professional individuals that made my work environment a pleasant one. Medical professionals spend most of their day at work and hence colleagues become family. You were my family here in the Kingdom. To the unit dose night staff, I will truly miss our conversations. I will miss sharing the Umm Ali and other yummy items the kitchen staff would send for me with all of you. To brother Farooq for sending me a cup of chai Sulaimaniya every night when I'm on duty. To Qamr and Sheida bhen for being the sisters I don't have. Whenever I needed help with anything you were always there for me. Both of you have taken the liberty to assist Indian and Pakistani expats that have serious financial and passport related issues. I salute both of you for carrying out this noble task. May Allah reward you in abundance for all your efforts. To Nazeem and Zubeida I thank both of you for being my family in the Kingdom. I can never ever forget you Zubs for always preparing all my Ramadhaan savouries and filling my freezer. You were like an elder sister to me. To brother Saleh and baba, thank you so much for always arranging a vehicle so that I could get around Riyadh comfortably to do my errands. For this I will always be indebted to both of you. To brother Fawwaaz for being my 'door keeper.' I am sure you could hear me making my way down the corridor with my high heels 'tok tok tok tok tok' and you probably thought to yourself she is going to come up to the window again and say " open for me." No matter how many times I bothered you, you always assisted me with a huge smile. To brother Hasan, whenever I see a Bollywood dance on television I will think about you as you always use to tease me about Indian dancing saying that Indian dancers do the steps way too fast for your eyes to pick up the moves..Your actions were always hilarious and made me burst into laughter. A special thank you to brother Shuaib, who has assisted me tremendously in my new business venture that I will be undertaking in South Africa God willing. Thank you for all your advice and for encouraging me in taking this opportunity. As I write this letter, tears roll down my eyes at the thought of knowing that I may never see my best friend again. To Faraz, thank you for being my best friend forever. You were the first person I met when I arrived in the Kingdom and over the past few years we shared everything together. In fact even my mom will miss you tremendously as you would always take her out when she was in the Kingdom. I do not think that I will ever find a friend like you. You have stood with me through thick and thin. You have supported me in everything I did. I wish you all the best in your new career and I hope to visit your country very soon when I get the good news of your 'shaadi'. To those of you out there who are thinking of embarking on a career move outside of South Africa, my advice to you is this: Don't let other people influence you because everyone's experiences are different. Take up the challenge and the opportunity and experience it for yourself. Embrace change. Change is good. Change allows us to grow. I am sure many of you out there must be thinking " Gosh, if she really loved Saudi Arabia and her job, why is she returning to South Africa?" The answer is simple. Whenever God Almighty blesses us with an opportunity to improve ourselves we should grab that opportunity with both hands. I never ever envisaged myself being a business woman one day and here I am on the verge of owning my own pharmacy. I see this as a challenge and an opportunity to be a productive member of society. I pray that God Almighty makes my business venture a success so that I can be a vehicle in assisting the many poor and unfortunate souls out there. This is the aim and intention in having my own business. Whilst an inner sadness lurks within me, I know that the experiences of this land of shifting sands will always remain embedded deep inside my heart, mind and soul forever. I came.I saw. I conquered.

SAY NO TO VALENTINE'S DAY

As Valentines Day approaches, restaurants and hotels aross the globe would be offering one promotion after the other to entice couples to share that special day with the love of their life. Malls will be packed with men and women rushing to buy chocolates, gifts, jewellery, balloons, sexy lingerie and various other items all in the name of love. So where exactly does Valentines day originate from and is it permissable to celebrate Valentine's day from a religious point of view? It is quite interesting to note that all of the Abrahamic religions do not condone the celebration of Valentines day. According to the Christian website,'The restored church of God', St. Valentine’s Day is another attempt to “whitewash” perverted customs and observances of pagan gods and idols by “Christianizing” them. As innocent and harmless as St. Valentine’s Day may appear, its traditions and customs originate from two of the most sexually perverted pagan festivals of ancient history: Lupercalia and the feast day of Juno Februata.
Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia (known as the “festival of sexual license”) was held by the ancient Romans in honor of Lupercus, god of fertility and husbandry, protector of herds and crops, assisted by Vestal Virgins, the Luperci (male priests) conducted purification rites by sacrificing goats and a dog in the Lupercal cave on Palatine Hill, where the Romans believed the twins Romulus and Remus had been sheltered and nursed by a she-wolf before they eventually founded Rome. Clothed in loincloths made from sacrificed goats and smeared in their blood, the Luperci would run about Rome, striking women with februa, thongs made from skins of the sacrificed goats. The Luperci believed that the floggings purified women and guaranteed their fertility and ease of childbirth. February derives from februa or “means of purification.”
To the Romans, February was also sacred to Juno Februata, the goddess of febris (“fever”) of love, and of women and marriage. On February 14, billets (small pieces of paper, each of which had the name of a teen-aged girl written on it) were put into a container. Teen-aged boys would then choose one billet at random. The boy and the girl whose name was drawn would become a “couple,” joining in erotic games at feasts and parties celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would remain sexual partners for the rest of the year. This custom was observed in the Roman Empire for centuries.
In A.D. 494, Pope Gelasius renamed the festival of Juno Februata as the “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.” The date of its observance was later changed from February 14 to February 2, then changed back to the 14. It is also known as Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. After Constantine had made the Roman church’s brand of Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (A.D. 325), church leaders wanted to do away with the pagan festivals of the people. Lupercalia was high on their list. But the Roman citizens thought otherwise.It was not until A.D. 496 that the church at Rome was able to do anything about Lupercalia. Powerless to get rid of it, Pope Gelasius instead changed it from February 15 to the 14th and called it St. Valentine’s Day. It was named after one of that church’s saints, who, in A.D. 270, was executed by the emperor for his beliefs.According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in early martyrologies under the date of 14 February. One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), and these two seem both to have suffered in the second half of the third century and to have been buried on the Flaminian Way, but at different distances from the city…Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing is further known.” Several biographies of different men named Valentine were merged into one “official” St. Valentine.
The church whitewashed Lupercalia even further. Instead of putting the names of girls into a box, the names of “saints” were drawn by both boys and girls. It was then each person’s duty to emulate the life of the saint whose name he or she had drawn. This was Rome’s vain attempt to “whitewash” a pagan observance by “Christianizing” it, which God has not given man the power or authority to do. Though the church at Rome had banned the sexual lottery, young men still practiced a much toned-down version, sending women whom they desired handwritten romantic messages containing St. Valentine’s name.
Over the centuries, St. Valentine’s Day cards became popular, especially by the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. These cards were painted with pictures of Cupid and hearts, and meticulously decorated with lace, silk or flowers.

Dr. Su`ad Ibrahim Salih, professor of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) at Al-Azhar University mentioned that there are forms of expressing love that are religiously acceptable, while there are others that are not religiously acceptable. Among the forms of love that are religiously acceptable are those that include the love for Prophets and Messengers. It stands to reason that the love for Allah, and His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) should have the top priority over all other forms of love.Islam does recognize happy occasions that bring people closer to one another, and add spice to their lives. However, Islam goes against blindly imitating the West regarding a special occasion such as Valentine’s Day. Hence, commemorating that special day known as the Valentine’s Day is an innovation or bid`ah that has no religious backing. Every innovation of that kind is rejected, as far as Islam is concerned. Islam requires all Muslims to love one another all over the whole year, and reducing the whole year to a single day is totally rejected. Hence, we Muslims ought not to follow in the footsteps of such innovations and superstitions that are common in what is known as the Valentine’s Day. No doubt that there are many irreligious practices that occur on that day, and those practices are capable of dissuading people from the true meanings of love and altruism to the extent that the celebration is reduced to a moral decline.

When a Jewish Rabbi was asked about his opinion with regards to celebrating St. Valentine's day this is what he stated, ' From Jewish perspective, Valentine’s Day, like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is nonsense. Because we don’t need a special day for any of this. If on February first you decide you should send a friend a card to say I love you, or you want to buy your mother flowers, a Jewish person does not need to wait until a specific day. But what if you absolutely want to send someone flowers, chocolates or a card on Valentines day specifically? There are a few issues with this that are raised by the Rama in the Shulchan Oruch (Code of Jewish Law) based on the Rama’s criteria as to what constitutes a secular holiday which a Jew may not follow. It would seem because of the vagueness of Valentine’s day and the way in which it is observed it does not constitute a violation of the law according to some Rabbis. However, it is not in the spirit of the law to practice such a thing.
My advice has always been: send chocolates, flowers, and/or a card the day before Valentine’s Day saying; “I wanted you to know I love you so much that I could not wait an extra day.” '

A Christian preacher in the USA expressed his views with regards to celebrating Valentine's day and in my opinion he has summed up this subject matter in quite an apt manner. This is what he stated, " Parents today expect their little ones to “fall in love” and have boyfriends and girlfriends. They think it is “cute” when little boys and girls hold hands and act like a couple, sneaking a kiss or two when no one is watching. Some parents get worried when their kids do not show romantic interest in the opposite sex. They constantly ask them, “Do you have a boyfriend yet?” or “Who’s your girlfriend?” Yet these same parents are surprised when their teen-aged “little girl” gets pregnant. Or catches a sexually transmitted disease. Or gets an abortion behind their back.
St. Valentine’s Day is just one of many tools the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4) uses to get parents to sacrifice the innocence of their children.
When little boys and girls draw each other’s names in a lottery and send Valentine cards and gifts to each other, declaring their “love,” they are learning the first stages of intimate relations that the Creator God designed specifically for emotionally mature adults. Instead of embracing the carefree innocence of youth, growing up without the headaches and heartaches of adulthood (finding a job, paying bills, marriage, raising a family, etc.), children today are taught to lust after each other. They are caught up in a daily drama of “If-you-loved-me-you’d-sleep-with-me; I’m-pregnant; It’s-not-mine, she-had-an-abortion.” By the time they reach adulthood, virtually every shred of innocence, sincerity and moral decency has been stripped from them. Emotionally drained, they have world-weary, “been there, done that” attitudes. And their lives are just beginning.
This is why we live in a world where a teen-aged virgin is a rare find. Where what used to be called “shacking up” and “living in sin” is now simply “living together.” Where sex is nothing more than meaningless physical recreation—no emotional attachments, no cares, no concerns. Where people change sex partners as conveniently as they change clothes. Where unmarried twenty- or thirty-somethings have had at least five sexual partners—and that is considered a low number, especially in the United States. Where men are not referred to as “my husband,” or “my fiancé,” but as “my second baby’s father.”
How pathetic! "

SOURCE:
http://ohr.edu/explore_judaism/ask_the_rabbi/ask_the_rabbi/3386

http://rcg.org/articles/ttbsvd.html

http://www.defence.pk/forums/members-club/46989-valentines-day-islamic-perspective.html#ixzz2KY8qNybA

HIS LOVE FOR HER BLINDED HIM

History has recorded stories of deep love between a man and a woman, stories like Laila Majnoo, Romeo and Juliet, Shah Jehan and Mumtaz to name a few. However, nothing compares to the following real life story. Abdullah, a sixty year old Saudi gentleman can not come to terms with his wife Fatima's death. She had passed away due to cancer and experienced excruciating pain due to chemotherapy treatment. She had spent long periods of time within a hospital environment. The old man walks to the cemetery twice a month to visit his beloved wife's grave. He stares at the grave for long periods of time with tear filled eyes and then raises his hands in prayer. Sometimes he would laugh and there are times that he would cry whilst relating his daily life activities to his deceased wife as though she was right there sitting next to him.He lives with his sons and does not go out much, except to perform prayer at the nearby mosque. His son Othman said his father has never stopped thinking about his mother.
The memories of the time they spent together have been etched on his mind, he said.
No matter what his sons and daughters do to entertain him, he cannot forget his late wife and keeps mentioning her name all the time. “My father went blind as a result of crying much over my mother’s death. Once he told me that losing his sight did n’t make him as sad as losing Fatima, who was the apple of his eye.”

Source:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130202151568

An update on the Faihan al Ghamdi case

AND FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS AFTER THE OUTRAGE.......

'He will stay in prison for a long time': Saudi royal family intervenes in case of 'celebrity' preacher released after paying blood money despite raping and torturing daughter to death
Royal family reportedly 'stung' by the outrage over the case

THE INDEPENDENT
The Saudi royal family has intervened to block the release of a ‘celebrity’ preacher accused of raping, torturing and killing his five-year-old daughter.

Fayhan al-Ghamdi was set to be released after agreeing to pay “blood money” to the mother of his daughter Lama, who suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken back, broken ribs, a broken left arm and extensive bruising and burns. Social workers say she had also been repeatedly raped and burnt.

Al-Ghamdi, who regularly appears on Saudi television, admitted using a cane and cables to inflict the injuries after doubting his five-year-old daughter’s virginity and taking her to a doctor, according to the campaign group Women to Drive.

The case caused a scandal in Saudi Arabia, with public calls for the cleric to be put to death.

Despite the country’s notoriously strict legal system however, fathers cannot be executed for murdering their children, in the same way husbands cannot be executed for murdering their wives.

Rather than getting the death penalty or receiving a long prison sentence for the crime, Al-Ghamdi served only a few months in jail before a judge ruled the prosecution could only seek ‘blood money’.

Albawaba News reported the judge as saying: “Blood money and the time the defendant had served in prison since Lama's death suffices as punishment.”

Today, however, the Saudi Justice Ministry issued a statement saying the cleric remained in prison and the case was continuing.

The Times reported sources in the Saudi capital Riyadh as saying the royal family had been “stung” by the outrage over the case, with senior members intervening to ensure a stricter punishment is given.

One source told the newspaper, “The royal court is now looking at the case. He [Al-Ghamdi] will stay in prison for a long time.”

The £31,000 blood money Al-Ghamdi agreed to pay is considered compensation under Islamic law, although it is only half the amount that would have been paid had Lama been a boy.

Formal objections to the ruling were initially raised by three Saudi activists, and the twitter hashtag #AnaLama (which translates as I Am Lama) was set up.

In response to the public outrage over the case, Saudi authorities set up a 24-hour hotline to take calls about child abuse.