Husband absconded, Wife distressed

http://www.partnershipforchildren.org.uk/ - picture

A few nights ago I received quite a distressing phone call from a family who resides in Makkah tul Mukarrama. They are originally from the sub continent but have been in the Kingdom for the past fifty years now. Half the family members have already acquired Saudi nationality. Brother M enquired about my well being and then asked me to speak to his wife who was clearly very shocked and upset. Her sister is not a Saudi national as yet and she is married to a man from Bangladesh. She is a mother of four children and is expecting her fifth child. Without any prior notification her husband of 20 years has absconded and returned to Bangladesh. After missing for almost two days he finally called his wife from Bangladesh to inform her that he will be staying there from now onward with his Bangladeshi wife. He basically has been leading a dual life with a wife in Saudi as well as a misses in Bangladesh. She asked me for advise as she does not know how her sister will be able to support her kids. She is not an educated woman and never worked in her entire life.I guess that she was probably brought up in a home where females were not allowed to seek an education. If the woman resided in South Africa, she could probably get a part time job as a cashier or do a catering business from home. She could probably work in a supermarket or be a clerk at a school. Here in the Kingdom though, it is difficult for women to get a job and most families do not approve of the female members of the home going out to work. The male is considered the breadwinner of the family.If the woman was a Saudi national she could probably gain assistance from a government welfare department. The fact that she does not have Saudi nationality despite being born in the country makes things twice as difficult for her.I always wondered who came up with this model that the male is the breadwinner and the woman of the house should cook, clean and feed her family. Surely every human being has dreams and aspirations in life. Everyone of us have desires and dreams that we wish to fulfill. Islam has always been a forward thinking religion of vision. Islam has never been against women's education. It is society, customs and traditions that have created this idea that women should be subservient to their husbands, stay at home and look after their families. The first verses that were revealed to the Prophet (saw) was "Read in the name of your Lord who created--- Created man from a clot of blood. Recite and your Lord is most generous who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not." Clearly God Almighty asks us to read. Through reading we educate ourselves. No where in the Quraan is it mentioned that women should not seek an education. An educated woman is an asset to society for she transfers her knowledge to her kids. I am really fortunate to belong to a household where my parents never ever differentiated between my brother and I. We were always treated equally and afforded the same opportunities in life.Dad has always been a visionary thinker. Whilst he did not complete his formal education himself, he always emphasized on the importance of seeking knowledge especially for a female because no one knows what lies ahead. There are some women out there who become widowed at a young age, there are others who are divorced and need to look after their kids. There are some women whose husbands are unable to work due to illness and in this case there are some women out there whose husbands run away leaving them with the responsibility of bringing up the children. If a woman has an education she is always able to provide for her family. She has something to fall back on.My "father" always says when you have money, you smell like honey and when you don't have money, you smell so funny. Whenever a family is in any financial crisis, society will only help in a limited manner. They may provide financial assistance on a few occasions and then they will become fed up and stop. This is the bitter truth.This is the sad reality. I honestly do not know how this poor lady is going to solve her problem but I do hope and pray that God Almighty makes it easy for her. For those of you out there who have a negative way of thinking with regards to educating a female child, I humbly request you to please reconsider your stance and view point regarding this matter.As the Prophet (saw) said,"If a daughter is born to a person and he brings her up,gives her a good education and trains her in the arts of life, I shall myself stand between him and hell-fire." (Hadith reported by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud).

Women airbrushed out of Saudi catalogue, SO WHAT???

http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-6698-tnt-sab-express-saudi-arabia-flat-packs-ikea-goods/ - picture

Whilst there are thousands of people massacred in Syria and in other parts of the world and other important issues that need to be tackled, I find it most shocking that the western media have gone into a frenzy regarding the Saudi Arabian IKEA catalogue. Every year the Swedish based company produces over two million catalogue copies that are distributed world wide. The brand has enjoyed success within the Middle Eastern market with a whopping profit recorded on an annual basis.The controversy arose when it was discovered that the Saudi Arabian catalogue had been digitally manipulated thereby removing females and cups containing wine from the catalogue. Many of my Saudi colleagues do not understand what the big " hallabaloo " is regarding the catalogue. In Saudi Arabia it is very much the norm where you will not find female images splashed across a billboard or newspaper for that matter. The catalogue in my opinion is in line with Saudi tradition and customs. Wine is forbidden in Islam and hence was removed from the catalogue and when anyone thinks of Saudi Arabia the first thought that comes to mind is a veiled woman or a woman in a headscarf. Hence, marketing catalogues that may work and promote a certain lifestyle or image in the west may not necessarily have the same effect in other parts of the world that are deeply rooted in customs and traditions. Branding strategist Peter Shankman reasons that,“when you’re selling globally, you have to be aware of all of the different ways of life around the world. What flies in America might not fly in Saudi Arabia,” Shankman explains. “In America, whether we believe that to be normal or ok or not, is irrelevant to how they’re selling in Saudi Arabia. If you’re selling in a country that has specific rules and specific rights, you need to appeal to those rights.”

Suddenly, I find that every newspaper or media coverage is out there to vilify Islamic norms and traditions. It seems as though the whole world is caving in on Islam. The stark reality though is that the more western media try to slander the religion of Prophet Muhammed (saw), more people have started taking an interest in the religion and many have reverted to Islam. Observing all the news reports regarding the IKEA fiasco on television, I thought to myself, why have they not asked Muslim women who wear the hijaab or the niqaab what they feel about it. Most Saudi women I know are proud of their culture and tradition and they adorn their hijaab and veil because they want to, because it is a part of their traditional values. Whilst the media have been babbling on about the fact that the absence of women in the catalogue symbolizes a lack of women's rights within the Islamic world especially within Saudi Arabia, it is interesting to note that it is Islam and the shariah that uplifted the position of women in society years ago.In Europe until the 19th century, women did not have the right to own their own property. When they were married, either it would transfer to the husband or she would not be able to dispense of it without permission of her husband. In Britain, perhaps the first country to give women some property rights, laws were passed in the 1860's known as "Married Women Property Act." More than 1300 years earlier, that right was clearly established in Islamic law.

I am not going to allow a scantily clad journalist on CNN to tell me what my rights should be as a Muslim woman. It is high time that the west respects Islamic and Middle Eastern culture. They should certainly not be enjoying huge profit margins earned from Muslim Arab wealth if they fail to comply with the traditional and religious sentiments of those nations. Mind you,it is not only Saudi Arabia that utilizes digital manipulation techniques like airbrushing to filter out inappropriate female images that are against cultural and religious norms. Newspapers in Israel that are run by the conservative orthodox Jewish community who follow the teachings of the Torah and not the Talmud also adopt these techniques. Dressing modestly is very much a part of traditional Jewish culture as well. Orthodox Judaism does not allow for interaction between the sexes prior to marriage.Women belonging to an orthodox Jewish community are required to wear close-necked, long sleeve blouses and long skirts. Traditional Jewish women also cover their hair either with a headscarf or a sheitel (a Yiddish word for wig). 

http://arthuride.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/new-york-city-orthodox-jewish-men-deny-women-equality/ - picture

Hence, the question remains, why isn't the Jewish community or Judaism as a whole vilified by the media? Why isn't women's rights questioned in Judaism? Why is it that at every opportunity the west finds, they choose to bring down Islam, bring down the Prophet Muhammed (saw), question and condemn women's rights in Islam. In my opinion it all boils down to fear.

Ultra-orthodox Jewish women visit the Israel Museum exhibition "A World Apart Next Door" in Jerusalem on June 19 2012. The ethnographic exhibition highlights facets of the culture of the Hasidic Jews. AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA

When questioned about the whole Ikea debacle,this is what Eman Al Nafjan, writer and blogger who tweets as Saudiwoman had to say,"We're beyond that right now in Saudi Arabia," she told CNN. "With Internet and satellite TV, there's really no such thing anymore as blacking out women or airbrushing out women. I would be upset if something like Google was doing it, but for IKEA to do it, that's just marketing -- it's not such a big deal."

His Cruising Experience - Part 2

The Celebrity Equinox Cruise liner -I was blown away by the magnitude and enormity of the ship.

The Celebrity Equinox docked at Pireaus in Athens

The Silhouette Dining area where we had our evening formal meals- two seatings each evening- 6.15 and 9 pm.

The library which can be viewed from the glass lifts 

The water fountains dance around one of the pool areas on Deck 12

The grassed areas on Deck 15- bowls (Bocca), chipping etc with the glass blowing section in the background. Demonstrations given there which last about 3 hours of amazing glass blowing with firing of the final pieces into stunning vases, candle holders, ornaments etc- lessons given too.

The Health Studios and the fully equipped gym are popular places for the passengers. Keeping fit and getting pampered on board full hair studios, spa, saunas, steam baths, acupuncture specialist etc

The Equinox Theatre -two show times each evening and different shows ranging from comedy, musicals, full orchestra, circus style, magicians - as well as the venue to meet before going on shore excursions

The buffet area- always a hive of activity with food available at most hours!

Sun worshippers love to just laze around the many pool areas. Games and groups singing also going on at certain times of the day.

Bubbling jacuzzis alongside the main pool areas always a place where couples or groups find themselves during the cruise.

The man behind the "REAL TALK BLOG"

From quirky comments to describing strange and hilarious day to day scenarios, to tackling hard hitting employment, law, job market, passport and other issues, Desert Moon brings to you the man behind the "REAL TALK BLOG". This blog is definitely  one of my favourite blogs within the Saudi blogosphere. I am always taken aback by the wisdom and message that each article conveys to the reader. Such wisdom and depth can only be generated from an individual who has a pure heart with noble intentions. Read on to find out more about the blog in his own words.

Nationality:

Citizen of Earth

Education background:

Bachelors in Business, a waste of time!

Drink I always order at a coffee shop:

Coffee

Pet Peeve:

Nails on blackboard

1. Firstly, thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed despite your very hectic lifestyle.So tell me, who is the man behind the 'Real Talk Blog'? Tell me a little bit about your background. Where were you born? Basically a brief synopsis of your  life from childhood up until university.

I was born in Karachi in Oct of 69. I was raised in Riyadh because my father came here 4 years before I was born. I am from the  Hashemite lineage , 40th generation direct decendent of Ali ibn Abi Talib.

My whole life, from early childhood has been spent in understanding the word of God and I feel I will be complete the day I know myself totally. All other aspects of my life revolve around this goal. I own my business so that I burden no one with my views and can exercise my policy, my way. Thus, I have never  worked for anyone. I went to Manarat Al Riyadh school here and graduated from Cyprus College.

2. Why did you decide to start writing a blog? How did it come about?

I have been writing for as far as I can remember. Expression of thought is growth of mind and thus the development of man. I write my blog to gain knowledge and share views. Human interaction can unite people and through each other we learn.

3. How many hours a week do you spend blogging?

No timing. I write anytime and as a thought insists on being expressed through words:)

4. Has the Saudi government ever clamped down on some of the sensitive issues you have written about?

Never. I don't write about sensitive issues because I don't know what sensitive issues are. I have a policy to deter any attack on any government or national security.

5. What do you think is the secret to success? Define success. What does success mean to you?

Honesty and Courage. Success means being granted Jannah on the Last day. Because success should be final and eternal otherwise it is not success, just a temporary condition.

6. Have you ever lost friends or have you ever been threatened due to a viewpoint you expressed on your blog?

No. Never.

7. In your opinion, what are the positives or negatives of blogging?

Adds to information available. Negatives can range from hurting oneself to causing chaos depending on popularity.

8. What topics and subjects are you the most passionate about?

People and all that concerns them.

9. If someone could grant you one wish and you could choose to have one skill or talent in the world, what would it be?

To be able to unite all humans and achieve world peace.

10. What are your favourite websites?

www.booking.com looool

11. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Who or what inspires you to write?

My heart which is inspired by Quran.

12. Do you consider yourself to be a spiritual person? What are your thoughts on religion and faith?

Faith and religion is the essence of all life. We are born to understand our existence through worship of our creator.

13. Some time back, an article I read mentioned that  the Saudi government wanted all blogs to be registered and licensed. What are your thoughts on this?

No problems with that as there are many anti Islam and anti Ksa bloggers on Earth.

14. Should bloggers within the Kingdom be allowed total freedom of expression or do you think the government has a right to arrest and clamp down on bloggers whose opinions are incongruent to government policy?

Freedom of speech should not cross the limit and become abuse.  If you do not agree with KSA policies, leave. Every country has a right to decide what to allow and what not. If you write a blog praising saddam hussain, osama and hitler in the west, you Would get areested!

15. What advise would you give to people out there who are thinking about starting up their own blog?

Go right ahead folks. Write what you feel. A blog is about you, not others.

16. What makes a blog successful? What are some of the qualities or features that a blog requires in order for it to become successful?

Sincerity, originality.

17. Are there any other internet websites or publications that you write for?

Saudi life, Riyadh Connect, Chowk

18. Can you provide the readers with a few blogging tips?

If you are not good at expressing yourself through writing, find the medium that does justice to your heart and express through it. Never do what others do.

19. Are there any additional comments you'd like to add for the blog readers?

I love all of you and am grateful you read my blogs. God bless you all.

Once again, thank you very much Sir, for taking the time to answer these questions. Desert Moon wishes you the very best in your career and beyond!!!! I strongly recommend all my fans, friends and family to please visit  the "REAL TALK BLOG". Kindly provide me with feedback and your thoughts regarding the blog.