I do recall from my recent scholastic Biography days, a required reading book: The title: Stuart, A Life Lived Backward. It told the story of a homeless man, beginning with his death, going back to his birth. It was a brilliant idea because, you did not read it with dread and disappointment. Instead and interestingly, and in an almost magical way, the book delivered a measure of hope. You knew the very worst wondering what got him there.
Unpredictably and Unknowingly that shall be the story of the the blog. I was leaving the breakfast buffet, going to my room for Dhuhr Friday prayer with plans to write. As I exited I was accosted by a Muslim woman, clad in black. I was wearing my Palestine scarf, which has brought mixed reactions in the past couple of days (refused admittance to the Prophet’s Mosque being one example). Therefore, do admit that I was a bit defensive when this woman spoke.
She: Are you from Palestine?
Me: No!!! But I wear this in support of the Palestine people!!!
She: I am from Palestine.
Me: Oh!!!
I threw my arms around her, hugging her.
She invited me to join she and her sister at their table. I did, they began questioning me about why in the world was an English speaking woman from Canada in Medinah, at this time, clearly supporting the Palestine people. I tried my best to explain the extremely complicated story using my blog. Showed them the Free Palestine and the Quest for Life banners with its entries. As we spoke, learned they both lived in Jannah, their left Palestine in 1948.
Me: He got out at the right time! Just when the Jews were taking away his homeland.
The sisters were here to worship in Rawdah which they had just completed.
Me: Were you trampled alive as you tried to pray, as I was?
They: We were fortunate, The hordes were on their way in when we left.
Me: You were SO fortunate. That Holiest of Holy places has been desecrated.
The sister gave me her business card, urging me to call and visit when I came to Jeddah. The business card, (a very clever one by the way) informed that she was the General Manager of a school. As soon as I returned to my room, Googled it and look what I found!!! “With 57 years of experience, Dawhat Al Jazeera International Schools (DAJIS) has evolved remarkably into a progressive institution while preserving a strong quality education that meets international standards. The result is a wonderful combination of enthusiastic, successful, self-motivated learners who are empowered to shape the future.” You MUST go to Google and examine the website. Such an incredible girl’s school – you shall be impressed and if your are not, there is something wrong with you.)
I shall not follow the systematic steps of the Stuart author, instead take you back to the very beginning of this day. Learned that it was Friday the 13th. Oops, experienced immediate trepidation. Went to Wikipedia (of course):
“Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year.”
Wikipedia provides a long history of why it is considered unlucky. I shall focus on only one or two.
Christian associations The superstition seems to relate to various things, like the story of Jesus‘ last supper and crucifixion in which there were 13 individuals present in the Upper Room on the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before his death on Good Friday.
In conjunction with Friday While there is evidence of both Friday[7] and the number 13[8] being considered unlucky, there is no record of the two items being referred to as especially unlucky in conjunction before the 19th century.
Dissemination It is possible that the publication in 1907 of T. W. Lawson‘s popular novel Friday, the Thirteenth,[13] contributed to popularizing the superstition. In the novel, an unscrupulous broker takes advantage of the superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the 13th.
But here is the real shocker.
Social Impact According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17–21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day, making it the most feared day and date in history. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. It’s been estimated that US$800–900 million is lost in business on this day.
This just goes to prove, yet again, what utter fools Americans are, and how they just lose business in the long run. Do not forget that profit is the be all, and end all, in America.
The be-all and end-all is the thing, idea, person or activity that is the most essential element in a person’s life. There are no substitutes or alternatives that can take its place. For instance, a man may be obsessed with his lover, and she may be said to be his be-all and end all. All The origin of “be all and end all”is a phrase from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
But enough of that! After learning it was Friday the 13th, prayed Fajr Prayer, sent the blog off to Computer Guru Chris for posting, got dressed, put on makeup and then went to the buffet breakfast. Stopped by front reception with the following question.
Me: Excuse me. What is my last day here. I know I am here for a month but forgot the last day of my stay.
She: October 31.
Me: Goodness gracious!! I know there will be no trick or treaters here. Hahaha
I will talk about that later. The Islamic Faith absolutely forbids the celebration of Hallowe’en. More about my 2022 Edmonton Hallowe’en experience as the day nears.
Coffee, food, guidance and assistance were offered at the breakfast buffet. I am spoiled rotten, an idiom: to do whatever someone wants you to do or to give someone anything they want. NIG and I have a teasing conversation. He: I will do anything for you. Me: Anything ?!?! He: Well, almost anything. I explained (using innuendo) of the implications Anything? during my pre-Muslim days. He is, of course, aware and comfortable, with my post Muslim purity.
During breakfast read a book I had purchased on the history of Medinah. This quotation begins the book, written in both Arabic and English, words of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
“Oh, Allah! Make Al-Madinah beloved to us, as we love Makkah or more.”
Shared the Arabic translation with all the Arabic staff surrounding me, rejoicing that I was in this beloved city.
I read on, learning more of the history of the city.
The Foundation of the City
“There is a consensus in the Arabic sources that “Yathrib” was the man among the descendants of Noah and that this man founded the city and so it was named after him.”
The First Inhabitants of Yathrib
The first inhabitants were from three large tribes and they were:
- The Amalekites
- The Jews
- .The Al-Aws and Al-Khazrah.
In these troubled times I shall focus on the Jews. You shall soon see why I am doing this.
The Jews
“ When the Muslims first migrated to Yathrib, there were a number of Jewish tribes, and there is agreement that most of the Jews of Yathrib were the descendants of emigrants who came from Palestine. Some of them came as migrants after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Kingdom of Judea and killed many of the Jews and enslaved many of them; this took place 586n years before the start of the Christian Era (CE) (known by Christians as BC). Likewise, other migrations took place when the Romans made an example of them in the year 70 CE and again in the year 132 CE. And some of those migrants made their home in the area of Yathrib. And the first of the tribes which reached the area if Yathrib were Banu Quanizah and Banu An-Nadir, then other tribes that followed them.” (Pp. 16-17)
The media is clogged, and congested with vitriolic statements from both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. I shall not add to them on this platform – although admittedly have done my share on Instagram. Read the The Jews (pp16-17). What possible right do the Jews of today have to occupy Palestine and make it their own?? It defies reason, it even defies imagination.
That paragraph should be required reading for the United Nations, for those in the USA, for those in Israel, for those in Canada and now, those in the UK. There is a wonderful phrase that I shall now employ: Get a Grip!
Get a grip is an idiom with this definition: to take control of a situation so that you can deal with it successfully Keep or control one’s self. The best two words someone could come up with the describe this were:
- ‘Calm down’.
- ‘Control yourself. ‘
- ‘Buck/ buckle up. ‘
- ‘Steady on.
This is none of your business UK, USA and Canada. And you Israel, This is the advice I say onto you. Do all four: Calm down, Control yourself, Back/buckle up and Steady on.
To you Israel is a special message: Get out while the gettings good. What does that mean? Leave while one can or has the chance. OR To leave at an opportune time or before adverse conditions arise. Better still this definition: To cease, end, or give up (doing) something before it becomes too difficult or the consequences become too severe.
Perhaps it is too late Israel. Who shall decide? Allah (SWT) who is, after all, your God too. You seem to have forgotten about that. May I suggest the reading of the Quran 2: 125-127.
Photographs the cover of the book from which I quoted and its title page. And a copy of the Quran 2: 125-127. You have no excuse Israel.
New slogan of the day: Israel GET REAL!
There are many synonyms to real, all right on target: actual, existent, nonfictional, factual; historical; palpable, corporeal, substantial; unimaginary, veridical, authentic, bona fide; honest-to-goodness, your actual, kosher, proper, true, rightly, so called,
Israel and all your ‘allies’ stop being unreal, imaginary, imitation, fake, false, mighty, powerful, awful, plumb, mad.
I have good news about my future which I shall share tomorrow. We all need some good news.
