The blog of February 22, 2024 spoke of the history of Founder’s Day, most particularly the influence of Muhammed bin Abdul Wahhab (1703-1792). Quoting me:
There is much more to be said about Wahhab, his life and particularly the ‘unsung’ role of a woman in this fascinatingly true tale.” I promised to “discuss this matter in a future blog.” I am.
Abdul Wahhab had found patronage under Emir Uthman in his hometown of Uyaihna. From there he began preaching, chopping down date trees, busting tombs and stoning an adulterous woman. This brought him into disfavor with the rich and powerful Shites, who revered their saints and much preferred their way of life. Their Emir commanded Emir Uthrman to kill Wahhab. He refused, but reluctantly asked him to leave as he was dependent on their riches. Princes and Prophets discusses the role of Mudhi, the unsung hero of the day.
Ibn Abdul Wahhab had several followers in Ad Diriyah, an oasis town twenty miles away that today is just outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. He moved in with one of them and began to teach, but the house room became crowded. Some of the students asked for help from Mudhi, a wife of the town’s ruler, Muhammad bin Saud, whose obscure father founded the royal dynasty that still rules Saudi Arabia today. “
The narration continues with the history of the family, but returns to the contribution of Mudhi.
“At first, the emir, who was a fierce warrior, was skeptical of the troublemaking scholar. But his wife, Mudhi, was deeply impressed by his sermons: “Allah has sent you a great gift,” she told her husband “Make him your ally.” She was the first to set that her family could lead bin Abdul Wahhab’s movement to unify Arabia and that routine raiding could turn into holy war.”
The book spoke of Ad Diriyah, the city were it all took place. Wondered where that possibly could be, thought I had never heard of it. Of course, with my practices and habits I Googled the name of the city. Wonders upon wonders, found that I had actually been there. Think of how unlikely this is to begin with. Here I am in Khobar Saudi Arabia reading a book borrowed from Ithra Library, deciding to write about Founders Day, having the overdue library book in my room at the time. Therefore discovered the the truth of Founder’s Day., deciding to focus on a woman living in the eighteenth century. Then by immersing myself further in the book, becoming curious, thereupon discovering I had been at the very place where it all happened. Mashallah!!! I am using Mashallah to express excitement. As I said in my January 23, 2024 blog: (Not knowing if it is proper or not I put myself in quotations.)
“Mashallah is used for previous occurrences, whereas inshallah is used for future ones. Mashallah is an Arabic phrase that translates to “what God has willed.” Mashallah can be used to show excitement and thanks for something that has happened, similar to how alhamdulillah can. Mashallah is frequently utilised in daily life as a method to appreciate things like beauty. Mashallah is an additional Islamic phrase, but it has significant cultural significance. This is founded on the notion that reciting mashallah shields one against vices like jealousy. Mashallah is typically mentioned when praising someone in daily life. For instance: Mashallah, you are beautiful. Muslims and Arab-Christians alike frequently utter “mashallah.”
This is the story of my visit to Ad Diriyah. It was during my Saudi Arabia Umrah viair – December 2022 – my first visit to this country. Looking for a word to describe the rather distressing Umrah pilgrimage, thought of attenuation. Found it to be the perfect word: it means to reduce the force, effect, or value of something. One Saudi woman, hearing of it in detail said it was a test of my faith. The conclusion of the ill fated voyage found me in Riyadh. While in Mecca, my first stop, I met a woman physician visiting from Riyadh. She volunteered to show me some of her city, upon my arrival there. It was she who guided me to the UNESCO sight located on the outskirts of Riyadh. It was Ad Diyadya. At the time I knew nothing of its historical importance. I actually knew nothing at all about Saudi Arabia during my first visit – my knowledge limited to the lies found in Western media – had no other source of information. The Al Diyadya was a superficial visit because of improper shoes and mobility issues. I did take some photographs which you will view at the conclusion of the blog.
Returning home on Christmas Eve and wanting to remember the sight I took the brochure home to Edmonton, placing it on one of bulletin boards in my apartment. For some unknowable reason I placed the contents of my bulletin board in a plastic bag and brought them with me. It seemed illogical as I was planning to return to Edmonton, maintaining a residence in both locations. October 7, 2023 intervened. The resulting Islamophobia, Muslim women being attacked in Edmonton, makes it impossible for me to return in safety. The apartment lease was terminated by email, leaving everything behind.
This very unusual juxtaposition of events continued. After writing my initial Founder’s Day blog, dutifully sending it to my computer guru for posting, went to the breakfast buffet. One man had a catchy saying on the back of his t-shirt, we fell into conversation. He, working in the aviation, is here on business. We spoke of many things, including my blog writing. He is also an Islamic scholar and is a direct descendant of Ibn Abdul Wahhab. What is the likelihood of that, pray tell??? We have spoken since, he is a font of knowledge, both confirming my beliefs and challenging me to change my mind about certain matters. An example was hearing of the early the Western influences on the Islamic Faith. One example is my belief in the ‘Great Tribulation’ – he views it as an ‘accommodation’ to the Christian’s belief in the Apocalypse. I sole of the Great Tribulation in this blog in April of 2022.
I fell into conversation with his man by reading the ‘sayings’ found on men’s and children’s t-shirts. Speaking to them about this practice is a practice of mine. Many have no idea of the meaning of the phrases, some are just a walking commercial for popular brand names. One man, here on oil and gas business from Pakistan, had a unique saying emblazoned upon his chest Born to be a Denizen We began a conversation, in my typical fashion I told him of my blog, giving him a blog card after speaking first of his t-shirt message. Denizen has many meanings – on a trivial level Denizen is a brand of the clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. It does have other, more significant meanings. It is both (formal or humorous) an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place: for example denizens of field and forest. Or a British historical designation for a for denizens of field and forest. a foreigner allowed certain rights in the adopted country. The origins of the word hold some fascination: late Middle English deynseyn, via Anglo-Norman French from Old French deinz ‘within’ (from Latin de ‘from’ + intus ‘within’) + -ein (from Latin -aneus ‘-aneous’). The change in the form of the word was due to association with citizen. Denizen has many synonyms: inhabitant, resident, local; occupier. My favorite has to be the informal, derogatory: local yokel. I must tell him that he is wearing a shirt that is saying: Born to be a Local Yokel.
He and I have had subsequent conversations – he is unique in that he read the blog, said he wanted to read more and we resolved to stay in touch with one another through email. He says that I have something to say, that I have a message and he intends to share it with others in his country. My response to that? I am stunned, an adjective: so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react. Amusing synonyms: flabbergast, knock for six, knock sideways, hit like a ton of bricks, bowl over, blow away.
I am blown away, bowled over and flabbergasted because no one seems to take me seriously. I am funny, more so in real life. People prefer the funny me – that is understandable. But that is only one side of me. I have no desire to stop being funny, jovial and entertaining. If Allah (SWT) gives you a gift you are supposed to use it. Allah (SWT) loves it when a person makes other Muslims happy. I am on the horns of a dilemma. The idiom on the horns of a dilemma means to be stuck in a problem that is very difficult to escape from, sort of a damned if you do and damned if you don’t “ situation …… also refers to the saying “ Caught between a rock and a hard place” . All of these statements refer to not having a good way out of a problem.
Researching dilemma more thoroughly possibly brought a solution – perhaps. Dilemmas are either-or problems, requiring selection of one alternative over another. However, if one considers the situation to be a paradox, then the dilemma is resolvable. Paradoxes are both/all problems. They require integration of several alternatives into a single overarching solution.
Well that is hopeful I guess, But it sounds like a lot of work.
Me: Why me???
Alter Ego: Who else Alexis (aka Alaa)?
Me: Okay! Okay! Okay! One meaning of the Arabic/Muslim name of Alaa is Goddess of Creativity. Best I get creative.
Photographs are ones taken on my visit to the UNESCO sight. The title page from Poets and Prophets. I am too lazy to type all of that information into this blog. I returned the book to Ithra Library yesterday. More about that awesome trip later, thoroughly loving the Founder’s Day celebrations. There is also a photograph of the much travelled brochure from Saudi Arabia to Edmonton to Saudi Arabia. I am more travelled than that.
