Yesterday morning at sunrise I happened to look out my hotel room window. An amazing sight greeted my eyes. The windows of a building were reflecting the rising sun. So I have everything anyone could ever want. I have a spectacular view, The city is laid out before me, Ithra and the Khobar Water Tower in the distance. The sunsets are nothing sort of spectacular. The only thing I was missing was the sunrise – AF1 and I spoke of sunrises in the past. I immediately fired off a WhatsApp to him:
Me: An absolute blessing this morning! The sunrise rejected in the windows of the building. Never seen it before. I played a call to worship on my iPhone and watched it in awe.
Well, nobody is perfect. The man did not respond. Twelve hours later wrote again.
Me: Reflected not rejected. I had a vastly rewarding day today. Started out great, many surprises of great joy. Happy Saudi Founder’s Day tomorrow – from 1727 to now with Al Saud Royal Family.
Woke up this morning for Fajr prayer.. While sipping coffee returned to a book I am reading, Prophets and Princes, borrowed from the Ithra Library. Decided to read, in great detail, what was going on at the time. Some of the information you shall receive second-hand, should you continue to read on. I Realized I had made a mistake, immediately corrected it in the text..
Me: Got the date wrong. Misinformation from the Internet. But a book told the truth. Planning to write about it. Actually I am.
Nobody is perfect. He has not responded. Oh well, in the words of a song. Gotta Along Without You Before I Met You, Gonna Get Along Without You Now.. This is a total and absolute digression, and it is not at all applicable to the relationship with AF1 but here are some of the lyrics. Listen to it on YouTube, it is a sassy song sung my a strong woman. Love it!
Gonna get along without you now
Uh huh, hmm hmm
Gonna get along without you now
You told me I was the neatest thing
You even asked me to wear your ring
You ran around with every girl in town
You didn’t even care if it got me down
Uh huh, hmm hmm
Gonna get along without you now
Mhm mhm, hmm hmm
Gonna get along without you now
Got along without you before I met you
Gonna get along without you now
Gonna find somebody who is twice as cute
‘Cause I didn’t want you anyhow
You told everybody that we were friends
But this is where our friendship ends
‘Cause all of a sudden you even changed your tune
You haven’t been around since way last June
Uh huh, hmm hmm
Back to the untrustworthy Internet – it does supply some information on Saudi Arabia Founder’s Day, It is limited and incorrect but at least you get the general idea.
Saudi Founding Day commemorates the establishment of the Saudi state by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727. It is is mainly celebrated with the objective of encouraging Saudi citizens to:
- cherish the solid roots of the Saudi State
- cherish the close bonds between themselves and the leaders
- appreciate the cohesiveness, stability and security established by the Saudi State
- appreciate the continuity of the Saudi State as a reflection of the strength of its leaders and its deep roots
- cherish the national unity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud
- be proud of the achievements of the Kings of Saudi Arabia in building the country and strengthening its national cohesiveness and prosperity
You shall now learn more. The problem with the Internet is that it is never fact-checked, nor are there the Wikipedia citations, which must be provided to support the facts asserted. Also the Internet providers often have an agenda. Clearly this entry is catering to, bowing to, the Rulers of Saudi Arabia. That is understandable but introduces a certain bias.
Chapter 5 of Prophets and Princes shines the spotlight on the founding of Founders Day – The Founder to Wahhabism: Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (!703-1792). Mark Weston authored this book in 2008, prior to the massive reforms instituted by MBS. Therefor, , therefore the first paragraph of the chapter speaks of a Saudi Arabia that is not at all the Saudi Arabia seen in 2024. I am ‘on the ground’; which means people who are personally on the scene; those who are directly affected. I am in Saudi Arabia at the place of interest or importance and, goodness knows, I am actively engaged. I am here rather than somewhere else, for instance Canada or the USA, although I have dual citizenship in both of those countries. If a reporter is ‘on the ground’ they can see what is actually happening. The overreaching and overriding problem with reportage on the Middle East is that seldom, if ever, are there investigative journalists here, examining the complexities of this country which is in rapid and complete transformation.
Therefore, I am telling you, ignore the first paragraph of this chapter – if you are curious enough to even beg or borrow it. I am not suggesting that you steal it. (That was an attempt at a joke. Beg, borrow or steal is an idiom: to do whatever is necessary to get something that is wanted or needed.)
Oops, I digressed again. Back to the book. It describes the state of religious observances in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the eighteenth century. It was absolutely, shockingly lax and lazy. Without Muhammed bin Abdul Wahhab who knows where the Islamic Faith would be today. The people were worshipping date trees and domes. Wahhab chopped down the date tree – the one women used to hug thinking that would bring them husbands and babies. (p.90).. When he lifted the axe Wahhab repeated the same words that Muhammed (PBUH) said when he smashed the 360 idols inside the Kaaba in Mecca.
HE: Truth has come. Falsehood has ceased to exist.
It is very complicated – next he, accompanied by the Emir of the region, Uthman and 600 soldiers smashed the dome over the tomb of the brother of Umar, proving it was just a rock lacking any power. (P.90)
Do realize this may be premature but this needs to be said at today’s Medina Prophet’s Mosque. There is another form of idolatry taking place right there.
Wahhab was a truly great man, very well educated, extremely intelligent, a writer as well as being very charismatic. Although the Saudi government website apparently says that founding day is 1727 these are the historical facts as reported by Prophets and Princes;
The modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially began in 1933, but its true start took place in 1744, when Muhammed bin Saud went to bin Abdul Wahhab’s cottage to welcome the famous preacher to his city.” (Pg. 91)
There is much more to be said about Wahhab, his life and particularly the ‘unsung’ role of women in this fascinatingly true tale. Muslim women are always unsung and underplayed. They do not get noticed or praised, this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Hahahaha
An unsung hero is one who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them. They may not receive the same level of recognition or praise as a traditional hero, but their contributions can be just as important and meaningful. They do not get noticed or praised for hard work, courage, or great achievements. That is true of women in every society and faith: they are anonymous, neglected, overlooked, under acknowledged. Except for Mary or Miriam in the Quran and in the Roman Catholic Faith. Sometimes these unsung heroes are called ‘hidden gem’ or “secret weapon”. I prefer to be called ‘secret weapon’ if I end up being an unsung hero.
I shall discuss this matter in a future blog. I am on the ground on Founder’s Day and shall show you some photographs at the blog’s conclusion and tell you of the day but first of all I need to get out of my hotel room and experience some of it.
All the stops were out and there was so much attention to detail today at this hotel. (Pull out all the stops means to make every possible effort.) It was most celebratory, as the photographs will reveal. Placemats, decoration, dates, candies, treats, a truck with huge waving Saudi flags near the entrance. And then there was me, armed with a new cinematographer making reels posted on Instagram. Saudis know how to celebrate and without liquor.
