Today it feels as if I am winding down. Not expecting a great deal of myself, starting to reach out to the world, from my seclusion and solitary ways. Looked to Fasting in Islam to discover three or four, ways to say goodbye to Ramadan 2024, to bed a fond farewell. You would bid a fond farewell to a person show is living but you’re happy for their situation.
If a person was retiring you might say: “Wishing You a Bright Future: A Fond Farewell Message for a New Chapter”As you embark on this exciting new journey, we want you to know how much your presence has meant to us. Your vibrant energy and dedication have left an indelible mark, and we are grateful for the memories we’ve shared.”
Not entirely applicable to bidding farewell to Ramadan, close but no cigar.
The phrase ‘Close, but No Cigar’ is used to indicate that you have fallen just short of a successful outcome and have received no reward for your efforts.
That led to the phrase “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is used to discuss the difficulty some seem to have in attracting a suitable male partner or spouse. The origin of the phrase ‘A good man is hard to find’ can be traced to a 1918 song by Eddie Green. The lyrics include the following: “A good man is hard to find, you always get the other kind. Just when you think that he is your pal, you look for him and find him fooling ‘round some other gal.”
Me: A good man is hard to find should be my theme song.
Alter Ego: There is some truth in that. But do remember you cannot sing.
Me: Or do math. Men seem to be finding me these days so I guess I can call off the hounds.
Enough frivolity, back to the serious stuff. Fasting in Islam concludes with Words of Wisdom about fasting.
These words poetic: If worship were a bird, certainly fasting and daily prayers would be its wings. (Yahya ibu Mu’adh)
The following concept seems to be ignored, even by this book: ‘Enduring thirst and hunger is not fasting. Fasting is refraining from obscene talk, bad contacts, the yolk of carnal desire and evil action.’ The focus of all information, be it books or social media seems to be on exactly what you are not eating and drinking – not on one’s everyday conduct during this month.
Unfortunately, a little too late, found this, commenting upon the peace of mind and tranquility of fasting, forgetting all resentments and ill feelings. “ They follow the tradition of the Prophet that reads, Should anyone insult or provoke you, or act ignorantly toward you, respond to it by saying, “I am fasting.”
Put the Prophet’s words to immediate use, when in a conversation with a man who was provoking me, acting ignorantly. Usually his words would have resulted in an argument, with him accusing me of having a ‘short fuse’ – not taking responsibility for his words that caused me to react in anger. Just said” “I am fasting” , then sent a voice message.
This is the conversation that elicited “I am fasting” I had sent a photo .
He: Is this the guy?
Me: Who did you think it was? King Kong?
He: Do not be angry as usual short fused be careful.
Me: I am fasting.
The man insisted on sending insulting, provoking messages. Actually rather vile ones. I kept messaging.
“I am fasting”. He eventually stopped texting, with me getting in the last word, the upper hand, in a pleasant way.
I often say, and it is absolutely true: “This faith works for me!” The Prophet (peace be upon him) does have a solution to all of our worldly problems – all we have to do is listen. Then do what He says, of course. A later conversation with another friend proved useful. He recruited the words in Arabic, providing an English translation.
He: The English translation would be: “Allah, I am fasting.”
Me: I see!!! One goes directly to God, praying for refuge – making the irritant Immaterial and irrelevant. The irritant is no longer in the conversation.
He: That is an interesting way to see it.
Me: Thank you
Back to the real world, the post Eid world. My search for knowledge continues with a new and reliable source. I reached out to the Pew Research Center, they reached back through their newsletter.
“U.S. Muslims are more sympathetic to the Palestinian people than many other Americans are, despite the fact that relatively few Muslims in the United States are Palestinian themselves, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in February. And only about a quarter of Muslims in the survey identify as Arab or of Arab ancestry. Muslim Americans are also highly critical of President Joe Biden’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas.”
Learned this, valuable and not too surprisingly fact.
“Most Muslim Americans (70%) believe discrimination against Muslims in our society has increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. A much smaller share of the U.S. public overall (38%) says the same.”
Statistics such as these solidifies my refugee status wherever I may roam. At the moment I am staying still. However, I am in correspondence with a man from an African nation.
Me: I am a refugee I have no home except for this hotel. Know of a country that would accept me?
He: Its a small country tho
Me: I don’t mind moving. Hahaha
He: One day you should visit Nigeria. Will introduce you to my extended family.
Me: WOW
This was written in the morning. Then after Asr prayer I went down to the lobby while my room was being cleaned. While there, went to alexismcbride.com. It was with great delight that I saw April 6, 2024 blog had been posted. Did not reread, just went to the reels. The second one entitled The First Time I Saw the Blessed Sight. I was overcome with emotion and began to weep. Saw in the periphery of my vision a covered Muslim woman look at me with concern. Tried to signal that I was fine. But she came over and comforted me by holding my hand. I told and showed her why I was crying – reliving the moment when I first saw the Kaaba. She began to cry as well. I thanked her profusely, we hugged, her driver arrived, she left.
Was WhatsApping this same man, telling him of the conversation, saying I was saying I was crying tears of joy with a Sister Muslim, linked him to the reel through the blog.
He: It is always so beautiful when you cry out of happiness.
Me: Have you ever seen me do it before?
He: Yes of course.
Me: Oh yes!! The call to prayer when you held my hand. Right???
He: I still have that moment engraved in my mind.
Me: I had sort if forgotten about it until now. I will explain it to you when I see you.
He: We have a lot of catching up to do. Just read the blog and how you wrote about the Mumafiquin and how you explained it. The depth and the easy way.
Me: What feedback! It makes me SO happy you said that.
Later, for many reasons, had a very restless evening, unable to sleep, unable to focus, in a state of anxiety. Reached out to friends, which was helpful, but not altogether soothing. Then in sheer desperation – prayed.
Afterwards, calmed and centered, deciding to write, offer Fajr prayer, then (non- characteristically sleep) until Dhuhr prayer. That is currently the plan.
My life is full of surprises. I laughingly texted a new Egyptian friend. He was awake and texting at an ungodly hour.
If you refer to a time as an ungodly hour, you are emphasizing that it is very early in the morning. Synonyms: unreasonable, outrageous, unearthly, dreadful.
Me: Sometimes when things seem to be too good to be true, they usually are.
He: LOL
Me: I think I will go to sleep.
He: Me too, G. night.
I am doing a good job assimilating into the culture and ways of KSA. But a nightly occurrence, enhanced by Ramadan, is totally beyond my comprehension. I overlook the Dhrurman Mal. Absolutely every night, without fail, there is an influx of cars arriving using after Isha prayer, steadily unceasingly until an ungodly hour – at least 2 am. Joined the festivities one evening, stayed until closing time. It remains a mystery however. Last night, the sleepless one, decided I would record these moments for posterity. The reel reveals all.
The contrast between this view and my Mecca view is astounding. I am unable to reconcile the two. The one, and only, thing they have in common is that they are both in Saudi Arabia. .
When WhatsApping my new/old friend discovered, to my surprise that he is staying at the same Makkah hotel as I did in December of 2022. He is not alone, it sounds like he and his family have taken over the entire hotel – his uncles, aunts and eleven cousins.
He: We all look the same thats what everyone says. They just know we are Rabius, some are fair, some are dark. Some are chubby, some skinny.
Me: You and I are the exact opposites of one another. You have black curly hair, I have white straight hair, you are black, I am white, I am old, you are young, you have a vast powerful and influential family, I have no family.
He: Different with so much in common. Hahaha Parallel universe. Every forces different but we still found a way to connect.
Me: Well, we both love Allah (SWT). That is how it is supposed to work
The very same hotel, with the very same view as I had in December of 2022. What is the likelihood of that???
By the way, I did discover the extent of his extended family. His grandfather’s obituary provided this information.
Renowned Kano businessman, philanthropist, leader of Islam’s Tijjaniyya movement in Nigeria and patriarch of the famed Isyaku Rabiu Family, Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu, is dead.
Born in 1925 to the family of prominent Islamic scholar, Muhammadu Rabiu Dan Tinki, a Quranic preacher from the Bichi area of Kano State who led his own Quranic school, Khalifa Sheikh Rabiu grew up memorizing the Quran and learning Arabic from where he moved to Maiduguri in 1942 to further his Islamic studies. In 1946, he returned to Kano to establish himself as an Islamic scholar and by 1949 he had become an independent teacher of Arabic and the Quran.
Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu is survived by his wives, 42 children amongst whom are his first son, Nafiu Rabiu; Founder & Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Chairman of IRS Airlines, Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu amongst other notable offsprings. He is also survived by hundreds of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Me: Are you of the Isyaku Rabiu family?
He: Yes, How did you know?
Me: Wow. Mashallah Researched you last name. Is it true?
He: Yes, Isyaku Rabiu is my grandfather. He was such a great man, how I wish I could be half the man he is.
Me: Doesn’t everyone?!?!?!
He: When did you read about him?
Me: This evening.
He: There are a lot of writings about him, Even books My surname led you to it. Hahaha
There were even more surprises.
He: My dad is my grandpa’s heir in knowledge.
Me: Mashallah That is absolutely totally amazing. I cannot wait to talk to your father about the faith.
He: Can’t wait for both of you to see. You will learn so much.
Me: Please tell your father I am much better at learning than I am in Hijabs.
(We had spoken of his father previously. “I even showed him our video and he laughed at how your scarf was tied.)
I tried to remember how I met this well-connected guy.
Me: I met you in Kyoto? Right??
He: Yes Kyoto, Japan. Hahaha
Me: No Kyoto Restaurant in the Medina Oberio. You were sitting in my chair in the sushi bar
He: It is now our chair.
Me: Okay lazy bones. It is now our chair.
What an interesting life I lead. It never, ever, ever would have happened if I did not become of the Islamic Faith. I would be an atheist, living in Marin Country, California. It was the second richest county in all of the USA. The Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center, where I worked for 31 years, is in San Rafael. San Rafael has been totally taken over by homeless, I heard this from a woman I used to work with. It is not reported in the media
Alhamdulilla!
Allhamdulillah, which is written in Arabic as “thank you,” is another often used Islamic phrase. It means “glory be to God” in the literal sense. Thank God is the comparable phrase in English. Alhamdulillah is meant to be recited in response to anything that occurs in our lives (both positive and negative). People typically use it to express thanks for good things in daily life. How are you in Arabic is frequently answered with the phrase alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah is a means to express satisfaction. It can also be used when discussing accomplishments or a fortunate circumstance.
One of the photos I am getting together me in hijabs show the learned father.
