Suddenly thought of the day is darkest, this April 8, 2024. I did the obvious and only thing I do when achieving such inspiration – looked it up. Hahaha This is what I found.
“The phrase “it’s always darkest before the dawn” was first used by English theologian Thomas Fuller in 1650. It appeared in his work A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the Confines Thereof. But, this doesn’t mean that he was the first person to ever use the phrase or one with similar meaning..”
I was somewhat, more than a little amazed, to see the Sight of Palestine and the Confines Thereof in this quote, particularly at this particular time in the world. I do hope that this is a sign there is some relief to be found in Palestine – the people there certainly are confined!!
As site called Poem Analysis offered this explanation:
“It’s always darkest before the dawn” describes an attitude towards hardship. It suggests that when one is suffering the most, they’re the closest to making it out of their suffering.”
That certainly can describe this day, on the verge of Eid – when everyone is totally exhausted. There is more information to be gleaned from this site.
It’s similar to the idea of hitting rock bottom. There, when things are at the darkest, is when one is about to see the dawn. The dark, in this metaphor, represents whatever struggle one is engaged in. This could be anything from a financial, marital, social, or political problem. The dawn represents the time when things start to get better. The sun comes up, the darkness clears, and the path is laid out clearly in front of one’s eyes.
The proverb “no pain, no gain” has been used regularly since the 1980s but has been in existence in one form or another dating back to the second century. The phrase suggests that someone needs to suffer in order to achieve their goals. It also implies that the greater the suffering, the greater the reward. Here is a note of realism – tough love I guess.But let us get real: I’m tired of hearing people say “no pain, no gain.” Some pain isn’t worth the gain. We shall see what tomorrow brings.
This is now tomorrow Tuesday April 9, 2024. The ‘bad news’ is in – the reasons are most complicated and scientific but Eid is not until Wednesday. The effect of the solar eclipse. It does show us who is in charge of this world, it teaches us humility. It did me anyway, initially creating major problems in my life. These problems shall not be revealed. Solutions are being sought and progress is being made. This blog does not usually speak of the hardships I encounter, only the benefits. I shall proceed in due course.
I am undertaking a self-imposed Nigerian crash course, learning both useful and utterly useless facts. This example of useless comes from an online publication with the unlikely name of PUNCH. “According to the global organisation for mobile operators, 92 per cent of the nation’s adult male population have mobile phones while 88 per cent of the nation’s adult female population have mobile phones. It stated that 36 per cent more men (54 per cent) use mobile Internet than women (34 per cent) in the nation.” My Nigerian connection is within the 92 percentile. We communicate using his phone (and mine). Hahaha.
The most recent edition of Punch contained this important announcement. THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Monday, declared Wednesday, as the day of Eid-Fitr. The Sultan, who is the President General of Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said the decision followed the report of National Moon Sighting Committees across the country which confirmed the non-sighting of the new moon. “
Read the entire article, finding this to be most interesting. “Meanwhile, to mark the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations across the country, security agencies, including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, state security outfits and others have deployed personnel to protect worship centres, direct traffic and ensure a hitch-free event.In preparation for a hitch-free celebration, the Commandant-General, NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, ordered the strategic deployment of over 40,000 personnel across the federation.” Reading the entire article revealed that Nigeria is focusing on crime prevention, not arrests. This paragraph a sheer delight: “He hinted that the command deployed all the special forces such as the Armed Squad, Female Strike Force, Intelligence, Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Crack Squad (operation Adaka-su), Intelligence and Agro Rangers to ensure the maintenance of law and order.”
Mashallah, a Female Strike Force, I do love the way that sounds. I would love to be a member, perhaps an honorary one at my age. To remind everyone: ‘Mashallah is an Arabic phrase that literally translates to ‘God has willed it’, implying that something has happened, it’s generally used to positively denote something of greatness or beauty. It is used to express a feeling of awe or beauty regarding an event or person that was just mentioned.
Mashallah. It is now April 13, 2024. I cannot believe this but I have not blogged in five or six days. This is some sort of record. Little did I know how dark the day was going to get before the dawn. Decided not to speak of the darkness – it was decidedly, ominously horrible. A betrayal of epic proportions, which at each passing moment and each encounter got only got worse. I will always remember the feeling, standing waiting for an elevator on floor 9. It seemed all of the chickens had come home to roost. A feeling of utter and complete betrayal by everyone and everything. I did soldier on. Did not put on an happy face in the beginning, as there was nothing to be happy about.
The evening of April 11, 2024 left me feeling totally disrespected, demeaned, debased, dishonored. I have not recovered from the abuse heaped upon me and a close friend by certain members of the staff at the Al Kohbar Hilton Garden Hotel. It was a reenactment of my childhood abuse. I have never felt so alone and undefended. It was so destructive, uncalled for, inhumane. It is difficult to understand the motivation of staff members who were given the power to act in a manner. One has to guess at their motivation, it arose from ignorance, ill will, hatred and racial discrimination. The reason for the exclusion was ‘policy’, of allegedly of Hilton hotels. I was not informed of any such policies – the written ‘policy’ was not provided, although repeatedly requested.
No remedies were provided for the exclusionary treatment. Out of consideration for my feelings he did not reveal his inner feelings at the time. Later he said that he felt like lower than an animal – “I could die on the street as far as they were concerned.” Such discrimination, such inhumanity would not take place in his country. He is not the ‘other’ I have plans to visit Nigeria – where I will be the ‘other’. I will not abandon my plans and shall write of my impressions of the country. I an absolutely certain that I will be welcomed – both as a Muslim and as a Caucasian. If I am not faithful readers will hear of my outrage, of my dismay, of my incredulity.
Incredulity is the the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something. If I experienced any form of discrimination in Nigeria it would be unbelievable,. I would be filled with mistrust, suspicion, lack of trust, and wariness. All those feeling were felt by my companion. Total disbelief as he is is a Hilton Diamond status member, has stayed in Hiltons throughout the world. in Saudi Arabia where he has stayed in the Medina and Mecca Hilton during his pilgrimages.
I have no doubt that Allah (SWT) is on our side – At least one of the offenders was Muslim. At this point it appears the offenders will face no retribution. It seems most unlikely in light of my conversation with the General Manager who was summoned by the Owner to meet with me and resolve the situation. Other considerate and kind staff members apologized for the behavior of their colleagues. The General Manager never said he was sorry, offered no remedy, or retribution, refused to allow me any assistance during my meeting with him and left for other duties – despite the fact he was called in on his day off. If I were to describe his demeanor – I would never call him encouraging, caring, sympathetic, reassuring, understanding, concerned, helpful, nurturing, sensitive or benevolent. He provided no redress. Did not even apologize for the harm caused by one of his staff members. He understood his obligation, requested by the owner, a kind, sympathetic and principled man – was merely to calm me down. I suppose he did. However, when I calm I am deadly.
The treatment received was of course not nearly equal to that of the suffering of Palestine. We look to history to the Holocaust to see when human rights abuses are ignored it leads to the holocaust which then led to the genocide taking place today.
Allah’s (SWT) blessings, compassion care made their appearance. Good does prevail over evil. It was possible to escape the confines of the Hilton, a place previously considered a place of refuge for at least a few days. A delightful, kindly driver sped us to Riyadh. Felt like a kid again eating junk foods and drinking non alcoholic beer in the back seat of the car. Our destination was the Ritz Carlton. I had been insisting upon the Hilton but obviously that was a poor chose. We were treated with absolute courtesy, almost like Royalty. The exact opposite of surly insults of the Kohbar Hilton After seamless checking-in I answered a knock on the door. Two men, offering a perfect bouquet of red roses. It was presented in recognition of my positivity, an appreciation of my commitment to the faith. Despite the fact I had not slept at all the night before, the night of atrocity, I was able to remain alert to enjoy the day and accomplish important tasks. The most important, purchasing a birthday gift for his mother who I was to meet the next day in Jeddah.
The next morning I treated myself to a massage – so needed!! A guided tour of the grounds of the magnificent architectural treasure that is the Riyadh Ritz Carlton – a place of Royalty, past, present and future. Photographs taken that day will soon be shown.
Kohbar Hilton Garden Hotel is a thing of the past. Onto bigger and better things.
