I do admit to having a strange, peculiar, extraordinary mind. Thinking over my long life with its many ups and downs, catastrophes and godsends, undying love retreating to casual rejection, truths followed by utter lies; faithfulness and loyalty turning into betrayal.
Despite all of that I point with pride (accompanied by earned self esteem) at the positive effect I have on people- those I meet and greet, strangers, wholesome and good staff members – even children.
I am even known for my positivity on, of all places, Instagram. Not so much for my photos and reels but rather the responses I make to truth containing posts. I shall now show you examples.
The first may not sound particularly positive. It was a response to the horrendous recent Dubai flooding. Unlike other responses, it was factual, not defensive, and not condemning. Looked at the stalled cars, the roads awash, traffic congestion, no government help or intervention. My response was simple, (and fact based)
Me” That is what happens when you seed clouds.
To that terse statement of fact I received 2071 Likes.
That is definitely WOW Mashallah.
Another post was a quote from Albert Einstein. “Do not grow old. No matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery in which were were born.” Albert Einstein.
Me: That is me. I am 80 and more curious than most children Alive and energetic. Thanks Albert for the advice. You are such a smart guy. Hahahaha
To that I received 13 Likes.
I responded to Shahid Bolsen Reel about Why the West Hates Muslim Women. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4OdTQDNBTH/?igsh=M20zMXg2anh2Nzdn
Me: I love that! I am dignified not decoration. I am a recent revert and love the freedom of abayas and hijabs. No worries about so many things. Such self confidence. I recommend it.
420 people Liked that response.
I had also written
Me: Dress modestly. With self confidence stop showing your skin. Educate yourself. Stop looking to men for approval.
But there is another side to my comments. One that reveals the truth of what really happens at certain Holy Sights A reel showed Kabba soldiers with great solemnity escorting a learned man. The Return of Sheikh Yasir Ad Dawsary. He led Dhuhr Sabah in Rashid Al Haram today following his reappointment.
Me: Most impressive the respect shown to his authority. Mecca does an excellent job with crowd control and respect etc. Not so Medina. Lived in Medina for almost three months next to the Prophet’s Mosque.
77 Liked that Response. Either applauding crowd control at Mecca or the lack of it in Medina or both.
I do distance myself from most forms of media – social and antisocial. CNN is the television station of choice at the hotel breakfast buffet. The content of which both amuses and appalls. . USA University students all across the land are turning out in huge numbers protesting against Israel, That is not going to make any difference at all, it certainly has not so far as the genocide continues unabated. As if that is going to make any difference. It does nothing to help the Palestinians or stop the genocide. Their energies are totally misdirected. They should be protesting against their astronomical tuition. Other countries in the Middle Ease, China and Scandinavia pay the tuition of gifted students. Efforts to control or cap their massive student debt went nowhere. If they are able to secure a job on graduation it will not be one that provides medical benefits, adequate vacation time, maternity leave or sick time. But they are not demonstrating against that. Why??? Because they are mindless and unaware of the truth, as media is controlled by the rich. All one has to do to demonstrate, loud and clear, against the genocide is NOT pay your income taxes. Then Biden, Congress, the war machine, the military industrial complex will have no money to pay for the bombs, the armaments, the rockets. If enough people stop paying their income taxes the whole system will be found to a halt. That is a positive message!! Then one is doing something productive and there is the reward of cold, hard cash. Just sayin’
This morning when no one watches CNN anyway perhaps I can request a change of channels to something cheerful, like children’s cartoons. I shall give it a go. Why not? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Nothing ventured nothing gained is a truism: you can’t expect to achieve anything if you never take any risks.If you don’t risk anything you won’t gain anything.
Somehow, miraculously, it could not just be luck, when doing research about nothing ventured nothing gained, this article from The Mail and Guardian of December 28, 2009. I hurriedly read it, marveling at its total relevance to this blog and to my life. What made it more unbelievable is that I was waiting for a call from Keno, a promised communication. .
Abubakar Muhammad Barinjimi is in the twilight of his life at 88 but, sitting here in his primary school classroom, he’s got ambitious plans for further education well beyond his centenary.His fellow students at this school in Nigeria’s main northern city of Kano are seven-years-old, they haven’t the kind of long beard he boasts, and while they fit on small chairs, his is special to accommodate his frame.Yet Barinjimi is learning exactly what they’re learning as he builds up to his ultimate goal — a doctorate in theology.That could be some way off — he’s still mastering the art of reading and writing, and going through school and college at the same pace as the average student would make him at least 120 before he gets a doctorate.
Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
”I’m not deterred by my age,” the bespectacled Barinjimi said, holding his pencil as he looks up from his book with a broad smile. ”My ultimate ambition is to bag a doctorate degree in theology before I depart this world.”The retired builder enrolled in 2008 at the privately-run Nigeria-Egyptian Model School, which teaches Islamic theology alongside conventional subjects. Dressed in a chequered kaftan of white and brown, a pair of brown trousers with matching cap, white socks and brown plastic sandals, Barinjimi looks like any other pupil in this mainly-Muslim northern city.He has eight children and over 60 grandchildren and travels 6km by bus to school. His children, who were themselves educated, help out.”I was elated when he told me of his plan to go to school, and so were my siblings,” said one son, 42-year-old college teacher Sani Barinjimi.”We give him all the moral and financial support he requires to actualise his dream and we are proud of him.”Barinjimi’s initial goal was to be able to read the Qu’ran. Having achieved that to some extent, the next step is to become a theology expert so that he can preach Islam to English-speaking non-Muslims.
For a doctorate certificate Barinjimi needs at least 25 more years — four at primary, then junior and senior high schools before college, first degree, master’s degree and finally the doctorate. Barinjimi’s decision to start school at the age of 87 underscores the low literacy rate in this state of 10-million people which, according to the Kano State Agency for Mass Literacy, stands at 34%.Nationally, Nigeria’s literacy rate has improved markedly in the past few years, from 55,3% in 2003 to 69,1% this year, according to the education ministry.However, Barinjimi is one of those who have been left behind because they never had the opportunity of attending school.Instead of making him attend classes, his father took him to a local builder where he became an apprentice.It was a trade that enabled him both to earn a decent living and bring up eight children, all of whom went to school.Nicknamed Baba (‘father’ in the local Hausa language) by his teachers and co-students, Barinjimi isn’t bothered by the age difference with those around him.”I feel happy learning among these friends, whose presence around me gives me much courage and encouragement,” he said, ”although they are not older than my grandchildren”.”In fact, I have two grandchildren — a girl and a boy — studying in this school and the granddaughter who is eight is in grade three while I’m in grade two and I have no problem with that.”
Teachers and students say he is making progress.”He is the fourth in academic performance in his class, he always takes the fourth position in any quiz or examination the class conducts. He is learning fast,” said head teacher Suleiman Garba Hussein.”It’s just amazing how he has been able to adapt to the school environment and behave as a seven-year-old. He gets along with all the pupils and doesn’t want to be treated differently.””We enjoy learning with Baba and he is wonderful when we play. He is among my best friends in the school,” said Fatima Garba, a fellow pupil. Whether Barinjimi obtains his doctorate, he feels he has learned something in the past year. ”The one important lesson I have learnt is that without education life is worthless,” he said.”I’ll strive to earn my doctorate as long as I live.” – AFP
What a message! What a gift! “The most important lesson I have learnt is that without education life is worthless.” He is striving to earn his doctorate – it gives him hope, meaning and a purpose.
Knowledge is so essential to the Islamic Faith. Did remember that I had written about it. Found the following in my February 29, 2024 blog discussing a book I had borrowed from the Ithra Library.
“There are more important matters, these words are taken from Prophets and Princes: (pg, 36)“Muhammad’s thousand of sayings Hadiths were carefully recorded after his death. Here are seven of them.For me the most compelling Hadith assures a reward for this man. “On Resurrection Day the ink of the scholar shall have more weight than the blood of the martyrs.” This quotation was taken from a book borrowed from Ithra Library.. This from Islam in Transition, not a book from the Saudi Arabia Ithra Libraryinstead purchased from a used book store in Edmonton “The quintessence of Islamic teaching is that man should make proper use of his intellect which God has given him as a guiding light to help him think for himself, and that having done everything In his power, he should resign himself to the Will of God, for the happy fructification of his labor.” In other words, it is a good idea for me to use my intellect. A guiding light is that which provides guidance in times of uncertainty. People can be guiding lights. These are definitely uncertain times.,when guiding lights are necessary.”
I guess that is my job – continue seeking knowledge and provide a guiding light. By the way, in case you do not believe me – here is the cite to the article about the 87 year old scholar. https://mg.co.za/article/2009-12-28-aged-88-its-back-to-school-for-nigerian-grandfather/
The promised Kano call did not come, yet again. A photo will show that it is the end of an era. My night shirt, was professionally cleaned and returned to me. No more melted chocolate on it, the Ritz sheets were immediately washed. The other photo is the morning greeting received from my Malaysian Little Sister. These messages sustain me, give me hope and deepen my Islamic Faith. Alhamdulillah
