Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik
What's your number
We all have a biological age and we have heard of body (health) age which is derived from how well you weigh up to the health survey. But...what's your real age is what I want to know and when I say real age I mean how old is your heart and the way you think.Okay so let's give it go and have some fun! Simply tell me:
1. What's your real age?
2. 3 words that place you in that age group?
3. Why do you think you're that age.
4. Any other general thoughts on the topic?
Oh and if you not too busy, head on over to .hopeful.'s blog and vote for her...
Hope you having a fantastic weekend!
Hajj 2010 Showcase 2: Two South Africans cycle their way to Haj
Two young South Africans have pedaled their way to Saudi Arabia to perform this year's Haj. Nathim Cairncross, 28, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Haron, 25, both from Cape Town, said on arrival at the Saudi border before reaching Tabuk that they felt happy they were fulfilling their dream of performing Haj. "Pedaling our way to the Kingdom from Cape Town was a grueling experience. We wanted to travel this way so that we are prepared to experience the rigors of performing the pilgrimage," Cairncross, a town planner by profession, told Arab News over the telephone on Monday night.
Both set out on their journey for the annual pilgrimage on Feb. 7 on their bicycles. They pedaled through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Syria and Jordan before reaching the
Saudi border. "This is our first Haj. We could have come for Haj by plane, but it was our cherished desire to travel differently, so we chose to use our bicycles, as cycling is what we both love the most," Cairncross said.
Both pedaled 80 to 100 km daily and took rest in mosques or tents after dusk and set out again after dawn. "People have been very cooperative and courteous. At every place that we passed through, they welcomed us and were happy to know that we were going for Haj. Food was never a problem as people took delight in offering us the choicest dishes. Of course, it was tiresome to pedal throughout the journey, especially when
negotiating mountainous regions," Cairncross added.
Language was a big problem for both of them. "Once we entered the Arab countries, we decided to pick up Arabic, especially while traveling through Syria and Jordan. This suited us well when we reached the Saudi
border where the security officials were very friendly and welcomed and greeted us. They were also happy to know that we have undertaken this arduous journey to fulfill our Haj dream," Cairncross said. "We came
with a very small budget and we found to our delight there were people readily prepared to offer us the local cash and meet our needs."
Both did not encounter any serious problem on their way through nine countries in the course of their nine-month journey. "All we did was to change tires and tubes, and fix the pedal chain from time to time.
Asked why they chose to ride bicycles, Cairncross said: "This gives us a lot of opportunity to meet and interact with different people in different countries. Additionally, we continued with our Dawa work wherever we stopped for our overnight stays."
Both Cairncross and Haron are students of Islamic law and have studied Shariah. "I joined a university and completed a course in town planning and am working in the field of construction," Cairncross said.
Both of them are single and love sports. While Cairncross is interested in wind surfing along beaches and seas, Haron, an economics graduate, excels in kickboxing and mountain climbing. After the pilgrimage, both propose to return home via West Africa.
Mashallah!
If any of you are in Saudia, please have a look at Fruitful Fusions Blog for a charity event coming up on the 3rd of November.
Weekend thoughts
I am not sure if you feel the same but it seems to me that the weeks are just flying bye and everything seems to be changing so quickly! In a few weeks, it will be Eid and while we get ready to whine down from our busy weeks, millions are preparing for Hajj, Alhumdulillah. Here is a beautiful verse to start off your weekend!
ولنبلونكم بشيء من الخوف والجوع ونقص من الأموال والأنفس والثمرات وبشر الصابرينAnd certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). [2:155]
Some sad news: Sheik Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the 92 year old Emir of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, passed away yesterday - he ruled for 62 years and is now succeeded by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qassimi
Ina lillah wa ina illahi raji hoon
Have a fantastic time!
I love the skies
Ever since I was a little girl, I have cherished clouds, being able to be high up in the skies and fly over these chunky sky pillows. When I was 12 years old, doing my first flight from Durban, South Africa to Cape Town, South Africa, I was left breathless over the 2 hour journey at sunset. It is truly, Alhumdulillah, one of the most beautiful things to behold. It was at that time, that I decided, I loved planes.
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| Artist Impression of A380 seen here Doha's city (this is how new Doha looks now) |
As if the increase in aircraft accidents have left me unaffected, the 8 hour trip to and from, is like a breeze and no matter how tired I am, I am just so excited to be over the clouds! Over and above of placing my trust in Allah, the rest of that relief comes from flying with the countries flag carrier,i.e.: 5 star accredited Qatar Airways Airline - not only does it give me piece of mind on safety but they operate young fleet that notably live up to the 5 star status. The economy class has been structured so well that you can fold your legs comfortably without touching the seat in front. I have flown with many other airlines and found the seating to be cramped - It is understandable how Qatar Airways managed to scoop so many awards in recent times (ranging from best economy class, best cabin crew and more recently retained the Best Middle Eastern Airline title for the fifth year running at the annual TTG Asia Pacific awards held in Bangkok and Best Middle East Airline accolade for the second consecutive year at the 2010 Business Traveller Asia Pacific). The planes are new and modern offering excellent in-flight entertainment and cabin crew services. Over and above these facilities, it offers a first class premium check in facility (Doha) and Mobile/Online check in.
Well done Qatar Airways - you're doing a great job!
For a virtual tour of some of the airlines offerings, have a look here
For a virtual tour of some of the airlines offerings, have a look here
Doha, will soon also be opening its new airport, which comes with high expectations. Take a look
Arabic word of the day
Have fun!
Go to: Arabic word of the day
Muslims wearing things
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The blog is based on a theory left by NPR analyst Juan Williams who had an irrational fear of Muslims, and thought one could identify them based on what they look like. Well this blog sets out to prove him wrong and not only does it do a great job it also demonstrates that muslims are very much normal. I was also surprised to see pictures of some prominent celebrities on it...I never knew that Dr. Oz who frequents Opera's show is actually muslim. We live & learn!
Page through this blog - hope it will entertain you just as much as it did me.
Thanks Washi, love you tons!
Desert fun is here
I can only laugh at my clumsiness from time to time as this weekend I destroyed my IPhone - Dropped by mistake into liquid! Now I am quiet lost because its my quick connect portal to my mail, blog, photos & Skype. Silliness has a price in deed.
It is autumn right now and its so wonderful driving to work and being able to keep the sunroof open (without using A/C) and being to smell the fresh air. Breezy days are here. It is actually the time when locals and expat alike start taking to the deserts and beaches. The desert activities are quiet popular including rafter racing, baja (hobbie car) racing, quad biking, tent gatherings, sand duning, camels, sand boarding and barbeques. It is great fun and exciting to just be able to engage in outdoor activities.
I have some really beautiful photos but can not share them with you right now so instead I have googled some images to give you a better idea. Hopefully when my phone is sorted out, I'll post some pictures on here.
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| A baja racing car - great fun on the desert. |
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| 4x4 Desert Safari |
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| Example of a desert tent - some are for family only, others for entertaining friends. You'll be surprised to know that they are fully functional. Last year when I visited one, it had a tv and foosball amongst the beautiful seating decor. |
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| Quad bikes in the desert - these are rental quad bikes available all over the desert |
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| Camel - the arabian desert is not complete if you not seen one of these. |
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| This is Maisaeed - sealine border. On the side is Saudi Arabia |
Have a great week ahead
أكوا بارك قطر - Aqua Park Qatar
Qatar has opened it's first Aqua Park, inaugurated by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassi this Wednesday, it promises to be great fun even though it is not completed. As reported by Gulf-times, a 1,500sq m pool area will serve children under-10. Water slides range from 14m to 20m in height. They include four main slides.
Another nifty feature at the park is boomerango, a tube ride where people accelerate down a steep chute before travelling high up the opposite wall, experiencing momentary weightlessness, before sliding back down up and over a hump and finishing in a splash pool.
Adjacent to the aqua park will be a 300,000sq m resort as well as a shopping complex, currently being built and is expected to be completed by June 2011.
The park will be open from 10am-10pm seven days a week. Fridays are earmarked for families. Tuesdays are set aside for women. Entry per person is QR100 and allows unlimited access to rides. For a family of six, a promotional rate of QR400 is also being offered.
Aqua Park Qatar is located 16km from the Industrial Area roundabout on Salwa Road.
The park will be open from 10am-10pm seven days a week. Fridays are earmarked for families. Tuesdays are set aside for women. Entry per person is QR100 and allows unlimited access to rides. For a family of six, a promotional rate of QR400 is also being offered.
Aqua Park Qatar is located 16km from the Industrial Area roundabout on Salwa Road.
Weekend wishes
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet said, "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity befalling him; but if he has to wish for death, he should say: "O Allah! Keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and let me die if death is better for me.' "
Have a great weekend.
Morality
Do you remember this proverb, "Honesty is the best policy" - it is a touchy subject that we were taught dauntingly as youngsters and as we grew up,is became a taken for granted characteristic, we imagined ourselves to just be! It is true until ofcourse you on the bearer end of dishonesty that the thought occurs to you, "How much of what we do hear is actually true and not made up?" It is often hurting to be in the company of dishonesty and while trying to be polite in not rocking the morality boat, at some point we need to be truthful to ourselves. Do we really want to be known as someone whose words can never be trusted or be on the receiving end of a lie? If we were all honest and lived in a perfect world, then court-rooms, police departments and psychiatrists would suffer a great deal.
So in understanding the concept of lies to rectify it, we need to be open to where it comes from. As I read in an article which said the following, " To gain complete honesty, it is important to let go of all your fears and defense mechanisms. You need to learn how to explicitly express yourself to another person. Complete and total honesty allows you to share you innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires. To reach the point of this honesty it is important to face your emotional grief that resulted in your defense mechanisms and fears. No matter where your pain came from, whether it is from childhood or adulthood, it is going to keep following you and bringing up hurtful feelings until you face it. When you confront your feelings without hiding from them, it helps you overcome and recover from them." it dawned on me that it might not be that someone intends to lie but it might that they are covering up for something that they just cannot express or fear.
While dishonesty is bad, it is equally important to understand that sometimes people do not mean to be dishonest, they actually are protecting themselves. While giving them the benefit of the doubt, it is also important to create an environment (a safe one) that allows them to let go of their insecurities, open up and let go so as to free up the lies.
And I am not saying that dishonesty or lies is acceptable, I am saying it can be rectified if we care enough.:)
Blogger moments
If you did not have a chance to sit down at my tea party, I hope that you actually made it to Naz's Tea Party. She threw a fabulous party yesterday - today Rose water is throwing a tea party, so head on there to entertain her abit. I love the questions both muslimah's raised - it actually got me thinking and equally wonderful to learn about each other more finely. The funny of this week was Naz, Mrs Handbag and I having a live chat over our comment box - it was great fun doing that.
Random things about me
Naz my darling you really touched me with your care. I appreciate your post and love you even more as it is priceless little things like that, that make this world special.
Amira, you tagged me to do 15 random things a while back and I never got around to doing it so here it is, today.
(1) I am a nature and animal person - you will often find me gazing into the skies. I love flowers, butterflies, breezy in your face days, when the rainbows are out after the rain, playing in the rain or just warming up against the colder days.
(2) I love children - they have a beautiful way of relieving your stress and ask you the most amazing questions. I hope one day I will have my own, Inshallah
(3) I love winter, fire places & mountains, cozy beds and cuddling.
(4) I love challenges, board games, a good debate and intellectual conversations.
(5) I hold alot on the inside and often will not hurt anyones feelings and rather bear the pain myself. I dislike to see anyone upset. It kills me.
(6) I am a smell person. I love the smell of berries, barbecue, chocolate cake, cinnamon, body butter, lip gloss and the warm feelings generated from a just-cooked out of kitchen. I am enthused by warmly decorated cosy living rooms.
(7) I do things in odd numbers like if I have to buy apples, it will always be 1, 3,5,7....
(8) I am a googler - I google almost anything I want to know.:)
(9) The additive form of my age is 5 - brain twister. I just never grew up.
(10) The most extreme thing I have done, is river rafting and I'll never do it again.
(11) I am strong believer in "the best things in life are free" so when gifting me, it is better that you douse me with love, happiness or care rather than the norm. I am not one to be satisfied with material gifts...i prefer thoughtful words, a walk, a picnic, a sunset moment...as I rule by heart mainly. Oh and I love spontaneity.
(12) The first place I visited outside of South Africa, was Dubai.
(13) Right now I have a very sore wisdom tooth that needs to be extracted.
(14) I love biscuits - a childhood trait that still lives in me, is dipping my biscuits in tea *chuckles*
(15) I love being free and that extreme extends to a barefoot fetish... Mae can relate on my crazy barefootiness!...*chuckles*
I'm tagging 5 people: Crafty Muslimah, Mustika, BosnishMuslimah, .hopeful. and Rose water.
Amira, you tagged me to do 15 random things a while back and I never got around to doing it so here it is, today.
(1) I am a nature and animal person - you will often find me gazing into the skies. I love flowers, butterflies, breezy in your face days, when the rainbows are out after the rain, playing in the rain or just warming up against the colder days.
(2) I love children - they have a beautiful way of relieving your stress and ask you the most amazing questions. I hope one day I will have my own, Inshallah
(3) I love winter, fire places & mountains, cozy beds and cuddling.
(4) I love challenges, board games, a good debate and intellectual conversations.
(5) I hold alot on the inside and often will not hurt anyones feelings and rather bear the pain myself. I dislike to see anyone upset. It kills me.
(6) I am a smell person. I love the smell of berries, barbecue, chocolate cake, cinnamon, body butter, lip gloss and the warm feelings generated from a just-cooked out of kitchen. I am enthused by warmly decorated cosy living rooms.
(7) I do things in odd numbers like if I have to buy apples, it will always be 1, 3,5,7....
(8) I am a googler - I google almost anything I want to know.:)
(9) The additive form of my age is 5 - brain twister. I just never grew up.
(10) The most extreme thing I have done, is river rafting and I'll never do it again.
(11) I am strong believer in "the best things in life are free" so when gifting me, it is better that you douse me with love, happiness or care rather than the norm. I am not one to be satisfied with material gifts...i prefer thoughtful words, a walk, a picnic, a sunset moment...as I rule by heart mainly. Oh and I love spontaneity.
(12) The first place I visited outside of South Africa, was Dubai.
(13) Right now I have a very sore wisdom tooth that needs to be extracted.
(14) I love biscuits - a childhood trait that still lives in me, is dipping my biscuits in tea *chuckles*
(15) I love being free and that extreme extends to a barefoot fetish... Mae can relate on my crazy barefootiness!...*chuckles*
I'm tagging 5 people: Crafty Muslimah, Mustika, BosnishMuslimah, .hopeful. and Rose water.
Whispers of Jummah
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Allah forgives my
followers those (evil deeds) their souls may whisper or
suggest to them as long as they do not act (on it) or speak."
[Sahih Bukari]
Share your love, smiles, greetings and kindness with your fellow muslims (whether poor or rich) - it starts irregularly with one person but it catches on like weed soon becoming a norm!
Have a beautiful weekend
This weeks Arabic phrases
1. إني وجهت وجهي للذي فطر السماوات والأرض حنيفا وما أنا من المشركين
Translation: For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and theearth, and never shall I give partners to Allah
Tagged for: Submission and dependence on Allah. It is a supplication normally reserved for salaat. Some will recite this before beginning the salaat.[Qur'an 6:79]
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2. الحمد لله
Transliteration: Alhumdulillah or El7umdulillah
Translation: Praise be to Allah
Tagged for: Praises and thanks to Allah, Recited by the sneezer when he sneezes
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يرحمك الله 3.
Transliteration: Yar Hamukallah or Yar 7amu kallah
Translation: May Allah be merciful to you
Tagged for: This is the usual response to a sneezer who says "Alhamdulillah" upon sneezing. The sneezer will then reply "Yahdeekum Allaahu wa yusliha baalakum" after the responder says "Yar Hamukallah"
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Random Words: Salsabil: A fountain in Jannah (al-firdaus). Literally means "seek the way" | Sirat al-Mustaqim: the Straight Path
Random Words: Salsabil: A fountain in Jannah (al-firdaus). Literally means "seek the way" | Sirat al-Mustaqim: the Straight Path
Oddity
1. Sarcasm is the thriving thread of humor and while we are aim to be notable trend setters rather than god-forsaken followers, being a Sherlock, having a Watson around to echo the affection for humor or some smartly uncovered case work can be rather entertaining. The latter, as if to say that logical minds should be banned does become a bit of a nuisance when you start analyzing behaviors, associatively knowing what a person is going to do. Far too many a time, Its a curse having this factuality sense of prediction - and if you care to know it starts with the possession of a very analytically inclined mind that uncovers things in set of trends and behavior. Based on a set of observations of a person over time, one can actually tell how that person will react in the future - it leaves many witless over the derivation of that fact.2. In a trend setter world, it is absolutely vital that you confident - while everyone is looking left and right (or forward even) hobbing space at the traffic signals, look at the sky - blissfully utterly natural and bizarre!
3. Ever so now and then, we end up in a situation that breds flaming dragons in us, it is absolutely vital to cool that fire down thereby putting a leash on gaga talk - get up, dust off the abayya, straighten the back, give a huge smile and walk of to some unknown destination...cool off behind closed doors and come back with that smile... feeling all better now and maybe no need to even say anything. The success rate however is questionable because just maybe the other is still fuming. 4. Odd things count - it's never about how many you need, if you ever buy more than 1, make it an odd number...its in-genius to screwing up one's psych - the next time you switch off the light and do it 3 times, you'll understand why.
5. It is essential in cultivating the best, that you read Garfield, after all he knows exactly how to get what he wants.
6. If you took the wrong turn while at the guidance of a GPS, it's best you stop at a Petrol station for directions...those things can fry your brain you know and goodness me, its great that it does have re-calculation...but what does that mean? Must you first make a U turn before proceeding?
7. In the name of oddity, have a wonderful week ahead!
A monopoly of the modern era
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| Google Search engine - earlier version |
I am sure Larry Page and Sergey Brin sat down one day and decided they going to take over the world...for me, Google is an absolute fascination not because I can pretty much get an answer to anything over Google Search but because of what the brand stands for. Just reading their book makes you realise that this Silicon Valley company certainly pulled out big fish with shop stoppers of note in the last decade. The marker is always set higher than achievable with their expectations met every single time. Its a "take of the hat" to them over and over again showing the world that all you need is innovative dreams and of course a skill. Since its inception way back in 1998, it has dismally out weighed the technology scales tipping others off to a GOOG share price, today, of 538.84.
It first stormed the market with its appealing clear white spaced search engine, really a breathe of fresh air after all those cluttered search engines. While it made hit sucesses with its search features, Google was not satisfied and moved to introduce the first huge storage space mailbox facilities "Gmail" (which originally came as an invite only to give it's uniqueness). Then came Google Talk, Google Voice, Google Street maps, and the takeover of YouTube. Lets not forget how they notably educated people on the value of open source code with the launch of their Android phone.
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Google TV |
And now, It certainly is celebrating its 12th birthday in style after launching Google TV which has consequently been dubbed as "the next big thing" and thats not all - It seems the miracle team have left everyone oohing and aahing with a 140 000 miles secret - until now that it is! Its the Google self driving car - yes! This is what they had to say, "Manned by engineers and drivers with spotless records, the Google cars are specially designed Toyota Prius, equipped with video cameras mounted on top, radar sensors embedded in the vehicle and laser range finders to keep view on the traffic, and detailed maps to assist in navigation."
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Google Self driving Prius |
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