Epitaph_87

The coming is nothing but people who really exist in this world...with such views and approaches to life..I've met them,,and will meet more of them...probably you did or will as well...But here you go!

I've met many in my very short life,,and was opposed to different point of views, and I thought it's time for me to share those views; In every act there is a different hero : UK, USA , and Arab; we met via computers, but their ideas must stand for people really existing in this world that I never reached ,But through Computers

Act 2
(Setting;: cyber world, an instant message to and fro Alaska and Cairo)

USA: I am thinking about visiting Alexandria next summer , I am so eager to see the new Library!
Hagar: You'd love your Visit here, sir!
USA:I would like to see Americans get away from their negative views of Islam and The Arabic perople . Several people there tell me about all aspects of Islam....I get two sides of many issues. I want to see the favorite Arabic greeting become a fact....I want to see that when people say, "Salaam" that is what they really mean.
Hagar: Indeed...there are things about Arabs and Muslims that can't be sensed nor understood but by experience...it has its own flavour!
USA: Egypt is the most liberal of the 'solid Muslim" states. it is the best hope for Unity and peace

USA: when I talk to people like you, I know that you are the future of Islam and The middle East . When i teach you English , I am sure that You increase your ability to understand other people around the world!
Hagar: exactly, that's my aim and others...to learn and explore the world and be true ambassadors of Islam and our Nation! shedding all misunderstanding about who we really are!

USA: women! Women are half the population and the mother of you and of your children. You need to look past some of the things Islam passes on as "Knowledge" regarding women and others in general - I told one of my friends in KSA
Hagar: the keyword of any society is women~!

USA: One guy from Turkey told me, "you are the ENEMY"...and he was dependent on me to help him translate a very comlex book on James Joyce. His anti-American bias clouded his thinking....
Hagar: Just as some Westerns would call me : You are the Terrorist"...they are all disillusioned!
USA: Exactly, it's easier to label people than to see them as people!

(I leave you the chance to contrast this conversation with the last one...and see how contradictory they are..you can consider the theatricality of the scene.,,,and be sure That I will faint by the end of this scene...)

The coming is nothing but people who really exist in this world...with such views and approaches to life..I've met them,,and will meet more of them...probably you did or will as well...But here you go!

I've met many in my very short life,,and was opposed to different point of views, and I thought it's time for me to share those views; In every act there is a different hero : UK, USA , and Arab; we met via computers, but their ideas must stand for people really existing in this world that I never reached ,But through Computers

ACT 1
(setting: cyber world, an instant message to and fro Manchester and Cairo)

UK: Hagar, are you a Muslim or an Arab?
Hagar: i am a Muslim (my religion) and an Arab (which is a race)

(so,.,,I thought about blaming his education or to be specific his ignorance..shall I blame the Western Media?...or shall I wait to know more in our next conversation?!...let's see)

UK: Hagar, your English is good, so,, Did you study abroad?
Hagar: No...I was taught in Egypt..
UK: wow...are women educated?!
Hagar: of course they are! aren't women in The West educated? it's their right, isn't it?!

UK: Hagar, You wear a veil?!
Hagar: Yes, I do...it's called "Hijab"
UK: wow...If I ever passed by you in the street, with you veil, I would never think that this girl is educated, and speaks so good English!

(Why surprise?! Don't they still think of Arab Muslim women as "harem" , their utmost hope is to get married at the age of 16?! Am I then denied the right to be well-educated? is my veil or my long dress contradictory to education? they think it's not a head cover.. حجاب العقل و الفكر

UK: Hagar, have you watched Munich?
Hagar: yes, I did! It's an interesting movie that tackles an important issue concerning the Palestinian-Israel Cause! and from a Jewish point of view as well!
UK: Poor Arabs and Jews ,,fighting!
Hagar: It's not "Jews",,it's not religion...say Israel..and Zionism! it's an everlasting struggle over the right to live! Zionists kill Christians and Muslims...invade churches and Mosques!
UK: the reason the Jews were placed in that area was because of the terrible events of WWII. they needed a new, safe place to colonise.
Hagar :well, they should be anywhere else..we're not behind their suffering at the hands of Hitler
UK: you're lucky that you're so far away from those troubles
Hagar: I am not far away...those Muslims killed and Christians besieged,, are my fellow citizens...Egypt suffered once from occupation, Israeli feet trod the sacred land of Sinai...but we have our land back now!
UK: Aren't the Israelis suffering now? or are they laughing or having great time?
Hagar: they are the cause of any suffering or insecurity they created themselves! if they can't sleep the night, then they killed a schoolboy in the morning!
UK: anyway,, I don't live there,,,So I don't care at all!
UK...Don't be a bomber Hagar!

(well...well...well....No wonder they think we are terrorist now....he still can't differentiate between the Muslim girl that wears her Hijab and the educated girl..that speaks languages.,,,,But I can't differentiate between the UK citzien who speaks of democracy and freedom..and the one who is totally ignorant...you'll tell me..C'mon not all of them like this..I'd tell you I know...as I met the other kind...haven't I told you I came across all views?!..Let's move to Act 2)

salam alikom wa rahmatu Allahi wa barkatu

Be an effective Muslim.......how?!

It seems to be an easy answer...but it is not so...for the answer should be a practical one..not words in the air!

Many Muslims are just Muslims for granted..and but this won't be The Muslim who'd affect and has his effect, positively of course!

I visited chat rooms on paltalk..and met some fresh new Muslims who just adopted Islam...and heard them talking about their new feelings and their stories....you'd read about some of them..or may be others on Internet..or in papers ( بس مش الصحف القومية اكيد)....Most of them...or may be all.....stumbled over a real ''effective" Muslim..who was their enlightenment...and the guide to their new path....! Not necessarily this connection who be a direct one...but to be ''affected" by the manners and attitude of someone..in other words , to find the example you'd like to follow! but doesn't this apply to all of us?! we are all in dire need to follow the steps of an '"effective" person..and join the club of "effective Muslims"!

Let's Join the Club!- how to be this 'effective Muslim"?!

Those I call the ambassadors of Islam...They could be you and I...your neighbour,...my neighbour...your friend...my father...my colleague...your workmate....your director...my teacher.....all of them could be the ambassadors of Islam we're seeking for a true nation!

To be an ambassador of Islam is not an impossible mission....you needn't a President to appoint you in a country...but you are already appointed and have your position in work...school...among you friends and colleagues... at home............and on a larger scale , in society!

When one abides by Allah's commandments...and truly carry them out...not feigning....and not our of social hypocrisy....surely he'd affect those around him...without even knowing it.,,,,!

When he works hard and be a pioneer in his field...and helps those around him with his knowledge التي منّ الله عليه بها then...he is an effective Muslim!

When a Muslim teacher knows that those young children are the future of our nation...and he'd save no effort to help them..and discover their talents..and guide them to thr right track, rather than filling their heads with blinding facts and misleading them.....he is then carrying out what Islam has dictated on him!

When you watch on TV a veiled announcer...or a true Muslim speaker..introducing a good programme...that respects our mentality and not just a means to difuse extremist views....isn't she effective then?!

When a Mother teaches her son to preserve his identity as a Muslim..and fight the cultural invasion we're overwhelmed with now....sure...they are bright examples in a gloomy atmosphere...!

When I go to a training course...and have but a slight effect (I hope) on my colleagues...then I have achieved something!

In Syriana...Matt Damon , as a US economic expert, is in one of the the Arab countries,,he is astonished when he sees men there in "long white clothes" (Jilbab) that he wonders how those people work so hard..and have this fortune ,,,though with such clothes they don't seem to work at all...........!
(of course I am not calling for the wearing of Jilbab ..what I am trying to say...those who go to the mosque..or recite Qur'an...or have beards..or she who wears a veil...this is not contradictory to the fact that they are hard workers and not narrow-mionded and by this way they are true Muslims..and are good representitives of Islam...for they stick both to the religious aspect...and the practical life we live...)

In one of my chatting sessions, with a fine American Professor who has many Muslim students and a number of students in the Middle East...he mentioned how he respects and admires the Muslim women who stick to Allah's commandments either through their appearance or self-respect and their morals...yet they are keen students who want to grasp more in the field of knowledge......he said not necessarily they'd be dressed in black....they look most fashionable..and are so eager to promote their nation..and are good representatives of Islam....! Finally he told me of his wish to visit the Middle East soon..and his wish " I want to see the favorite Arabic greeting become a fact..I want to see that when people say, "Salaam" that is what they really mean."

On the other hand..I have met others who said that they would have never thought that Muslims would learn languages..and a girl wearing a veil could speak good English ....they would never have imagined this before...but now they see it as a fact ...and sure this had its effect on some of them ( This happened to me personally...)

Finally ...but not the least ...I remember a friend who is an engineer in one of the leading companies in Alexadria..he spoke once of a project they were working one ..with a group of Americans.....3 of those Americans converted to Islam by the end of the project....was this through lectures,,shouting...dictating rules on them?! he answered none of this happened...they were just affected and impressed with the true soul the Muslims enjoyed and how they went to worksmen went to prayers...and came back to work sincerly...and the co-operative spirit that evolves the whole team work!

I see those as "effective Muslims"

This is what has long crossed my mind......with the hope that I'd be an "effective Muslim" as well........and join the club! so would you join us?!

assalam alikom wa rahmatu Allahi wa barkatu

Just watched Spielberg's Munich last Friday! instigated by The Jewish
perspective the movie is handled with!

well...I won't speak about pictures and production,,,,and the technical
part, enough to say it's a spielberg's movie...But what does a Jewish
director want to say through his movie introducing such an important
incident in Palestinian-Isreali Cause. What does he intend to say at this
particular time?!

well....what he wants to say or Spielberg's solution to the world was
presented in one scene where the Israeli agents undercover, in a flat in
Greece, sharing it with Arabs and they have to stay for a while together! in
This scene one of the Arabs turn on the Radio on an Arabic oriental tune!
Steve, the Israeli, changes the channel to another one (Hebrew I think or
Greek), and they go On LIKE this, changing the channels ! Till...they are
face to face and the radio in between, steve chooses an English song and The
Arab one smiles agreeing! It is Settlement!.....in his view!

Spielberg goes to show the "humane" side of Israeli agent, Avner who refuses
to Kill the little girl and the teenager boy and just thinks his mission
will end by the assaisanation of the list he has! but...the blood cycle
never ends

"It will have blood; they say blood will have blood" (Macbeth)

Avner acts like a machine gun, killing with no reason, just because one is a
Palestinian or a leader!

Yet, just as Shakespeare provides his Tragic hero with ghosts to disturb
their sleep and rouse their conscience,, Avner's ghosts were in his head,
haunting him; each he killed in some way or other ( a bomb in phone, or
under his bed, or in TV set) , frightened he is, Avner in a climactic scene
is haunted by his killing thoughts! till he ends up sleeping in a closet!


he is homeless, though he has Israel! but he said it to his wife: you are my
home! he doesn't even care if they are out of Israel..he doesn't feel secure
there! this is beautifully contrasted with a scene between Ali (an Arab
patriot) and Avner! Avner asked Ali : do you miss the olive tree in your
counrty and those "trifles" , Ali just anwered "absolutely"...it is those
"trifles" that Avner himself misses!

Trying to wash his hands that are soaking in blood, (but very late) Avner
asked about justifications for the killing of those Palestinians, but he
receives no evidence! and this doesn't rest his distrubed soul!

Spielberg wanted to show the human not the butcher israeli! but I can't
sympathise,,nor anyone of us will!

Spielberg showed the brutality of how the Isreali athletes were killed! yet,
don't they kill everyday innocent children, armless , on their way to
school!

Avner can't find his home! and his child won't know her real home! but he
gave up and succumb to the disturbing atmosphere surrounding him! Yet, Ali
and his companions and all those now fighting on the Plalestinian
territories want their land back! know what is home to them! concessions
won't be a solution! they fight for their home , their security, their right
to live!