In Saudi Arabia , Why Mecca Just For Muslims ?

 

PS: this article is directed mainly to the Non-Muslims readers

Ok its the summer time again, every body looking for a nice place to spend his vacations, some may looking for a beaches, other heading to mountain, some may end up relaxing in a fancy resorts, yet still there are some creasy people eager for adventures, such people usually don’t look for a nice place but for a nice thing to do, kind of things that will give them a great story to tell and remember, or maybe something inspiring to help them have a second look to their life, through my life I have bee in contact with too many difficult situation and people from various culture and background, I don’t deny it has been scary, but when I recall them now I found that I have been privileged for being in touch with such man-shaping life experience, each situation in its unique way has given something and several things that will last with me for the rest of my life and influenced positively and professionally the man that I am today, few people realize that this is the core of tourism, the core of tourism is to get in contact with people and places that will help you to see the world out of your self not to waste your money on a hotels and fancy restaurant. 

This introduction was in my opinion necessary to tell you about one of the few remaining inspired and believe or not undiscovered tourism destination in the world, who would believe that in a country like Saudi Arabia there is more than oils and money.

Without more further, in the western side of Saudi Arabia there is complete region that include two major cities are still unknown for the majority of the western world, in general Saudi Arabia is not that open place for tourists and the few who manage to come for sure never visit this places .. Why ? …  because its prohibited on non Muslims ! yes it doesn’t matter if you are an Arab or American or what ever , if you are not a Muslim and have an ID that clarify your religion you will not be allowed to be even 50 km away from this place, the photo you are seeing above is what you will see when you drive on the highway that take you to these places, I know this is sound unfair specially if you know that we talk about two of the most important city in the world (at least for about 1.3 billion Muslim) I am talking about the place where Islam has born, I am talking about where Mohammed (Messenger of Gog in Islam) has started his message to the world asking them to pray for one God. I am talking about Mecca and Al Madinah cities. 

What does make it special and Why its no allowed to be visited by non-Muslims ?

because its contain Al-Masjid al-Haram ,the most Sacred Mosque in Islam , it’s the largest mosque in the world. Located in the city of Mecca, it surrounds the Kaaba, the place which Muslims turn towards while offering daily prayers and is considered the holiest place on Earth by Muslims, some religious Sheikh think that as a holy place it should only be visited by Muslims and others don’t have the right to do ..!  

  

The irony is that this place doesn’t fit the category of “undiscovered places”  as there are estimated of 100 million visitor come to this place every year, not to mention that its surrounded by world most luxuries hotels and its a well known places at least for the sixth of total world population (the percentage of Muslims in the world), and just for your info its not just the biggest mosque in the world , even when I take all other religions into consideration its still to be the biggest prayer place ever build by human been, in seasons (which is mainly Ramadan and Al Hajj ) about 3.5 million Muslim gather in this place to pray to God five times per day, Worth to mention that Al-Masjid al-Haram holding the world record of the biggest number of human gathering in the same place, no other demonstration or event could manage to have such huge number of people.

Yet its still the most unknown place for the majority for the western world, the level of ignorance about the history of this holy place and the secrets that surround it still huge, by the way take a deep look to the Kaaba (that black building in the middle of the mosque), this is a place were very few people are allowed to enter, no one know for sure what’s inside, some say there is an old treasures has been kept since more than 1400 year and other believes its contain some personal belongs to the Prophet of Islam Mohammed.

If you still didn’t find all that attractive you must know that this is not the only place that prohibited on non Muslims (the city of Mecca) actually there is another city it Al Medina Al Munawwarah , It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and it is historically significant for being his home after the Hijrah (moving from Mecca to Medina ), and to make it short all the area between those two cities are isolated and not opened all the year even for Muslims, this include the Cave of Hira, Jamaraat Bridge , Mina , Muzdalifah and so many other important historical places are hidden from the rest of the world, these places representing a very important parts of Islamic cultures and human history and I do believe its wrong to isolate them by this way.

The purpose of this note is not to invite you to Islam but to tell you that you have the right to see other face of human cultural that has been kept hidden from the world for many decades now, so Lets ask the one million dollar question …  if you are not a Muslim and don’t consider to be soon (or may be you do if interested click on the link) What you should do ? , who should give dam a shit for rules, already the security there are not restricted, remember its just not allowed as per religious Sheikh orders not for security purpose, and so basically What you need to do is to legally get a visa to Saudi Arabia and then travel to there, I can’t share the details on public but it will need some mountain climbing and will need to drive the care on some side roads and through some small village to pass the check points in the cities entrances .(Contact me I will provide some of the logistics support ) Warning: remember if you will do it you must do it on your own risk, I don’t want to have issue with the authority. 

And after that Enjoy, at least there are 6 American and British news reporters did that and wrote about their experience, yes did it in the same illegal way. What will happen if the authority catch you ? they will send you back home with a rough latter to your country embassy .. so don’t you think its worth suffering for ..

Finally I know that my post will leave you wanted to know more about Saudi Arabia and this cities so don’t hesitate to ask,  I will let you enjoy watching this short trailer for the great movie Journey To Mecca , the movie that I believe every one no matters of his faith should see it.   

27th Lesson From My Life …

Few days separate me from the 27th anniversary of my birth day, since 7 years I developed a habit of writing “a yearly statement” that include the new year resolution, what my plan for the coming years, and a funny list that summaries in brief the lessons that I have learned through my life. and today I am about to share this final one with you… last year they were 26 point .. this year they become 27.. and yes I will keep adding one lesson every year till its the end.

Why its important for every one to have his list ? .. because you could find your life flowing in directions that you haven’t anticipated, so its important to keep a record that keep remained you of how your mental and spiritual mind are growing. 

The idea behind this exercise is not original, I have passed across many similar article for other writers, the difference is I am not here to motivate any one, what you are about to read is my own believes and experience, may I quoted some sentences from other places but its all has been tested personally .. without more further .. Here you go ..

 

Life taught me that : 

1. Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is like expecting a lion not to eat you just because you are a vegetarian…

2. People used to mistake between Kindness and Weakness, so watch out…

3. Money does bring happiness…

4. Your vision become your reality .. make sure you have a good vision…

5. “The past doesn’t define your future” … this is a big lie, ofcourse it does … today is the past of tomorrow, fix your present so your future could flourish, in other words .. its better to define your present as it will define your future.

6. Your job/boss won’t take care of you when you are sick, your friends and family will, ensure to keep those who don’t care in the bottom of your list.   

7. Friends are the family that we choose to our self.. choose a good one.

8. Most people are actually nice … but not to strangers, give others the chance to know you.

9. Critics know how things should be .. but they don’t know how to do it.

10. There is nothing like “constructive criticism”, haters and jealous are using it to express there feeling towered you in front of public, trust me if they love you they would simply tell you how to do things in right way.

11. When you can give without expecting anything in return, you have mastered the art of living.

12. The best way to be interesting is to be interested in others.

13. It is easy to become depressed when you think that others do things that you don’t like because of you, when they’re really just doing those things because of themselves.

14. Don’t take your self seriously, others don’t ..

15. No love can hurt as much as the love that can never be.. And, no thoughts can hurt as much as the thoughts of a love that could have been

16. For your own seek … learn to forgive.

17. Changing the word is the target of all great people … since no one succeed, its better to focus on changing your self.

18. True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

19. Don’t forget to love yourself.

20. “Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there”.

21. You don’t make mistakes .. then you are a perfect human , if you make mistakes then you are a human.

22. A fall from the third floor hurts as much as a fall from the hundredth. If I have to fall, may it be from a high place.

23. Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t..

24. Giving up doesn’t always mean you are weak … sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go

25. Burn the candle, use the nice sheet, wear the fancy lingerie, don’t save it for special occasion, today is special.

26. What does makes the moon too beautiful is the darkness that surround it.

27. Finally, remember there will be a day that you will turn around to find no one, so you have to be ready!

That’s it .. so what do you think .. may there is something you didn’t like or things don’t agree with .. have something to add .. why not ! … let me know in the comments.

The American Fear

Obama is an Arab! …… Everybody run for your lives!

 

 

Hollywood Have a view point

 

 

Not too much to say

How this happened ?

Wake up this morning and Thought …  it has been a long time since I weighted my self …

140 kg … !?  how this happened …

Marwa, What was her sin to be Killed ?

If you are one of my non-Arabic reader then most likely you don’t know any thing about her, well let me help you, Her name is Marwa al sherbini she is pharmacist, handball player, a mother of three years old son, a four moth pregnant wife and most important she is a Muslim women wearing headscarf, she was living in Germany for three years with her husband who is was envoy to study PHd degree in physics in one of top Germany college, in the 1st of July 09 Marwa has stabbed 18 times in front of her son, her husband the only one tries to come to her rescue her also stabbed 3 times by the same attacker, when the police finally comes they shot the husband instead of the attackers, did I mention that all that happened in the middle of a court room ..! 

That’s all what I have to say, I will leave the rest for Naseem Tarawnah from The Black Iris blog to break down this story for you

“ A 31-year old, headscarf-wearing Egyptian Muslim woman, Marwa Al-Sherbini, who was about four months pregnant, takes her German neighbor to court for calling her a “terrorist”. Now, in the courtroom, the neighbor, Alex W., stabs her 18 times right in front of her 3-year old son.

Her husband, a research fellow, tries to come to her rescue and ends up not only getting stabbed as well by the attacker, but is actually mistaken for the attacker and shot by the security guard.

This case was so mind-baffling when I read it a few days ago and I still haven’t been able to wrap my mind around it. Many questions and thoughts have been floating around in my head, and I hate to admit it but the most pertinent one that rests right at the foreground of my brain is based on two words: 18 times.
I am not a forensic scientist but I’ve seen enough Hollywood movies to know that stabbing someone 18 times isn’t a task that you get done in 5 or 10 seconds unless you’re the cyborg or a robot sent from the future. 18 times.

How long did it take for people in the courtroom to realize this woman was being stabbed and that someone should do something about it?

18 times.

Seriously, try stabbing the wind 18 times right now as quickly as possible.

Go ahead.

I’ll wait.

See what I’m saying?

Oh, and add to that her husband getting stabbed three times by the same guy before the tragedy came to an end (with the husband being shot).

Now I know this is a question that might seem silly or even absurd in light of this event. I know a better debate is being framed elsewhere (thanks to Egyptian bloggers). I know that a great deal of the conversation that centers around this case has been with regards to the lack of western coverage (what did they expect?) and the outrage in Egypt (what did they expect?) and the outrage to come from the perhaps various parts of the Muslim world (what did they expect?) or the rising Islamophobia in the West (what did they expect?), but while all these conversations are valid and have their own time and context to consider, for some reason, I remain mesmerized by this number: 18.

18 times.

Strictly on a human level, how long does it take for someone to react. To move. To say “stop”. To say “enough”. Strictly on a human level. No religion. No gender. Just a human being watching one human being slaughtered by another.

How long does it take?

How does that number reach 18?

See, this is what’s been getting to me lately. In my head, this number, 18, rings incredibly significant. I recognize that there’s evil in this world, and that there always will be. There are breaking limits in this world and I recognize that too. There are numbers that weigh heavy on the human soul, and every one has one. It’s unmistakable. It’s undeniable. Often times we have absolutely no control over them and we relieve ourselves of any responsibilities. Like Tolstoy would put it, we pretend to simply be kings who are slaves to the whims of history. But often times, we do.

Often times, and not all the time, but some of the time, we do.

Often times these things happen right in front of us.

On our watch.

On our watch, these numbers take shape.

For Marwa Al-Sherbini that magical number was eighteen. 

But what’s the body count in Iraq today?

What about the West Bank or Gaza?

What about in Darfur?

What’s their magic number? What’s their breaking limit? 

At what point do we say “enough”?

More importantly.

At what point will we mean it? “

I don’t think there is something remain for me to say, bellow is a photo of her funeral back home in Egypt, the one that turned to a public demonstration and away for expression the angry feeling toward racism in general.

Below is a photo album from her funeral (press on the pictures to enlarge)

 

View Full Album