The first time was inspired to come and visit Arabian Peninsula was, when I read Muhammad Asad's book Road to Makkah, an European Jew, revertee to Islam, he says The Arabia depicted in my book no longer exists. Its solitude and integrity have crumbled under a strong gush of oil and gold. Its great simplicity has vanished and with it, much was humanly unique. It is with the pain one feels for something precious, now irretrievably lost, that I remember that last, long desert trek, when we rode, rode, two men on two dromedaries, through swimming light...
Doha, where after every mile you will find a mosque. When we came to Doha we could hear the Adhan so loud and clear in our Executive apartment that waking up for Fajr was not a big deal. Qatar in Middle East which is a hot topic on media as a Muslim Country (funding ISIS) with its senseless religious values and not understandable Beliefs. One of my reasons for blogging about Qatar is to unravel the misconceptions about Islam in Middle East to the Expats living in Doha. As a Non Arab there are few cultural things which I do not understand about Arabic lifestyle but because of Islam and being a Muslim I do know why Arabs prioritize things differently than others. Like, if there is time for prayers, and the Imam is calling for prayers one will find illegally cars parked around the masjid's corner and on the street just because praying in a Congregation at it's proper time is much valued than anything else. Yes ! this is an Arab's Perspective to reach for Prayer in time even if his car is in danger or causing dangers to others.
We have lived in 4 suitcases and 6 cardboard boxes for three years. UK Scotland, Denmark and Qatar with two kids we grew from cartons into a house ! My Children, Bayyenah, girl toddler and Zayd, a nurse-fed baby boy, both are born in Qatar. Finding our survival in a Country where all year round the Sun never goes down. In summers it hits 56 Celcius, that it 132 Fahrenheit. Desert, lack of rain, sand storms are a norm. Qatar which has rich Bedouin culture, grows into a World's second richest country. The developing city which aims to host 2022 Football World Cup. My journey in Qatar has been an adventure of mixed feelings, from helplessness in sand storms to merry and joy on a rainy day.
Doha, where after every mile you will find a mosque. When we came to Doha we could hear the Adhan so loud and clear in our Executive apartment that waking up for Fajr was not a big deal. Qatar in Middle East which is a hot topic on media as a Muslim Country (funding ISIS) with its senseless religious values and not understandable Beliefs. One of my reasons for blogging about Qatar is to unravel the misconceptions about Islam in Middle East to the Expats living in Doha. As a Non Arab there are few cultural things which I do not understand about Arabic lifestyle but because of Islam and being a Muslim I do know why Arabs prioritize things differently than others. Like, if there is time for prayers, and the Imam is calling for prayers one will find illegally cars parked around the masjid's corner and on the street just because praying in a Congregation at it's proper time is much valued than anything else. Yes ! this is an Arab's Perspective to reach for Prayer in time even if his car is in danger or causing dangers to others.
We have lived in 4 suitcases and 6 cardboard boxes for three years. UK Scotland, Denmark and Qatar with two kids we grew from cartons into a house ! My Children, Bayyenah, girl toddler and Zayd, a nurse-fed baby boy, both are born in Qatar. Finding our survival in a Country where all year round the Sun never goes down. In summers it hits 56 Celcius, that it 132 Fahrenheit. Desert, lack of rain, sand storms are a norm. Qatar which has rich Bedouin culture, grows into a World's second richest country. The developing city which aims to host 2022 Football World Cup. My journey in Qatar has been an adventure of mixed feelings, from helplessness in sand storms to merry and joy on a rainy day.
Hamad International Airport is our gateway to the World
Sand storm hitting WestBay Doha in August 2016.
My rain flooded garden, 2015 Winters, beware newbies the city drowns in 4 hrs of rain.
In Winters of 2015, I managed to grow some Water Melons.
Water Melons are oasis in desert, grows yellow flowers in October and start giving fruits in a month.
We believe as the Prophet Muhammad PBUH said "Pregnant woman should eat watermelon" because of its cooling effect on body when one's hormones rise body temperatures.
Very often few slithering clouds are seen passing over our windows (in July) A thirsty traveler would long for these streaking clouds, I was lucky once to catch them in my photo
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center.
