Once upon a time, there was a father who had four daughters. Four men came to ask their hands for marriage. The father decided that the elder one to get married first, but she refused to do so in order to take care of her father. The other three sisters got married. The elder one started to take care of her old man until he died. In his will, he said that no money was to be divided until the elder sister was married.

The three married sisters did not agree to that and they decided to sell the house and take their shares. They did not care where their older sister would go. The elder sister wrote to the buyer and begged him to wait for some months until she finds a place to move to. The man agreed. After the specified time, the man called her. She was afraid and then he came to her. She said to him that she still could not find any place to stay.

The man said, “I came carrying this paper from the court". He continued,” The ownership of the house is yours as your dowry from me if you agree to marry me. If not, the house is still yours, and I would go back to where I came from.” The elder sister cried and agreed to marry that man and she lived happily ever after.           

Can we judge the book from its cover?

I hope, it won’t be a year  

Like every year.

I hope that day will come.

When I see my darling wearing

her wedding dress holding my hand 

Our families are standing around us.

An overwhelming joy shades us   

I hope this day will come,

I wear my shirt, my full suit.

My friends, my colleagues, my classmates

They come and sing until the morning.

A crowded house of laughter.

Then I say this is my wife,

my world and my wish.

I hope it won’t be a year

Like every year.

This is the most beautiful year

Happiness is deep inside me

I ask God to be for all of us.

Hajj starts today. What is the meaning of Hajj? Generally, Hajj (pilgrimage) means to intend to meet something holy and great. In Islam, Hajj means going to Mecca to perform the fifth pillar of Islam during certain days of the month of the Thulhijjah. Today is the first day of Hajj. It is called irrigation or watering day.

Tomorrow which is the ninth of The month of Thulhijjah is the great day of Hajj. It is also called Arafa Day. Pilgrims after combining and shortening (Duhur and Asr) prayers go to the mountain of Arafa. The mercy mountain. They make supplication and ask Allah for forgiveness, and before sunset, pilgrims must leave Arafa area to proceed for Muzdalifah area.

They continue their supplication and stay the night there. Those who do not perform Hajj fast on this day. Its fasting wipe the sins of last year and the coming one. At dawn, the pilgrims start their journey to the Area of Mina. That would be on the tenth day of Thulhijjah.

At ritual Mina, they continue their sacred journey by throwing the stones at Jamarat. The place of Satan. Then they cut or  shorten their hair. And trim protruding nails at their fingers. Some of them slaughter their (Udhiya) sheep, cows or camels, others go to Mecca to perform Ifada tawaf (circling the house of Allah seven times).

 They stay three days In Mina area and  perform goodbye tawaf and go back to their countries. Some pilgrims stay two days, they are hasty to go back to their places.

Please, for more information, see my previous blogs about hajj. Click this link:

https://www.myenglishclub.com/blogs/hajj-part- 1

The first time I took the Boeing 737 was in the eighties. It was a short flight from Khartoum to Jeddah. Since then, it was the only comfortable and safe aircraft for me. It is a medium plane with twinjet narrow aisle airliner. Of course, the upward trend in new wide and fast carriers was a new prospect for us.

The huge airplanes company produced new generations of its family. I used to enjoy boarding the Douglas DC9 from the old family series. Frankly, I found it safer than taking the 747 or the 777.

Since the tragedy of the Ethiopian 737 max8 airliner last week, and before that, the similar tragedy of the Indonesian 737 max8 airliner, about four months ago, by the way, both incidents happened immediately after take-off. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims in both Indonesia and Ethiopia. The two incidents spread their fearful shadows on the history of aviation. The updated 737 max8 & 9 variants in use now, became a nightmare.

I am not here to criticize or talk about technical things. I am just wondering how that would fall into the giant company, after the grounding of the aircraft. Mistakes occur. We are humans. Mistakes are our traits. Despite the grounding, the big loss, and some countries are looking for compensations, Boeing is still holding on. Its market shares are high. The scientists, engineers, technicians, and the different workers of the huge company are working hard day and night to find a solution to the problem.     

When he came out the young man told him that he would work as a farmer for him without any fare until he forgives him. Thoughtfully, the owner of the orchard said, "I will forgive you on one condition that you marry my daughter, but she is blind, deaf, and mute, and she is also unable to walk." He finished by saying, "if you agree, I will forgive you." 

Then the young man said, "I accept to marry your daughter."  

The time for his marriage came and the young man came sadly with faltering footsteps. He knocked on the door and the owner told him to enter and meet his wife. Good things come to those who hustle while they are true and honest. 

To his amazement, he saw beauty in front of him. Maybe it was the most beautiful woman of her time. The young man was speechless and perplexed. He was completely baffled. She greeted him and understood what was going on in his mind. She started smilingly, "I am blind from sins. I am deaf, I cannot hear sins. I am mute; I don't have the power to speak about sins." She continued, "I am crippled, my feet do not carry me one step to the sins."              

"My father was searching for a good man for me. When you came crying for eating an apple that did not belong to you, my father was certain that you would be that good husband for me."   

They said that every success is built on the ability to do better than good and be loyal to your principals.     

Once upon a time, there was a pious young man. He was hungry and he could not find anything to eat. It is not possible for him to steal, or commit an illegal act to get food. While he was walking he saw an apple orchard. He ate an apple, and his hunger was over. Then he went home.

At home, he felt the blaming of himself. It was his guilty conscience that was nagging at him. He ate something which was not his. Then he started to look for the owner of that orchard. He found him and told him that he had eaten an apple from his garden and he wanted to ask permission for that.

The unexpected answer came from the owner of that apple orchard, "No, I will never forgive you for that until the day of judgment." He ignored his emotional earnest appeal for forgiveness and left him. The young man followed him until the door of his house and waited there for him to come out again.

to be continued.   

Flooding tears took my heart

Passages of thorns are hard to cross

Airports of goodbye stirred white

Your sky is singing and the areas of sorrow

in our eyes exploded to take 

the rest of that feeling

We sang for you and we will sing.

The flooding tears covered the world

The return of love became a wish

In the coming season, visions will clash 

We often blame the presence and  

We do not regret the past

Your love was put inside and

The day committed suicide

We sang for you and we will sing

2019

Tonight is like yesterday. I remember I wrote my article about 2018. It was entitled (Proactive Approach). I was always optimistic about the New Year. Meaning to say, it would be better than the previous one. For nineteen twenty or rather twenty nineteen, politically, I can imagine that many political settlements are underway.

The battle against terrorism is doing well. Some hot spots are cooling down. Some previous years started with a fire, an earthquake, or some other disasters. They were not necessarily at the beginning of the year. Some of them happened during the first months and others at the end of the months of those years. For instance, let us look at some of the events of 2018.

The tragedies of the Malaysian and the Indonesian airplanes. Tsunami in the Indonesian Islands of Jakarta and Sumatra. Of course, there were bright events like many elections in different parts of the world. The world cup in Russia, and now, at this moment People in different parts of the world are celebrating Christmas outdoors despite the severe cold.

I was watching the television with my wife last night. It was the time for the sports news. My wife at once stood up and made her face. She does not like sports very much. Many times, she quarreled with me about it. What is the gain or benefit behind it? Her thoughts were a waste of time. I always try to control myself when we make a fight about it.

I love soccer a lot, and Brazil is my favorite team although my Brazilian friend, PGM does not approve of that and he told me many times that Brazil was not the same team as before. He was right. We were knocked out before reaching the quarter-final. I told her to make a cup of tea for me while watching the sports news. She did. Before taking the first sip, the face of that handsome Croatian captain was in full screen, and the news stunned me. Luka Modric is the best player in Europe edging his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and the forward of Liverpool, Mohammed Salah.

I thought that Ronaldo would win. I knew that my Brazilian friend was absolutely right.
That Croatian midfielder led his team to win the title of the champions league many times before leading his own country to play the final match against France. I knew that that round ball filled with air gives you if you give it. I was too sentimental to assume that Brazil would win forgetting that the performance of Neymar and his team was not convincing and was not good enough.

Eid Aladha is an important feast for Muslims. It is on the tenth of the month of Thulhijjah which is today, Tuesday, here in Saudi Arabia,  but In some countries like Indonesia, Morocco, and some other countries, it will be on Wednesday. As we mentioned before, dates may vary. It comes after the pause of Arafa, and it brings to the present, how Prophet Abraham (blessings of Allah be upon him) wanted to slaughter his son Ismail and he was given a sheep by angel Gabriel as a sacrifice instead of his son.   

It is a day of eating and drinking and the pilgrims finish the rites of this happy day by shaving or shortening their hair, or sacrificing their sheep, or Hadiy. They distribute it to the poor and the needy ones. Some of them go to throw the stones at the pillars starting with the first (Jamara), the middle one, and finally, the small one.

Some pilgrims go to Mecca to perform Ifadah Tawaf (finishing circumambulation). They stay two or three days in Mina and then go to perform the farewell Tawaf. Their Hajj has been completed. Then, they get ready for their journey back home. 

Happy Eid to all of you.

The title of this blog gave me the idea of making my next discussion. It is about adornments and ornamentations for women. 

My wife wanted a pearl necklace for her birthday as a gift. Necklaces may have been one of the earliest types of adornment worn by women.
It was too expensive for me. I told her a watch would do. she was not convinced, but we went to a jewelry shop. Outside, by the left side of the door, displayed on a cupboard, there were earrings, bracelets, necklaces, hairpins, tiaras, cornets, and watches.
My wife pointed to one glimmering watch. There was a small paper attached to that watch written on it, this number 140,611. I thought it was the serial number of it, or some sort of a code number, or something. Then we pushed the door open and asked the man behind the counter about its price.
He smiled briefly and told us that each item had its price attached to it. I said, "Are you serious? One hundred forty thousand and six hundred and eleven riyal!"
I am not good at mathematics, but that was probably close to forty thousand US dollars. Those were the items exhibited on the glassy cupboard for the coming buyer. I did not want to see the inside items and I told my wife to leave that place before I get dizzy or have a heart attack.
The next day, I bought her a pearl bracelet that resembles a diamond for three hundred dollars. My wife loves me, she pretended it was so awesome and beautiful, but she knew that it was fake and she did not want to embarrass me in front of her friends.

Today is the ninth of Thulhijjah, the twentieth of August 2018. It is the greatest day of Hajj. Pilgrims have arrived early in the area of Mount Arafat from the area of Mina. The significance and importance of this day are very obvious to us. This is the day of joy, the day of forgiveness. The day of proudness. The day in which Allah frees his slave from the fire of hell more than any other day.

The Almighty glorified and exalted be He, draws to the lowest heaven and boasts of the people on earth to his angels in heaven and proudly says to them, "Look at my slaves who have come with grown hair filled with dust to stand on Arafa day to complete their Hajj. They have come from different parts of the world seeking My mercy despite that they have not seen my punishment. What do my slaves want?" Then, He says, ((Oh my angels, I testify to you that I have forgiven for all of them)).

So, people are released from hell abundantly on the day of Arafa. For us here at homes, we fast this day. Now, I am fasting hoping that the sins of one year before and the next year will be wiped by the power of Allah. This is according to the Hadith of our Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). May Allah bless the pilgrims and accept their Hajj. Before sunset, the Hajjis (pilgrims) will head to Muzdaliffa (Almashaar Alharamt) to spend the night there on their way to rites Mina. 

Arafa = an Arabic verb to know. (It is said that Adam and Eve knew one another on this area. Another meaning, the angel, Gabriel took Prophet Abraham and showed him the rites of pilgrimage). 

Today, we are on the eighth day of Thulhijjah, and it is also the eighth of the virtuous first ten days which we had mentioned. Day of Arafa 2018 here, in Saudi Arabia is going to be in the evening of Monday, Thulhijjah Ninth which corresponds to the twentieth of August, and ends in the evening of Tuesday, Thulhijjah tenth that will be August twenty-one. Of course, dates may vary.

It is called the day of Tarwiyah (irrigation) because pilgrims, in the past, used to come to Mecca with their camels, cows, sheep and some other animals. They drink water and take some with them to be as a provision for the rest of the days of Hajj, in Arafat, Muzdaliffa, and Mina. Nowadays, this action is not needed that much because water is in everywhere in the different rites. The hajji (pilgrim) goes to Mina to sleep there. Then tomorrow at dawn, he proceeds to Arafat.

Today is the sixth day of Thulhijjah. The day after tomorrow will be the eighth. The hajji (pilgrim) reaches Migat (the station where the pilgrim wears his Ihram, the white garment for the intention of pilgrimage). He starts his journey reciting Talbbiyah, towards Mecca to make tawaf al gudoom (the arrival circumambulation) around Ka'ba. Then he goes to the area of Mina or Muna, both are correct to spend the night.

Early at dawn, the pilgrim moves to the honorable area of Mount Arafat. Mount Arafat is less than one hundred meters high. You can stand where The Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), stood if that is possible, or the plain of Arafa is considered a standing area.

There are boundaries for the pilgrim not to go beyond them.
They will spend the day making supplications (duaa) and praying duhur and assar prayers early combined. People who do not perform Hajj fast on the day of Arafa to repent their sins. The day of Arafa is a great day for Muslims. First, Talbbiyah and tTahmeed are continuing all the time by the pilgrim. This is Talbbiyah in Arabic:

(labbaiyka Allahumma labbaiyk. Labbaiyka la shareeka laka, labbaiyk. Ina alhamda wannimaata laka, walmulk la shareeka lak, labbiyka Allahumma labbaiyk)) the meaning of this Talbbaiya is as follows,
((Here I am, Lord, responding to your call (to perform pilgrimage). Prais belongs to you, and good things come from you, and sovereignty is yours alone.)).

Second, before sunset, Allah, The Almighty forgives the sins of all these crowds who came for his sake. Third, Satan is seen as more despicable and mean on that day.

Next time, we will continue the journey of the rites, but starting from the day of Arafa, we shall talk on each rite separately, and according to its occasion. 

The greatest day of Hajj, Arafa Day.

I forgot to add one thing, a complete Hajj (pilgrimage) is rewarded by Jannah (Paradise). It is in Hadith narrated by Albukhari and Muslim, Abu Hurairah, (may Allah be pleased with him) said, Prophet Mohammed ( peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ((He who makes Hajj and never makes sexual intercourse (with his wife) or talks unjustly will go back as if his mother gave birth to him the first time)).

Pilgrims stay there and before sunset on the Arafa day, they start to move to another area called Muzdaliffa, or Almashaar Alharam. This is another rite of the Hajj (pilgrimage). Magrib and Ishaa prayers will be combined lately and the pilgrim makes duaa (supplication) at Almashaar Alharam, collects the jamarat (stones), and then he spends the night.

 At dawn, he moves to the rite of Mina to throw the stones, and to offer the sacrifice. You can shorten or shave your hair. Then, you can go to Mecca to perform Ifadah (finishing) tawaf, and Saii. The rites of Hajj are performed in this order, Ihram, Talbbiyah, Tawaf Algudoom, going to Mina and spend the night there, standing on Arafa, spending the night in Muzdaliffa, throwing the stones (starting with the big one. Farewell Tawaf. The tenth of Thulhijjah is the big Eid. It is the day of eating, drinking, and making worship to Allah. 

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about sacrificing before throwing the stones or throwing the stones before shaving or shortening the hair. he permitted them all, and there was nothing wrong if you do this rite before or after. 

on the next part, we will write according to the occasion.

We are still on these first ten days of the month of Thulhijjah. It is the fourth day. Another four days ahead for Hajj. Hajj (pilgrimage) will be on the ninth. Hajj is a faithful religious journey for the sake of Allah, The Almighty. It is the fifth pillar of Islam according to Hadith narrated by Abdullah, son of caliph Omar Ibnul Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them), he said, I heard the messenger of Allah, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying:
((Islam is based on five;
1-Shihadah, (there is no God but Allah), and Mohamed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is his messenger.
2- Keep up the five prayers.
3- Zakat (chaste, or the obligatory tax that a Muslim gives),
4- The fasting of Ramadan.
5- Hajj (pilgrimage for those who can afford it.

This is verse 27 of Surat Alhajj, from the Holy Qur'an. It is the proof for its legality.
In Qur'an: Allah, the Almighty said, ((Call out to people for Hajj, they will come to you, on foot and on every skinny camel, they will come from every deep distant gap and mountain pass.))
Qur'an is always sent down for the general vocalization, and not for the special cause or the occasion. The special cause here was, Allah, the almighty ordered Prophet Ibrahim or (Abraham) to proclaim Hajj to the people more than thirteen centuries ago. But the general meaning is to all mankind to perform Hajj annually. Many of the rites of the Hajj refer back to the prophet Abraham and his life. 

Here, in Saudi Arabia, more than one million Hajji (pilgrims) have arrived. I have many relatives who came from different parts of the world to perform Hajj. I shall see them after they perform their pilgrimage. Next time, we will try to talk about the rites and the benefits of Hajj (pilgrimage).

Tomorrow is the first day of the ten days of the month of Thulhijjah. These are considered the special seasons of worship. Which Allah, The Almighty preferred over all the other days of the year.
According to hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) they reported that Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days" The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause and came back with nothing"
From this hadith, we know that these ten days are better than the last ten days of the month of Ramadan, but they are not better than the ten nights of the last of Ramadan. Because of the Night of power (lailatul gadr).
There are many virtues in these ten days of the month of Thulhijjah. We shall take some tips hoping that the reader can be reminded of the ten days and their virtues.
first. In Quraan, Surat Alfajr, Allah, The Almighty swears an oath by them. When The Almighty swears an oath by something it indicates the greatness and the importance of it. Allah said, ((By the dawn, by the ten nights,))
From the previous Hadeeth and Surat Alfajr, we know the importance of these ten days. Nabi Mohammed, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encourages us to do the righteous deeds because of the virtue of the season and virtue of the place. The house of Allah. It is the first house which was built for worship.
Second, Arafa day is among these ten days. its fasting removes away the sins of one year before and the next year. (of course, for the nonpilgrim).
Third, once the moon of the month of Thulhijjah is seen people can say tahmeed and takbeer and they can fast all the nine days of it. Of course, the day of Eid is prohibited to fast on it. These are some of the benefits of these ten days. We shall continue later. I hope this topic reminds you of the ten days. 

I depart from you and

The age for you is like flowers

 Clouded by the dew  

The lover sings for us

There will be no worries or danger

Living in our hearts

Our roads, oh lovely one, only tomorrow,

When our children become our joys

That wipes the life sorrow

We shall walk all those wide roads and

Our small cottages become more than cities.

Oh, my love put your hands on

mine and we walk all those wide roads.

.

Oh, girls, we are back

We came to put our hands on our good land

Oh girls be happy

Open your doors and your windows 

And wipe the hot tears

We are the ones who fulfill our hopes

And remove away our pain

We will water the land

Oh, girls, you are a river covered with clouds

We are determined and good but

The fire will die if we forget and

We will be back circling the same circle,

 useless and unproductive

Our land is longing and calling for us

The thunder is rumbling loud over us and

The rain is cleaning our fear

Our fear will drift away if we start

Oh, girls, we are back, be happy.