Ramadan is a month for the worshiping of God, the almighty. If you remember, last year, we talked about it a great deal. We said that Its legitimacy from Qur'an comes from:   

 ((O you who believe!  Soam (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you might be pious))

This is verse 182 of Surat Albagara from the holy Qur'an.  It is the proof for its legality. From Sunnah, it is this Hadeeth narrated by Abdullah, son of Khalif Omar ibnul Khatab (May Allah be pleased with them):

(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 Muslim gives), 4-  The fasting of Ramadan and 5- Hajj (pilgrim for those who can afford it.

We also talked about The most distinguished event. Laylatul Qadr (Night of power or night of revelation). People observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan. Basically the odd nights.  It is better than one thousand months. Muslims pray throughout this night to grab that opportunity from Allah. One thousand months equal to eighty three years. The age of a person is between sixty and let's say eighty. This one night equals that lifetime. It is a great reward from the Almighty. There are a lot of virtues in this night. The angles descend with Jibreel (Gabriel) among them. Peace will be there the whole night until dawn.

Consequently, we should do our best to worship Allah and read Koran, pray tarawih prayer and visit one another and do nice deeds to others.

 Unfortunately, some families think that Ramadan is for buying the different kinds of foods and drinks. They exaggerate in so  doing. Some of them buy very high food qualities and make the most expensive dishes. Some of them bring chefs from other parts to do the job.

Naturally, at the end of the fasting day, our bodies need food and water. The reasonable things can be taken, like dates, milk, rice and lemon or orange juice. No need to prepare the expensive dishes.

Some families spend the night watching bad movies or useless series on  the TV. Sometimes, they go shopping for more than two or three hours selecting shirts, dresses, pants expensive cloth for Ramadan nights. Again they come back home and sit in front of the TV for more hours until the next day. Gossiping is their main subject.

Rich families prefer to spend Ramadan in other countries where Ramadan is like any other month. That makes it difficult for them to see people eat and drink during the day of Ramadan in front of their eyes.

Some relatives do not visit one another in Ramadan. Because of these bad habits, the meanings of Ramadan are over. The fasting, the sacrifice, giving piousness and self-training with the hope that these qualities will extend beyond this month and stay with us throughout the year. ( we talked about the benefits of Ramadan and its meaning, see my blogs, Ramadan part two and three). By doing these bad habits, we cannot benefit from fasting only hunger and thirst as the hadeeth says.

A guest is coming back. Well, we have been waiting for this guest for a long time. Was it eleven months? This guest is always in a hurry to leave. we hope that he stays for the rest of our lives, but he chooses twenty nine to thirty days and then he leaves. In the past, people wished that guest to come and find them. They knew the good things they meet and have, the forgiving and mercy from Allah, the almighty.

They knew that they had committed a lot of sins and bad deeds against themselves and against one another, yet they were sure by the coming of that guest, their dirty deeds and dirty hearts will be cleaned from A to Z.

Did you know who was that guest?

I think yes, it is Ramadan. We will continue talking later.

The last five days of the month of December have special and happy occasions. Starting with Christmas, the New Year's Day, the Independence Day for some countries, birthdays and marriages and many other happy and merry moments. I forgot to say, merry Christmas to all our Christians friends all over the world. Nevertheless, I said that to some of them through private messages and post cards.  I would like to grab this opportunity to say, happy New Year to the whole world. I want to greet my friends on My English Club and wish them a happy New Year.

A special greeting of the New Year to the founder of this useful website Mr. Josef Esberger. The beautiful administrator Tara Benwell.  I hope my greetings of the New Year will extend to those helpful moderators Nadira, the handsome Robbie, Junco, Grace, Expector Smith, Ario, Nafis and T Mal.

I have chosen the song New Year's Day, by the U2 to share with the rest of my friends.  The song is from the eighties but I guess, it has a unique quality. Bonu, larry, Adam and the rest of the team did a good job there, and I hope it can suit this occasion of the new year.  

http://youtu.be/SrcBeCU9TGw

 For the New Year, one of my Indonesian friends, her name is Fitma. She is one of the members of My English Club, and She has made beautiful accessories for the New Year.  Those who are interested can contact her here, or through her account on Facebook. A sample of her work is here, you can see on her page too. She has been making these ornaments like necklaces, rings and headbands and other different accessories and selling them online for a long time. I am just hoping that the new year 2015 will be a good year for all of us.

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"That is not an excuse sister, the person should know about his religion and how to carry out what is required from him or her." Hammed said this with sorrow. His brother in law was embarrassed but he said quickly, "I will learn. My father died and left me this restaurant and I dedicated my whole life to it. It is not for the Moroccan meals and the Moroccan people, but the Americans come to eat in it as well. They like the Kuskusi, (a famous Moroccan meal).   I made a fortune from it, but it is not too late to learn. Tell me Hammed, what do we do at the mount of Arafat?"

"Arafa and what do you know about Arafa! People combined both Duhur and Assr prayers and shorten them to two rakah for each one. They ask Allah for forgiveness and continue to do thikr. Allah the almighty says why these people are here? They want forgiveness! His angels are witnessing the scene, and then the almighty says, ((I forgive them)). He is proud of that situation in front of His angels. The devil is seen as the smallest and the most despicable in that day."

"And then what? Asked Fadil.

Before sunset the pilgrims will move to Muzdaliffa where they pray Magrib (dusk), and Ishaa combined and shortened. Of course, here you must collect the stones for yourself and Fatimah to represent her in the throwing of the stones at the place of throwing Jamarat at satin. We will sleep in that area of Muzdaliffa, pray dawn prayer at the sacred rite of Muzdaliffa and after that we will proceed to Muna."

"Our Hajj is over?" Fadil asked him.

"No, not yet. You will go and throw the first Jamarah with seven stones. It is called the greatest Jamarah or (the greatest obstacle stone). For yourself and for her." He looked at the foot of his sister in silence. Tears came to his eyes and he began to cry. His sister ran toward him hugging him and saying,

"Tidak apa apa."   

"It was my fault Fatimah, I will never forget it, I shouldav." He numbed to her.

"It was an accident. I am ok now." His sister comforted him. They were playing when he suddenly pushed his sister from the balcony and she fell from the second floor and broke her leg. "Hammed, it is ok now."

"Please continue Hammed, after throwing the greatest stone, then what?" Said Fadil impatiently.

Hammed was drying his tears and he was smiling. He said, "Then you start throwing the middle Jamrah, also with seven stones, and do likewise with the small Jamrah.  You can make Tawaf al ifaddah in Makkah. Then you come back again to Muna  for your sacrifice and cutting of your hair, nails and continue throwing of the stones for the rest of Tahreeg (sunrise) days.  By the way, you can sleep with your wife if you do that Fadil." His brother in law was shy and he changed the subject quickly by asking this,  

"Tawaf alifaddah is like Tawaf algudum, I mean, do we do the same performance. You forgot to tell me what we should do while performing Tawaf and Saaii!"

Hammed replied, "You start from the black stone to your left and saying duaa and thikr of Allah."

You make duaa and supplication to Allah, like Allahu akbar (Allah is great praise and thanks to Allah), and ask Him what you want. There are many supplications by our prophet Mohammad, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Remember Fadil, we are in the tenth day of Thulhijjah. We will stay in Mina for three days. They are called days of tashreeg (sunrise) in Muna. If you are in a hurry to come back to your  restaurant, you can leave on the twelfth. After performing Tawaf al wadaa ( goodbye ).

"How many Tawafs do I have to perform? I also noticed that you say Muna and sometimes, you say Mina." Asked Fadil.

"Both are correct. The word Muna means wish." Replied Hammed. Fadil was happy and he said, "Now after that I will come back home without any sins, and by the will of God, I will enter paradise. My goodness, let's do it Fatimah, let's do it"

To be continued…..

             Hajj is the greatest Muslim gathering every year. Muslims come from different parts of the world to testify benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah in appointed days. The virtues and benefits are the reward of Hajj which is Jannah (paradise).  An accepted Hajj destroys all the previous sins, and the person gets back home, like the first day his mother bore him.  What a reward to enter Paradise and gain the satisfaction of Allah.

There are other world benefits. After or during hajj, pilgrims can make meetings and know one another. They may exchange some ideas, make businesses and open new agreements. Let's hear the story of the businessman Hammed with his sister and her husband.

Hammed Yusuf is a businessman from Bandung, Indonesia. He came to The United States to visit his sister Fatimah and to take her to perform Hajj with him in Mecca. Her husband, Fadil Idrees, a restaurant owner from Casablanca, Morocco, decided to close his restaurant and go with them too. He did not want to go at first, but Fatimah convinced him to do so.

"It's a matter of a week or ten days, and look at the gain or benefit you get from that" Fatimah was prompting him. 

Her husband replied, "I guess you're right Fatimah. Besides, we have enough money to pay for the rent."

Hammed entered and joined them, "Are we all set?"

"Yes brother, Fadil is ready too."

His brother in law gave him a big smile and said, "Is it true that we will be back from Hajj without any sins?"

"As a newly born baby". Said Hammed confidently.

"You mean, clean from all those sins." Repeated Fadil.

 Then Hammed said, " the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ((Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not make sex or commit sins, or dispute unjustly during the Hajj, will return home like the first day his mother gave birth to him)). And don't forget about Jannah (paradise)"

"Really?" asked Fadil happily.

Hammed replied, "Yes really, our prophet also said, ((The accepted Hajj does not have any compensation or reward but paradise)).

Fatimah told her husband that her brother had been to Hajj many times, and he had gained experience and knowledge from those journeys. Most of his business was made here after the season of Hajj was over, he made meetings and introduced himself to other businessmen and that was how he became a well known businessman in Bandung.

Hammed gave her sister a smile and said, "You have never been to Hajj sister. That is why I wanted to come here and take both of you to perform Hajj this year".

Fatimah said, "That is very kind of you brother, but we are able to do it, at least financially. Because of my leg, I cannot throw the stones; I will let Fadil do it for me."

"You mean I can represent you?" inquired her husband.

"Of course dear."

Her husband said, "Hey guys wait! I want you to tell me what to do and how to start! We are now on the fourth day of Thulhijjah."

"Very well." Said Hammed.

"Shall we intend our Hajj and put on our ihram and then go to the plane?"

"No no, you make your intention of Hajj and we take the plane, when we are near Migat, (the place where we take off our clothes and put on Ihram), the captain of the aircraft and his crew will notify us. We change our clothes inside the plane and start Talbiyah. It's a supplication which means (Oh Allah here I am at your service, oh Allah here I am. Here I am at your service. You have no partner, here I am. All the Praise and the blessings are yours and all dominion. You have no partner) we continue to say Talbiya from rites to the other until we reach throwing Jamarat, then we stop Talbiyah."

"I see, then what?" Acknowledged Fadil. His brother in law started to explain to him, "At the airport there will be a bus waiting for us and we will go to Makkah and perform the first corner of Hajj, Tawaf al gudum."

"What is this Tawaf al gudum Hammed?" Asked Fadil.

"Tawaf means surrounding Kaaba (house of Allah) seven times." Replied the businessman.

"And then what?" Fadil asked. 

"Then Saai." Replied Hammed.

"Ah! I know that, going between the two mountains of Saffa and Marwa." Said Fadil hastily.

"Benar!" Said Hammed sarcastically.

"That was Indonesian language; it means exactly, my dear." His wife began quickly.

"Oh! I see. Let's assume that we are on the eighth day of Thulhijjah in Mecca and after Saaii, what else?" Asked Fadil.

"Yes, it is called the day of Tarwiyah (irrigation). We will stay the night here and leave after sunrise to mount Arafat." Replied Hammed.

"What do we do there?" Asked the Moroccan innocently. Then his wife looked at him and then her eyes fell again on her brothers' eyes. She wanted to give an excuse for her husband's ignorance by saying, "You know that his father brought him to The States when he was nine. He does not know even Arabic."

 to be continued .....

             Hajj (pilgrimage) generally means; intending to visit an important or a highly great place for religious reasons. In Islam,   it's a journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, once in a lifetime. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. The person can perform Hajj if he or she can afford it, physically and financially he is able to make the Hajj and its rites. Some of these rites need walking; others need running and climbing too.

           If that is unaffordable, a  person whether male or female can perform Hajj by proxy, telling a relative or a close friend going to Hajj to stand in for him or her.  The pilgrim must leave enough money at home for his family until he is back from Hajj. Its legitimacy from Qur'an comes from:

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.))

            This is verse 27 of Surat Alhajj, from the holy Qur'an.  It is the proof for its legality. Qur'an is aways sent down  for   the general vocalization, and not for the special cause or 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.  

              As from Sunnah, it is this Hadeeth narrated by Abdullah, son of Khalif Omar ibnul Khatab (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 Muslim gives),

4- The fasting of Ramadan.

5- Hajj (pilgrimage for those who can afford it.

Next, we will try to know what are the corners and duties of Hajj and to whom it is incumbent. What is ihram and its types? And related other subjects.

To be continue…..

                The next Hajj season will be on October 2^nd, 2014 which corresponds to the last month of the Islamic calendar, Thul Hijjah 8^th, 1435 H. the letters 'th'  in the word "Thul",  are pronounced as in the word "the", and the letter 'u' is pronounced like in the word "full". Thul Hijjah means, lord of the pilgrimage, in Arabic. It is a sacred month. Hajj  starts from the eighth of the month to the twelfth of it.  Of course, next year, it might not be the same day of October, because the Islamic months begin when a new moon is sighted, according to the lunar calendar.   

                  The lunar Islamic year is eleven to twelve days shorter than the solar year.  Consequently, the month of Thul Hijjah can go throughout the seasons.  It can be in summer, winter, spring or autumn. That is owing to the rotation of the sun around the earth and its tendency toward its axis. That was pure astronomy which I do not have enough tools for it. To summarize this, we can say, the lunar calendar is eleven to twelve days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.

 These are the months of the Islamic calendar:

1-  Muharam

2-  Safar

3-  Rabee Al awal

4-  Rabee Al thani

5-  Jumada Al awal

6-  Jumada Al thani

7-  Rajab

8-  Shaaban

9-  Ramadan

10 -  Shawal

11 -  Thul Gidah

12 – Thul Hijjah

To be continued 

Praise be to Allah, the lord of the worlds and blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and companions.

((Fast, you will be healthy)). Fasting is not intended to be primarily a medical system to the person's diseases; nevertheless, it achieves that thing. Its main objective, as we mentioned before, is to attain piety and be conscious of Allah by obeying his commands and shunning his prohibitions. There are many beneficial means for the soul and the body as well.

Medical studies have proved that fasting (If it is done properly as part of a system), has many health benefits. Removal of the excess fats that cause one to be overweight or obese. We all know that overweight has negative effects on the body especially the heart. Fasting protects and preserves it. It also gets rid of the harmful excretions that enter the blood. It has been proven scientifically. Doctors advise some diabetic patients to fast. It will also let the cells and the organs of the body to relax and rest during the fasting period.

As for the soul. It will expiate the previous sins. According to Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah, (May Allah be pleased with him), Prophet Mohammad, (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ((Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins). Imagine that Allah will wipe out all our previous sins. The first ten days are called the days of Rahmah (mercy)). The second tens are called the days of magfirah (forgiveness). The last ten days are emancipation from hell.

Now we are in the days of magfirah (forgiveness). One more day, and we will begin the last ten days of the holy month. Imagine this, mercy, forgiveness and to be free from hellfire. Entering paradise through Al Rayan door. My goodness, what a gift. All you have to do is to stand at the doorstep of Allah, worship him perform thikr (remembrance). Supplicating him insistently, and do other acts of worship like Itikaf (to be secluded in the mosque). This kind of worship is considered to be the best deeds of being close to Allah the almighty during these last ten days of Ramadan.

Prophet Mohammad, (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to be diligent in worship. According to Aisha, (May Allah be pleased with her), she said, ((When the last ten days of Ramadan begin, he will tighten his apron and awake his family and exert in worship.)).

Laylatul Qadr (The night of Power or revelation). Prophet Mohammad urged us to seek it on the last odd ten days of Ramadan. It is better than a thousand months, which equals about eighty three years. I am sorry I said 88 years on Part 2. I am not good at mathematics. We will continue later. .

The holy month of Ramadan comes after Shaaban according to the lunar calendar. When the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. There are many events which took place during this month in the past. The revelation of the Qur'an from heaven to Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as we mentioned before. Al Hassan bin Ali was born. The battle of Badr in which the Muslims conquered the non believers. Ali bin Abu Talib became the martyr after he was stabbed by the sword. There were many events that happened during this month in the past and the greatest event was the conquest of Makkah. (Fath Makkah).Prophet Mohammad came back entering Makkah nodding his head down as a symbol of humbleness to Allah. The people of Makkah had fought him and forced him to leave the city. He emigrated to Madinah and built a powerful army and came back to conquer them. Despite everything, he said to them, "Anyone who stays in his house, the mosque, and the house of Abu Sufian or even does not carry a weapon is safe."

He captured many prisoners and said to them what you would think I would do with you?" They said, "Nothing, kind brother, son of a kind brother." Then the Prophet Mohammed, (Pease and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Go, you are the free ones). The most distinguished event is Laylatul Qadr (Night of power or night of revelation). People observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan. Basically the odd nights.  It is better than one thousand months. Muslims pray throughout this night to grab that opportunity from Allah. One thousand months equal to eighty eight years. The age of a person is between sixty and let's say eighty. This one night equals that lifetime. It is a great reward from the Almighty. There are a lot of virtues in this night. The angles descend with Jibreel (Gabriel) among them. Peace will be there the whole night until dawn. The first day of Shawal comes at the end of Ramadan and it is a festival day for Muslims (Eedul fitr).

To be continued.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year. During which the fasting is observed from dawn to sunset (dusk). Sometimes, it comes a day ahead of the expected start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. It was during this month that the Quraanic revelation began.  

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic word (ramd) which means extreme heat. When they shifted the names of the months from the old language, they named them according to the times they came in. The time of the month of Ramadan came corresponding to the severe heat; its name came from there. It was also said that the name came from the Arabic verb (ramadah) example: (Ramadah al saiym), if his stomach becomes hot from thirsty. We say, the month of Ramadan, the month of Rabee, but for the rest of the months, we say Muharam, Safar, Shaaban and so on.

Its legitimacy from Qur'an comes from:   

 ((O you who believe!  Soam (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you might be pious))

This is verse 182 of Surat Albagara from the holy Qur'an.  It is the proof for its legality. From Sunnah, it is this Hadeeth narrated by Abdullah, son of Khalif Omar ibnul Khatab (May Allah be pleased with them):

(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 Muslim gives), 4-  The fasting of Ramadan and 5- Hajj (pilgrim for those who can afford it.

In the first night of Ramadan, the devils or demons are chained. The doors of Hell (Jahanam, are closed), and the doors of heaven are opened.

To be continued.

I could not sleep last night. Brazil was defeated? Not defeated but annihilated, stomped! I just could not find the suitable word to describe that shellacking in the world cup semifinal between Germany and Brazil in Brazil last night. I was watching the match on a live telecast at home in dazed, damped eyed disbelief. I came to office as usual but I could not start or concentrate on my work or anything else. I was not at the lectures at all. Many students began to wonder what it was. I was not able to give any straight answers. I told myself that it would be better for me to quit. It was obvious this could not go on. Knowing that I could not tell them about my state, I excused myself and left the lecture hall and went back to my office. Brazil was defeated? It's like someone you love has died. Seven goals to one, it is unbelievable.

 I felt an immense sadness inside me. I tried to console myself by saying, "the star Nemar is injured and the captain of the team, Thiago Silva was suspended from the match because he took two yellow cards."  I told myself that those two were the main keys for victory. But that was a dubious proposition from the logical standpoint. The team is made of eleven players. The reality quickly came to my mind that the Brazilians could not handle the Germans. I was thinking of writing a letter to the Football International Federation Association committee about making certain rules concerning the player who injures another player or causes him any disability in the future. The answer to this might take many meetings and it might be ignored. Many Brazilian students at this website told me that Brazil would not win this tournament.  Alameida said, "The players are not like the previous ones." I should have listened to him. I am from Sudan. I wonder what would have happened if I had been from that country? 

Dear friends,

Ramadan mubarak!

I forgot to tell you that the holiday is on Friday and Saturday. Besides, I sent many letters to some of you last week. I wanted you to create a method or some mean so that we can practice together especially the speaking lessons. How do we meet during the week. Five or more people at one session or a conference? About  the different levels. How do we know that. When I send some exercises to some people, they just laugh and say, this is for a beginner. So many questions are there. The number of students is exceeding daily and sometimes, I loose my temper coping with these numbers of people. Therefore, I need any help regarding the suitable idea to present my services to you. I work fourteen hours a day, sometimes more. That is not reasonable. At the end of the week I sleep like a dead man. Sorry to use that expression, but it is the truth my friends. I have not said anything about this to the administrator Tara or Mr Essberger. This is for all of you. I know that some of you have or rather know how to organize this. I know that some of your are experts in this field. We want to have the correct way to help  the students or those who need to improve their English skills. I will be waiting for your ideas and your suggestions too. Thank you in advance, my dear friends.

Dara

I was angry with my brother last week. He wanted his son to marry his neighbor and I wanted him for my daughter. He knew that both his son and my daughter were in love. Yesterday my daughter told me to meet her. I picked her up at the door of her school. She explained to me about her plan to visit her uncle for an hour.  "Just an hour daddy", she said.

 They say that an hour is a long time in some ways and short in others. You can sit and watch TV or spend one hour talking with friends. You can drive from one town to the other in an hour, take a flight from one country to the other, or wait for your turn at a gas station for fuel. An hour is enough time to visit a relative or a friend. In an hour you can make a decision which changes your entire career.  You can meet someone who might be with you for the rest of your life.  All these thoughts came across my head and she was waiting for me to give her permission to visit her uncle. Indeed life is very strange sometimes. Why did all those ideas come across my head?

Possibly, I was thinking that during that one hour, my daughter could do something to change my brother's mind. 

I do not know how to begin this. It is a story about a fifty five year old man falling in love with a woman who is twenty years younger than him. First, I am wondering if that is possible or not! However, the experience is somehow strange and a bit complicated. It started on the internet. The internet and what will make you know the internet! They say it is a double edged weapon. It can cut both ways. Of course, you know what I am trying to say.

They were a teacher and a student. Suddenly it became something else. He gave her more time on Skype compared to the other students whom he had on his Skype list. The flame of love increased and he knew that it was not about teaching at all. The longing and passion during their sessions were obvious at least from his side. She was in another country and in another continent. It took several hours to fly there but he decided to meet her. To make the story short, they met. Her family was delighted and happy and at once the marriage took place.  

Seats thirty, thirty one and thirty two, on the Jeddah \ Casablanca flight have been empty since our departure. I told myself to take them and lie there for awhile as long as the flight usually takes about six to seven hours. I took them. In front of me, two happy ladies were talking about  going back to their husbands in the Ukraine. I did not believe what I heard. The Russians gave back Crimea to the Ukrainians and withdrew from there. The Americans decided to lift the sanctions from them. It seemed to me those ladies were not telling the truth. The conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis is over. No massacre in the Central republic of Africa, Sudan and in Myanmar and the fighting parties put their guns and stopped the killing. The north and south Koreans united in one Korea. The war in Syria came to an end and all the  refugees came back and they are now rebuilding their devastated country. No more bombing in Iraq and Lebanon. People all over the world are now brothers and sisters. The stewardess woke me up for dinner, I have been dreaming.

Dear friends, 

I am indeed very glad to be of help to some of you. I leave my Skype open most of the time. I really feel happy when I assist those who need any assistance. I have been with English Club for more than two years. Despite my full time at work, I always try to spare some minutes to my friends at EC. I really feel happy when I help someone who needs help about learning English and I am glad I have done this to many people on this website and on other websites too. Although there is no money in return, but I feel happy when I see that my work has its fruit. I want to thank you my friends and also thank the people who are working day and night on EC to let EC look in a new dress everyday.

 Hashish

Hashish is an illegal drug that comes from the hemp. People usually smoke or chew it to get that pleasant feeling of being relaxed and happy. these people are very funny. They tell jokes and they do not mean that. This is the most interesting thing about the matter, and they rarely smile. Two friends were having tea with this hashish in the living room when suddenly one of them took off all his clothes and lay on the floor and began to swim. His friend did not pay any attention to that but when his wife was entering the room, she was astonished. She told her husband, "Why don't you help your friend?" 

He answered her, "Do you want me to drown."

If you see the teeth of the lion prominent, don't think the lion is smiling. It is a poem by a famous Arabic poet. I was showing my teeth on my last picture. I was trying to look brave and hard. Then suddenly, I asked myself, " hey man, are you really like a lion?" 

I always try to hide and pretend. Once I met a lady in a bar. She requested to be given a glass of milk. while drinking her milk she started to tell me about personal things. Then I told her whether she was always like that with strangers. Her answer was that she had nothing to hide. Well to some extent, that lady might have been right. I wonder why do I have to pretend. It is true that we have to keep certain things away from the nosy ones, but at least I should become honest and brave. Behind those teeth, I hid my weakness and my cowardliness. I hope God will give me the courage not to pretend.  

Hi there,

I do not know much about computers. Before completing this blog, my finger mistakenly hit a button and what I had written was gone. but I will try to remember what I wrote. Ok, I was just saying I wanted to write something, but I did not know what to write about. Of course, it reminds me of, going to a certain place and you do not know the right way. That is the problem facing most of us nowadays. Basically, the present is built upon the past to form a future. In other words, we are because we were, and therefore it is possible we shall be.

The Fact

      There was a joke about the sun. It was said that two persons were arguing about the sun. The first said, "This is the sun." The second said, "No, this is not the sun." Suddenly a  man appeared and they asked him whether that yellow ball above was the sun or not. His answer was, " I am not from this country." If the truth, the fact are in front of you, surrender.