Just writing

The ultimate sophistication

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Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Leonardo DaVinci

We might agree or disagree with this view, but this depends on how we understand it.

I read this quote on a photo of two old neighbours, talking together,  in a place that looks like an old rural lane. I wondered how can simplicity be the ultimate sophistication, but the photo explains a lot because not all people can appreciate such a simple life.

Simplicity is not a simple process; it’s sophisticated. To sit on the road to talk with a neighbour and feel such peace,  just like the two women in the photo, requires a simple way of being.

Simplicity is one of the writing techniques or a recommended one, but a simple piece can also be the most sophisticated.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

Usury

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In Islam, usury is forbidden. It’s an unfair deal to exploit people in need and lend them money on the condition that s/she will pay back double or ten doubles.

But what if usuary was not about money?

I’ve just read this quote by Shams Tabrizi;

“Usuary is permissible in love. So, when one gives you some love, give it back double.”

Or more!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

Writing

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It has been four months since I posted anything on WordPress. I’ve really missed it and missed visiting and reading others’ blogs. It looks like I haven’t signed in for ages, but, sometimes, other priorities take all your time.

Today is raining heavily, and thunder is expected in midday, but it’s not cold.  So, the rain was the motivation, the inspiration to sign in and write something, but not about rain.

Today, I remembered an Arabic proverb about a lazy woman always likes to get help without lending others a hand with anything;

‘Pour me some of this fresh milk,’ the woman said, but she didn’t get any container.

‘Shall we pour the milk into our hands or any of the bowls you left on the shelves in your house,’ the neighbours replied.

In other words, how we can help if you didn’t give us a hand.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

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Just writing

Oat soup

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Hello everyone. It’s been ages since I posted anything, but sometimes one gets busy with other things or a bit lazy.

Today it’s about my oat soup. It wasn’t my recipe, to be honest; I watched a Youtuber cooking it and decided to try. It’s good to try but not so much when you’re fasting. But, why not?

These days we are fasting the month of Ramadan. We usually break our fasting with dates, water or juice. Then we started with soup. By the way my boys sometimes ( or always)  didn’t follow the same order, and started with the main course.

Ah, back to the oat soup, it looks delicious on Youtube but turned into a totally different thing on our dining table at Iftar time. Untouched. All the soup was poured back into the pan, and today I’m waiting to see if the birds in the garden will have a different view.

Do you like Oat soup?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

PS the photo is of course not mine. It’s on google, but maybe next time, next year,  mine will be yummy.

 

Just writing

Ayla

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Ayla is a 2017 Turkish movie; tells the story of a Turkish sergeant and a Korean little girl.  It is based on a true story happened during the Korean War.

It’s about humanity and pure love. One night, when the moon was full, the sergeant found a little girl, terrified, shaking, not just of the freezing cold but also of the disaster, the inhumane massacre surrounded her fragile little frame.

A stranger, with a different tongue and a kind heart, became the girl’s papa. He saved her, cared about her, and never abandoned her. And she understood him, trusted him, and even loved him as her real papa.

But when the mission ended, the sergeant had to go back to his country, and by law, the little girl could not leave with him.

Did she forget her foreign papa? Did he forget the daughter of war? Never.

Fate brought them back together after sixty years.

It reminded me of I’m David movie by Paul Feig; wonderful stories with beautiful messages.

It’s available on Youtube, but with no English subtitles.

Herewith snaps of the movie, hope you will enjoy it.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

The Thief

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‘The mother warned her child to be careful and not to open the door to strangers unless she (the mother) or her father was in the house.’

This was part of a funny story which I was telling my daughter yesterday. But she asked why?

Sometimes, thieves break into houses to steal things.

Then, she asked me not to put in any thieves in the stories. She was scared, and I immediately changed the whole plot, or we’d have been awake all night.

But today, I remembered a short video on Facebook which shows a different image of a thief. A kind image.

In this video, instead of stealing, the thief helped his victim to return safely to her home. Why? Because everyone has a good side. And next time in my story, I’ll make sure that my daughter understands this point.

Watch this video to know how the thief helped the young lady.

With my best wishes,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

WordPress

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Have you got the feeling when you don’t feel like writing anything?

I haven’t blogged anything for more than a month and I either didn’t read others’ blogs regularly as I used to. Bored, maybe, but I’ve never thought to quit WordPress because it’s my own space. Here, I write and publish what I want and when I want.

Today, I was doing something else, not totally different, I was reading, of course not in peace but surrounded by endless distractions. First, my eldest son recently passed his driving test, but his car doesn’t work for no apparent reason. We tried to figure out what’s wrong but in vain, at last, it was taken to the mechanic garage. Second, it’s the mid-term holiday for the other two and it’s time for my middle son to share some fun with his little sister. Imagine a16 years old boy chasing a 7 years old girl. Fun, isn’t it?

Then it was time for lunch with not this and not that until we decided what to eat.

Back to read, I breathed, trying not to glance at my mobile, the time thief, but my daughter has a big surprise; she’s just finished writing a story and I really can’t wait to read it!

Thanks to their distractions, here I’m, back to WordPress.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

Leave it at home!

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I read this post today on facebook, and remembered a simple lesson I had learned years ago at school; it was a hadith by Prophet Muhammad; when giving a charity, your left hand shouldn’t know what the right had already given.

But today not just the left-hand knows about you giving charity but the entire globe. Why is that? Why should people in need be humiliated, and be pictured crying and begging for money? Why those benevolent hands intend to show off rather than be thoughtful and grateful?

Some said that this motivates others, reminds others, helps others to take part and help the poor, but I, and I’m sure there are others, have learned the lesson, without a practical demonstration; I mean the teacher didn’t open her purse and invite the most miserable in the class to give her some money.

I’m not against giving details or making people aware of others’ suffering, and I believe many people are having good intentions, but I’m just wondering what if those in need object, and refuse to be pictured, would they still receive any charity? Would those benevolent hands turn their cameras off and give charity? Would it be better to be humane rather than popular?

Please think before taking pictures.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla