Just writing

SMILE

nhpureandsimple

 

Image result for smile SKY

 

I like reading poetry especially with end rhymes and most of my readings are belonging to the modern Arabic poetry; mainly the 19th and early 20th centuries. Though I studied other eras, but the only lines I still memorize are from the modern era; may be because I studied them at school age. By the way, this saying ”Learning at a young age is like engraving a stone!” is absolutely true because what you learned at an early age would never fade!

I have been thinking about sharing some Arabic poetry that has been translated into English and would like to start with  Smile Poem by Elia Abu Madi (1890-1957).

Abu Madi is a Lebanese who emigrated to the United States in 1911. He  lived most of his life and died in the USA.

SMILE

He said: Lo, the sky is somber; then frowned.

I said: Smile! Is it enough that the sky frowns?

He said: Youth has left me and fled;

I said: Smile!

Sorrow will never bring back the vanished youth!

He said: The one I loved and was my heaven has tortured my soul and turned my life into hell.

 She betrayed me after I gave her my heart.

So how can I smile?

I said: Smile and enjoy your life!

If you dwell on the hurt she dealt you, you would spend your whole life suffering!

He said: Business is in a great turmoil,

Like a traveler, almost dying of thirst.

Like a consumptive young lass, in dire need of blood; though she is wasting it in each gasp.

I said: Smile,

You are not the cause of her disease,
Nor will you be able to heal her.
Smile, for a smile may help…

If someone else is a culprit, should you lose sleep worrying,
as if you were the culprit!

He said: The loud cries of my enemies are blaring around me.
How can I be happy when enemies are roundabout?

I said: Smile,

They are not after you for a crime you have committed!
They would have ought against you if you weren’t better and greater than themselves.

He said: The sales’ season is upon us, yet my merchandise of clothes and toys is not selling at all.
I have an obligation toward my loved ones, yet, I have no single penny in my hand.

I said: Smile,

It is enough you are still living,
And not lacking in friends and well wishers.

He said: The days have forced me to swallow bitter gall.

I said: Smile,

Even if bitter gall was given to you in strong doses.

Perhaps if someone saw you in good spirits, he would discard gloom and rejoice!

Will your complaining ever earn you a penny?

Will you lose anything for being cheerful?

Friend;

There is no danger in parting your lips;
Your face will not disfigure if you smile,
Laugh, for the stars laugh in the darkest nights;
And it is for this reason we love the stars.

He said: Cheerfulness makes no one happy,
People come to this world and leave it against their will.

I said: Smile

As long as a short span separates you from death;
For once dead, you will not smile again!

Just writing

School is Tomorrow!

nhpureandsimple

 

 

Image result for back to school

 

”Have a nice holiday!”

” We should arrange to meet up one day during the holidays.”

This was how the summer holiday started when parents usually exchange their best wishes at school gate. But; can you believe that this was a month and a half ago! Time really flies!

Time goes too fast as if we are getting the fastest high speed train in the world where we get on and off according to the different stages that we experience in our life. A month and a half ago, we got off at “School holiday” . Soon, we were getting on again to continue our life express train journey and to get off again but this time at “Back to school.”

Image result for high speed train

 

In between these two stops; wouldn’t it be great to close our eyes for a while and think! What can we see? What thoughts do we have? Holidays are wonderful opportunity for family time and taking photos to save those happy moments but please don’t forget to think about them too!

Let’s think about the last stop” School holiday”:

For me;

I can see how my children though have become more independent but also become closer to us (their parents).

I can see how it made my day when I met with new people or received kind words from old or new acquaintances even if it was online.

I can see how kindness is always rewarded by more kindness even if it’s just a swing!

I can see how happiness is so simple! even if there is No Internet Zone

I can see how if you think you know everything, you know nothing! A lesson from Penguins!

I can see how celebrations are not merely to have new stuff, go out, and pay more. We can not fully enjoy our celebrations without understanding their significance! This is Why do we celebrate Eid?

I can see that most of the time when reading other’s thoughts, I realise how we do share lots of common things. Actually, similarities are more than differences!

I can see lots of other things but that would be too much for You; my readers.

What about you? What can you see?

Now we are approaching a new Stop: ” Back to school.”

Let’s see how fast it would go and what thoughts would inspire us this year?

I wish all of our children a pleasant and successful school year!

With my best wishes,

Nahla

 

Just writing

The journey of a lifetime/2

nhpureandsimple

We arrived at Jeddah airport.

It was December; the best month for a nice weather in Arabia!

The airport was packed with people! This was expected because of the enormous number of pilgrims arriving from different destinations at usually similar times. Long, very long, queues of people were waiting to get their passports stamped, to get their luggage, and to get on a suitable transportation travelling to Makkah.

Later on, we were on our way to Makkah! We were revising our information about hajj rituals. Actually, what I studied at school or learned from my parents about hajj was mainly the basics. That’s to answer what, why and how. But there should be something else! Once I started my self- reading, thinking, and contemplating, I realised that the whole rituals of Hajj are symbols of higher transcendental meanings!

We start hajj by wearing white simple garments which symbolise equality, simplicity and purity! Can this be a reference, or is it better to say, a reminder of how this life began and how it will end? Life is not just for money, position, fashion, jewellery, makeup or hairstyle. There should be other significant meanings of life! It’s time to remember that you are not better than me and I am not better than you! We are equal and the only thing that would make us better before God, is our righteousness; our full submission and strong faith. Remeber, this is how we used to be at beginning of the Creation!

And we end hajj with farewell tawaf or final circumambulation which symbolises not only the end of this spiritual visit but also the hope for a new start when we are expected to revive our faith and regain the standards of humanity which we may have lost in our busy material life. We end our journey by remembering that we have been living as guests in this life and one day we will leave. But can we leave the host’s house without saying thank you? Thanks for the generous hospitality; for all the blessings we have been enjoying in this world! Can we leave without asking for forgiveness and support especially when we believe that we are asking the Most Gracious and Merciful?

We enjoyed every part and moment in Hajj. The beginning, the end and everything in between. It was a marvellous journey! We experienced hard as well as good times! We got lost, we got pushed, we got what was unexpected, we fell ill, we made good friends, we laughed, we cried, we helped and were helped, and finally we made it!

That was not everything!
We would not leave without visiting the Madinah or the Prophet’s city which welcomed us with a cool soft breeze, drizzly rain and smiley faces shown everywhere congratulating the visitors for being there!

Finally, we were on board but this time flying to Cairo. Looking forward to seeing the kids, hugging them and telling them about this journey of a lifetime!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

The journey of a lifetime!

nhpureandsimple


First of all, this post is about my own experience and I have not thought about writing a systematic guide or knowledge which can easily be obtained by a double-click on google.

This is about my pilgrimage journey! Hajj

Ten years ago my husband and I went to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage). I know by heart that Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and once you can afford to make the journey; physically and financially, then you must go. It’s the journey of a lifetime. A Muslim can perform it at as many times as he/she can afford.

Honestly, I did not think about going to Hajj at that time. Why? Because it was common among all people I know to plan to perform hajj later in their life. Apparently, when we become older with less or free from responsibilities; at the time when we decide to live life wisely and thoughtfully. And (this may be a new information for you) but some Arabic countries did not permit people to go to hajj unless they are over 50 and in urgent medical cases they would allow a young relative to accompany and look after the old pilgrim. This may have been changed now! Or may not!

At that time, we were already in the UK. My boys were 7 and 5 years old. My husband had just finished his postgraduate studies and started his academic career. I was about to start my postgraduate studies too. But sometimes we are destined to go through unexpected plans that would turn out to be better than our long-term ones!

This was what happened to us. How?

One year before we went to Hajj, some friends sent us an email explaining the full details of the expenses and documents required in case we would think about going the year after. My husband was very encouraged and determined. He said: “we have the money, are young and healthy, so it’s time to perform hajj!” He started making comprehensive inquiries. We did not wait long as everything had been arranged and confirmed smoothly. I was excited but the only and first thing I asked about was; what about the boys? Our friends decided to leave theirs, who was much younger than ours, with their family in their home country. I had never left my sons with anyone before even with my own family except for a few hours! I thought to take them with us but my husband and other friends advised me not saying” it would be very hard for them besides they would have a great time with my family in Egypt” And that how it was! We arranged two flights one to Egypt and another to Jeddah.

After spending a few days with family, we were on our way to the airport to get our flight to Jeddah. I was happy; extremely happy, because it was no longer a plan or a dream but real! we were on our way to perform this fifth pillar! But I also could not stop crying thinking about my boys. I prayed with my whole heart: “Ya Allah, this is for your sake, please make this easy for me and take care of my sons!”

Then we were flying to Jeddah to start our hajj rituals in Makkah!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

It’s just a swing!

nhpureandsimple

These days my daughter wanted to go the park just to get on the swing and push herself without any help.

 

 

But if it is a nice warm day, there definitely will be a queue of children waiting to have their turns.

 

Would she change her mind and think about another game?
The answer is No.

 

She is happy because at last she can go on the swing all by herself.

 

We waited behind two boys, one of them already got bored and left.

 

The boy who was already having his turn on the swing was just stretching his legs, touching the ground with his feet and giving sneaky half smile to the others waiting for the moment when he decided to leave!

 

 

We waited and waited but then it was too much. The other boy got closer and closer to the swing until the one on the swing understood that he played enough and it’s time to leave.
At last he was off!
How would you expect the other boy would do when taking his turn?
He did exactly the same as the first kid!
He started playing and his mother, standing behind, was pushing him. Then he was just sitting, looking at us! I smiled and asked him: have you finished? He said: No, I just wanted to put on my jacket. In a slow motion scene, he was taking his time putting on his jacket and not to forget to zip it fully up in such a warm day!
We waited and waited besides the waiting time before. My back was aching and i started getting angry; praying to keep patient and stay calm! I tried to distract my daughter saying; look at those beautiful birds and colourful kites! Did he miss that moment to add more time to his fun? Of course, No! He slowed the swing down asking his mother to look at what suddenly appeared to be amazing birds flying in the sky!
I looked at his mother but she turned her face to the other side!
My daughter was upset and I told her it was her choice to wait and to get on that swing. I asked her again If she wanted to try another game? But she again said NO
A mother saw what was happening, hold another swing next to her daughter’s as soon as it was free for my daughter to have a turn!
As soon as my daughter was playing on the other swing, the boy’s mother left him and soon he left it.

 
I left my daughter to enjoy her turn but told her to remember not to be long because others would like to have a turn too.

 
I sat a bit far watching her. Soon another girl came and waited next to my daughter’s swing. She had not been playing that long but she decided to go off for her.
I was very proud of her!
After having her little snack, she decided to have another go and waited for a new turn. Unsurprisingly she was rewarded by the same kindness, she got a turn and no other children was around waiting. She played joyfully and I was very happy for her.
Although I felt angry at the first two boys’ ( and their patents) behaviour and thought that they were very annoying, but I also realised that may be my daughter would have done the same or she would not have learned to think about others waiting if this had not happened!

 

I also remembered when we were once living in the university accommodation and the many times my boys were noisy and careless with their little friends having fun playing along the corridors while others might have been studying or sleeping. When we apologized to our neighbors, they would kindly say: it’s ok, this is a family accommodation and they are just kids!
Yes; they are kids and it’s just a swing!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

A Lesson from Penguins!

nhpureandsimple

During our visit to the zoo this summer, we could not wait to see those beautiful penguins and were looking forward to watching them having fun in their water pool.

But I really did not enjoy the scene there; it was a very hot day! The penguins were suffering from the heat and looking very miserable and exhausted! They either laid down completely motionless or were standstill with fully opened mouth doing their best to survive the heat!

I wondered what kind of entertainment is that! I really felt sorry for them and wished we had not stopped at their pool!

My daughter did not recognize them.

I said: “ look! These are the penguins!” but she said: “ No they are not!” and kept looking for the cute Antarctic penguins similar to those ones seen on TV.

But while writing this post, I decided to check if all penguins live in cold climate? I found out that the answer is “No”. This means that those penguins probably might not have been suffering much that day!

It’s not only because of my poor knowledge about different species of penguins that I believe they were going to die that day, but I also did not read their identification sign!

And why did not I read it?

Because I know they are Penguins!

But this was not enough!

This was why I saw them miserable though they might not be!

To know better is to read and ask more and maybe watching carefully to enjoy the scene!

A good lesson this summer!


Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

kite flying day

nhpureandsimple

I am not good at taking pictures, do not have a professional camera and have never thought of being a photographer! 

Surprisingly I started a new habit to look at any surroundings and take some photos ( using my phone camera) ! 

The reason behind this change is that I really admired how other bloggers have been using their cameras to capture beautiful pictures! 

Now I do not just appreciate how we are surrounded by beautiful nature, things, and colours, but also think that it would be very impressive to share them with others.  

Hence, I decided to share these photos taken by my phone camera. 

These kites, in a wonderful sunny, a bit windy and cloudy day, entertained and really made the day for everyone especially children! 

Hope these photos would make you smile and add some fun to your day too!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

No internet Zone

nhpureandsimple

On Sunday, it was sunny and we decided to have a day out at one of beaches here in the UK.

The best thing is that our day was without INTERNET!

My husband’s mobile, which is usually our source for sharing data, was broken down, my teens got limited internet (usually ran out of data) My phone has also limited data and finally no I Pad for my little daughter!

We stopped by the fair where my daughter had a go on some rides. Since the games are not suitable for their age, her brothers started grumbling: “ when is she going to finish?

Soon we were on the sandy beach! Still sunny but colder than expected

But where was the sea?

The water was so far away; it was a very low tide!

“No water fun and cold weather” my sons complained!

But my daughter ran to explore and we after her while my husband offered to take care of our stuff at a nice quiet spot,  but, probably, he wanted to grab a long nap!

“Bored” my sons said and complained: when would we go home?

“Happy and excited ” was my daughter saying: I do not want to go home?

I was happy; totally happy!

“ Let’s dig a big hole”, I suggested!

It was fun as my daughter decided to jump over it. She ran as far as she could but instead of jumping over, she fell in. We all laughed!

We collected shells and threw stones!

Simple free games!

Few hours passed without internet kept us close again even if we did not do that much!

Internet is wonderful invention!

But is it not better to have your family around in No Internet Zone?

What do you think?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

Do you know what is right?

nhpureandsimple

Why choosing the wrong?

We are humans.
Humans are not perfect.
Humans do mistakes.
Therefore humans are supposed to do mistakes,
to learn from them and do their best to be better.

This is a logical thinking!

Sometimes we do the wrong because we do not know what is right or we do not bother asking  about the right thing? This can be the case of a mother who starts giving her kid unsuitable food, at an early age, thinking that she is helping him/her grow up quicker and healthier than others. It is not until the symptoms of her baby’s illness become obvious that she realises her mistake  and then runs to see the doctor. Then, she would admit that she was  wrong and if she was wise and sane enough she would not follow the same course of thinking.

This is a mistake!

However, what about you know that this is wrong and you choose it?
There is always a student who cheats at his/her exams instead of studying hard, a witness who gives a false testimony instead of telling the truth, a shopkeeper who sells an out of date food instead of keeping  them away, etc…..
Can these also be mistakes though with full intention and understanding of doing a wrong deed?

What I am totally sure of is that if even we choose doing what is wrong, we will receive indirect reminders or warning messages about how far we are going downward or towards the wrong direction. This can be a direct punishment; e.g the student’s exam papers are marked down and he got a fail. Or an indirect one, for his cheating might not be discovered but he might have an accident on his way back which he would soon links to his wrong deed!
The reminder or the message might come late, but it would surely come.
Some people may call this karma and i believe it is a message from God to awaken our conscience and see our response. We are totally responsible for our own deeds and if you believe in the day of resurrection, you would also believe that we will be as asked about them.

One day my friend told me that she and her son went to have lunch in, though a very nice fish and ships restaurant, but not that expensive. She intended to be smart and parked her car in a free parking space for a leisure park customers. The restaurant was not inside the leisure park and she knew she was doing wrong but “how would they know?” She thought. When coming back, she was fined for illegal parking! She admitted that their lunch on that day was the most expensive one in her life. Then she told her son that this was a lesson for both of them if you what is right why choosing the wrong?

What if she was not fined, I think she would follow her smart thinking till another disaster happened!

Is it not better that she got this message early and learned the lesson?

I have lots of other real stories happened to me as well as others I know that would fill a book. These stories would help us understand and listen to those early warnings before we get used to what is wrong till we believe it is right. But then we will be lost.

I think the message of one is sufficient.

Will we do what is wrong again? Will we keep our conscience fast asleep and ignore the divine message?

I wish we all would listen to our conscience and understand God’s reminding messages!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

It’s Friday

nhpureandsimple

Today is Friday and it’s the summer holiday so the whole family can go to pray Jumu’ah or Friday prayer.

Today also I have been thinking about something to write but could not decide what, until I started shouting at my boys to get ready to go to the mosque. Then I said; that’s it.  It’s Friday!

I was born in Egypt and grew up there and Friday has been very special for me! On Thursdays, I was always excited and extremely happy because I had finished that long school week and my father had got at last day off from work. On Friday, we got up late, had an Egyptian family breakfast and watched our favourite TV programs. Sometimes relatives and friends came and visited us and we enjoyed having dinner together. Sometimes we visited and spent the day with family or friends.

The first thing that has been so special about Friday is Friday prayer. Friday prayer is a compulsory congregational prayer for Adult men unless they are exempted for urgent reasons; e.g illness or travelling. Women have the option either to join or not but it is better to go and share the pleasure of this prayer. And children are always welcome! Being so attached to my father, I usually joined him. I do not know and have never asked my mother why she did not think about going to the mosque when we were young. But apparently, she would say it was not for women. But it was! And I remember that women’s section in the mosque was usually full and women there had been really kind and keen to take part in this prayer.

On our way back from the mosque, we usually got some fruits to share at home. We expected the best yummy dinner and desert, all homemade, with nice smell and taste. Even poor families used to cook the best meals on Fridays.

What else were we looking for on Fridays? Of course some rest and peace. But it was not always a peaceful day! Children’s gatherings usually mean lots of troubles. We would fight, smash things “accidentally” or get upset because that was not the food we expected!

Honestly; it was not only children who would spoil the peacefulness of that day, grown-ups had their share too! Sometimes, they would argue and argue till no one would feel like talking any more. Sometimes they would turn their faces to the clock to plan their excuses for an early leave. They might also give some unpleasant comments, questions or enquiries that add more embarrassing moments during that day!

In the evening, if we were during school days, we usually started doing or finishing our loads of school homework, getting our school uniform washed and ironed and getting ready to start the new week. If it was our school holidays, we either went to play with our friends, having them over or enjoyed a family time watching a programme or a movie at home.

Nice memories!

Have a lovely weekend!

Nahla