Visiting Iraq-Post COVID lockdown reflection

I have visited Iraq during lockdown, and it has been one of my best trips so far. The weather so far, especially the heatwave compared to London is more bearable, even though the temperature is more high than London. But indoors, in most places, they have splits, air conditioners and fans. As I mentioned before, my uncle's house in Baghdad was very cosy. It is located near the Hadra in Kadhmiya. Even though it can be very noisy and crowded,  visiting the Hadra improves both my spiritual and mental health. We went during Muharram, and I saw Mawakib of people using drums for Imam Hussein latmiyas. I also visited Najaf, Karbala and Samura. It was a wonderful experience. Even though it was very hot, and crowded, and I was not able to go inside Abas's tharih, I was able to do ziyara from outside and pray for myself and my loved ones. But thankfully, we were able to visit Imam Hussein's tharih.  Overall, it was very emotional for me to do ziyara in the tharih for all the Imams. Especially Imam Hussein, whenever I think of him, I think of his struggles and his thirst, and his patience during difficult times. Same with Imam Ali, Imam Al Jawad and Imam Al Kadhim. I think of their kindness, generosity and patience. Visting Kadhmiya's hadrad has become part of my routine in Iraq. Before I go to sleep, I walk to the hadra with my mother and visit the Imams, and ask for hajat, and for other's hajat. I also learned a lot of useful aspects during majlis from my uncle sheikh about hijab. How hijab is not just wearing the head scarf, it is also about having good akhaq, wearing appropriate clothing, and being humble. Compared to London's majilis's in some places, it is more organised, and the ladies actually have more respect and listen, unlike London, where they talk and we sometimes hardly understand anything. Especially with screaming kids in the background, with biscuits on the floor  and other messes, which is a mother's nightmare and some women who are soon going to become mothers. That would be my nightmare in becoming a mother. I hope my future kids will be well behaved and do not become one of those who throw a tantrum by throwing themselves on the floor and throwing biscuits or other food on the floor.  Even some kids cry and scream, it did not affect the majlis, we were able to understand the lecture. Overall, I enjoyed the trip and I wish to go visit Iraq again next year. 

Janat Hali Series Review

 To  introduce this series, it is a Kuwait family series comedy. About a woman called Adiba, with her husband, grandchildren, daughters and sons each with their own struggles.In this post, I am going to discuss what I liked about this series, what I did not like and how it could have been improved.

What I liked about this series is the acting, especially from Adiba, she played a good role in playing the strict mother and grandmother and teaching good morales to her kids. What I liked about her is she is not the type of grandma that spoils her grandkids, she is more like their mum, especially with Sala, when hardly her father knows  about her, but at the same time you did not make her too perfect, she did some mistakes, like giving Khalifa money behind Samira's back when she was told not to. Khalifa also played a good role of selfish and greedy brother and son, that we viewers would love to hate him.Sala also played a good role of a sort of gullible girl, who learned from her mistakes of not trusting anyone too easily. Also, I liked the relationship between Samira and Adiba. Like for Samira, she is not the type of mum that defends her son and excuses his actions. She said to Adiba, 'If he was not your son, you can do what you want with him.' That shows true friendship and trust. 

What I did not like, was the main plot, it was too confusing.  One thing I did not like was Nohad going back to her abusive husband, taking off her hijab behind his back, and wearing it in front of him. Like seriously, what if there are hidden cameras, and someone saw her and reported it back to her husband. It is also not clear why the bad guys are behaving like that. For example Khalifa, what made him selfish and cruel, is it his friends or is he mentally ill? Why does he have to tag along with Anoud and take her, when she has her own car? Also what is the point of making the Umran drunk, and give his son lectures on seeking treatment. He needs to set a good example, by stopping his drinking habits. 

This could have been improved by having the dad stop his drinking habits, then advising his son. Anoud needs to be assertive and stop letting her brother control her life, and even stop giving him money.  As for Khalifa, he did not learn properly. Like maybe have his friends get him in trouble in the police or backstab him, after all his mother told him that these are not your real friends they are your enemies. 

In conclusion, it was a good series that I could rewatch some episodes again, but there is some room for improvement. 

Ramadan During Lockdown

This year, since everyone is at home during the pandemic, as before this lockdown happened, we muslims were keeping ourselves busy by attending gatherings, arranging gatherings, attending lectures, etc. However, the questions we ask ourselves is how have we spent our time? Did we learn anything useful? These questions will be answered in this post, as I am going to discuss how I spent my time, things that I have missed during Ramadan, things I did not miss, and things I have discovered about myself.

I spend my Ramadan, reflecting on myself, doing religious acts, such as reading Quran and praying salatul Layl, and doing a3mal in Layalatul Qadir. I have listened to   lectures online, on Usama Attar's tafsir on Suratul Mulk, about how to control ourselves, how we are created by Allah, freewill, etc. What I have learned so far, is that our actions have consequences. We have a choice on whether to obey Allah or disobey Allah. If we make good choices, we will go to Janah inshallah, if we make bad choices, such as hanging out with people who tempt you to do haram actions, such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, stealing, bullying,  disrespecting your parents, not wearing your hijab in the right way, behaving inappropriately with non-mahrams, etc, will result in going to jahanam, adubillah. Therefore, we need to think carefully of our actions and make good choices, by choosing your friends wisely, praying daily, respecting your parents, wearing your hijab in the right way, and behaving appropriately with non-mahrams.
I also spent my time with my family by watching a Kuwaiti series called 'Janat Hali', which I will talk in more detail in my next blog post inshallah. I also spent by reading Dua Iftitah.

The things that I missed during Ramadan is seeing my sister Khamael, and her daughter Zahra over Iftar, and attending lectures in centres. I do not miss gatherings,  as I mentioned in my previous post, large gatherings can be stressful. I prefer staying at home during Ramadan, and performing religious acts, and spending time with my family.

The things that I have discovered about myself, is that when I was listening to Usama Attar's lectures, during salah, sometimes my mind tends to wander, so I discovered that before salah, we can do istighfar, to keep ourselves focused.

Next blog post: Janat Hali Series Review

Surviving Lockdown

In this current year 2020, a new virus has emerged globally, called COV 19. Now, people are staying indoors and reducing contact with other people, and only going out for walks, and shopping for essentials. In this blog post, I am going to talk about what I have learned during this pandemic, what I have discovered, skills I have learned and developed, things I have missed and things I do not miss, and what my  future goals are after lockdown ends.

What I have learned so far,  is how to manage my time effectively, save money, as so far, before lockdown I used to spend so much money on unnecessary materials  such as coffee, lunches, etc, and only use it for essential purposes, such as grocery, and charity. I have also learned how to be patient during difficult times, especially if some items are out of stock, such as toilet paper, wipes, and how to deal with network issues, since during this current situation, there is more demand for internet, and technical issues can arise, so we need to learn how to cope with it. I have also learned how to resolve conflicts with my household members, especially when I  share a room with one of them, as privacy can be a concern when it comes to working spaces, so my sister and I have decided to do our work separately, and not disturb each other unless necessary. I have learned how to deal with stress, by being assertive, and expressing my needs but at the same time understanding other people's perspectives.
What I have discovered so far, is other social media networks that I never knew existed before lockdown, such as Zoom, where I can communicate with my family members, and friends. My sister so far, have discovered baking, and has made cakes, such as orange cupcakes, and muffins with cooked fruits. I have also started to become fit, by doing exercises online, with my sisters, which I never did before.  During the first weeks of lockdown, I found it difficult to adjust, and was worried about how I was going to manage with my college assignments, but so far, I have completed my HND degree in Business, as most of the time my classmates and I were studying independently. I used my time, to listen to Islamic lectures about Akhlaq and other Islamic ethics that could be beneficial in life, and reflect on myself, by identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I am also studying Persian, by revising key terms and phrases, which can be useful, as my main goal is to communicate effectively in Persian in Iran, if we go and with my friends.

The things that I have missed, is going out to restaurants, and working in coffee shops and libraries, and commuting by train by reading  a good book, and visiting my relatives, especially my 2 year old niece. During the first two months, we did not see each other in person, only through Skype and Whatsapp, but after Ramadan, we took a walk to her house, and my sister, and niece come over but not as often as before. What I do not miss, is waking up extra early to get ready for college, and large gatherings. When waking up extra early, I have to resist the temptation to hit the snooze button, and wait for the train to come, especially if there is a delay. With large gatherings, as much as I like interacting with my cousins, too much stimulation can be stressful.

My goals after lockdown, is be more fit, by going for a walk during my breaks in University, doing morning exercises, such as stretches at home, and attending fitness classes. I want to be more independent both emotionally and finally, by making a budget plan, and sticking to it, by eating out once a week or once a month, and for coffee once every other week, or once or twice a month. I might consider volunteering or applying for a part-time job in a library for work experience during the days I am not going to university, to develop my skills for my career in the library industry.

Next Post: Ramadan During Lockdown

Living In London

London is one of the most popular city in the world. People from different nationalities live there and go for a visit. There are some benefits to living in the UK and some disadvantages too.

Advantages of living in London

1) Public transport easily accessible almost everywhere.  

2) Walking is good exercise. Pedestrian-friendly

3) More courses available

4) Public libraries and coffee shops available almost everywhere, useful for studying without being disturbed

5) Safer than other cities, that doesn't mean you should  let your guard down completely

6) Multi-national

7) Halal food options

Disadvantages

1)   Some areas have high crime rates, especially in isolated areas and areas where tourists visit like the London eye, pickpoketing can happen. 

2) Tahara and najasa problems, especially in public bathrooms.

3) Weather, it can sometimes get too cold, especially in the winter.

London is a good place to live. However, safety and security, and climate changes can be a problem. My advice is to take care of your belongings especially in large crowds, don't  take the shortcut to your house at night by yourself, it may seem like a good idea in order to save time but your safety is the most top priority. Instead walk through well-lit areas at night. Trust your instincts. If someone ever makes you feel uncomfortable, then walk away and report them. It is better to be safe than sorry. Keep your doors locked whenever you leave the house, even when you are in it. 

That doesn't mean you should spend the rest of your life paranoid. Have fun, but be cautious.  For the weather conditions, try to be prepared. Read the weather forecast and wear a coat. 

The Missing Earring: Part 4

The next day, I told Andy about my dream and she gave me a I-told-you-so look. As we were eating breakfast, we spot someone familiar. I whisper to Andy, ‘’Andy, look, it’s that guy from my dream, the same guy we had questioned yesterday.’’

‘’Well come on then, let’s go tail him,’’ said Andy.

So Andy and I observe that guy and follow him as he gets up from his seat, all the way from the lift to his room. I found out that his room is next to ours on the same floor we’re in.

‘’Oh, brother,’’ I sighed.

Andy and I ended up trapped in this guy’s room.

‘’Oh no, we’re doomed!’’ Andy exclaimed.

The guy looks at us and smirks,’’ Well, well, well. We meet again.’’

‘’I’m Henry by the way,’’ he said grinning maliciously.

‘’I bet you’re wondering where your earrings and you think I stole them, did you?’’

‘’Well you know what,’’ Henry continues saying,’’You’re right, I did steal them.’’

‘’Why?’’ I asked.

‘’To make money,’’ he replied smugly.

‘’But sir, there are other ways to make money besides stealing other people’s possessions,’’ I said.

‘’Hey, don’t tell me how to do my job, lady!’’ he snarled,’’I do rob people for a living you know.’’

‘’You’re sick!’’ I shouted angrily.

Henry laughed evily, takes out a gun from his pocket and points it at Andy. Andy and I gasp.

‘’No, please don’t hurt her,’’ I  sobbed.

‘’Don’t worry, I won’t hurt your friend unless you cooperate and do as I tell you.’’

Hah, I’m not going to let this scumbag boss me around.

I kick him in the groin then try to take the gun from the guy’s hands, Henry tries to take it out of my reach but I’m stronger than him, so I succeed in taking the gun out of Henry’s hands and shoot him. Henry falls to the ground unconscious.

I just hope I didn’t kill him. I’ll call the police and tell them it was self-defense, which isn’t a complete lie. I did do it for self-defense but I also did it to protect Andy. I dialed 911 and told the dispatcher about what happened, the address of our hotel, and what Henry looked like.

Five minutes later, the police and ambulance came, since Henry has to be treated for his bullet wounds before he goes to jail. Thankfully, the police understood why I shot him and I wasn’t arrested.

Andy thanked me for saving her life. We hugged each other.

‘’I don’t know what I would do without you,’’ she said tearfully as she hugged me.

Andy and I went to this ice cream shop which was 10 minutes away from the hotel. I ordered chocolate ice cream and Andy ordered strawberry ice cream.

She smiled at me then said, ‘’ I have something for you. To show my appreciation for  your heroism, I want you to have this.’’  She takes out a red box then gives it to me. I open it to see my pearl earrings. I was astonished.

‘’What, Andy, how?’’

‘’As soon as you called the police, I decided to take a peak at this guy’s bag and I found your stolen earrings in there,’’ she said grinning at me.

‘’I guess you were right about him,’’ I said, ‘’we knew it was him as soon as we saw him I had a negative vibe about him, it turns out my instincts were right after all.’’

I was thrilled to have my earrings back. Andy and I embraced each other. I wouldn’t ask for a better friend than Andy. It was all thanks to her that I recovered my lost earrings. 

The End

The Missing Earring: Part 3

Andy and I started putting up signs of a lost earring, by putting our name, phone number and offering a reward to anybody who finds it.

Andy smirks and says, ‘’This is a good way to bribe someone who could have your earrings, Holly.’’

‘’I don’t think they’ll weasel their way out of it.’’ I laughed.

Andy and I order ice cream from the ice cream truck. I had chocolate and Andy had strawberry and vanilla. We observed other people. People-watching is Andy and I’s favourite hobby, we observe people through our binoculars without them noticing. We saw a woman pushing her baby in a stroller and a man with sunglasses who had a black bag. I know you shouldn’t judge people by their looks, but this guy looked suspicious, and Andy and I started getting negative vibes from him. I rummaged through my purse, took out my notebook and noted down our no.3 suspect. Andy and I confronted him.

‘’Good afternoon, sir,’’ I greeted him.

‘’Good afternoon to you, ma’am, what can I do for you?’’ the man asked.

‘’We just wanted to ask you some questions. Have you seen our lost earring, somewhere?’’

‘’What? No, I haven’t,’’ he replied warily.

‘’Really? Have you read the signs, sir?’’ I asked.

‘’What are you implying? You think I’m a thief, don’t you,’’ he said with gritted teeth.

‘’No, of course not,’’ I said backing away from the man.

‘’Well yeah, you’re acting like I stole it,’’ he said sarcastically.

We started to get suspicious because of the way he reacted when we asked him about my stolen earring.

Oh no, I wonder, the man knows we’re on to him, what do we do?

‘’Shouldn’t we call the police?’’ Andy asked.

‘’No, not yet,   we are still not one hundred percent sure that he’s guilty,’’ I replied.

‘’But, what if he is? He could be lying, you never know. That is how most suspects behave when they’re being interrogated.’’

‘’I guess you’re right,’’ I sighed then said,’’ but it is better if we don’t get the police involved, like I said, we don’t know for sure if it is really him. He’s innocent until proven guilty.’’

I had a nightmare about our no.3 suspect, which was the man we had confronted earlier, that he kidnapped Andy, then tortured her, while I watched helplessly. The guy takes out a jewelry box and a bag loaded with money, then laughs maliciously. I recognize the pearl earring which he takes out from the jewelry box as mine.

I wake up with a start, sigh with relief when I see Andy still sleeping peacefully next to me, safe and sound.

Andy was right, I thought, that guy could be a thief. Or maybe it was just a dream and my mind was playing tricks on me.

To be continued....