^^LoL. Waar maaha maaha!

^^You're the one wearing macawiiska miya?

Originally posted by Sayid*Somal: N1: which one did you lived in?? Barnet Hownslow Tower Hamlets Haringey Enfield In that order

^^Watching a game of football?

Elephant and Castle? Southwark or Lambeth? JB, hurdo jeceshid

The keys to what? Troll corner? I think you should own out-right by now

^^I will. The old Arab hospitality style. Sayid, gotta love Lambeth

Sophist, UAE beckons miya? Morning all. Zombie day!

An envelope, a pizza box: random acts of kindness Rym Ghazal Last Updated: September 24. 2008 11:46PM UAE / September 24. 2008 7:46PM GMT Ramadan is almost over, and it hadn’t been one of my favorites – mainly because my family is not here – until several touching scenes changed my ranking of this year’s holy month. Holding a thick envelope packed with money, my Emirati friend Abduallah was adding yet another Dhs1,000 into it. “It is for our two Omani coffee boys, who have it rough,” he said with a smile as he casually put away the envelope. There was Dhs 34,000 in it already. Abduallah went around the office asking if anyone would like to donate anything for the two coffee servers as a surprise for Eid. “I want them to have a nice Eid,” he said. On one of his visits to Oman, Abduallah had been invited over to their homes, and remembered how run-down and poor they were. “Hopefully they can have a different Eid this time around, and get some new gifts for themselves and their families.” Now that is the spirit of Ramadan that I grew up with: a time of giving, reflection and kindness, not just to strangers, but to the people around you, whom we sometimes take for granted. I pitched in myself as, frankly, I haven’t come across beggars and I don’t think it would be appropriate for me, a girl alone, to approach labourers on a construction site and give them iftar or zakat. I like to feed a poor family or two during Ramadan, something I haven’t been able to do here. The other instance that brought a smile to my heart involved a garbage bin, an old Pakistani man and three handsome Emirati men. I was driving around in a residential area where there were a lot of new houses being built when I saw an elderly Pakistani man going through one of the large ugly metallic bins parked along the corner. “Aha! My chance to do a charitable good thing in Ramadan,” I thought, so I parked the car and grabbed a whole load of money and got out of my car – to find out someone beat me to him. Three young Emirati guys got out of their Range Rover and went over to the old man with their wallets and what appeared to be a pizza box. They patted the old man on his shoulder, gave him money and offered him their pizza. It was so sweet. I think the old man was in shock: he stood their speechless for a few seconds before blessing the three young men and wishing them well for their kindness. I couldn’t help but smile as everyone left with a little bit more faith in the goodness that sometimes comes when you least expect it. Sometimes these instances of generosity and kindness in Ramadan are overshadowed by the hectic traffic on the streets and the crowds in grocery stores, and the short tempers and accidents that sometimes unfortunately accompany fasting people under strain. ******** “How was your Ramadan this year?” my father asked me over the phone just the other day. “It was OK, it gets harder as you get older,” I said. “Tell me about it,” he said, laughing. “Did you get your Eid outfit yet?” he asked. Oops. I forgot. Because I’ve left it to the last minute, I will be dealing with the Eid rush now. As Ramadan enters its final days, people shop around for Eid gifts for their loved ones and for new outfits and clothing, as is tradition, almost like starting a new day with a new fresh look after enduring a month of fasting: a treat after a month of patience and self-denial. I heard a child squealing with joy as his parents picked out a new video-game system for him, with at least ten new games. Lucky, I thought, and I admit, I was a bit jealous. Tailors have stopped taking requests as they are overwhelmed with orders for new kanduras and abayas. As is tradition in our family, we pick a colour or a special theme for Eid to make it interesting. My parents started this to keep us, the kids, excited and searching for creative ways to celebrate Eid. “OK, what is the theme this year?” I asked my father. “We will let you decide,” he said. Hmmm. I happened to be looking at a photo of a swan. “White! White like a swan, we each have to wear something white,” I said. “Even the shoes?” my father asked, half jokingly. “Why not?” I replied. So I am on the hunt for a white outfit. I’ve already found a white skirt, so I’m looking for a white top that will match it, and white shoes. Since we are all scattered about the globe and probably won’t be able to celebrate Eid together, we’ve decided to send each other photos of ourselves in our new Eid clothes. What my family doesn’t know is that I might surprise them with a visit in Eid, and I will show up in a completely white outfit: and maybe, just for kicks, I will put on a red hat. http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080924/OPINION/506176592/1080

^^Took a while. Nice place though

Waar iska kay daaya! ask Ngonge about his days adjusting to UK and no casiir and sharwaama Time for a nap,,,,,

JB iyo Nuune I think it mean 'bandit'. Add badeeda and you have 'sea bandit'. Bal af Soomaaligeeya ka warama?

^^Thanks. Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ How many years have you been living in that place, you bloody fish? Hire a tima jilac to do all the running for you. Why don't I just contact the brothers who work for the Shurta? I have picked the easy way of doing things

Lol at Nuune, not quite. Oh yeah. Got that promotion :cool:

^^You think I will have the patience to drive around and determine where all the cameras are?? Home time. Maxaan hurdo ubaahanhay

Ngonge, I am very anti Tom Tom. I know they are useful for knowing where Cameras are but over there in blighty you’re warned about camera locations in big bright yellow sign boards! As for making any money from it, I simply won’t be allowed to. This is not meeshiinaa.

Its the cameras saxib. There are just more of them.

'budhcad' Is that what they call pirates?

Just checked my fine situation Ticket Violations Description : Exceeding speed limit by 31 to 40 km/h Ticket Location Description : Dubai Alain Road Ticket Violations Description : Exceeding speed limit by 21 to 30 km/h Ticket Location Description : Dubai Alain Road Ticket Violations Description : Parking in prohibited area Ticket Location Description : Ticket Violations Description : Parking vehicles on pavement Ticket Location Description : Ticket Violations Description : Obstructing traffic Ticket Location Description : Al Khbiyse Street Ticket Violations Description : Exceeding maximum speed limit Ticket Location Description : Dubai Alain Road They have come up with new ways of catching the speedsters. Mobile cameras are everywhere and one got me this morning. Think I need to slow down

LoL

Ma durba? Still a week to go. Will you be shopping here? >>>

^^waa nabade reer Hargaisa ma barideen?

Worth a read,,,, When the Night Equals a Thousand by Muhammad Alshareef It was narrated that in the days that Musa alayhis salaam wandered with Bani Israeel in the desert, an intense drought befell them. Together, they raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain to come. Then, to the astonishment of Musa alayhis salaam and all those watching, the few scattered clouds that were in the sky vanished, the heat poured down, and the drought intensified. It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst the tribe of Bani Israeel who had disobeyed Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala for more than forty years of his life. “Let him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala told Musa alayhis salaam. “Only then shall I shower you all with rain.” Musa alayhis salaam then called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah for forty years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought.” That man waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward, but no one did. Sweat poured forth from his brow and he knew that he was the one. The man knew that if he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst and that if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity. He raised his hands with a sincerity he had never known before, with humility he had never tasted, and as tears poured down on both cheeks he said, “O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!” As Musa alayhis salaam and the people of Bani Israeel waited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa alayhi salaam asked Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala, “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though the sinner did not come forward.” And Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala replied, “O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israeel with water.” Musa alayhis salaam, wanting to know who this blessed man was, asked, “Show him to me O Allah!” Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins for forty years, do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?” PART II Ibn Jareer narrates on the authority of Mujaahid, that there was a man from Bani Israeel who used to spend the night in prayer. Then during the day he would fight the enemy in the way of Allah until the evening and he did this for a thousand months. And so Allah revealed: Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (the Night of Destiny or the Night of Power). / And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is? / The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah this night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months) (Al-Qadr 97/1-3). Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala revealed the Qur’an in the most blessed month – the month of Ramadan. And on the 27th night of this month comes the Night of Al-Qadr (Laylatul Qadr), which is better than a thousand months. On the authority of Mujaahid, Sufyaan Ath-Thawree reports that Laylatul Qadr being better than a thousand months means that the good deeds performed on it, fasting on it, and standing in prayer on it are better than a thousand months worth of good deeds, prayer and fasting. It is reported from Abu Hurayrah that when the month of Ramadan came, the Messenger of Allah said: “The month of Ramadan has come, a blessed month in which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast; in it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. In it is a night better than a thousand months, whoever loses the benefit of it has lost something irreplaceable” (Imam Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i). It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, that Allah’s Messenger sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever stood in prayer on Laylatul Qadr in faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim). This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The sincere believer who worries day and night about his sins and phases of neglect in his life, patiently awaits the onset of Ramadan. During it, he hopes to be forgiven by Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala for past sins, knowing that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam promised that all who bow down during the last ten days shall have all their sins forgiven. To achieve this, the believer remembers the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam’s advice in different sayings wherein he used words like ‘seek’, ‘pursue’, ‘search’ and ‘look hard’ for Laylatul Qadr. Laylatul Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. The mu‘min should search for it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, passing the nights in worship and obedience. For those who catch the opportunity, their gift is that of past sins wiped away. The Messenger of Allah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam illustrated for us some of the things we should be doing on this Grand Night. From his blessed Sunnah we find the following: Praying Qiyaam (Night Prayer): It is recommended to make a long qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many ahadith, such as: “Whoever stands [in qiyaam] in Laylatul Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation [of Allah’s reward], will have all of his previous sins forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim). Making Supplications: It is also recommended to make extensive supplications on this night. Aisha radi Allahu anha reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam: “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say, “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa ‘fu ‘annee – O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi). Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship: It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr is likely to fall. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. Aisha radi Allahu anha reported: “When the [last] ten nights started, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam would tighten his izhaar [i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship], spend the whole night awake [in prayer], and wake up his family” (Bukhari and Muslim). And she, radi Allahu anha, said: “Allah’s Messenger sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam used to exert more [in worship] on the last ten than on other nights” (Muslim). Have we estimated Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala correctly? Life is about people who take advantage of their opportunities to win the love of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’ala, and Laylatul Qadr is one of them. Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu was one of those who found an opportunity and won that which is greater than the heavens and the earth. An adult companion of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and thus belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim, so the orphan boy went to the Messenger of Allah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam to complain. With his justness, the Messenger of Allah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam asked the companion, “Would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Jannah?” However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam, missed the opportunity and went away angry. But someone else saw the opportunity – Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu. He went to the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam and asked, “Ya RasulAllah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?” The Messenger of Allah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam replied, “Yes.” Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu chased after the companion and asked, “Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?” The companion answered, “Take it, for there is no good in a tree that I was complained to the Prophet about.” Immediately, Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. “Leave the garden!” shouted Abu Darda. “We’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!” Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. “We’ve sold it to Allah!” When Abu Darda was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, RasulAllah sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam stood over his slain body and remarked, “How many shady palm trees does Abu Darda now have in Paradise?” What did Abu Darda lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt? What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth. Abu Darda did not miss his opportunity, and I pray to Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala that we do not miss our opportunity of standing to Allah on Laylatul Qadr. Dear brothers and sisters, we do not obey, worship and revere Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala in a way befitting of His Majesty. Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala revealed: No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him. On the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand. Glory to Him! High is He above the partners they attribute to Him (Az-Zumar 39/67). When someone dies we say inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Indeed to Allah we belong and indeed to Him we shall return). This is not a supplication just for when a soul is lost. It is a supplication for every calamity that befalls a believer, even if his sandal were to tear. Why? Because everything belongs to Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala and everything shall come back to him. Sit and try to count the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you. Have you ever tried to count stars? And He has given you all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude (Ibrahim 14/34). We have not understood the weight of this Qur’an that we rest on our high shelves; this noble book that was sent to give life to the dead. For even if our hearts were as solid as mountain they would have crumbled to the ground in fear and hope of Allah’s punishment and mercy. Could it be that our hearts are harder than that mountain? Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, you would have seen it humble itself and split asunder in fear of Allah (Al-Hashr 59/21). Dear brothers and sisters, as you fill the masajid for Qiyam-ul-Layl in the last ten nights of Ramadan, remember what Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala wants you to know: …that Allah is strict in punishment and that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. There shall be a night, some night in your life, that you shall awaken in Jannah or Hellfire. On his deathbed, Anas ibn Malik radi Allahu anhu prayed to Allah subhaanahu wa ta ‘aala, “O Allah, protect me from a night whose morning brings a journey to Hellfire.” Think about that morning. Peace shall descend on Laylatul Qadr until the dawn. It may be that you shall leave the masjid after Fajr one day soon forgiven by Allah, Glorious and Most High http://www.khutbah.com/en/ramadan_hajj/night.php

Morning all

Don’t fret: priceless doesn’t have to mean expensive Tala al Ramahi Last Updated: September 23. 2008 10:35PM UAE / GMT Ramadan is approaching its final days, and those who have been observing the month of fasting and restraint know that what comes next is a complete lack of restraint: the joyous but financially demanding celebration that is Eid al Fitr. Just like Christmas elsewhere, you will now notice families in the UAE rushing to do their last-minute shopping for gifts, clothes and ingredients for the lunch feast of their first non-fasting day in four weeks. Any newcomers to the UAE who had been contemplating a visit to the malls this weekend for a day of unwinding should reconsider – unless you enjoy being pushed and shoved, and you are soothed by the sound of children screaming. The family-oriented occasion is one that Muslim children eagerly await. I fondly remember the times when my sister and I could not fall asleep the night before Eid as we excitedly anticipated the new clothes we were going to wear and the gifts we were going to receive from uncles, aunts and friends. We even had fresh new pairs of socks, usually lined with red or pink glitter; the perfect embellishment for such an occasion, we – tweenie fashionistas – thought at the time. As a child, gift exchanging was never overshadowed by poor financial conditions or credit crunches, falling stock prices or rising car loan payments. But I still look forward to the coming Eid with excitement (though not as great as when I was 10, alas) but also with some financial unease. I wonder about the families who cannot afford ostentatious presents to offer children and friends, and those who have lost thousands (if not millions) of dirhams in the unsettling financial markets of today. There are many stereotypes floating around about Arabs – many of them untrue and unflattering – but there is one that is undeniably correct: Arabs are boundlessly hospitable and generous, regardless of how rich or poor they are. If you are invited to lunch or dinner, the Arab host will make sure that there are umpteen dishes available and will urge you to try as many as possible (even pushing you for seconds despite the too-full-for-comfort look on your face). Unlike non-Arabs, who take empty serving dishes as a compliment, your host here will actually be privately embarrassed (although never admit ting it) if there is no food left at the end of the meal, as he will assume that not enough was prepared. The intrinsic Arab spirit of generous giving is not constrained to meal-times however; gifts on birthdays, baby showers and Eid are usually extravagant. When it is time to return the favour, there is an unwritten Arab rule that you reciprocate with a gift that is of equal or greater value than the one you received, even if your means are limited. As an Arab, you take such commitments as the norm, never as a burden. After all, relationships are incredibly important in Arab culture, and unselfish generosity, no matter how financially demanding, is a virtue in which Arabs take great pride. It was when I left the land of endless hospitality, the UAE, to study in the land of endless meal upsize options, the USA, that I became aware of the contrasting ideas of gift giving and hospitality between the two cultures. In California, more food certainly did not equal more love (ask regular McDonald’s customers about that). In the US, hosts did not feel the need to cook a four-course feast to make you feel welcome. A plate of superbly marinated salmon with a side dish of fresh salad and a home baked pie would suffice. To be honest, it took quite a bit of getting used to, but despite the dissimilarities in hospitality, I always felt more than valued at homes of American friends. The culture of gift giving was also different but interesting, especially for an Arab who was used to receiving jewellery, or large intricately decorated concoctions of Patchi chocolate, or even designer wallets. Well thought out, personal and usually inexpensive presents were what I received from fellow American friends: a handmade picture frame with a photograph that captured a defining moment of a friendship, a batch of imported Japanese coloured pens from a friend who knew my fascination with colour-coded class notes, and a book of poems by a Palestinian writer and activist from someone who knew my personal passions. But then when I sit and recall memorable gifts I have received over the years, they are more likely to be personalised presents that are most probably not hugely expensive: the Dh40 pendant from a childhood friend; a scrapbook of pictures from a college roommate; a worn teddy bear from a loved one. The countdown to Eid has begun, and for those adults worried that the financial downturn will inhibit their generosity, I urge you not to fret. It is not the cost of the present that makes it priceless, nor the amount of food that makes the meal memorable. talramahi@thenational.ae