"Dark Ages" or "Golden Ages"?!

A lot of us heard about the middle ages in history… Some of us call it “the dark ages”

1000 years wasted without anything achieved…

1000 years considered a black hole in the history of humanity…

1000 years full of diseases, death and destruction…

1000 years of barbarians burning, ripping down the civilizations and removing every single sign of it…

1000 years with nothing of any worthy invention either…

Most of us think that this era has left no impact on this world but destruction and war…

Most of us think that Greeks and ROMs invented everything…

But are you sure of that?

Please, allow me to take you to this journey through time… a journey to the heart of history…

From darkness to light…

From Ocean to land…

Welcome to the dark ages! Where it’s supposed to be called the “GOLDEN” ages…

You’ll ask me how!

My friend, the world is like a cube with 6 faces… If I was standing on the upper face and trying to describe it to you while you were standing on the lower face, you’ll probably say that my words are Nonsense!

It’s all the matter of PERSPECTIVE…

Yes, they were dark ages but in a civilization that stretched from Spain to China, the Golden rays of discovery and invention shone on everything… shone to teach and inspire the world to achieve greatness… shone to put the 1^st stone of every single invention we see in our modern world…

It’s the “Muslims” Civilization…

In this era, some of the most important discoveries to mankind were made, having more connections to our modern world more than you can possibly ever imagine..

Let’s take a look at some… 

Ibn Al Haytham

When we open our TVs, work with our computers or mobiles, when we go to cinema or use our cameras, we should be grateful to a great scientist. And that’s “Ibn Al-Haytham”.

He’s a great scientist whose idea led to the invention of the Camera… He laid the foundation for modern Cameras by explaining how our eyes work…

Abbas Ibn Firnas

With passion and belief, a man can do anything… and that’s exactly “Abbas Ibn Firnas”

With his passion and belief that a man can fly, he dared to dream 1000 years before the Wright brothers. But he forgot one thing in his experience, “The tail” useful for landing.

Abul Qasim Al Zahrawi

The Father of Surgery…

Many of his surergical inventions are still used till this moment in modern hospitals… As an example for that, the “Catgut” made from cat guts, used in stitching, perfect for internal wounds.

Mariam Al Astrulabi

One of the greatest scientists ever… Without her, we’ll be probably still losing our ways.

She made sophisticated “Astrolables”… They show the sky and stars on small flat plate you can hold… Ancient calculating or time keeping devices…

They are the foundation of watches, compass, satellite navigations and GPS… helping people to explore and travel around the world  

Al Jazri

The Master of Engineers…

He made 2 of the most essential inventions for us nowadays…

1^st: he discovered the base of engines and pumps which is a device for converting the rotational motion into linear motion using a crank and connecting rod. No industrial revolutions would have taken place without him.

2^nd: his amazing time-telling machine, the “Elephant Clock”

But my friend that’s not all! There are a lot of inventions and scientists covering all areas of life like Jaber Ib Hayyan, Al Khawarizmi, Abu Bakr Al Razi, Al Idrisi and Al Farabi…

During the - so called – “dark ages”, Muslims not only transmitted ancient knowledge to the west, they refined it and significally went on making their own inventions that changed the world we live in today.

They made huge contributions in building this civilized world we see now…

The secret of their success is simple; they always worked in the pursuit of knowledge, working with this verse of Qur’an "وقل ربي زدني علما" and Our Prophet Muhammed PBUH saying "اطلبوا العلم و لو في الصين" & "من سلك طريقا يلتمس فيه علما، سهل الله له طريقا إلى الجنة"

So as you see, my friend… It wasn’t SO DARK after all!

And it’s our time now! How would you like our ages to be called?!

Think well, and the most important “ACT ACCORDINGLY”…

It’s your Choice! “Dark Ages” or “Golden Ages”?!

A Thought In a Photo (13): The Clear Mind

Your mind is like this water my friend, when it gets agitated it becomes difficult to see.... 

But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear....

~ Kung fu Panda 

A Thought In a Photo (12): The Child within

People forget all the time that behind that mask of strength, independence and toughness, 

there is always that child deep within...

That child longing to run freely and play around....

That child that sometimes acts in a stupid way and doesn't care about what people say...

That child needing a big mama hug running to it when feeling afraid and insecure...

That child needing a warm and caring heart that asks him when he gets back from school "How was Today?"...

That child needing a kiss Good night before he goes to sleep...

That child needing someone to guide him with a kind helping hands...

I miss being that child!

LWT Philosophy (5): "SPARK: Turbulent times build great leaders" - Part (2): Every second differs!

And here we’re back…

Last time, when we started talking about SPARK, we mentioned a very important thing we need to always recall in our minds…

“Our Beliefs – and ONLY our beliefs – are the ones shaping our behaviors”… The way you think shapes the way you behave… just simple as that!

And As Mahmata Ghandi said “A man is a product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes”

There is a quote I love and which holds a huge wisdom… it says:

Watch your thoughts, for they become words

Watch your words, for they become actions

Watch your actions, for they become personality

Watch your personality, for it becomes your destiny

Take a deeper look and think! Isn’t it what our ISLAM tells us? This is simply the REAL core of leadership we are talking about…

As a leader “whether with a title or not”, you are a Role Model! You are someone that people will look at and wish from the deep bottom of their heart to be like you!

It’s a great honor! "مقامك حيث أقامك، فانظر أين أقامك" … It’s a great privilege that ALLAH SWT chose you from all the people on earth to be such position… in such position of influencing people… of changing their lives… a more simple blessing, choosing you from any other persons to read those words now…

It’s YES a great Honor but yet a great responsibility as well…

ALLAH chose you to be in this specific time, in this specific place and in this specific place to do something! To deliver a message! To lead people to light instead of darkness… and it’s all by being a ROLE MODEL! And at the judgment day, you’ll stand up in front of ALLAH asking you about what have you done with this gift he gave you… "كلكم راع و كلكم مسئول عن رعيته" …

That may sound Huge! As yes it is Huge! But you are Khalifat ALLAH SWT on this earth… He prepared you for that noble mission… He prepared you with tools to get going on this with the faith he’s beside you helping and supporting… and whenever it gets darks, you are sure inside that he’s raising you to be a better person…

If ALLAH puts you into this position, then he knows very well that you are up to it… He Never put us in something that we can’t handle…

Last time, I left you with small exercises to do – I hope you did it :D –

These exercises will have a huge impact on your life, on the way you think and the way you take your decisions…

• SWOT analysis: To See yourself, to discover it… To know where your points of strengths lie and where your points of development so you can work on them
• The Rock ship exercise: Simply to know your priorities… what comes first and what comes second…

That will lead us to a very important thing every one of us should have… as without it, our life is going to be a big mess! And that thing is “Time Management”…

I can hear some of you now saying “OH NO! Not again!”… I know you all heard about it a lot, but go on with me… it’s a little bit different this time ;)

We all face huge challenge in organizing the things we need to do and the list could go for miles and we just stand in front of it helpless saying “Oh GOD, How am I supposed to finish this all ON time?”

Well, as for beginning…

“Time Management”…. I don’t pretty much agree with that name, because we all have the same 24 hours, we don’t manage time… you actually manage “your actions” in the time you have…

So let’s call it “Action Management”

In our journey to manage our actions, our beliefs play a big role in achieving it… we find ourselves always saying “I don’t have enough time, I won’t be able to do this”… watering our minds with negative words saying “it’s impossible to do it”, you program your sub-conscious mind for helping you NOT TO DO IT!

Okay, let’s see…  Let us do some Math and Show you something…

24x 60 = 1440

1440 x 60 = 86400

86400! That’s the number of seconds you have each day!

With the sun rising in every morning, your life bank account is filled with 86400 seconds! That’s a HUGE number!

The big question is HOW are you using these seconds? HOW are you going to take advantage of this credit put into your account each morning?

And for that specific question, we made the “Rocket ship” exercise… So you could know what more significant and important for you in… what’s urgent to do in this moment and what’s not?!

Just Put ONE thing in your mind…

Einestein, Newton, Helen Keller, Ahmed Zewal, Naib Mahfouz, Magdy Yaqoub, Anis Mansour, Sheskpear, all the great people you hear about had the same 24 hours as you and me… and if they could do it, then YOU can do it!

It’s NEVER too late! You have 86400 seconds / day! And Promise yourself that you are going to use it RIGHT!

That “Action – or time – management” tool is one of the most essential tools in the turbulent times, it will enlighten you the way… which comes first, what comes second… which things to do and what things you say “NO” too… you’ll then have the healthy way of thinking enlighten by your vision and your goals… then you won’t regret any decision you’ll make…

Imagine it this way…

Your time is like a big empty box…

You have big Rocks… these are the major and most important things in your life…

You have smaller Rocks… these are less important things… but still important…

You have some very small rocks… these are the things that are not urgent but you still care about..

And finally, some sand… these are the things you don’t even care about…

So, How are you going to fill this box?

That’s a question worth thinking about, my friend… Think about it well.

Here are some simple things you can use

1)      Prioritize

2)      Learn to say “NO” to unimportant things.

3)      Be organized

4)      Cut off all the interruption while you are doing something critical

5)      Have a good time sleep

6)      Prepare the environment around you to help you to focus

7)      Reward yourself when you achieve something

8)      Take a break when you are tired

9)      Make a daily to do list

10)   “ONE STEP AT A TIME”

I’ll end this part, leaving you to enjoy this video…

Until we meet next time, wish you a very productive and good time :)

To be continued…

A letter to someone special...

I'm writing you this letter and I don't exactly know the purpose behind it... just found myself holding my pen and paper and writing as if my heart was the writer not my fingers holding the pen...

May be because I deeply need to talk to someone who understands me... who lives my world - or a similar one - someone who doesn't see me as an Alien coming from outsider space when I talk about my dreams, hopes and insights!

Someone I feel relief with! Someone that empowers, supports & encourages me! Someone that I can call "my Comfort Zone"!

It's extremely hard to find that someone I'm describing... but when you actually find him, you just feel alive!
when you remember him, you feel comfort! you find yourself saying "Oh, Thank GOD! I'm Not an Alien!"

When you talk to that one, you feel like the dry plant when the rain falls upon it... BACK TO LIFE!
you regain that inner peace! that feeling coming from knowing that you have a strong support... A strong wall you can lie against when you are about to fall... A caring kind shoulder to put your head upon when you feel tired... A Warm place that keeps you safe and sound...

I've been searching for that person from a longtime ago...
I was feeling insecure, afraid, locked up in a shell, protecting myself and my heart behind huge thick walls... I lost my trust in people... They were extremely hard times!

I've been looking and wondering...
Will I have that companion?! Will I ever find that someone? will I ever find that caring friend? that someone who cares about you for just WHO YOU ARE? that someone who cherishes you no matter was your state or mood?!

I never thought I could find that someone until YOU ARE HERE...
I found YOU!
I found my Shell...
I found my comfort zone...
I found someone I can trust....
Someone I can share anything with, knowing that he won't make fun of me, respects what I say and listens to me from the heart...

Again, I dunno why I'm writing you these words...

But the thing is, you saved my life! you enlightened it back... And believe me, I'm not exaggerating...

Thanks to you, my dear friend, after ALLAH SWT, I'm the way I am now...

No words can express the influence and the change you made in me... it's just Indescribable!

I hope one day, if you found this letter by chance, you'd smile and say "She was a good friend of mine"... you'd smile and know how much you influenced someone.....

And you know, Life is too small.... Too short... We actually dunno when the picture of our films is gonna stop... So, I can only promise you one thing!

I promise to be there for you as you've always been there for me...
I promise to be that good friend you deserve as you are an amazing one to me, although I don't deserve...

And when I'm gone, I'll be waiting for you isA... waiting for you in much prettier and beautiful place... A place where you find the everlasting peace and happiness...
I'll be waiting for you in El JANNAH with our Beloved Muhammad PBUH...

So Am hoping and praying from the deep bottom of my heart for ALLAH to make this dream come true....

May ALLAH bless you and keep safe and sound all the way long...

Yours,

May

قصة يوم واحد بيشتغل :D

نازل الشغل الصبح....
شغّال يا صبايا... دلّوني على الطريق

من 9 الصبح لواحدة... قاعدين متذنّبين

ورقة و مدير و غلبة.... و ناس متنّحين

تعبان يا صبايا... دلّوني على الطريق


بعد ما وصل بيتهم....

عدمان يا صبايا.... دلّوني على الرغيف

سمسم، فينو أو بلدي... مش فارقة مادام واكلين

نشرب الشاي و نأنتخ... و نحكي كتير تنّين

عدمان يا صبايا... دلّوني على الرغيف

بعد ما أكل و أنتخ...

نايمان يا صبايا... دلّوني على السرير

أحلم و أنام و اتغطّى.... عل جنب، شمال و يمين

تكييف و بطانية... و مخدة على السرير

ننام، نحلم، نتهنّى... و نصحى متسلطنين 

و فجأة و أنت قاعد، تسمع صوت عاااااااالي بيقول "خخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخخ" 

A Thought in a photo (11): The Puzzle

The World is like the puzzle... 

And each one of us is a piece of it...

You are irreplaceable and unique... 

You have your place that just fits you...

You have your role that you were created for...

Don't ever say I'm useless or unimportant...

You are so valuable for ALLAH...

And as Mekky said...

 "لو مكنش لك عازة مكنتش اختلقت، و لا اتحسبت من الناس و لا اترزقت"

All you have to do is,

 Find which piece of puzzle you are... 

And just complete the Picture... 

:) :) 

على كوبري أكتوبر

و أنا في طريقي لبيتنا بعد الشغل، كان الطريق زحمة أوي و كان السواق اللي كنت راكبة معاه بيحاول يوصل لأي طريق علشان نطلع منه على كوبري أكتوبر...

و أنت ماشي على كوبري أكتوبر-اللي في أغلب الأوقات بيكون فوق بعضه- تلاقى العربيات ماشية كل واحد في اتجاه... كل واحد رايح لوجهته... و تلاقى في الأماكن الفاضية، العربيات فوووووووووووووو.... راكب طيّارة نفاثة، ما شاء الله...

لكن هل عمرك أخدت بالك إيه اللي بيحصل لمّا الطريق يبقى زحمة؟! أنا أقوللك....

تلاقى العربيات هدّت و بقيت ماشية واحدة واحدة و كله عينه على الطريق...

تلاقي الناس كلّها –سبحان الله- بدأت تظبّط نفسها و تعمل صفوف و حارات و تدخّل نفسها فيها...

تلاقى محدش بيحاول يعدّي من حد على الكوبري.... كله يمشي ورا بعضه في نظام علشان يمشّي الطريق...

و أول ما الدنيا تفُك و الطريق يفتح، تلاقى كل واحد راح لحاله....

امتى أشوف بلدنا كده؟! هتقولّي "كده إزاي يعني؟"

أشوفها لمّا الدنيا تبقى مزنوقة و الحال مايل و بايظ و بنمر بأزمة، تلاقى الناس اترصصت كده جنب بعضها و تنظّم نفسها تلقائيا وعينها على الهدف (الطريق) و بس... ألاقي كله بيساعد بعضه علشان يخرج منها بأقل خسائر...

هل هاشوفها كده في يوم من الأيام؟!

مجرد سؤال...

و أتمنّى من كل قلبي الإجابة تبقى "أيوة" و تثبتها الأيام... متبقاش مجرد كلام... و لا كلمة اتقالت في لحظة حماسة و السلام...

الله المُستعان...

زوم أوت

اتعودت كل يوم و أنا في المواصلات لشغلي الصبح، أقعد أقرأ شوية قرآن... علشان أستفيد بوقتي في حاجة مفيدة و بحبها...

ركبت اليوم ده الميكروباص و قعدت و فتحت المصحف على سورة الرعد... إحساس غريب ينتاب الواحد لمّا يقعد يقرأ القرآن بتمعّن، لمّا يقعد يقرأه كده علشان يفهمه و يعرف ربنا سبحانه و تعالى بيكلّمه يقول له إيه، مش بس يقرأ و خلاص...

و أنا أقرأ، استوقفتني آية... كانت بتقول:

"  اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآَخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ "

قعدت قدامها كتير كده بصّلها و متنحة!! يا سبحان الله! ساعتها كانت الناس نازلة من الميكروباص و ناس طالعة و السوّاق بياخد الفلوس و حركة دائمة مستمرة...

عملت "زوم أوت" للصورة اللي كنت شايفاها و "ميوت" للصوت...حسيت إنّي رُحت في عالم آخر و كأنك واقف بتتفرج من بعيد على فيلم شغّال... ناس رايحة و ناس جاية شقيانة طول النهار تسعى ورا رزقها.... تسعى في دنيا مش عارف قرارها فين و لا آخرها فين...

حسيت إنّي بخرج من الصورة و رحت لعالم آخر أوسع و أكبر.... مش بس كده، حسيت إنّي عملت "زوم أوت" للدنيا كلها و طلعت للفضاء و بتفرّج علينا من فوق.... عملت "زوم أوت" أكتر و طلعت بره المجرة بتاعتنا و اتفرّجت علينا!!

يااااااااااااااااااااااااااااه!!! يااااااااه، حسيت أد إيه فعلا إنّها "دنيا"!!! متستهلش أن الواحد يتمسّك بها أوي كده.... ده مش معناه إنّك ما تسعاش! بالعكس، لازم تسعى... لازم تشتغل و تشتغل بجد كمان.... لسبب بسيط، إن ربنا استخلفك فى الأرض ديه... أنت خليفته سبحانه  و تعالى...

بس لا تجعل الدنيا أكبر همّك... بيصعب عليّا أوي الناس اللي بتتخانق على منصب و لا مركز و لا خناقة علشان حاجة تافهة... و لا اللي يعمل مواقف مش ظريفة في باقي الناس علشان يكسب شوية فلوس و لا منصب و لا أي حاجة من الكلام ده...عاملين "زوم إن" بزيادة و ناسيين أن في حاجة أهم و أكبر و أحسن و أغلى و أقيم مستنيانا.... الجنة.... نسيب الجنة علشان الدنيا؟!

 الدنيا وسيلة و ليست غاية... عاملة زي شنطة السفر بتاعتك بالظبط! يا ترى هتاخد فيها إيه و هتاخد معاك مين في السفرية ديه؟!!!

فكّر كويس في السؤال ده، لأنه بجد هيغيّر حاجات كتير =)

الله المُستعان =)

A thought In a Photo (10): الجدار

سيظل هناك دائما جدار...

ذلك الجدار الذي بداخلي و يستحيل عليّ تحطيمه...

 ذلك الجدار الذي ينبع من إنّي أنا التي دائما تأخذ الخطوة الأولى و لست أنت... 

21 VS 30 :)

They say You need 21 days to establish a fully new habit and it will last with you :) What if You have 30? :) :)

Let's make Our Ramadan the Whole year not just a month :)

and Always Remember... 

"قليل دائم خير من كثير متقطّع"

و كل سنة و أنتم طيبين :)

 

VS  

إنّما الأمم الأخلاق

اسمحولي أتكلم باللغة العامية لأنّي بجد مقهورة أوي

دخلت النهاردة أحد الكافيهات و أنا في قمة التعب و كان مخططي إنّي أشرب شوب نسكافيه و أقعد أكمل شغل في المشروع لأني عارفة إنّي لو روّحت مش هاعمل حاجة

روحت و قعدت و مستنية النسكافيه يجي، شفت قدامي منظر بجد قمة في الاشمئزاز! منظر بجد وجعلي قلبي و خلّاني أحس بالقهرة و الحسرة على بلدنا و أمتنا و هويتنا...

كان قاعد قدامي 4 "Couples" و بجد اقصد الكلمة دي بكل ما تحمله من معنى و مش هشرح لأنكم أكيد تخيلتم المنظر! 

بجد كنت قرفانة أوي بس اللّي وجعني أكثر و أكثر البنات! أيوة، البنات! كانوا مسلمات محجبات و بيدخنّوا! ده غير القعدة اللي كانوا قاعدينها و كان نفسي أقوم أمسكهم كلهم أضربهم بالنار! 

الموقف كان مشمئز لدرجة إنّي لمّيت حاجتي و مشيت...

و أنا في الطريق، كنت عمّالة أفكر و قلبي واجعني.... إزاي وصلنا لكده؟! إزاي بقينا كده؟ أد كده الأخلاق بقت منعدمة؟! أد كده بنهمل ديننا و رسولنا اللي قال "إنّما بُعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق"؟! معنى الحديث ده أن الأخلاق هي أساس من أسس الإيمان الصح! طب فين و ليه و إزاي حصل المنظر اللي شفته ده؟!!

حسيت بإحساسين قمة في التناقض!

الأول، بفرحة إن ربنا سبحانه و تعالى أنعم علينا بنعمة الإنشغال بالحق... أنعم علينا بنعمة الصحبة الصالحة اللي بتشدّك لفوق مش تجرك لتحت

قد إيه حسيت المقولة اللي بتقول "إذا أردت أن تعرف مقامك، فانظر أين أقامك" ... قد إيه أن ربنّا فضّلنا على كثير من خلقه

الثاني، حسيت بمسئولية غير طبيعية! أن لأ! لازم أعمل حاجة! لازم أشغتل و أتعب علشان المنظر اللي حصل قدامي ده يضمحل و يختفي من مجتمعنا! حسيت أن في مفاهيم كثيرة أوي عند ناس كثيرة أوي لازم تتغير و أنا لازم يكون لي دور في ده! و من أهم هذة المفاهيم، مفهوم "التحضّر و الرقي"

و أنا قاعدة بأفكر في كل اللي حصل ده، لقيت نفسي بكتب الأبيات ديه

أجلس مكاني

و أرى ما أمامي

قلبي يقطر دماَ

و دموعي تذرف حرقةَ

حسرة على ما وصل إليه 

حال أمّتي

يا حسرة على أمة

تاهت عنها الأخلاق و اندثرت

فلم يعد للعفة فيها مكان

يا حسرة على أمة

غاب عن القلوب الإيمان

فلم يعد للحياء مكان

ألهذة الدرجة وصلنا؟

ألهذة الدرجة تمكّنت الدنيا منّا؟

ألهذة الدرجة مُحيت هويتنا؟

ألهذة الدرجة أعمتنا عن خالقنا؟

فجعلناه أهون الناظرين إلينا؟

أهذة أمة محمد؟

أهذة خير أمة أُخرجت للناس؟

أهذة أمة من قيل له "و إنكَ لعلى خلق عظيم"؟

أم أصحبت كرامتنا و هويتنا بالأرجل تنداس؟

عجبا لك أيها الإنسان!

أتقول ربي الله و تعصيه؟

و تقول عدوي الشيطان و تؤاخيه؟

أفيقوا بالله عليكم

أفيقوا بالله عليكم

فإن الأمم الأخلاق ما بقيت

فإن ذهبت ذهبوا

أفيقوا بالله عليكم

أفيقوا، فإنّي رأيت من باع الأصالة

 يرتدي ثوبا غريبا مشمئزا مائلا !

أفيقوا، فالأخلاق أشياء لا تُشترى و لكنّها تُباع 

و ما أكثر من باعها!

اللهم اهدنا فيمن هديت

و عافنا فيمن عافيت 

و تولّنا فيمن توليت

اللهم يا رحيم يا رحمن

يا حليم يا منّان

اهدنا و اغفر لنا

أنر قلوبنا و بصيرتنا

اللهم أبعد عنّا وساوس الشيطان

و عمِّر قلوبنا بالإيمان

فاللهم تقبل