Hope you are all doing fine for I haven't read any of your comments about the topics I post. Please feel free to ask me write about any topic that you would like to know more about.
Today, I chose to tell you a little bit about the history of my beloved country.
*** Origins:
The United Arab Emirates was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman.
The earliest known human habitation in the United Arab Emirates dated from the Neolithic period, 5500 BCE. At this early stage, there is proof of interaction with the outside world, particularly with civilisations to the north. These contacts persisted and became wide-ranging, probably motivated by trade in copper from the Hajar Mountains which commenced around 3000 BCE. Foreign trade, the recurring motif in the history of this strategic region, flourished also in later periods, facilitated by the domestication of the camel at the end of the second millennium BCE. Once area of U.A.E administrated by Cleopatra of Ancient Egypt.
By the first century CE overland caravan traffic between Syria and cities in southern Iraq began, followed by seaborne travel to the important port of Omana (perhaps present-day Umm al-Qaiwain) and thence to India was an alternative to the Red Sea route used by the Romans. Pearls had been exploited in the area for millennia but at this time the trade reached new heights. Seafaring was also a mainstay and major fairs were held at Dibba, bringing in merchants from as far as China.
*** Advent of Islam:
The arrival of envoys from the Prophet Muhammad in 630 heralded the conversion of the region to Islam. After Muhammad's death one of the major battles of the Ridda Wars was fought at Dibba, resulting in the defeat of the non-Muslims and the triumph of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
In 637, Julfar (today Ra’s al-Khaimah) was as a staging post for the conquest of Iran. Over many centuries, Julfar became a wealthy port and pearling center from which dhows traveled throughout the Indian Ocean.
*** Portuguese control:
Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean in the early sixteenth century following Vasco da Gama's route of exploration saw them battle the Ottomans up the coast of the Persian Gulf.
The Portuguese controlled the area for 150 years in which they conquered the inhabitants of the Arabian peninsula. Vasco da Gama was helped by Ahmad Ibn Majid, a navigator and cartographer from Julfar, to find the route of spices from Asia.
*** British and Ottoman rule:
Then, portions of the nation came under the direct influence of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century. Thereafter the region was known to the British as the "Pirate Coast", as raiders based there harassed the shipping industry despite both European and Arab navies patrolling the area from the 17th century into the 19th century. British expeditions to protect the Indian trade from raiders at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against that headquarters and other harbours along the coast in 1819. The next year, a peace treaty was signed to which all the sheikhs of the coast adhered. Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by the United Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to the British for settlement.
*** The Treaty of 1892:
Primarily in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries, the United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892 treaty, similar to treaties entered into by the UK with other Persian Gulf principalities. The sheikhs agreed not to dispose of any territory except to the United Kingdom and not to enter into relationships with any foreign government other than the United Kingdom without its consent. In return, the British promised to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea and to help in case of land attack.
*** The rise and fall of the pearling industry:
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the pearling industry thrived in the relative calm at sea, providing both income and employment to the people of the Persian Gulf. It began to become a good economic resource for the local people. Then the First World War had a severe impact on the pearl fishery, but it was the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s, coupled with the Japanese invention of the cultured pearl, that all but destroyed it.
The industry eventually faded away shortly after the Second World War, when the newly independent Government of India imposed heavy taxation on pearls imported from the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The decline of pearling resulted in a very difficult era, with little opportunity to build any infrastructure.
*** The begin of the oil era:
At the beginning of the 1930s, the first oil company teams carried out preliminary surveys and the first cargo of crude was exported from Abu Dhabi in 1962. As oil revenues increased, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, undertook a massive construction program, building schools, housing, hospitals and roads. When Dubai’s oil exports commenced in 1969, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the de facto ruler of Dubai, was also able to use oil revenues to improve the quality of life of his people .
*** Border disputes:
In 1955, the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's dispute with Oman over the Buraimi Oasis another territory to the south. A 1974 agreement between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia would have settled the Abu Dhabi-Saudi border dispute; however, the agreement has yet to be ratified by the UAE government and is not recognised by the Saudi government. The border with Oman also remains officially unsettled, but the two governments agreed to delineate the border in May 1999.
*** Sheikh Zayed and the Union:
In the early 1960s, oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi, an event that led to quick unification calls made by UAE sheikdoms. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and the British started losing their oil investments and contracts to U.S. oil companies.
The British had earlier started a development office that helped in some small developments in the emirates. The sheikhs of the emirates then decided to form a council to coordinate matters between them and took over the development office. They formed the Trucial States Council, and appointed Adi Bitar, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's legal advisor, as Secretary General and Legal Advisor to the Council. The council was terminated once the United Arab Emirates was formed.
In 1968, the United Kingdom announced its decision, reaffirmed in March 1971, to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British protection. The nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were still unable to agree on terms of union, even though the British treaty relationship was to expire in December of that year.
Bahrain became independent in August, and Qatar in September 1971. When the British-Trucial Shaikhdoms treaty expired on December 1, 1971, they became fully independent.
The rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai decided to form a union between their two emirates independently, prepare a constitution, then call the rulers of the other five emirates to a meeting and offer them the opportunity to join. It was also agreed between the two that the constitution be written by December 2, 1971.
On that date, at the Dubai Guesthouse Palace, four other emirates agreed to enter into a union called the United Arab Emirates. Ras al-Khaimah joined later, in early 1972.
*** Recent history:
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States the UAE was identified as a major financial center used by Al-Qaeda in transferring money to the hijackers (two of the 9/11 hijackers were UAE citizens). The nation immediately cooperated with the U.S, freezing accounts tied to suspected terrorists and strongly clamping down on money laundering.
The country had already signed a military defense agreement with the U.S. in 1994 and one with France in 1995.
The UAE supports military operations from the United States and other Coalition nations that are engaged in the invasion of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) as well as operations supporting the Global War on Terrorism for the Horn of Africa at Al Dhafra Air Base located outside of Abu Dhabi. The air base also supported Allied operations during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and Operation Northern Watch.
*** Death of Sheikhs Zayed and Maktoum:
On 2 November 2004 the UAE's first ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi.
In accordance with the constitution, the UAE's Supreme Council of Rulers elected Khalifa as president. Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan succeeded Khalifa as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
In January 2006, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, died.
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum assumed both roles.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Expecting a baby in the UAE!
Good morning everybody!
Last night I was talking to my friend who is expecting her second baby. She sounded tired, exhausted and waiting for the majical moment to come!
I hope she gives birth to her baby son safely and soon because she feels that she'll explode and she is soooo anxious to see him!!
Anyways, after talking to my friend, I thought of telling you a little bit about protocols of receiving a baby in the UAE.
First:
The mother founds out she is pregnant and shares this very happy news with ONLY her husband, parents and parents in law. Some women only tell their husbands until they completed their first trimester or the first three months of their pregnancy. After that, they tell their relatives and friends.
Second:
Before the Due Date, or before giving birth to the cute little bundle of joy, the parents to be organizes something called "Tawzee'at", which means presents to distribute or offer to visitors who will visit the mother in the hospital.
Third:
After birth, people tend to send text messages to all of their relatives and friends announcing the arrival of their new baby. Indeed, long time ago there was nothing called a text message ^_^ it is a new trend.
The text message can be a simple line or a very unique poetry with the name of the baby (knowing that poetry is very very important in the Arab Gulf area and it is highly valued), or the picture of the new baby himself/herself.
When people know this happy news, they visit the mother in the hospital. her family and friends gather and share this happy moment with the new parents.
Of course her room should include:
Arabic coffee, tea, dates, choclates, sweets and all kinds of stuff to show good hospitality.
one of the things that Muslim Arabs do is let someone from the baby's relatives (The father, the grandfather, the uncle, etc.) to whisper the Adhan (Islamic call for prayer) in the right ear of the newborn and the Iqamah in the left ear directly after birth.
I have explained in one of my posts what is the Adhan and what is the Iqamah. but I am going to explain them again.
Adhan is a call to prayer. It's longer and played loud so that people can hear it in their homes. Iqamah is a shorter “call to prayer” that is made immediately prior to each of the five daily Islamic prayers, to let people know that the prayer is about to begin. It is performed by one male in congregation.
The words of the “iqamah” are similar to those of the Adhan, but it is said more quickly: “Allah is Great; Allah is Great; I bear witness that nothing is worthy of worship except Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; Come to Prayer; Come to Success; Prayer has begun; Prayer has begun; Allah is Great; Allah is Great; There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah.”
The length of time between Adhan and Iqamah differs from place to place. In some countries it's 10-15 minutes (to give people time to come to the mosque).
You might ask, why do Muslims whisper the Adhan and Iqamah in the ears of a newborn?
If you have noticed, When Muslims hear the Adhan, they prepare themselves for prayer, and when they hear the Iqamah, they start praying.
But, whispering the Adhan and Iqamah in the ears of a newborn occurs or happens without performing prayer. So, you might ask, why? and I'll tell you that when a Muslim person dies, people perfom prayer without saying an Adhan or Iqamah.
The whole meaning of this explanation is for us to realise and know for sure that life is short, and we should live it in a good way that will make us enter heaven Insha'Allah.
Fourth:
After two or three days in the hospital (according to the mother's health condition), the newly mum goes back home, not with her husband, but to her parent's house. She stays with her parents for 40 days, where she can be taken care of and receives help with her new baby. After the 40 days, she goes back home with her husband.
Fifth:
When the baby is seven days old (after a week of giving birth), the family organizes a kind of celebration called "Aqiqa", which means sacrificing or slaughtering one or two or more sheeps or goats in honor of the new baby. They then invite their relatives and friends, eat, celebrate and enjoy the moments together. Some parents shave their babies' hair and others don't.
Also, if the baby is a boy, he should be circumcised after a week from birth. If he did not get circumcised when he is a week old, then he should be as soon as possible or before reaching the age of puberty. But the sooner the better.
Seventh:
When the baby is 40 days old, the parents and the family tend to have a similar celebration called "Tuloo", when they distribute presents and sweets to their relatives and friends.
Last but not least:
When the baby grows up a little bit and takes his/her first step then start walking, parents enjoy this happy moment in a celebration called "Nuthoor". My friend for instance, celebrated her son's Nuthoor by inviting family members and friends with their kids, filled her backyard with balloons, brought a clown, a face painter, a pop corn machine, a bouncy castle and of course dinner and it was AMAZING!
Having a baby is one of the happiest things ever...I wish every woman can feel its joy because it is a blessing from Allah.
Last night I was talking to my friend who is expecting her second baby. She sounded tired, exhausted and waiting for the majical moment to come!
I hope she gives birth to her baby son safely and soon because she feels that she'll explode and she is soooo anxious to see him!!
Anyways, after talking to my friend, I thought of telling you a little bit about protocols of receiving a baby in the UAE.
First:
The mother founds out she is pregnant and shares this very happy news with ONLY her husband, parents and parents in law. Some women only tell their husbands until they completed their first trimester or the first three months of their pregnancy. After that, they tell their relatives and friends.
Second:
Before the Due Date, or before giving birth to the cute little bundle of joy, the parents to be organizes something called "Tawzee'at", which means presents to distribute or offer to visitors who will visit the mother in the hospital.
Third:
After birth, people tend to send text messages to all of their relatives and friends announcing the arrival of their new baby. Indeed, long time ago there was nothing called a text message ^_^ it is a new trend.
The text message can be a simple line or a very unique poetry with the name of the baby (knowing that poetry is very very important in the Arab Gulf area and it is highly valued), or the picture of the new baby himself/herself.
When people know this happy news, they visit the mother in the hospital. her family and friends gather and share this happy moment with the new parents.
Of course her room should include:
Arabic coffee, tea, dates, choclates, sweets and all kinds of stuff to show good hospitality.
one of the things that Muslim Arabs do is let someone from the baby's relatives (The father, the grandfather, the uncle, etc.) to whisper the Adhan (Islamic call for prayer) in the right ear of the newborn and the Iqamah in the left ear directly after birth.
I have explained in one of my posts what is the Adhan and what is the Iqamah. but I am going to explain them again.
Adhan is a call to prayer. It's longer and played loud so that people can hear it in their homes. Iqamah is a shorter “call to prayer” that is made immediately prior to each of the five daily Islamic prayers, to let people know that the prayer is about to begin. It is performed by one male in congregation.
The words of the “iqamah” are similar to those of the Adhan, but it is said more quickly: “Allah is Great; Allah is Great; I bear witness that nothing is worthy of worship except Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; Come to Prayer; Come to Success; Prayer has begun; Prayer has begun; Allah is Great; Allah is Great; There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah.”
The length of time between Adhan and Iqamah differs from place to place. In some countries it's 10-15 minutes (to give people time to come to the mosque).
You might ask, why do Muslims whisper the Adhan and Iqamah in the ears of a newborn?
If you have noticed, When Muslims hear the Adhan, they prepare themselves for prayer, and when they hear the Iqamah, they start praying.
But, whispering the Adhan and Iqamah in the ears of a newborn occurs or happens without performing prayer. So, you might ask, why? and I'll tell you that when a Muslim person dies, people perfom prayer without saying an Adhan or Iqamah.
The whole meaning of this explanation is for us to realise and know for sure that life is short, and we should live it in a good way that will make us enter heaven Insha'Allah.
Fourth:
After two or three days in the hospital (according to the mother's health condition), the newly mum goes back home, not with her husband, but to her parent's house. She stays with her parents for 40 days, where she can be taken care of and receives help with her new baby. After the 40 days, she goes back home with her husband.
Fifth:
When the baby is seven days old (after a week of giving birth), the family organizes a kind of celebration called "Aqiqa", which means sacrificing or slaughtering one or two or more sheeps or goats in honor of the new baby. They then invite their relatives and friends, eat, celebrate and enjoy the moments together. Some parents shave their babies' hair and others don't.
Also, if the baby is a boy, he should be circumcised after a week from birth. If he did not get circumcised when he is a week old, then he should be as soon as possible or before reaching the age of puberty. But the sooner the better.
Seventh:
When the baby is 40 days old, the parents and the family tend to have a similar celebration called "Tuloo", when they distribute presents and sweets to their relatives and friends.
Last but not least:
When the baby grows up a little bit and takes his/her first step then start walking, parents enjoy this happy moment in a celebration called "Nuthoor". My friend for instance, celebrated her son's Nuthoor by inviting family members and friends with their kids, filled her backyard with balloons, brought a clown, a face painter, a pop corn machine, a bouncy castle and of course dinner and it was AMAZING!
Having a baby is one of the happiest things ever...I wish every woman can feel its joy because it is a blessing from Allah.
