Some questions and answers!

Good morning everyone ^_^

A couple of days ago, I have received an e-mail from a lady who had some questions related to UAE’s culture and people. This was her e-mail:

Assalam alaikum sis!

How are you? Inshallah everything is fine with you!

I have few questions, maybe you know the answer...

Is it true that local women in wealthy high class Emirati families have something like a "personal assistant"- a personal maid- ?. A personal maid that helps madam do dress and even wash her in the bathroom? One of my friends says in their family they have this kind of maids whom their families get good money for this, instead their daughters work as "personal assistants" in some wealthy families but can never get married- no time for that, "career".

Another question is about weddings. All weddings in the UAE are segregated, which means that women celebrate separately in a big wedding hall, thus a bride can wear an open dress and have all the make up, same for the women-guests- they can wear open dresses, no need for hijab (1). Yet again I heard that in some very wealthy UAE families- a social wedding party is mixed- men and women are present, while the bride wears an open dress and make up in front of strange men. But in life she has to wear an “abaya” (2) and “sheila” (3), sometimes even “niqab” (4). Then this is a contradiction. Is it true? do such weddings take place? Or I simply misunderstood?

I'll be grateful if you could answer please.

Take care!***

Indeed, I replied and explained everything to her. I am posting my replying e-mail here in my blog so that everyone can read the answers and understand the whole idea.
Here is my reply and the answers:

Wa Alaikom Assalam sis,

A1- Emirati families tend to be big families in very large homes or villas (Grandparents, Daughters, Sons, Grand children, etc). And usually every big house with an extended family has 2-4 house maids (depends on the size of the house and the number of people in it), a driver and a cook.

Some wealthy Emirati families have nannies for their kids, specialized to help mums with their babies and children (other than house keepers).

I have heard that some very wealthy Emirati Families have a "Personal Assistant" for some “women” members of the family, but I DON’T THINK that they wash their Madams in the bathroom because it is forbidden in our religion and culture that a woman sees the “Awra” (5) of another woman. It is unacceptable Not in Islam, nor in my Culture.

In addition to that, the "Personal Assistant" might not get married not because of her career, but because she chose not to. No one, no matter who he or she is, can force a house maid or a personal assistant to do something without her agreement. So, If she wants to get married and start a family, she is totally free to do that.

A2- Regarding weddings, they are all separated in the UAE (Women celebrate alone and Men celebrate alone in two separate Halls or Luxurious tents).

Personally I have never heard of a mixed Emirati Wedding because it is close to impossible, but again, families differ in the UAE. But mixed weddings of Emirati families in the UAE are VERY VERY RARE (like 0.1%).

In addition to that, If the bride, her groom and both their families are ok with having a mixed wedding and showing parts of their bodies in front of strange men, then they shouldn’t have a problem not wearing the “Abaya” or “Sheila” in their daily lives. Again, no one is forcing anyone to do anything.

As I said before, people are not the same, they are like the hand fingers. And in the UAE there are very strict families, mild families and very free or open minded families, but all of this is related to CULTURE not RELIGION and there is a difference between both of them. For example: Some ladies in the UAE do not cover their hair completely, they just wear the “Sheila or have it on their heads as a scarf”. Some other ladies cover themselves from head to toe, and some wear the “Niqab” or the “burga” (6) but might show their fringe or front hair. But, again, this is because there is a big difference between Religion and Culture.

The UAE is a free country but the majority of us ,Emirati citizens, maintain respect of our culture, religion and traditions and we are proud of our customs, religion and country.

Hope my answers made it much easier for you to understand. Please do not hesitate to ask.

Sarah

*** Some Vocabulary:

1. Hijab:



It is the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general.

2. Abaya:



is long over garment essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Islamic world. It is considered an Arabic cultural dress integrated into the hijab, or Islamic dress, for many countries of the Arabian peninsula such as Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates, where it is the national dress.
A traditional abaya is black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, which is a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.

3. Sheila:



it is a veil that covers the hair.

4: Niqab:



It is a face veil covering all but the eyes.

5: Awra: It is a term used within Islam which denotes the intimate parts of the body, for both men and women, which must be covered with clothing. Exposing the Awra is unlawful in Islam and is regarded as sin. The exact definition of Awrah varies between different schools of Islamic thought.

Men’s Awra: The awra of a man refers to the part of the body between the navel and the knees which should be covered when in public and also during the ritual prayer.
Neither men nor women should uncover their genitals at any time except when in privacy. Men and women should at all times wear garments that are loose and the material is not transparent as to see the skin colour and shape of the other (male or female).

Women’s Awra: Women's Awra changes according to the situation:

• In ritual prayer: In ritual prayer, a woman should cover her entire body excluding her face and her hands from the wrist to the base of the fingers. She should also cover part of her forehead and the area under the chin.

A woman should cover her hair and body while performing the ritual prayer- whether she is praying in presence of her husband or she is praying alone in her chamber, as the basis for covering in prayer is different that the basis for covering in front of people.

• In front of her husband: There is no restriction in Islam on what body parts a woman may show to her husband in private. The husband and wife can see any part of each other’s body especially during sexual intercourse.

• In privacy: It is recommended that a person covers his or her sexual organs even when alone in private. There are exceptions such as when taking a shower or going to the bathroom.

• Among other women: The Awrah of a woman amongst other women is the same as the Awrah of men (from her navel to her knees). Awrah in front of non-Muslim women is a point of debate. Some scholars say that women should cover all but the hands and face, while according to the most preferred opinion, a Muslim woman can reveal in front of a non-Muslim woman as much as she would in front of other Muslim woman.

• In front of a mahram: (close male relative that she can not marry, such as, Father, Brother, Uncle, etc.), a woman can show her face, head, neck, hands, forearms, feet and calves and she must cover everything else.

• In front of her male children: If the child understands what the Awrah is, then it is not considered permissible for a woman to uncover her Awrah in front of him.

• Awrah in front of unrelated men (either Muslim or non-Muslim) is also a matter of dispute.

Most Muslims hold that entire body of the woman, except her face and hands, is part of her awrah, that is the parts of her body that must be covered during prayer and in public settings.

Salafi Muslims (a Sunni Islamic movement that takes the pious ancestors, the Salaf of the patristic period of early Islam, as exemplary models) believe that a woman's awrah in front of unrelated men is her entire body including her face and hands.

6: Burga:



It is a traditional face veil that is worn by married women.

Good Day all ^_^

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.

I wasn't feeling well

Hello everybody,

I am sorry for not publishing any new posts for such a long time, but I wasn't feeling well at all :(



But I promise you all, starting tomorrow I will be back to business ;)

Have a good night sleeeeeeeeeeeep!




zzZzzzzzZZzzz!

Friday Prayer (Salat Al Jumu'ah)

Hello,

Since it is Friday today, I thought of telling you a little bit about Muslims Friday Prayer (Salat Al Jumu'ah) as we name it in Arabic. (1)



Jumu'ah, also known as jum'ah, Friday prayer, is a congregational prayer (salat) that we Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon in lieu of noon time (dhuhr).

When the call is made for prayer on Friday, then people should leave off business; everything, and go to pray. That's why, on Fridays, Shops, Supermarkets, Shopping Malls, Restaurants and everything else opens after the Friday Prayer (Around 3:00 p.m).

The jumu'ah prayer is half the dhuhr prayer, for convenience, preceded by a khutba (a sermon as a technical replacement of the two reduced raka'ahs (2) of the ordinary dhuhr prayer), and followed by a communal prayer, led by the imam (3).

In most cases the khatib (4) also serves as the imam. Attendance is strictly incumbent upon all adult males who are legal residents of the locality, females are also permitted to go to the Mosque to perform the Friday prayers, and have a section that is separated from men in which they pray with fellow Muslim women, though it is only obligatory on all Muslim males.

The muezzin (5) makes the call to prayer, called the adhan (the call for prayer), usually 15-20 minutes prior to the start of Jum'ah. When the khatib takes his place on the minbar (6), a second adhan is made. The khatib is supposed to deliver two speeches, stopping and sitting briefly between them. In practice, the first speech is longer and contains most of the content. The second speech is very brief and concludes with a du'a (7), after which the muezzin calls the iqama (8). This signals the start of the main two rak'at prayer of Jumu'ah.

The prayers mainly have high attendance of worshipers, as compared to the ritual prayers.

Abu Hurayrah reported that Prophet Muhammad said: "When it is Friday, the angels stand at every door of the mosque and record the people in order of arrival, and when the Imam sits on the pulpit for delivering the sermon, qutba, they fold up their sheets and listen to the mention of Allah, the speech."

A person who goes to Friday prayer is said to have his sins between that Friday and last forgiven.

(1)-- What is Salah or Salat?



Salat is the name given to the formal prayer of Islam. Its supreme importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the paradigmatic Five Pillars of Islam, which are:

1- Shahadah (profession of faith)
2- Salat (prayers)
3- Zakat (giving of alms, specifically during Ramadan)
4- Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca, the place were the most famous islamic temple is located)
5- Sawm (fasting)

and These five practices are essential to all Muslims.

Salah is a ritual prayer, having prescribed conditions, a prescribed procedure, and prescribed times.

Performing salah is obligatory on all adult Muslims, with a few dispensations for those for whom it would be difficult.

To perform valid salah, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity, which is mainly achieved by ritual ablution according to prescribed procedures.

The place of prayer should be clean. In a few cases where blood is leaving the body, salah is forbidden until a later time.

(2)-- What is rak'ah?



Salah consists of the repetition of two or more units of a prescribed sequence of actions and words. One complete sequence is known as a rak'ah (pl. rak'at).

The number of obligatory (fard) rak'at varies according to the time of day or other circumstances requiring salah (such as Friday congregational prayers). Additions to the fard rak'at can be made, again in different multiples according to the circumstances.

These are not required, but are considered meritorious. There are also dispensations from some or all of the prescribed actions for those who are physically unable to complete them. The prescribed words of the prayer remain obligatory.

Salah is prescribed at five periods of the day, which are measured according to the movement of the sun. These are:

1- near dawn (fajr)
2- after the sun's noon (dhuhr)
3- in the afternoon (asr)
4- just after sunset (maghrib)
5- and around nightfall (isha'a).

The Islamic day begins at sundown. Under some circumstances prayers can be shortened or combined (according to prescribed procedures). Prayers can be missed in serious cases, but they should be made up later.

(3)-- Who is the Imam?



An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the leader of a mosque and the community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads the prayer during Islamic gatherings.

More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have an Islamic question. In smaller communities an imam could be the community leader based on the community setting.

(4)-- Who is the Khatib?



Khatib or khateeb (khatib) is an Arabic term used to describe a person who delivers the sermon (khuṭbah), during the Friday prayer or Eid prayers.

The khatib is usually the Imam (prayer leader), but sometimes the two roles can be played by different people. There are no requirements of eligibility to become a khatib, although the person must be a male who has attained the age of puberty. It is also required that the khatib be in a state of physical purity.

(5)-- Who is the Muezzin?



A muezzin is a chosen person at the mosque who leads the call (adhan) to Friday service and the five daily prayers (salat) from one of the mosque's minarets. In most modern mosques, electronic amplification aids the muezzins.

(6)-- What is a minbar?



A minbar (also spelt mimbar) is a pulpit in the mosque where the Imam (leader of prayer) stands to deliver sermons (khutbah).

(7)-- What is Du'a?



In the terminology of Islam, Du'a is the act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon', and Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. Our Islamic Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said "Dua is the very essence of worship," while one of Allah's commands expressed to Muslims through the Qur'an is for them to call out to Him:

"And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)!"

(8)-- What is Iqama?

The word iqama refers to the second call to Islamic Prayer, given immediately before the prayer begins. Generally speaking, the iqama is given more quickly and in a more monotone fashion, as compared to the adhan. It differs from the first call to prayer, the adhan.

In order to know hoe to perfom a complete correct Salat, pls visit:

http://muslim-canada.org/salaat.html

Arab / German meeting in PSUAD

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

Last Monday I had one of the great experiences of my life. I was invited by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to attend a meeting at Paris-Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi "PSUAD".

*** For more information, please visit www.sorbonne.ae



Attendant were:

*(In the Middle): Dr.Johannes Beermann, Minister of State, Chief of the State Chancellery of Saxony (who is a veeeeeeerrrry nice person)
*(On the right side): Mr. Philipp Mißfelder, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs of CDU/CSU (ruling party in Germany), the YOUNGEST deplomat I've ever seen, who is also a very nice person
*(on the left side): Mr. Thomas Birringer, Regional Representative of KAS to the Gulf-States, a number of students and officials and of course myself.



At first we were welcomed by the director of PSUAD, introduced our selves, then the usual meeting took its time. After that, Dr. Johannes, an Emirati female student, an Emirati male student, a Mexican female student, a Palestinian male student (all studying at PSUAD), a German staff member at KAS, Pr. Ronald Perlwitz, Head of Business and Languages Studies and Professor of the German Literature at PSUAD and myself sat together and had a very interresting "Chatting time".

We were from different nationalities, different cultures, different religions but still we made a good example of how civilizations could meet together and get along without any complications. Indeed am not going to compare the eight of us to the whole world, but I am just giving an example.

We discussed a number of issues, such as, Values Vs. Politics, Liberal societies between advantages and disadvantages, Freedom and Responsibilities, Muslims Difficulties in the German Society, etc. We ended up by agreeing that "The more you respect your culture, the more people respect you", which is 100% true.

I hope to have a similar "gathering" and "discussion" with young German people when I fly to Germany next October (Insha'Allah) to implement the second step of my project, and I hope to meet Dr. Johannes there as well for he promised to show me the Arab / Muslim small communities in Germany ^_^

More Info:

Paris-Sorbonne university Abu Dhabi is now present at its permanent campus, in Al Reem island (1) with the completion of the first phase of the project. With a capacity that takes up to 2,000 students, as well as related faculty and support staff, the new campus makes the ideal university environment.

A project handled by Mubadala (2) , and financed by a syndicate of international and regional banks, PSUAD new campus features approximately 93,000m2 of newly built, state-of-the-art teaching and recreational facilities, including accommodation for students, a library that accommodates 200,000 books, a 700-seated guest- auditorium, etc.

It is worth mentioning that the DH 1.6bn campus comes to translate the shared vision of General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the government of France. In that regard, a special ground breaking ceremony was held on January 15th, 2008 at Al Reem Island, joined by Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France.

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi symbolizes a commitment to education between France and the UAE.

For more information, please visit: www.sorbonne.ae
__ __ __

(1) Al Reem Island is a residential, commercial and business project on Al Reem Isle, a natural island 600 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi island.



It is currently being developed by developers who quote the overall dimensions of the project as 6.5 million square meters and investment costs as exceeding $30 billion.



The project has gained international interest as one of the first free zones in Abu Dhabi, where foreign nationalities can buy property as leasehold. In total, at least 22,000 residential units are planned (figures do vary significantly between different sources) with the first buildings that were completed in 2009, in Marina Square.

(2) Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) is a catalyst for the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi. Established and owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, Mubadala’s strategy is built on the management of long-term, capital-intensive investments that deliver strong financial returns and tangible social benefits for the Emirate.



Mubadala brings together and manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of local, regional, and international investments. It partners with leading global organizations to operate businesses across a wide range of industry sectors including aerospace, energy and industry, healthcare, information communications and technology, infrastructure and real estate. By doing so, Mubadala accomplishes its mission to expand the economic base of the Emirate and contribute to the growth and diversification of its economy.

For more information, please visit: www.mubadala.ae

Weddings in the UAE

Hello everybody,

I have published a post recently about a multi cultural wedding that I've attended with my family in Dubai. So, I thought of giving you an idea about weddings in the UAE.




Facts:

• Arranged marriages have been slowly declining in the UAE. Individuals now have a greater chance to choose whom they want to marry.
• An Emirati man receives $ 19.000 from the MARRIAGE FUND if he marries a national.
• Many Emiratis are trending towards single family homes instead of with an extended family, which is still encouraged by many traditional families. But, when a young man gets married, he usually spends the first years of his marriage life at his parent’s house.


Marriage Fund:

In 1992, under the directives of Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a Marriage Fund has been set up in order to limit over-spending on weddings and celebrations.

The fund aims to encourage UAE men to marry UAE women, assisting in covering the expenses of both the wedding and the setting-up of a family, increasing the birth rate, and discouraging men from marrying foreigners.

The Fund provides around Dhs 70,000 (around $ 19,000 or 14,000 EUR) depending on certain criteria to young UAE nationals. In tandem with this, the government has launched a campaign aimed at persuading UAE fathers to accept lower dowries (the money paid by a groom to his bride). It has also built special wedding halls where receptions can take place without incurring the expenses associated with expensive hotel receptions.

In order to curb soaring wedding expenses which burden the youth, the UAE’s Cabinet, on the 29th of September, 1997 approved a letter from the Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister outlining a draft law defining dowries, under Islamic Law, at Dhs 20,000 (around $ 5000 or EUR 4000) and divorce compensation at Dhs 30,000 (around $ 8000 or EUR 6000) and wedding parties should not exceed one day.

As a tradition in the UAE, the setting of the wedding date marks the beginning of the bride’s preparation for her wedding.

Although the groom is also put through a series of preparations, the bride’s preparations are naturally more elaborate and time consuming.

Before the Wedding:

In preparation for her wedding, the bride is anointed with all sorts of traditional oils and perfumes from head to toe. Her body is rubbed with cleansing and conditioning oils and creams, the hands and feet are decorated with henna and the hair is washed with extracts of amber and jasmine. Of course nowadays saloons do everything for women to be so beautiful and glamorous.

Traditionally, the bride is not seen for forty days except for family members as she rests at home in preparation for her wedding day.

Fine pieces of jewelry, perfumes, silk materials, and other necessary items are presented to her by the groom and his family, from which she creates her elaborate trousseau called “Zehba”.



Wedding Festivities:


The festivities usually take about one week or at least three days before the wedding night.

During that week, traditional music, continuous singing, and dancing take place reflecting the joy shared by families of both bride and groom.

Henna night:



A few days before the wedding night is the henna night. On this night, the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with henna, which is a dark brown paste made from the henna plant. When left on the skin for some time, the henna leaves a dark red stain.



The henna night is a time for all the bride’s sisters, female family members, and girlfriends to get together, sing and dance. All female family members and guests also decorate their hands with henna. The henna is not used for decorative purposes only but it serves also as a hair and skin conditioner as well as a medicament for some wounds, when mixed with special ingredients.

The back-to-back feasts and celebrations involve both men and women who usually celebrate separately.

Despite of differences in the living standards with progress of time, the social culture is preserved and treated as a heritage that should not be ignored.


Wedding night:

This is the night when the bride and the groom are OFFICIALY announced husband and wife and they go back home together after the party is over. The girl must preserve her virginity until this night or else she will dishonor her family and might even get divorced.


After the Wedding:

The next morning, family of the bride visit her (Usually the mother and the aunts). Later, the newly wed couple spend their honeymoon together in a place that they choose together.



Honeymoons can be spent inside the country or anywhere across the big world.



** A Bride from the past ** :



** A Bride Nowadays ** :






** The Groom ** :