By Imane Fawzy Nofal

Photo by DMahendra

I have made it a point to not write about topics that I have no profound knowledge of, especially when it comes to religion and politics. It is for this same reason that I have not written about religion yet, and what I have written on politics solely illustrates my very personal perspectives. However, how would you really feel when you encounter such a comment as was left on a Huffington Post article entitled : ‘All-American Muslim’ is as American as Apple Dessert?

I cannot find religion a good thing, no matter how much I try. I think that it is divisive, it discourage­s independen­t thinking, and in the cases of Christiani­ty, Judaism, and Islam, it makes you hate your body and your natural instincts. People deprive themselves of sex, food, drinks, and all sorts of small pleasures because they are afraid of an imaginary dictator that they cannot see.

Well, as a matter of fact, choosing to or not to believe in God is a freedom we all have. You are free to call Him Allah, God or Elohim as in Islam, Christianity and Hebrew respectively. Or even, you’re free to not call Him at all. But what actually makes us … or me in particular believe that He exists?

I take it so simply just by answering the questions: “Who created this?” Inevitably, at some point, you will reach the conclusion that there is a Being that has created and was not created Himself.

And, before you even mention Darwin’s theory of evolution, I would just answer back that “I don’t like to think that I have once had an ape ancestor!” It is not a matter of despising apes, an apology to them is very much in line if they get this impression, because that line of thought is not different from following Hitler’s Nazis footsteps in believing that the Human race is the most honored, respected and dignified species on Earth.

So, what is the story of that Allah I believe in?

I was born a Muslim; I inherited the title before I could even understand the teachings of Islam. I have to admit that I barely do my five prayers a day and I find fasting such a difficult mission to accomplish. Yet, I DO believe in Allah. Why? It is somehow reassuring to behold a far-to-be justice and an after-death beauty. The world isn’t too perfect to believe that in its train we have our start as well as end stations. There should be somewhere else where Plato’s Utopia comes true and where every tyrant gets his due punishment. And for more assurance, there is a place where the good guys can have their ultimate rewards.

While I take my religion seriously, I sometimes contemplate the reasons behind worshiping Allah. Well, I am sorry, but isn’t it enough just to believe in His existence and be guided by Him? Why should I perform rituals? Why the ‘halal’ (Dos) and ‘haram’ (Don’ts)?

Unpleasant as it might seem, the answer is to be forever submissive and humble. I am not one of those who believe in the innate goodness of man, on the contrary, I strongly believe in the innate evil nature of man. Worshiping Allah makes us fear the punishment which though unseen, unknown and not experienced, remains great and forbidding. We worship Allah not for the sake of Allah. He doesn’t need our prayers! Worshiping is the first step towards coexistence. Otherwise, we would live in a jungle governed by all kinds of instincts and pride. Then, it’ll be all about survival for the fittest. This is not what God has meant for earth. He has created us and He is beholding and waiting to see which of us would deserve a place in His paradise and who would languish in His hell.

Well, I am certain of this seemingly blah blah blah for the fact that it gives me peace of mind and assurance of heart. To further clarify, I live on the probability that Allah exists. If He does exist, I will win the prize that those who brush Him off shall lose in the end. Think of it as when Carrefour offers lottery prizes for those who purchase a number of goodies. Those who enter the lottery have a probability of winning. Although I have never won anything, I didn’t like to miss the chance of being awarded the prize. Going into the lottery of worshiping Allah is a forever winning game after all; because I will miss nothing if Allah didn’t exist, yet my loss would be tremendous if He does.

Imane blogs at Express It 2 Live It

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By Imane Fawzy Nofal

‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …’ that was me counting light poles or trees along the street as I rode in the car with my dad while I was young. Actually, it was fun for that little girl trying to figure out how far the numbering would go and to which digit the whole thing would reach.

With less amusement these days, ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …’ that’s me counting the floors in the building across the street while waiting for a meeting; I am feeling bored and trying to occupy my mind, this is not so enjoyable for the 25 year old I am.

Feeling silly and upset ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …’ that’s me trying to calm myself down using this familiar tranquilizing technique. However, it doesn’t seem to be working because I am more pissed off and even more ready to start a fight with whomever is the subject of my frustration.

‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …’ is representative of numbers that are unchangeable and can’t be manipulated. For example, a ‘1 + 1 = 2’ equation can never turn into ‘1 + 1 = 3’. This tells me that facts are facts and however we try as human being to change them, we simply can’t.

But here we are trying to turn this authentic equation into ‘1 + 1 = ∞’; simply by shrugging off Alia Al Mahdy’s nude pictures as normal. If you recall, she is a young 20 year old Egyptian blogger who last week posted nude photos of herself on her blog to speak up against the suppression of Muslim women, an act which sparked outrage in Egypt and not so much in other places.

For & Against

Renowned public speaker and columnist Mona Al Tahawy (whose thoughts and writings meet much of my likeness) recently wrote, “When a woman is the sum total of her headscarf and hymen – that is, what’s on her head and what is between her legs – then nakedness and sex become weapons of political resistance. You can witness how nudity sears through layers of hypocrisy and repression by following Aliaa Mahdy, a 20-year-old Egyptian who lit the fuse of that double-H bomb when she posted a nude photograph of herself on her blog last week.”

As I write this article, it is my intention to be objective and to refrain from expressing my personal perspective based on my religious beliefs; for I am a strong believer in the importance of prudence in maintaining a well-balanced ethical society. However, I know quite well that this discourse will not be the favorite for liberals and supposedly free thinkers. However, I will speak of ambivalence and inconsistency with the self and provide both sides.

I am also in no position to issue judgment on any person in this world. It just drives me crazy when the very people who claim to be for liberty and freedom of thought justify certain acts and condemn others based on their own very personal thoughts.

Mona Al Tahawy stood up for France’s ban on niqab (the Muslim full cover) and she argued that niqab should be banned everywhere in the world. She holds a strong belief that niqab degrades women and robs them of their freedom. Is she forgetting that most, if not all who don the niqab do so by choice? It is worth noting that Mona Al Tahawy is also known to have described the cartoons of prophet Muhammed (PBUH) as “the right to offend”!

Alya Al Mahdy’s blog adds another voice to the calls against niqab mainly because of the fact that crimes have allegedly been committed by some who hid behind it; and interestingly, both ladies cheered for Alya’s nude pictures. Alya described them as her “form of free expression” and Al Tahawy summarizes it as a bomb aimed at the patriarchs in our minds!

Sorry ladies, I beg to differ! For me, if you really care as liberals to hear my voice, undressing is a form of rudeness. To coexist today, we should be able to hear each other’s voice and respect others’ beliefs. I have no right to offend you and you have no right to offend me. Simply put, your freedom stops where others’ freedom starts.

1+1=2. Wrong cannot be right!

As a ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …’ rule of thumb to all liberals and activists, if your mission is to ban niqab, why not focus on just that and stop cheering for shameful acts and giving the cause fake symbols?

In fact, so many points are entangled in the issue. Since most of the cheerers do not share the Egyptian code of ethics that form our society and mentality, and also for the most part do not understand the nature of Islam, pro Alyaa advocates have said that she is very brave to have exposed her naked body to the world and claim that those who now call her a ‘whore’ are only retarded Muslims who advocate women’s suppression.

As an Egyptian lady, I want to make it clear that most of the Egyptian society, Christian or Muslim, is a conservative society that looks at the human body, male or female, as private. By private, I mean that women’s breasts and men’s penises are not for public display!

Outside of Egypt’s borders, it’s however an undeniable worldwide fact that stripping off your clothes and trading your body are the doings of whores and prostitutes, and there is a general worldwide disdain for ‘prostitutes’ as far as I know. Why did Alyaa chose the red colored high heels with snap clips that match the worldwide colors of seduction? Was she really aiming at free expression to get society to throw out restrictions on women as she claims?! If you are a liberal and free thinker, you would be actually contradicting yourself for defending Alyaa for not being a ‘whore’, because you ought to find nothing for the word ‘whore’. Or hey, do you despise it too? To be honest, I am not calling her a ‘whore’, but I am just saying that what she did is in line with that category of people; for I don’t believe respectable revolutionists would follow in such paths.

As a Muslim, I find it outrageous that people still so blatantly misunderstand and misinterpret Islam. Just to be clear, Islam does not differentiate in penalties between people based on gender; both male and female would receive the same punishment for sins committed. Why are some then claiming that Muslims don’t approve of the nude pictures because she is a female?! This is not true and does not form the nature of Islam. Alyaa has committed a sin in terms of violating the sacredness of the human body. We are covered in our mothers’ wombs until born to find clothes that cover and warm us.

I know that this article might add nothing to pro-nudity activists, so why don’t I conclude by making a universal call through it. If you believe Alyaa is such a heroine and that there is nothing wrong with nudity, I am calling for a nudity day at ∞/∞/∞. Let’s all get nude!

Imane blogs at Express It 2 Live It

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By Imane Fawzy Nofal

By the end of this year, Ahlia University will be on the threshold of celebrating its first decade of existence (since March 2001). The importance of a first decade in life lies in the achievement of successful milestones. In fact, ‘Ahlia University has set for itself a growth trajectory which is well underway’.

Having read this first paragraph, you might think I am one of those ‘brand ambassadors’ who is trying to propagate a product; well in this case, it is not a nutrient or cosmetic product but rather an educational institute. And hey, so far, I have only mentioned facts and facts only. Although I am no fan of Charles Dickens, I can recollect strongly his opening words in Hard Times: “NOW, what I want is, Facts …  Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else … nothing else will ever be of any service …”

The truth is that for three days I have been going through reports on the HERU (High Education Review Unit) evaluation of Ahlia University; and I found interesting facts I would like to share with you.

In its evaluation, HERU looked at the University from 3 angles: the general base of the institution, the Bachelor of Marketing and Management and the Master of Information Technology and Computer Science.

High standards

As a start, it is worth mentioning that the panel noted that Ahlia University has an understanding of the meaning of ‘quality’. Therefore, “HERU commends Ahlia University for its demonstrated commitment towards quality assurance and for its efforts to engage all its internal stakeholders in creating a culture of quality among all its staff members.”

To speak of the ‘quality’ commendation at the very beginning is to set the base that when an institution stresses so much on quality, efficiency and professionalism work as key elements in its performance.

Ahlia University consists of five Colleges, namely, the College of Arts, Science & Education, the College of Business and Finance, the College of Engineering, the College of Information Technology and the College of Medical and Health Sciences. The University currently offers 18 graduate and undergraduate programs, including a PhD program in conjunction with Brunel University.

In line with being international, Ahlia University has formed agreements with Brunel and Epitech. The panel therefore commends Ahlia University for the well-constructed and managed relationship it has developed with Brunel University through its PhD Without Residence Program and EPITECH through the student exchange arrangements.

The Staff

A university is not only about colleges, programs and international agreements; it is also about an integrated body – in form and application. Within its comprehensive and well documented Strategic Plan – as per the description of the panel – Ahlia has employed a staff that can work for its optimization. Of course, the panel did not fail to look into the professionalism of that staff. In meetings with faculty members, the Panel was pleased to note faculty members’ commitment to teaching and research. Moreover, during interviews with students, the Panel heard that faculty members are approachable and helpful. The commitment of the teaching staff and fact that students readily have access to teaching staff members and senior management was very positive for the panel. The Panel further toured the facilities in the current campus of the university. It found, through interviews, that most of the students and the staff members are satisfied with AU’s campus due to the proximity of facilities to downtown and the friendly atmosphere.

The panel also noted that Ahlia University very much focuses on the physical and emotional well-being of the students. Satisfaction surveys which are therefore being conducted to date reveal a high level of satisfaction with the institution and in particular the standard of teaching.

Confidence

As far as the reviews of the Bachelor of Marketing and Management, and the Master of Information Technology and Computer Science were conducted, the panel found out that “there is confidence in the Bachelor of Marketing and Management programme offered by Ahlia University” and that “there is confidence in the MITCS Programme offered by Ahlia University.”

Both programs were inspected in terms of curriculum, efficiency of program, academic standards of the graduated and effectiveness of quality management and assurance. The panel was delighted to find that the programs satisfy each detail of the above mentioned elements. Of course, there were points that the panel saw in need for elaboration and more attention. These were minor notes though.

In its conclusion HERU found that Ahlia has a clear compass to achieve its strategic goals as outlined in its Strategic Plan; the realization of which will make a positive contribution to the social and economic development of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

After digesting these facts, I can now act as a ‘brand ambassador’ and invite you to join Ahlia University as a professional place for international education and be part of Ahlia family on Facebook which surrounds you with a warm atmosphere.

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by Imane Fawzy Nofal

Photo by rahego

The codes we use in life have no age and no specific criteria. I remember how fond of eating ‘kallamana’ behind my mother’s back I was around age 10. My mom used to prepare it by boiling sugar in water and adding two drops of lemon; she used it for hair removal and would hide it in the fridge. And when I asked what it was, she’d say “it’s kallamana”. Actually there is no meaning for ‘kallamana’ in Arabic, so no one would understand what I was talking about if I had mentioned it. Anyways, I loved ‘kallamana’.

Like mother like daughter. I now use codes myself. My husband and I have agreed on ‘opium’ as a codename for biscuits … so that our twin boys do not insist on having biscuits whenever we mention it. He would ask “Imane, where is the opium?” Thankfully, we are spared the screams of “koty, mama, koty! Mama, kooootttyyyyyy!!!”

Motherhood is a more challenging code than kallamana and opium though.

Hmmm, isn’t this a massive digression from my opening paragraphs? Well, allow me to quote Charlie Brooker’s: “let’s pretend it didn’t happen and start again, after I click my fingers. Since you won’t be able to hear me click my fingers, I’ll substitute a pound sign for the noise itself. Ready? 3 … 2 … 1 … £!”

Codes in life have no age and no special criteria. To governments, companies, individuals, they are used to cover-up truths. Trying to decode them however stimulates our minds and urges our thinking. I am a person who has faced so many codes from an early age. My mother used codes with me and I, in turn, use codes with my kids. But the most compelling code to me thus far is the code of motherhood.

One week ago, I was reading Notes From a Dragon Mom. She is a mother whose newborn baby was diagnosed with an incurable disease; she is a short term mom who has nothing to give her son but lots of love and the least of pain. Personally, I liked the part where she says, “He can watch television if he wants to; he can have pudding and cheesecake for every meal.” I do love cheesecake, but that isn’t my point. What I appreciated is that she does not put many restrictions on her son like other normal mothers do. She wants him to live in a maximum state of happiness.

Do you love your child/ren? Well, I think your only answer would be “how silly! Of course, I do.” For most moms, losing a baby is like losing life. The mere thought of it is heartbreaking! I know Egyptian girls who long for marriage just to have kids. Children have magic in them. It is not uncommon for people to stay in bad marriages just for their kids.

This is nonsense! Yes, I believe this is nonsense. Maybe I am different. In general, I am not that much of a kids’ person. It was never in my plans to become pregnant right after getting married. God’s test for me was so hard though. Or, it wasn’t God’s test after all – it is the normal result of sex with no contraception! I got pregnant only two months after my marriage. And, for more of the challenge, I received the news that we were having twins!

I won’t go much into the details. The bottom line is that I was never happy about my pregnancy and didn’t enjoy the experience. I never loved that plumb belly I had as if I was acting the part of some comic silly character! I never even answered the congratulatory notes I received from friends — what were they congratulating me for anyway!

I was up to my responsibilities though. I figured out how to breastfeed them both, to lull them to sleep at the same time when they refused to let anyone else hold them. I was so disciplined — even in how I treated them; for example whenever I kissed the right cheek of one, I would do the same for the other.

It gets overwhelming sometimes, I must admit. Don’t you feel furious when you find them dropping their toys all over the floor after you’ve been collecting and tidying up for hours? Aren’t you pissed off when they sneak after you into the kitchen to scratch your tefal pans with metal spoons? Don’t you get mad when you’re doing work on your laptop and find all your work gone because they pressed a wrong button? I am being realistic, buddies.

I am honest with myself. I wasn’t born with all the answers of motherhood (and I guess no one is). Have you ever wondered why children don’t say “mom” or “mama” until after their first year of life? I believe that unlike most neurological and other developmental milestones, God delays this phase until moms are ready to receive it; until they are passionate and connected enough with their kids to be deserving. If my twins had said “mom” right from the beginning, it would never have meant much because I hadn’t really learnt to be a mother. These days, even if they say it a thousand times, I am never bored. On the contrary, I am so passionate about it! Is it weird that it is me saying so? Nope, it is just that I have had time to reach these motherhood milestones. And, I know that love for children is a fact of life. It is just a fact that needs years of education until you get your bachelors.

Imane blogs at Express It 2 Live It

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