Yemeni Proverb (2)

إذا صلحت النية صلح العمل

When the intention is good, the work will be good

Yemeni Proverb

إذا زادت الشدة قرب الفراج

When the crisis increases, the solution is near

Eid Mubarak

Eid again - this time really for the Muslims who went on hajj. Nevertheless, the other people celebrate, too: sheep are slaughtered, new clothes are worn, and people get together. Let's not forget that Eid is not just having a few days off, but it's all about the remembrance of Allah as well: It was narrated that the Prophet, , said: "The Day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Nahr and the Days of Mina (i.e. the Days of Tashreeq) are days of festivity for us, Muslims. They are days for eating, drinking and remembering Allaah." [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah] [At-Tirmithi: Saheeh]
  
Repeating Takbeer starts from the night of ‘Eed, and lasts throughout the Days of Tahsreeq and ends with the sunset of the 14^th of Thul-Hijjah.

The manner of Takbeer is to say: Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is The Greatest), Allaahu Akbar,  La ilaaha illallaah (None is worthy of worship except Allaah), wa Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, wa Lillaahil-Hamd (Praise is due to Allaah).

 

Power Cuts?

We have no power cuts these days but rather non-power cuts. The electricity may come for ten minutes or so every now and then but that's about it. I admit, we've gotten used to it, so it doesn't bother me too much. It may bother shopkeeprs that all frozen foods have gone off and Internet cafe owners that they have to run the generator all the time, but having no electricity can have some advantages, too. People get to do other things than watch TV all day, for example. Indeed, we should always look at things from the positive side :)

Early Marriage

Whoever follows news on Yemen will regularly come past an article about early marriage. Some call it child marriage. According to Human Rights Watch, some 14% of Yemeni girls marries before the age of 15, and about half before the age of 18. Activists now want a law that sets the minimum age for marriage at 18.

However, this may not be right for everyone in this country. True, to marry off a girl that is herself still a child is, at least, questionable. But why not set the minimum age at 15 or 16? Think about the countryside, where more than 70% of the Yemenis live. People there tend sheep, plant grains, coffee, or qat, gather fire-wood, milk their cows, etc. etc. Activists say that girls who marry early are deprived of education. But do farmers really need a secondary school education? Or is basic education sufficient for their lives? And anyway, most village children don't even have access to a secondary school. So, if a girl of 15 or 16 is mature enough to help run a household, why wouldn't she get married?

Things may be different in the city, but we should still keep in mind that people should have freedom in their personal lives. Moreover, if the minimum age were set at 15 or 16, this doesn't mean that the girl cannot marry at age 18 or older! The law should only aim at avoiding harm, and leave the rest up to the people themselves.

-----

... and what is a child anyway? When I was 15, I worked as a cashier in a supermarket on weekends. And in those days, that was an accurate job since bar codes were not yet used. I was not the only young cashier - there were about eight of us. The bread and meat sections were also staffed by high school students. In fact, the whole supermarket was runned by 15 - 17 year-olds on weekends. Would they have agreed on this had we been 'children' in the true sense of the word? Of course not! It shows that a 15 - 17 year-old can take on responsibilities. 

I am obviously not trying to say that all girls should marry before they are 18. Some may not be ready for it. But some others might be - and that's a personal choice.

Recipe (Shafoot)

Most families here eat shafoot during Ramadhan because of its refreshing taste, but it can also be served during the rest of the year. It consists of lehoh (a sort of pancake), yoghurt, and zahaweq.

How to prepare:
1. Elsewhere on this blog you can find the recipe for zahaweq. Mix this with yoghurt and a little water so that it is not too thick. A small dish of shafoot requires approx. 200 ml. yoghurt. Keep the mixture refrigerated until no. 4 below.
for the lehoh:
2.  Mix two parts of white flour and one part of millet ('dukhn' in Arabic). Add a pinch of salt and  a little yeast. Knead a dough with lukewarm water and then add more water to make it really liquid. Cover for a couple of hours. When it is rather 'bubbly' it is ready to use.
3. In a non-stick (TEFAL) frying pan, pour some of the watery dough. Don't add any oil. If you can cover the frying pan well, you don't have to turn the lehoh over. If not, you should. Repeat until you've used all the dough.
4. Put a piece of lehoh on a plate. Pour half the yoghurt/zahaweq mixture over it. Then put another piece of lehoh on top and pour over the rest of the mixture (if the plate is very small, you can use three pieces of lehoh instead of two). Decorate with a little salad in the middle.

Notes:
- You should prepare the last step (no. 4) right before serving. If you do this too early, it becomes soggy.
- If you can't find millet, you can use wholemeal flour instead. Your lehoh will miss the typical taste the 'dukhn' gives it, though.
- Lehoh is best eaten the day it's made.

Eid Mubarak!

The whole country will have at least a week's holiday. Everything (except some shops) will be closed, many people travel to their villages, and others to the coast. So whoever stays behind can enjoy an empty and quiet city for some days, inshallah!

Ramadhan (Laylat-ul-Qadr)

An Islamic day ends at the time of maghrib (sunset), so a new day then starts. That means that after maghrib on a Thursday, it is the 'night of Friday'. Why I am writing this? Because I was myself unaware of this for a long time, while it is very important in case of Laylat-ul-Qadr ('Night of Decree') - the most important night of Ramadhan.

"Seek out Laylat-ul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan," the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said. In order to do so, one must know that after having fasted the 24th day of Ramadhan, for example, the night of the 25th has started, so that is one of the times you may seek out Laylat-ul-Qadr.

Laylat-ul-Qadr is better than a thousand months (Quran, surat ul-Qadr), and it is recommended that the Muslim stand in prayer during this night out of faith and hoping for a great reward. If he does this, Allah may forgive his previous sins. It is also recommended to supplicate a great deal in it. It is reported from Aishah (the wife of the Prophet (PBUH) that she said: "O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Laylat-ul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?" He said, "Say: O Allah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me".

Ramadhan (Changing Schedules)

It's amazing how the Yemenis completely change their daily schedules during Ramadhan, and from the very first day! As soon as the beginning of the month is announced, they prepare themselves to stay up all night so that they can sleep the whole morning next day - or longer. A few active employees may go to work somewhere towards the end of the morning, but 99% of the shops and workplaces remain closed until after the noon prayer - at least. Consequently, mornings are beautifully quiet during this month, and it's certainly worth getting up early to experience the city being almost totally empty!

Ramadhan (another hadith)

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "There are two pleasures for the person observing fast: one at the time of iftar (breaking his fast), and the other at the time when he meets his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting." (Bukhari)

Ramadhan (hadith)

Allah's Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "He who fasts but does not shun away from evil or falsified statements and bad acting, Allah, the Almighty is in no need for such a person to quit his food and drink."  (Bukhari)

Ramadhan Kareem

Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven" (Bukhari)

Recipe (Sweet Vermicelli)

This very easy to make vermicelli is accompanied by rice to give it a special taste.
1. Put the vermicelli in a cooking pot without oil or anything. Heat it up over a low heat, stirring almost constantly, until it has become brown.
2. Then add enough water to cover the vermicelli. Add some spoonfuls of sugar (the cooking water should taste pretty sweet).
3. Let simmer until cooked. Drain. Serve the rice with the sweet vermicelli on top.

Ramadhan (kids 2)

Ramadhan is coming again; another two-and-a-half weeks or so and we'll be fasting, inshallah! I've looked on the Internet a bit and found this 'ibadah tracker' where kids can check the things they did each day (fasting, praying, memorizing Quran, etc.). I thought it looked nice:

http://islamicbulletinboards.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/ramdan-ibadah-tracker-olders.pdf

The Yemeni 'Azmeh'

More than a year after Abdu-Rabo Mansour Hadi became the new president of the country, you would think that the 'azmeh' (the unpleasant side-effects of the uprising, to formulate it simply) had finished. Unfortunately, this is not completely the case. Yes, petrol and diesel are available again, but the prices are extraordinarily high. In fact, all prices are still very high - although foreign currencies have dropped again. We also still experience major power cuts pretty regularly - in which we are without electricity for most of the day. And the number of roadblocks where soldiers search cars for weapons seems to be increasing instead of decreasing, giving citizens the feeling that safety has not yet been restored. Whatever the case, life goes on. It needs time for things to get back to normal.

Cows

The way of life in the Yemeni countryside still involves a lot of old, practical customs. Since many people live far from markets or shops, many villagers own at least one cow so that they are always assured of fresh milk and ghee. The women make ghee by pushing back and forth a special jar for this purpose that hangs from the ceiling and contains the cow's milk. In less than half an hour they have the milk changed into 'baladi' ghee which gives food in the countryside its special taste. Even the cow's dung is not wasted but put in the sun to dry (see picture), to use it in the wood-ovens. No wonder that a cow is a precious possession for any villager!

Picture (Truck 4)

A Hadith (6)

Materialism is coming up everywhere in the world, and Yemen is, unfortunately, no exception. I recently came across a beautiful hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) that has a link with this, in which he (PBUH) said: "... this wealth is like a sweet fresh fruit; whoever takes it without greediness, he is blessed in it, and whoever takes it with greediness, he is not blessed in it, and he is like a person who eats but is never satisfied..."

The National Dialogue... Park?!

One of the newest small parks in Sana'a, which will contain a couple of dozen or so swings and slides and some benches, is being built in between two graveyards and next to a wide road where traffic rushes past. It doesn't (so far) have any trees to sit in the shade. Doesn't sound great for a city park? Then notice the name: 'The National Dialogue Park'. Is there any relation, you wonder, between a park that is unlikely to attract many visitors and the national dialogue? Ah, and the the First Armored Division's base in Sana'a, the base of Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar who joined the opposition during the uprising and has now been ordered to leave his post and instead serve as a presidential adviser, will be turned into a national park, according to President Abdu-Rabbo Mansour Hadi's decree. This will give us the 'March 21 Park'.

More Rain!

For some unknown reason, rain water finds no way to flow away quickly from the streets. So when it rains heavily (which it does every now and then), streets immediately change into rivers, with all the fun that involves!

Rain

Alhamdulillah, we have some rain these days (in/around Sana'a, at least - I don't know about the rest of the country. That's an interesting thing here anyway - rain can be extremely local: often there may be rain in one part of the city but nothing in another). It usually doesn't last for more than an hour or so, but that's enough to make the air smell fresh (especially since Sana'a has quite dusty air). These days, some water comes down nearly every day. The last good rain we had was during the last month of Ramadhan, I believe, so that's quite a while ago. And when rain is a rare occurance, it becomes much more beloved to the people. "Beautiful weather, isn't it?" one might say when it rains. I think that readers in rainy countries (such as Britain or Holland) can smile about that!

A Hadith (5)

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said: "It is charity to utter a good word." (Bukhari and Muslim)

This is something we should not forget in our daily lives...

The National Dialogue

People are speculating whether or not the National Dialogue is going to work out. There are supposed to be representatives from all different groups and parties, but the truth is that not all of them participate - for different reasons. And so the question is if problems and differences of opinion can be solved if the people involved are not present. Whatever the case, the 'average citizen' doesn't notice much of the talks except an increase in roadblocks where soldiers search cars for weapons.

Picture (Cats)

Cats in this country have nothing to complain about..!

Picture (Truck 3)

Looks nice, this truck, doesn't it?

A Hadith (4)

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Do you know what bankrupt means?" They said: "Among us, the one who has no dirham nor goods is the one who is bankrupt." He (PBUH) said: "The one who is bankrupt among my ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer (salat), fasting (saum) and charity (zakat), but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one, shed the blood of that one and beaten this one. They will each be given from his good deeds, and if his good deeds run out before the scores have been settled, some of their bad deeds will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be thrown into the Fire."

Airplane crash

Imagine, it is a normal weekday, nearly time for the kids to come home from school and have lunch. Suddenly, a military airplane crashes into the wall of your house and leaves you dead or injured. How life can suddenly take a turn you could never have imagined! I came past the place where the military plane crashed yesterday after it had already been taken away. Here are a couple of impressions.

Approximately 12 people died in the accident.

A Hadith (3)

It was narrated from Jabir that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever is deprived of gentleness, he is deprived of goodness."

Picture (Street Vendor)

This man is selling raisins on the street. Two piles: big black ones and smaller brown ones.

Funny English

I was looking for a certain employee somewhere. Another employee showed me his office, which was locked, meanwhile trying out his English language skills. "Well, this is his office," he said. "He doesn't exist in another place." I smiled. According to this man the employee was, at least for now, non-existent. I did find him later, though, in the cafetaria, where he was 'feeding himself' according to the same English-speaking man.

TV

A habit I don't like here is that the TV is on in eevery single home from the time the people get up until they go to sleep. The only breaks are the power-cuts. People eat in front of the TV, chew qat in front of the TV, and receive guests in front of the TV. Why is it that people don't seem to be able to entertain themselves these days? It may be the same in other parts of the world, but I wasn't brought up this way. When I was a kid, the TV didn't even broadcast in the morning. During meal times, the TV - and radio - were turned off because these were times to get together with the family. We had toys to play with and books to read, and, honestly, I think that was better.

I read the following in the book The End of the World by Dr. Mohammad al-'Areefi (Darrussalam), and thought it was quite interesting: Ibn Abi Shaybah is recorded in Al-Musannaf with a saheeh isnad that Hudayfah ibn al-Yamaan said, "Soon evil will pour down on you from the sky until it reaches al-fayaafi." It was said, "What is al-fayaafi, oh Abu Abd-Allah?" He said, "the wilderness".
TV sets nowadays can receive what is rained down by satellites of fitnah... even in the wilderness.

Recept (Khubz Tawa) (in het NLs)

Brood in de koekepan - ideaal als je geen broodoven hebt. Of geen beleg, want je kunt dit brood lekker warm met een glaasje thee eten als ontbijt.

Het deeg: 1 deel wit meel, 2 delen volkoren meel, beetje zout, en lauw water. Je kunt een beetje gist erdoorheen doen (in dat geval afgedekt uurtje laten rijzen) maar het kan ook zonder. Kneed een soepel deeg - niet te stug en niet te waterig.

Maak balletjes van het deeg. Met de hand en/of een deegroller maak je ene plat rondje van een balletje deeg. Bestrijk dit rijkelijk met vloeibare 'samn' (even opwarmen, dus). (In het engels heet 'samn' 'ghee' en ik denk dat het vertaald kan worden met 'botervet' ofzoiets, maar dat weet ik niet zeker.) Als je geen 'samn' hebt, kun je ook olie gebruiken. Vouw het deeg aan vier kanten naar binnen zodat de 'samn' of olie bedekt is en rol het deeg vervolgens nog eens uit met de deegroller tot het dun is.

Gebruik een anti-aanbak (Tefal) koekepan. Leg het deeg erin, en draai het om zodra het bruin is aan de onderkant. Je kunt nog wat extra 'samn' eroverheen druppelen. Dat is alles!

A Hadith (2)

to contemplate...

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: 'Richness is not abundance of (wordly) goods, rather richness is richness of the heart.'" (Muslim)

Stroopwafel (in het NLs)

Heel soms kom je Nederlandse producten tegen hier. Zo heb je bijvoorbeeld Philips lampen. Enige jaren geleden vonden we soms speculaasjes en Goudse kaas in een supermarkt, maar al een lange tijd heb ik die niet meer gezien. Wel kwam ik onlangs een heuse Hollandse stroopwafel tegen! Grappig.

The Freedom to Chew Qat

Yemeni government starts campaign to eradicate qat trees, I read on 'al-Arabiya news'. And this makes me frustrated. No, I am not a chewer at all, but something is wrong here. The people who want 'change' in Yemen talk about 'freedom'. However, they are now trying to take away the freedom that Yemenis used to have. Why would people not be allowed to choose themselves how to spend their free time? If they want to chew qat, let them chew! Whoever doesn't like it doesn't have to join them. 

Some people spend too much money on qat, they say. Well, there are people who spend too much money on other things, too. This is a personal choice which people can make. Just like you may choose to smoke or not to smoke, to eat meat or vegetables, or to buy cheap or expensive clothes.

'Freedom' doesn't mean making more laws to restrict people. 'Freedom' means that people can do the things they want within the framework of the law. So a Yemeni can be forbidden to chew qat in the office during working hours, for example. But this law should not interfere with the people's personal life.  

We all got an SMS on our cell phones that January 12th was the 'Day of a Homeland Without Qat'. Maybe we will soon have a 'Day of Qat Without a Homeland'...

Caugh Medicine

It has finally become a bit cold at night, and many people have caught a cold. What to do about caughing? The syrups you can buy at the pharmacy are often not very useful. Making tea of thyme with a bit of natural honey dissolved in it works much better, mashallah. The thyme should not be crushed before cooking it in the water. And the honey should indeed be natural - not the sugary stuff from the supermarket!