The Triumphant II

Photos of Al-Mu'izz Street by night during Ramadan (August 29, 2010).

The Triumphant I

Photos of Al-Mu'izz Street around sunset (August 26th, 2010).

Musings of the Mind in Cairo

I don't have a specific topic in mind this time around, but my fingers have been craving to spill some words on this blog.

Every since I've returned to Cairo, its all seemed like one long hazy dream. The majestic Athans that fill the air with their clamoring grandeur, the omnipresent solar and lunar orbs that continuously illuminate the sky, the intermittent desert breeze that caresses one's face as a relief from the intense humidity, the subdued consciousness of one's self that accompanies fasting and praying have all intensified my connection with His supreme will.

Cairo has made me forget the past and neglect the future. One can only keep track of the present. The soul of this city envelops one so tightly like the Angel Gabriel suffocated the Prophet during the Night of Al-Qadr that one loses one's sense of himself and submits to the universe surrounding him. Cairo has enchanted me with its beauty, its vibrance, and its eternity. Inside the eyes of every Egyptian, I witness the whole experience of humankind... Ever since my return, I have started to question everything I felt was so certain in life. My ambitions, my identity, my beliefs, etc... are all being scrutinized against in the context of being back in Egypt. Its kind of a surreal feeling. My days here are passing rapidly, but time seems to have frozen...

I am constantly processing and evaluating ideas about what my purpose in life is supposed to be. If there's one aspiration I have to gain from Ramadan, it is divine guidance. I am in a bind where I can't make up my mind as to how I should shape my destiny. Ultimately, I know that my mission in life is to alleviate Egypt of its plight and poverty. This is a grandiose goal, but I just pray that life will give me the opportunity to take a shot at it. I know that by continuing my studies in London, I can have a greater impact when it comes to fulfilling this mission, but I have come to question the very notion of going to London. When I witness poverty everywhere around me, I come to question what gives me the lofty opportunity of going to study in one of the world's most expensive cities. Maybe my reluctance to go ahead with the London offer is fear of failure... or may be its a genuine belief that I don't deserve such an opportunity when I see compatriots who can't make end's meet. Whatever feelings that may be stirring in my mind, I just pray the God will make clear what is the straight path for me....

Cairo Ramadan

Finally, I'm back home. After staying in a ragged apartment in Charlottesville for a year, to staying in a luxurious loft in the heart of Istanbul's poshy Etiler, finally I find myself back in my quiet and tranquil home in Katamaya. What makes my return all the more precious is that I find myself here at the beginning of Ramadan, the gracious month in which an atmosphere of spirituality envelops the Muslim World, which Cairo could be considered as one of its capitals.

Although the fast is taking its toll on me, I am ready to hit the ground running this time around in Cairo. I'm ready to experience it all. I can't wait to stroll through the old quarters of Islamic Cairo, feast in the classical cafes of El-Hussain, and pray Taraweeh in some of Islam's oldest mosques.

Yesterday, subsequent to my arrival to Cairo, I had the opportunity to taste the modern scene of Cairo's Ramadan. My father and I attended a "Kheyma" (i.e. Tent) night at Arabella, an exclusive, high-end compound in New Cairo. It was interesting seeing the contemporary face of Egypt and how modern Egyptians spend their Ramadan. I found the festivities adequate to celebrate Ramadan, but was quite disappointed with the show-offy aura in the air; for some reason, the Arabella environment wasn't reminiscent of the pious and modest atmosphere that makes Cairo's Ramadan so special.

Tonight we'll be breaking our fast in Maadi with relatives. Ramadan is a time to get together with family, socialize, meditate, etc... but I want to use it as an opportunity to really experience Egypt. I already have a list of all the historical Islamic sites I intend to visit in Old Cairo. I know my visit this time around may be short-lived, so, as much as I want to take it slow, I feel like my time here is short and I'd like to make the most of it. In any case, I'll make sure post my coverage of Cairo during Ramadan during the couple of weeks I'll be here.

Bittersweet Feelings

For some reason, whenever I depart from Istanbul, a profound feeling of melancholy overcomes me, but this time around, I feel prepared to say goodbye to this beloved city. My love for Istanbul is eternal. I consider myself blessed to have witnessed this place. I can attest that no other city gives me the same sense of serenity as Istanbul. I will miss the silhouette skyline of the city’s majestic minarets contrasting with the mellow orange aura of the setting sun. This was the last magical glimpse of Istanbul I experienced with Omar as we drove to Sultan Ahmet Mosque yesterday. Without me realizing the blessings He has bestowed me with, this summer has passed in the span of a heartbeat. I’ve deliberately, although subconsciously, kept myself busy this whole summer with graduate school applications, GMAT studying, reading, etc… to avoid facing the sadness that accompanies the thought of departing Istanbul for good…

At the same time, I find myself optimistic to be returning to Cairo. This time around, I will be a university graduate where a future of limitless possibilities awaits me. I know my time is short, but this time around I intend to get the ball rolling in terms of making sure that I set up the right conditions for my intended future. Networking is key at this phase. My absence from Egypt has almost made me a foreigner to my own motherland, but I am sure that a heavy dose of reality will wake me up. Call me an idealist, but I will not give up with my aspirations of impacting positive change in my country. I just pray that the right opportunities present themselves and I make the best use of them. Who knows what’s next. Work or study... but one thing I’m sure of is that, as a friend put it, my belief in God will make the future arrive as if it is a rosy breeze.

This may be as personal as I may get on my blog, but I guess I needed to pen my emotions of nostalgic goodbye to Istanbul and enthusiastic hello to Cairo…

The Ironies of Consumerism

I think that many people have the meaning of life reversed. To live a meaningful life, one must find out what their purpose is and strive to succeed in fulfilling it. What better means of doing so than to create? Think about it, whatever you want in life… wouldn’t it be more fruitful to envision what it is and go about fulfilling it according to your specifications. And if whatever you create happens to be a success, that what greater pleasure can you derive than that that comes from sharing it with others?

Nowadays, people live under the illusion that by consuming they are in essence producing. For instance, take the example of fashion or art. Many who believe they are “artistic” reach that conclusion on the basis of how many galleries they visit, the kind of clothes they wear, etc… All of which is aimed at constructing a self-conscious illusion that they are “artistic” to themselves and to others, but at the end of the day, what art are they producing? It is similar to those striving to accumulate status symbols in an effort to convince themselves that they are something they’re really not. At the end of the day, consumerism doesn’t lead to much other than shallowness and emptiness.

I am convinced that only through creation and production do we really fulfill our predestined purpose. Production may come from the most trivial to the most significant aspects in life. Whether it’s a photograph that you take, a poem you write, a song you sing, lecture you deliver… any such production means that you’re living out your purpose. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-capitalist or anything of the sort. I believe in the mutual exchange of ideas and goods, but at the end of the day, I believe that one shouldn’t be at a trade deficit. Of course we need to consume in order to generate new ideas, but what really defines us is our creations.

There’s a quote by Gandhi that is something along the lines of: “Only through the service of others do you truly find yourself.” I wholeheartedly believe in that and I strive to fulfill it in whatever I do, even though I may fail short of complete success. I praise the industrious and entrepreneurial spirit in every individual. I commend those who unleash it, and I aspire to emulate them.