Your Life, Your Choices

this is a series of videos produced by a saudi aqim salatak (which means "establish your prayer") team.. in october 2008 they launched a media campaign which was aimed at reminding us of the importance of prayer.. the ads were broadcasted on all MBC group channels and were introduced to the viewers in this particular order, cuz when you watch them you'll notice they are a continuous sequence

each video features a young person who all die in the same car accident, and each of them says i just died.. this was my life.. these were my choices









the people at aqim salatak believe "if we can convince people to eat and drink through advertising, then it is even more important to convince them to pray"

you can check out more of their videos at www.aqimsalatak.com

Jeddah Flood

you might've already heard of the flash floods that stroke the south of jeddah on wednesday, december 25.. on that day (which happened to be the first day of hajj) some 70 millimeters of rain fell over the city in less than two hours, which is more than two-thirds of the kingdom’s annual average rainfall.. the drainage system was unable to cope with the load of water, causing the streets to turn into rivers.. the death toll in the floods has now reached 117, with 48 people still missing



it's heart-breaking to read about people losing their loved ones in the floods and whole families being drowned.. like the family who went out for a picnic on that day and lost three of their five family members.. or the man who lost his wife, sisters and three children as they lived in a first floor apartment and the flood was so powerful it broke open their door and drowned everyone.. or the local imam who was on the way to hajj with his whole family, they were cought in the flood on the way to mekkah and all drowned



subhanAllah! indeed, as Allah says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning): "wherever you are, death will find you, even if you are in towers built up strong and high" (4:78)

so let us pray for those who lost their loved ones and their property, may Allah give them patience and fix their affairs.. and inshAllah those who drowned are martyrs and in jannah



and if you are in saudi arabia and want to donate anything to help those affected by the flood you can call these numbers: 6581122, 6056025, 6055406

Black And Beige

Eid Mubarak!

dear sisters, happy eid al-adha! may you have a wonderful eid and may Allah accept good deeds from you and me.. ameen

Miss Arab World 2009

mawadda nour from saudi arabia was crowned "miss arab world 2009" on november 11, 2009 in cairo

sixteen contestants (18-24 years) from all over the arab world were competing for the title

the girls walked in their national dresses in front of the jury who crowned mawadda nour from saudi arabia as miss arab world 2009-2010, and jessy zaher from lebanon as first runner up.. controversy occurred right after the event ended since some critics found that the winner does not meet the standards required for a beauty pageant contestant.. well, may be she's very charming in person...

The New Kiswa For Ka'ba

the new kiswa to cover the holy ka’ba is completed and will be handed over to officials of the grand mosque in makkah on the 1st of dhul-hijja (which is probably on nov.18, depending on the sighting of the new moon), as reported

15 kilos of solid gold thread is used for the embroidery of the Quranic verses on the kiswa.. the total area covered by the kiswa is 658 square meters and it is made of 670 kgs of pure silk.. the present cost of making the ka'ba cover amounts to SR 17 million

the kiswa is replaced every year and throughout history the base colour of the kiswa had differed between green, white and the current black

a specialist team will take down the old kiswa on the 8th of dhul-hijja.. after dawn on the next day, the new kiswa is placed over the holy ka’ba.. specialist technicians stationed at the grand mosque then fold it from the bottom, up to a height of three meters from the marble floor.. this is an annual custom aimed at preventing the kiswa from being torn by pilgrims in the crowded area around the ka’ba during hajj

the manufacturing of the kiswa goes through several stages.. this includes dyeing, computerized manufacturing of the fabric, printing of the Qur’anic verses at the printing department, embroidery of the Qur’anic verses using gold thread, and finally the collection of all the pieces into the complete kiswa

more about kiswa here

TV Presenters In Niqab

the presenters of a new saudi tv show that discusses issues concerning teenage girls and female university students are covered not only in black abayas but niqabs as well

the show named asrar al-banat (the secrets of girls) is broadcast on awtan tv, a saudi religious channel that was first aired in august 2008.. it discusses different issues relating to teenage girls, is aired every friday evening and receives live phone calls from members of the public

there are over 60 religious satellite channels that are broadcast across the middle east via arabsat and nilesat networks.. some of them have women presenters who do not cover their faces and dress in different colors, not necessarily black, while others have no women presenters at all.. awtan is the one channel that allowes women to appear but only when covered from head to toe

presenting asrar al-banat is sawsan salah al-deen, a 26-year-old saudi from riyadh and a BA graduate in media and guidance.. helping her are her sister (a specialist in blood diseases) and a psychologist.. sawsan also wears niqab in real life

the opinions of the viewers on how the presenters of the program look, differ - some encourage them, others criticize

asrar al-banat has so far broadcast four episodes

more on this in arab news

Pantalon Abaya

here's a new abaya style from a saudi designer eman joharjy based in jeddah - pantalon abayas.. the designer claims it to be "the perfect hijab for active saudi women. Whether working hard at the office or while jogging, these exclusive abayas are made from great quality material with innovative design"

innovative? definitely.. however, i would still stick to the classic version of an abaya

what do you think? would you wear something like this?

Pink Hijab Day Outfit

i'm sure you've heard about global pink hijab day, which is coming october, 28 this year.. in case you haven't:

"Pink Hijab Day is intended to shatter stereotypes of Muslim women, as well as raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. All over the world, Muslims participated by wearing pink hijabs, pink ribbons, and donating to breast cancer foundations"

i liked the idea so much and this is what i'd wear on this day

Breast Cancer Campaigns In Full Swing

october is regarded globally as the breast cancer awareness month.. here in saudi a number of charities, medical associations and individuals have also launched campaigns to raise awareness of the disease in the kingdom, specialy in rural areas

more than 20% of cancer cases in saudi arabia are breast cancer, it being the most common cancer in the country

a breast cancer organization, which is currently at the forefront of awareness campaigns in the kingdom, called zahra breast cancer association, has implemented several awareness campaigns in rural areas around the kingdom, including three mobile clinics

it is reported that in saudi most breast cancer hits women in their 30s, however most women living in rural areas as well as small cities within the kingdom are ignoring the necessity of detecting such diseases at an early stage, as well as the importance of self-detection

as part of "choose wise, save lives" campaign by the zahra association, educational displays and brochures can be seen in a number of supermarkets and malls.. a series of seminars and lectures with the participation of doctors, the media, educators and volunteers are also to take place during october all around the country

moreover, as reported, king abdulaziz university (KAU) in jeddah announced it would establish the first center of excellence for breast cancer in the region, thanks to a SR15 mln donation from a local businessman.. the center will perform mammograms with modern technology and cooperate in research with specialized international research facilities in geneva and the united states.. it will concentrate on young women diagnosed with breast cancer

a doctor at zahra association advises that every woman from the age of 20 upward, should perform a self examination every month, about three to five days after her period.. once the patient reaches the age of 40, she should get a mammogram done every two years and then every year after 50

more on cancer in saudi

sources: saudi gazette, arab news

Lace Is In!

abayas with lace look chic, feminine and simply gorgeous! don't you think?

Fulla In Saudi

i'm sure many of you know fulla, an 11.5 inch doll marketed to children of islamic and middle-eastern countries as an alternative to barbie

the concept of fulla evolved around 1999, and she hit the stores in late 2003 after barbie was banned in saudi arabia because she did not conform the ideas of islam shared by the saudi society

fulla was created by a uae manufacturer from dubai and was developed to have long coal black hair and brown eyes, but later, dolls with lighter hair and eyes were introduced.. she was dressed in a black abaya and head scarf for the saudi market, and a white scarf and pastel coat for other countries.. her outdoor clothes have since become more colorful, but her shoulders are always covered and the skirt always falls below her knees, as muslim women (and men) are expected to dress modestly

fulla is named after a fragrant jasmine flower found only in the middle east.. she's 16 years old, she's arab and her personality was designed to be loving, caring, honest, and respecting her parents.. she's good to her friends.. she's honest and doesn't lie.. she likes reading and of course fashion

fulla has two friends, yasmeen and nada, as well as a little brother and sister.. an older protective brother is in development for her, as well as a teacher and doctor fulla, which are two careers that fulla's creators believe to be respectable.. fulla will not have a boyfriend, because muslims do not believe in romantic relationships out of wedlockin saudi arabia, animated commercials display fulla's life, such as showing the doll saying her prayers as the sun rises, baking a cake to surprise her friend, or reading a book at bedtime.. they also often promote modest outfits, as one of fulla's commercials had warned, "when you take fulla out of the house, don't forget her new spring abaya!"



more about fulla on the official website

No Reservations In Saudi Arabia

if you are an american you might have seen this show on tv.. i've found this episode of no reservations show on youtube and just looooved it.. it shows the nice side of saudi which pretty much nobody knows or hears about.. and ta-da! it was filmed in jeddah where i live :) i also loved this danya girl, she's so sweet and bubbly mashAllah.. in a word, do watch!

Research On Ways Of Flirtation

males trying to pick up with females in public places is an annoying part of modern saudi reality.. however, it is reported that a team of researchers has begun work on what seems to be a thorough study of the problem in order to pave the way for measures to tackle it

22-month study involves the researches going around the kingdom looking at the various ways in which males give females unsought attention as well as the factors contributing to the spread of the activity

they will observe, conduct experiments and interview around 400 individuals who have been detained by the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice (pvpv) as well as 400 females, who are the activity’s most targeted section of society.. the researchers are also going to seek the views of representatives from the pvpv, the judiciary and education, and interview those who are forced to witness the activity most often, such as taxi drivers and shop assistants in popular shopping areas

so far, saudi sociologists name marital delays, lack of accomplishments in life and the feeling of emptiness as the primary drives for men and women to flirt.. in saudi society people don't have to worry about poverty, wars or financial problems, they also have limited opportunities for utilizing their free time, then they want anything to replace the emptiness they feel inside

even with restricted social interactions, people in saudi manage to flirt by means of the internet, mobile phones and bluetooth outlets

source: saudi gazette

Punish Or Help?

police and members of the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice have begun a campaign of apprehending youths who are indecently dressed or behave in public, newspapers report.. police sources say that all who have been arrested so far have been saudi teenagers.. punishment could include jail time and lashes

imho, this is fighting the consequences instead of the cause

according to researches there are three types of factors that cause deviant behaviour: psychological, biological, and sociological.. and though the society can’t change what’s given to a person by God, it can have some influence on the sociological part (obviously)

family is the link to socialization in one’s environment.. in the family, divorce, conflict within family, neglect, as well as too much supervision and spoiling, abuse, and deviant parents are the main preconditions for the offspring’s deviant actions

modern research finds that the lack of support a child needs is a link to delinquency in any race.. children need close, supportive relationships with parents.. what promotes deviance in the home is not being able to talk to parents.. many, however, these days leave video games and tv to raise their children.. the child may feel that they need to get attention elsewhere, thus acting deviantly if their parents are not there for them

family size also leaves an adolescent without the necessary attention they need as an individual.. middle children are more likely to misbehave because they go unnoticed more than their younger or older siblings

all this causes stress, poor self-esteem, aggressiveness, lack of empathy, and fewer interactions with peers and leads to deviant behaviour

too much supervision can be as harmful as the lack of it.. excess control, for example, may lead to decadence, which is luxurious self-indulgence on a personal level and "corrosive decline due to a perceived erosion of necessary moral traditions on a social level".. well, well, well…

however, back to the family.. the most common reasons found that parents abuse their children is because this is a learned function they acquired from their parents.. it truly amazes me when parents complain that their children misbehave while they are the ones who give them patterns of behaviour

another cause for teens to behave deviantly is simply just boredom with their lives, which is especially pressing in this society.. deviant behavior is exciting to the teens who have limited opportunities for diversifying their spare time

other influences outside of the home that can cause a person to act deviantly are peers, media images, and other people in society that set what the norm should be

the very important part of all this is that once a person is labeled deviant they continue to respond to society as if they are.. when more and more people think of these people as deviant they, themselves think they are too.. parents (as well as society) need to correctly punish their children when they see deviant behavior and give them love and care, but the problem is that some people do not understand it

Muslim Convert

i loved this video, i think it would be interesting for old and new converts as well as not converts.. good reminder, mashAllah

Too Good To Be A Worker

some 4.5 million (out of 6 million all in all) expatriates in the kingdom are employed as unskilled workers, as reported by the ministry of labour.. saudis, however, refuse to work in low-paid jobs due to cultural and social reasons

in fact, the rate of unemployment among saudis is quite high - around 9% according to official sources.. "saudisation"of labour, that is replacing foreign workers with saudis, has been going on for quite some time now but doesn't seem to improve the situation

businesses are pushed to employ more saudis and quotas are being emposed but businessmen still prefer foreigners as saudis are more expensive and less productive

they also say that education system fails to equip young saudis with the right skills as it is all based on memorising and not critical thinking.. what's more, young saudis are not taught the subjects the society needs (e.g. engineering, medicine)

also, according to a recruitment consultant "expatriates occupy these jobs largely due to the reluctance of saudis to take them because of social and cultural taboos".. saudis themselves admit that there is this idea that some jobs are for filipinos or pakistanis and a saudi male should be working at a bank or an oil company or as the manager of a company

as for young women, their job opportunities are quite limited in this sexually segregated society.. saudi women comprise 55% of graduates but only 5% of the workforce.. convincing religious conservatives that women can enter the workplace without corrupting the morals of the nation is not easy

so far, unemployment is the number one challenge for saudi arabia.. however, as saudis like to say, change is under way.. but slowly

source: saudi gazette

Friday Night Out

Saudi Marks National Day

yesterday, on wednesday september 23, saudi arabia marked its 77th national day, not only to remember the country’s unification at the hands of king abdul aziz but also to celebrate its achievements in the educational, health and economic sectors.. being the world’s largest oil exporter, it has become a member of G20 and is the largest economy in the middle east

read more in arab news

Eid Mubarak!

sorry for being late with my congrats, sisters, i didn't have access to the internet.. eid mubarak to all of you! may Allah accept good deeds from you and me

Eid Gift Ideas From Saudi

eid ul-fitr is almost here and saudi residents are busy making their last preparations for the grand event

but not only are they buying new clothes for themselves and their children (as the egyptinas usually do), but they also clean their houses and refresh them by buying new furniture or refurnishing the old and buying gifts!

so because everybody wants their homes clean and renewed by eid, carpet washing and furniture upholster businesses get more profit in the last days of ramadan than they do during the year
during the last week of ramadan the malls are crowded with last-minute shoppers.. buying gifts for children instead of giving them traditional token money is a new trend in saudi.. one of the reasons for this is that children who don't know how do deal with money properly, often misuse it.. so grown-ups these days prefer to get them such suitable gifts as stuffed toys, clothes, video games and books, as well as giving a small amount of token money

my favourite part of it all is that other members of close family also get some gifts! so here are some gift ideas from saudi- jewelry.. well, everybody knows that "diamonds are a girl's best friends", so a piece of exclusive jewelry is always welcome but with the budget being tight and avilability of highly attractive artificial jewlelry, there are cheaper alternatives.. plus a number of stores here have special offers where you can buy a whole set of accessories (wrist watch, ring, pair of earrings and necklace) with a reasonable price.. a similar package for men (wrist watch, pen, key ring and a pair of cuff studs) is also available

- perfumes and oils.. i think this is one of the gifts for muslims - not only is it a wonderful fragrant gift always easy to get, but applying a perfume is sunnah of our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).. these days perfume shops also have special offers - gift packs which in addition to the perfume include shower gels, soaps, body lotions and bath oils of the same brand, available for both men and women

- clothes.. everybody wants to wear something new in eid.. however, make sure you know the preferances and size of the reciever (it'd better be a close relative of friend).. otherwise, why not give a nice scarf to a sister?

- electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones, laptops, gaming devices, music players and so on

- gift boxes comprising traditional sweets (like baklawa and konafa), nuts and chocolates.. these are especially popular in eid

are you going to present your loved ones with any gifts this eid?

sources: arab news, saudi gazette

Children Banned From Mosques

quite some time ago it was reported in saudi gazette that most of the mosques in dammam banned children from participating in taraweeh prayers.. they employed women volunteers as guards who do not let any children inside the places of worship.. some of the mosques even posted notices on the entrances and walls saying "no children allowed"

ok, we all know how disturbing it can be with toddlers running, crying or shouting inside the mosque during the prayer.. but the funny thing is that not only toddlers but children of ages 7 and 8 were reported not to have been allowed inside.. the female guard made them stand outside in the hot weather while the mothers were praying in the mosque

most of the mosques placed praying mats outside to let children pray there, but the extreme hot climate makes them very tired and cranky.. what a perfect way to spend your first taraweeh ever! very memorable indeed

some mosques, however, let children pray in the back row without causing disturbance to others.. mothers with young girls of 5 and 6 want their children to be allowed to pray in the mosque along with grown ups so that they can learn and experience the importance of praying


it is very important to develop in children the love for prayer from an early age.. make them aware of the virtue of taraweeh and congregational prayers as well as teach them the culture of praying and the behavior inside the mosque.. but how can this be done if they are not allowed to enter the place of worship? this is indeed weird

It's Interesting To Know...

...that the kingdom of saudi arabia is one of the world’s largest producers of dates with 141,000 hectares and 21 million palms producing 884,000 tons of dates per year! the production and manufacturing of dates constitutes 13% of domestic product

the dates are eaten fresh, dried and in treats.. shops sell date-filled chocolates, date mustard, date syrup and date bars

visit any home or office in the kingdom and you will certainly find a small plate heaped with dates on a coffee table.. the sweetness of the fruit balances the bitter taste of cardamom-scented coffee served to guests in small cups.. date baskets, containing different varieties of the fruit, date cookies and date juice are often presented as gifts

dates are especially popular in ramadan as muslims are advised to break their fast with this delicious and healthy treat (more info about nutritional value of dates in this post by arab mania)

and here are some pictures

mmm... yammy!

date pie

date cookies

and some date chocolates

p.s.: sorry, i didn't mean to tease you :)