My Hair: No. I was good for two days.
Me: Really?
Hair: Yes. I was good on Friday because Nowal was coming to town and your friends were throwing a dinner. I was good on Saturday because you were attending Desifest and meeting other bloggers and friends there ...
Me: Aren't you redefining 'good'? You were barely tolerable yesterday ...
Hair: Chup! I was GOOD yesterday, check your pictures. But three days in a row is too much to ask.
Me: No please, I beg you. I am meeting some bloggers today for lunch, I need you to be good.
Hair: Sorry, apparently there is a hadith somewhere that you can only expect hospitality to continue for three days only. I have already accommodated you.
Me: So? Today is the third day. And as for that hadith ...
Hair: Sorry. You are not counting Thursday.
Me: What? I was at work! That doesn't count. Please.... I beg you. Be good today! I am meeting Liya and Ahmed for the first time...
Hair: Sorry. No can do. I am going to look like you slept in a tub of Dabur Amla oil.
Me: You know what. I am gonna drive at 140 km per hour on the highway and let the wind through and completely mess you up.
20 min later: Hair 1. Mezba 0. Rain 2.
SO I had lunch with Ahmed, Samosa, Isheeta, Ruby and Liya.
Excerpt 1:
Isheeta: So which way is Pickle Barrel?
Ruby: This way.
Me (under breath to Ahmed): And we follow directions from a woman ...
Ruby: I HEARD THAT.
Me: Uh oh.
Excerpt 2:
Liya: You are taking a picture of your lunch?
Me: Um, ya.... sorry, it's for my blog.
[something only bloggers will understand]
My lunch a.k.a. 'simulated crap' according to the waitress!
Seafood Salad.
So what can I tell you about those guys(and girls)? They are great. Exceptionally down to earth yet very good and kind hearted people - something that is very rare nowadays. For Liya, her students are lucky to have such a cool teacher. Samosa and Isheeta, you make a dynamic duo. Ahmed, I must say this, even as a straight guy, WHAT BICEPS yaar. And Ruby, you give very good directions.
OK, now I'm really jealous! :(
ReplyDeleteassalamalaikum
ReplyDeletesounds like you had a great time..
simulated crap? And yet you still ate it?
ReplyDeleteShe said "simulated CRAB" you doink! Fake crab meat!
ReplyDeleteSalaam.
ReplyDeleteAhaha @ simulated 'crap' :D.
And dude, you better be nice to your hair, else it *might* just decide to fall out... Take it from one who knows this all too well *sigh*.
Sounds like you had a real bloggers' weekend!
blogger meetups are fun. where are the pictures?! :-)
ReplyDeleteSalam
ReplyDeletePost the pics dude! Loved the convo b/w you and your hair:-D
bro em, where's your blog? :(
lol... i was too busy noticing your 'simulated craP' to notice your hair! lol
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting you and the others, it's nice putting a face and person to the blogger, and you guys are definitely a cool bunch :D
ReplyDeleteYou know I was kinda surprised that the waitress called it "simulated crap" ... she works there, isn't she supposed to hmm I don't know, advertise the food in a positive way!?
Maybe I should start taking pictures of my food too, or at least the yummy deserts - if they aren't alcoholic lol. After reading my anonymous comment last night I called V in a panic telling him that I might be drunk lol.
P.S I want copies of the pics. Email please :)
Oh.. I just read Ruby's comment, did she say "simulated crab"? I thought she said "crap" too lol. I guess "crab" makes more sense :D
ReplyDeleteSuroor: You gotta come to Tdot!
ReplyDeleteYoungmuslimah: walaiks. We did! It's great to just sit and hash out our ideas on various issues - we didn't wanna leave!
Mousehunter: Apparently my hearing was bad lol. It was good actually. But next time, I am getting either what liya got (soya burger) or Ish (tilapya).
Ruby: No wonder it tasted fishy ...
Em: I will now be EXTRA nice to my hair.
We did!
Sonia: Pictures are up on fb.
A muslim: I would love to, but the pics include women and some of the bloggers like their anonymity. But thanx for the comment, we did have a good time.
Isheeta: I was noticing your hair. I like.
Liya: Ya I thought she said crap too. Who knows she might well have! She looked a bit crabby too lol.
wow howd you meet so many bloggers simultaneously. I thought of you while I was in MI- hmmm how far is MI from Detroit? I am pretty sure its far b/c from Lansing its 4-6 hours. Canada though was very close :)
ReplyDeletePart of me is afraid to meet bloggers. what if the magic of the cerebral connection does not transalte as beautifully in person as it does online? That would be sad
Salam, oh ok, you can keep the women's pictures to yourself:-D
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see Ahmed's biceps yaar!
what nationality is liya ? *curious*
mezba - your dialogues are brilliant - ever considered being a scriptwriter!
ReplyDeletep.s there is a discussion on hadiths going on my blog - no male comments yet!
You guys had great fun :)
ReplyDeletewishes,
Samiha Esha :)
I thought heard simulated crap too...both make sense...but like Liya I was totally shocked by her comments. I've never heard a waiter talk about their own food like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd it was a lot of fun meeting you and everyone else. I look forward to doing it again when I'm back. :)
oh and your hair looked fine :P
ReplyDeleteSo, guys also have *bad* hair days???? :)
ReplyDeleteK, I did wonder if it was really *crap* or you named it like that!!! sf
Salaam.
ReplyDeleteA Muslim: sorry bro, not planning to go public any time soon.
MEN AND WOMEN (GHAIR MAHRAMS) MEETING UP FOR LUNCH? THIS IS MUSLIM STUPIDITY!
ReplyDeleteCall it my observant teacher skills, but I think your commenter "Z" visited my blog shortly after giving his/her cute little rant on yours since the difference in time between your "Z" comment and my latest 'anonymous' is 4 minutes lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny eh, If "Z" is a boy you'd think he shouldn't be commenting on my blog, and if "Z" is a girl, then why comment on yours if he/she has such a problem. The world is a funny place aint it? :D
Aisha: The meetup just happened, courtesy Ruby. All of us living in the vicinity and being free at the same time helped, of course!
ReplyDeleteDon't know where MI is, but Detroit is 4 hours (driving) away from Toronto. Next time you are here, please visit Toronto!
There is always a fear of the unknown, but all the bloggers I have met so far are delightfully like their blogs and some have become good friends. If you blog from your heart and be true to yourself, I doubt you can be different in real life.
Sonia: thank you!I am gonna take a look at that entry (again) but I don't feel qualified to comment - such thoughtful posts have been made already!
Samiha: thank you and take care.
Ahmed: Ya I was shocked for a minute too. Seems like she wanted to suck up to Samosa too haha.
Em: hehe the public demand increases.
Z: First, my knowledge of Urdu is limited but I though "ghair" meant a stranger, a non-relative, someone you can marry. Whereas "mahram" meant a relative, someone you canNOT marry. So... wth is a "ghair mahram"?
Second, I would describe stupidity as repeatedly coming back to read activities someone is doing that you disagree with, but that's just me.
Liya: I have noticed that fanatically corrective people rarely think along such logical lines.
Salaam.
ReplyDeleteZ, it wasn't a one-on-one date (this is important) in private (this is also important)...
There were 2 men and 3 women present, and it was a public restaurant. To me, it seems not very much different to corresponding online in a blogging environment like this one (subject to minor details like we're not looking at one another's awraat etc...).
Please understand that many of the contributions on these open blogs are made by single ghair mahram individuals. I think shunning public lunches but condoning virtual blogging on the pretext of "haramness is purely in physical meeting" is a little hypocritical.
As a last note, even if you mean well (I'm sure you do), people should seek to remind one another with beautiful manners. I personally think hailing people as "Muslim stupidity" is rather contemptuous and condescending.
Allah knows best.
Mez -- ghair also means "outside" -- think Surah Al-Fatihah.
Z,
ReplyDeleteMEN AND WOMEN (GHAIR MAHRAMS) MEETING UP FOR LUNCH? THIS IS MUSLIM STUPIDITY!
Ever went to work? More interaction there. Oooh I saw my coworker bite into his sandwich and there's a lettuce stuck in his teeth! I think I am in love lol.
Also, please ... there's usually a CAPS LOCK button... kindly turn it off.
Em
ReplyDeleteThere were 2 men and 3 women present, and it was a public restaurant. To me, it seems not very much different to corresponding online in a blogging environment like this one (subject to minor details like we're not looking at one another's awraat etc...).
Mezba's post: I was noticing your hair. I like. (hair is awrah?:-s)
Please understand that many of the contributions on these open blogs are made by single ghair mahram individuals. I think shunning public lunches but condoning virtual blogging on the pretext of "haramness is purely in physical meeting" is a little hypocritical.
I suggest you take a look at this: http://islamtoday.com/show_detail_section.cfm?q_id=334&main_cat_id=39
As a last note, even if you mean well (I'm sure you do), people should seek to remind one another with beautiful manners. I personally think hailing people as "Muslim stupidity" is rather contemptuous and condescending.
Apologies, JazakAllahu Khayran for the reminder.
Allah knows best.
Mez -- ghair also means "outside" -- think Surah Al-Fatihah.
Farah: At work the environment is purely professional. When it goes beyond that to social setup, leads to crossed wires and other problems. Islam doesn't prohibit non- mahram men and women to talk to each other unless it's out of dire necessity.
ReplyDeleteEm,
ReplyDeleteassalamalaikum
akh,
There were 2 men and 3 women present, and it was a public restaurant. To me, it seems not very much different to corresponding online in a blogging environment like this one (subject to minor details like we're not looking at one another's awraat etc...)I think shunning public lunches but condoning virtual blogging on the pretext of "haramness is purely in physical meeting" is a little hypocritical-----> There are different guidelines while interacting online and in person. The former doesn't pose as much a 'fitnah'. ( as long as it's not something frivolous).
Mezba, Mahram is someone you cannot marry b/c of blood relations. Ghair -mahram would be someone you can get married to! (ghair is a hindi word as well)
assalamalaikum
ReplyDeleteMezba, I want to address a few points, hope you don't mind.
Islam doesn't permit 'free mixing or mingling of the sexes'. It's not mentioned in a direct statement, however there are clear guidelines how both the genders should conduct w/ one another.
Once the Prophet (saws) saw men and women mixing together on the road upon their departure from the mosque. He said to the women: “Hold back a bit. You do not have to walk in the middle of the road. You may keep to the sides.” The narrator of the hadîth commented that after that time, women would come so close to the buildings that their dresses would sometime cling to the walls.” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd]
Ibn `Umar related that the Prophet (saws) said about one of the mosque’s doors: “We should leave this door exclusively for women to use.” Ibn `Umar, until he died, never again entered through that door. [Sunan Abî Dâwûd with a sound chain of transmission. Al-Albânî says: “This hadîth is authentic according to the conditions set down by Bukhârî and Muslim.”]
Umm Salamah said: “When the Prophet (saws) completed the prayer, the women would get up to leave. He would then wait awhile before standing.” Ibn Shahâb said: “I believe that he waited for a while to give the women an opportunity to depart before the men.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]
All these hadiths point to the fact that free mingling is prohibited. The Prophet (saws) avoided talking to women when it was unnecessary and he (saws) was the BEST in character.
However,Islam doesn't prohibit the members of the opposite sex from talking to each other when needed. Women used to come the Prophet (saws) and talk to him in the presence of the Companions (ra), and he (saws) had never refused to speak with them.
For example, Zaynab, the wife of Ibn Mas`ûd, asked Bilâl to ask the Prophet (peace be upon him) about giving Zakâh to one’s husband and children. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
When it comes to online interaction, it's a different situation. As long as you stay within your limits and avoid frivolous talk, it shouldn't be a problem.
Wallahu A'lam.
ah mezba, none of us are 'qualified' to comment - but we've written reams of stuff anyway! i think a male perspective would be appreciated..
ReplyDeletehey Mezba, where's the reply to my comment?!
ReplyDeleteEm: :( contrary to your perception, it'd be interesting to read your perspective.
hehe so you attract a few nuts to your blog eh? You're sowww pawpewlurrr.
ReplyDeleteOwmyGawd did I just haram-fy your blog some more??
:P
A Muslim: Sorry, missed you! Ya, I am keeping the girls to myself hehe.. as for Ahmed's biceps, well all you have to is head over to his blog ...
ReplyDeleteEm: Thanx for the clarification. I still don't understand, 'ghair' if it means outside, then 'ghair mahram' would mean "outside relatives"?
Farah: caps lock LOL! ...oh sorry lol! hehe
Z: Whatever.
Young muslimah: Now ghair is Hindi as well. What does it mean?
I hope you don't mind if I 'fisk' your comment.
Islam doesn't permit 'free mixing or mingling of the sexes'.
Actually this is a blanket statement that cannot be completely true. Define "free" or "mingling". If you are talking about grinding against each other on a dance floor it's different than sitting across a table discussing the latest sports report or the finer points of interest in Islamic business (which, believe it or not, we were doing).
As for the hadiths, You do not have to walk in the middle of the road. You may keep to the sides. He didn't exactly say you CAN'T walk in the middle, did he? Also, Arabs have a tendancy to exaggerate. For example the "dresses would sometime cling to the walls" part.
"We should leave this door exclusively for women to use". Was there another door exclusively for men? Or did the women have a bonus door?
The Prophet (saws) avoided talking to women when it was unnecessary The prophet avoided doing ANYTHING unless it was necessary.
As long as you stay within your limits and avoid frivolous talk, it shouldn't be a problem.
I think this statement is true in an universal sense, not just online.
Again, this is just all my opinion. After all, I am no Sheikh (except of the Al-Blogifi sect).
Sonia: Commented!
A Muslim: Replied!
Athena: Some nuts, some genuine seekers, some friends, some.... ki aar bolbo.
Please continue to haramify ze blogs.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete