MY LIFE IN SAUDI ARABIA [PART#2]

I thought; isn’t it a wonder of God that at a distance of three thousand five hundred kilometer everything has changed. I mean the culture, the tradition, the civilization, the language and the life style. It was all totally different. Although in every civilization the human instinct appears as the highest common factor, so a civilization will never differ to another such as one can say beyond human instinct. Even if there is a force of good and evil in the life but these two also have an instinct inside them. The difference in civilization, traditions, and food habits also depends upon the geographical concerns.

I observed everything appeared to be drastically changed. The roads were unmatchable. I saw the buildings are made simple. Mostly the paint colors are white or cream or gray. The buildings looked monotonous. This look was so simple that I filled with joy. In real this plainness and simplicity is the gift of Islam, as it teaches us to live simple. I am too much impressed with the different shades of the Saudi culture to which I find unmatchable. The thaub [white apron] is so common that form a small child to a senior citizen everyone wears it at all times. If somebody has twenty sets of outfits these all be white. The civilizations of the world cannot imagine a Nation that has acquired white color for its citizens. Being an Indian I cannot imagine if I have 5 sets of outfits it all will be monotype.

It reflects that this Nation is least interested to fulfill its desire in colors. I want to add that those who want to destroy or change this Saudi Culture will try their best to change the color taste of this nation. In my 14 years stay in Saudi Arabia I have observed that the use of T-shirts and shorts has drastically increased. Colorful trousers and T-shits are slowly taking its place in children and youths. If this habit continues in the coming days it could cover and ultimately change the simplicity and peculiarity of this culture. I have seen in cities in Saudi Arabia big tailoring houses are newly opened with this specialty to make many changes in the thaub. They have made changes in front pocket, collars, cuffs, sleeves. They are adding colored pockets or pockets bodered by colors. I assumed that these changes in patterns will slowly affect their taste and love for their culture and after two or three decades Paint-Shirts, Colored Trousers and T-shirts could replace the thau. I hope the lovers of the Saudi Culture could intervene to this issue.

When I came out of the Airport most of the passengers had left. In the Airplane one gentleman was seated beside me. He was from my home District Nawada. He asked me where I have to go. I answered him that didn’t know the place where do I go, but I am sure that someone will come to pick me.

Half an hour had passed that I saw Mr. Anwer Yasin coming along a bearded guy. He introduced him as Mr. Firozuddin. Mr.Firozuddin had joined this company few months earlier as a Manpower Administrator and very soon he came closer to the owner of the company Mr. Khalid Al Turki.

When I met him I felt some uneasiness for him as if something was chocked inside and unfortunately this uneasiness continued for years until I left the company. I hated him with my full heart. I will never forget how mischief he was. I will tell about his misbehavior later in the coming pages.

Just after introduction his first question was, “ Angrezi Aati hai…?’ “Aati to hai..” I replied. He said again, “Even at the eleventh hour last night I was of the mind to call the agent to stop you as I was not sure whether you know English or not”.

His sentence was confusing and pinching. I thought; how mindless this guy is; he was thinking to stop me in Mumbai last night even if everything was gone properly. I was surprised at him. Later on I find him as a man of complex egoistic attitude. He only wanted to hypnotize me in the very beginning that he is the master and he can do everything he wants. This hurt me a lot.

It took half an hour to come to Haiul Badya in Dammam by car. It was a big building; in the first flour was the head office of Al Turki Est. The Admin Manager was a Sudani guy, his name was Ahmed Taiyab. He was supposed to be a strict Administrator but to my concern I never find him hard or tough. He was always kind to me. In the same building on the third floor Anwer Yaisn and Firozuddin were living together in a room. I came directly to this room. Just after an hour Firozuddin asked me to go for Medical Test. Mr.Ahmed Taiyab filled the necessary papers and we started for Jubail by car. My medical test for Iqama was arranged in Deena Pharmacy Jubail.

I also went to Al Turki site where a big housing complex was under construction. Al Turki Est was the main contractor for this Project. In Jubail I had my own nephew Arman Wajid who was an employee in Hadeed. I show my intention to meet him. I called his office and came to know that his duty is ‘off’ today. Arman was living in Jubail on port road. I wanted to give him a surprise but who will tell me his address? Luckily I called again to his office. This time I gave phone to Firozuddin. At the other side was one of Arman’s colleagues. Firozuddin got his address easily. We get the building very soon and knocked the exact door. What a surprising memorable moment it was when Arman opened the door and looked at me. We both filled with joy, but Firozuddin had little time so I left Arman soon. He brought a bottle of Mango juices and some snacks for us. He also gave me some money saying that I may need it for my daily expenses.

Before we went to see Arman we have had our food in a Hotel. It was Bukhari Restaurant close the Daawah Centre Mosque. Everything was new for me. In the Hotel the experience of sitting dawn on the carpet was enjoying. In my stay in Saudi Arabia I saw numerous of Hotels but that time a simple Bhkahri Restaurant appeared to me very nice. The Sufra system attracted me a lot. ‘Nus Faham’ and ‘Kibsa Rice’ have a peculiar unmatchable taste. One can see everything here in large quantity. If you take ‘Kibsa Rice’ for one person it will be sufficient for two or three. If you ordered for a ‘Nus Faham’ the Afgani boy will first put a plastic sufra in front of you, then he will bring some Tomato Sauce, few pieces of onion and one or two pieces of green chilly. Most of the time, you have to wait for a while for the ‘Faham’ to get ready. When the Afghani boy will bring the ‘Faham-rice’ in a big plate, the earth will be yours. A single tandoori bread in a single riyal can fill the stomach of two or three persons.

It is called barakah, and barakah is an Arabic word with a vast meaning. It is a reward from God in many senses. So is the case with everything here in Saudia. After finishing our meal we returned back to Dammam. Next day I was shifted to the famous 91 area of Dammam. In Dammam I met one of Firozuddin’s friends Mr. Samar Alam. He was working in a reputed company. I don’t know what his profession was, but one thing was obvious that he was not appealing as much. I begin to think what would be the common factor between Samar Alam and Firozuddin. I knew that Samar had been a student of Jamiatul Falah, Bilaryaganj, but he don’t respond to me as per my expectation.

In the same flat I met one Egyptian bearded engineer; he was also working in Al Turki Est. It was my first experiences in my life that I met any Egyptian. To know whether the educated Muslims of other nationalities know about the famous Muslim clerics in India, I asked him about Maullana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi and Maullana Abull Aala Maudoodi, but it shocked me that he doesn’t heard of them anymore. On the other hand when even a little educated Muslim of India will know the name of Syed Qutub Shadeed, Hasan ul Banna and Yusuf Qardavi, the famous religious personalities of their time, why don’t they know about the personalities like Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi and Maullana Abul Aala Maudoodi. By the way some innocent deeni brothers were listening to me at the moment. Later on they assumed that I am a fan of Maullana Maudoodi. This assumption continued in the ‘circle’ for years and it had my image temporarily damaged as a Tablighi guy.XXXX

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