Although summer has just begun, the weather for the last 3 weeks or so feels like it’s the peak of the season already — as it has been unduly dry-kind-of-hot. I never forget to put on sunscreen, bring my water, an extra shirt, an underwear (because, why not?) and a small black umbrella if in case I need to wander though the desert, no pun intended.
Speaking of the latter, I remember an old incident several years ago, I was walking my way to my dentist, a stranger dressed up in long-sleeves and dark brown chinos casually spoke in-my-face an Arabic word, “As Salaam Alaikum”. I was not overreacting but you cannot just approach someone like me who was then a noob in the Middle East, if you know what I mean. Also, I wasn’t understanding the word that much because I was very guarded but not being judgmental as I thought he could be panhandling which is a violation of law in the Middle East.
Thus, as soon as I heard him speak, my croaky reply was, “No, thank you.” And went off as fast as possible. When I think of this now, I find it strangely hilarious because of how I reacted. But I do completely understand my old self, and that, it wasn’t a disrespect on purpose. And I understand also that when you travel or migrate to another country you must do your research of the basic customs and traditions and learn some words if possible to ensure respect upon interaction with the locals and even with random people of any nationality.
Anyway, I took a photo of a Mosque on my way to office a few days ago from a moving vehicle (I wasn’t the one driving, of course) and you know more than of its purpose, I think Minarets are the arts of the sky.
And for some reason, whenever I see one, I always remember the guy who uttered the word so randomly “As Salaam Alaikum” to me. Wherever he is now I hope this respond finds him, “Wa Alaikum Salam”
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