Monday, May 27, 2019

The Metaphor of War

               

The abstract that is death looms
As the drones instigate torrent booms
The sounds of unpredictability resonate 
As many continue to fail to placate 
The evil, the inhumane, and the impertinent 
Shrapnels terminate in homes as they dint 

Hope shatters while the glass windows disintegrate
The toxic fumes disperse and so does hate   
Mothers cry and children shriek, as  adults do too 
On TV screens conveying what’s fallacy and what’s utterly true

Buildings fragment; they crumble 
Two “armies” in my city rumble  
Halting our lives while fighting for theirs 
And the Libyan social fabric tears 

The love for war ends life
Whereas the love for life ends war
Life and war are intricate and they’re what I have to endure.    


 
لعل و يا ليت الفرج يأتي مسرعا  
فالصبر ينفد مني و كأنه لم يكن يوما عارما 
لا أعرف ماذا أريد و ان ادركت أنسى السبب لعل و يا ليت الفرج يأتي مسرعا  
فالصبر ينفد مني و كأنه لم يكن يوما عارما 
لا أعرف ماذا أريد و ان ادركت أنسى السبب 
و كأن شيء ما يشتعل، و يحرقني و كأنه لهب  
أقاوم نفسي كل يوم و أتسائل يا ترى، 
هل أنا على ما يرام، أم أنا ضحية ما قد جرى؟ 

يا جبار اجبر بخاطري 
و انزع هذا الحزن المحيط بي 
دعني يا لله انغمس في الحماس 
فرجها من عندك يا رب الناس! 
و كأن شيء ما يشتعل، و يحرقني و كأنه لهب  
أقاوم نفسي كل يوم و أتسائل يا ترى، 
هل أنا على ما يرام، أم أنا ضحية ما قد جرى؟ 

يا جبار اجبر بخاطري 
و انزع هذا الحزن المحيط بي 
دعني يا لله انغمس في الحماس 
فرجها من عندك يا رب الناس! 

Blessed Studying

The advent of the holy month in Libya is commonly accompanied by a rise in temperature, possible consequential power cuts, and spiritual and physical changes within us.

Abstaining from foods and drinks for hours will obviously lead to fatigue. You feel drowsy, dizzy, and you might even end up with a pounding headache! Unless this fatigue is extreme, then you shouldn’t worry because it’s absolutely normal for our bodies to feel exhausted.

So why do we feel tired?

First and foremost, our body is being deprived of its sources of energy, like carbohydrates! When your liver and muscles run out of its glucose, it begins generating glucose by a process known as gluconeogenesis. It’s an endergonic process, so it’s going to take some of your energy to compensate the diminishing glucose levels, and thereby prevent hypoglycemia. In addition, when we are in a fasting state, we tend to be more stressed. Thus, there will be an increase in the secretions of cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones, in turn, increase your metabolism. Moreover, dehydration and caffeine withdrawal may also exacerbate ensuing headaches, if not migraines.

Whether it’s due to traditional late-night family gatherings, or just abrupt lifestyle disturbances, your sleeping pattern will most likely alter. This will have a large impact on your circadian rhythms.
All in all, sleep deprivation, dehydration, the decrease in glucose and corresponding insulin levels, and caffeine withdrawal all are causative agents for your fatigue. Nonetheless, fasting and its benefits on the body and mind will have you thanking Allah for its crucial arrival!

Moreover, when Ramadan’s advent is during a school year, our studying patterns will indubitably be impacted as well and our fatigue won’t be any less! So here’s a list of tips to help you maintain your grade point average while your body, mind, and soul are cleansing.

⚫️ Scheduling!

You ought to have a stern talk with yourself and ponder about how you’ll accommodate during Ramadan. What are you going to studying? When are you going to study? How are you going to study? Jot your answers down. And rephrase them into your new schedule.

⚪️ Slumbering!
Aside from all the fasting, praying, supplicating, and studying, sleeping is a must. You don’t want to over-sleep during Ramadan and miss out on its spectacularity! However, you also should get your minimum hours of sleep so when you function, you’ll function properly. Six to seven hours should do.

⚫️ Time!

You don’t want to end up feeling guilty about being inactive during this holy month, so you have to use your time wisely. Analyze when you’re most active. If you’re a night owl, schedule your post-Iftar hours for studying. On the other hand, if you’re a morning person who doesn’t depend on any type of caffeine to activate, then get your studying over with early and relax later on in the day!  

⚪️ How to tackle the curriculum?

You don’t want to indulge in the difficult topics and deplete your energy on them. Start with the easy stuff. It will require less energy from you, and when you see yourself getting ahead, you’ll therefore acquire more energy to further continue studying!

⚫️ Goals!

Don’t fret if you find yourself not accomplishing all of your religious and spiritual aspirations. Remember, that Allah is still rewarding you extra for studying. Reading and acquiring knowledge is what Islam promotes. Do it for the sake of Allah!
A reminder:

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise

فارس الأحلام


كنت تائه في طريق ما. أسمع صوته يناديني :“نهى! نهى!"
لم يناديني في حياتي قط! و ها هو الأن و صوته يعلو و يملئ الحي، بعضهم ينظرون نحوي و يلتفت الآخرين اليه
"نهى! نهى!" 
لا أعلم ما الذي يجري. ماذا يريد هذا الجميل مني؟ 
اقترب إليه. أنسى اسمه. اكاد أتذكره و تمسح الذاكرة من جديد

انخفضت نبرةُ صوته إلى همس و ما زال ينطق باسمه المفضل: "نهى! نهى!" 
لم اقل شيئاً له و لكن أنظر إليه بعجب و هو يخرج من جيبه ما يبدو لي كصندوق صغير
يضعه في يدي و افتحه بسرعة هائله لكي استكشف ما فيه و في آن واحد اعلم محتواه.

خاتم من ألماس
لا اصدق.
أضع الخاتم على بنصري و أنا سعيدة! سعيدة
أفطن إلى ما فعلته و ما يعني ذلك.
أنظر إليه و هو يبتسم إلي و أدرك فوات الأوان لكي أعطيه جوهرتي، أقصد جوهرته. و لكن أنا سعيدة. سعيدة! أردت ان أقل له شيئا ما و لم تخرج الكلمات من ثغري

-"نهى! نهى!" 
 أنظر إلى أصابعي و لم اجده على يدي! أنظر إلى يدي الأخرى و لم اجده

أفطن إلى حقيقة الأمر اني قد إستيقضت من عالم الأحلام إلى نداء أمي و هي تناديني لكي أتناول وجبة الفطور. اضحك و أذهب إليها مسرعه لكي تخبرني ما يعني هذا الحلم