There was no credible sighting of the new moon yesterday, hence tomorrow will be the first of Ramadhan. I hope Muslims will make the most of this blessed month and view it more than just refraining from food. Let’s break free.

Ramadhan Kareem

wasapninjordan

In the recent past my wasapninjordan[at]gmail dot com has recevied so many emails from click-jordan, a web based company which offers internet related solutions. I never signed up to receive the emails. Are they allowed to do this? I do not mind asking before they add me to their mailing list. I just find it rude that I am receving somthing which I did not opt for. They are making money from offering adding my email to thier list.

Can they do this? Has anyone else received the emails from click-jordan?

wasapninjordan

When ever I visit to a new place, whether it’s for a holiday or work, it takes me a while to get used to the currency. I thought it might be helpful for some to know the currency in Jordan.  The Jordanian currency is the Dinar, JD or JOD. It is subdivided into 1000 fils, or 100 qirsh or piasters. It appears in paper notes of 20, 10, 5, 1, and 0.5 JD denominations. Coins come in denominations of 1 JD, 500 fils, 250 fils, 100 fils, 50 fils, 25 fils, 10 and 5 fils. I use www.xe.com/ucc for daily up-to-date conversion rates.

Here are the pics of the Jordanian Dinar note pics. However I do not have the pics of the coins. If anyone is able to take pics of the coins and email them to me, so I can add them to this slide would be greatly apperciatted.

wasapninjordan

This is my first poll and I think what a way to start. The question is simple and hopefully, the answer should be also, as it was for me.

Q:Which Mansaf do you prefer?

A: You choose.

wasapninjordan

The great Mansaf from Al-Quds Restaurant

I was reading a great blog entry from ‘summer‘ on www.mimicooks.com. She was talking about Mansaf and it got me thinking. I remember eating Mansaf for the first time. The food was so heavy, all I wanted to do was sleep afterwards. I felt so heavy and I said to myself, I am not eating that again. But of course when you go and visit your friends on a Friday afternoon at their house, you’re most likely to be offered a Mansaf, well it was the case for me:-0. I know Mansaf is very hard to make, so I have been told. I don’t know what happened but the more I ate Mansaf, the more I wanted it.

I know everyone talks about Jabri being the best place for Mansaf and the late King Hussein used to eat from Jabri’s but I much prefer to eat Mansaf from the ‘Al-Quds’ restaurant in Down Town. They just simply do good food and the best Mansaf in town. You are not going to find a fancy table, with fancy waiters or fancy cutlery; they only do fancy food.

If you haven’t tried Mansaf, yet then I suggest ‘Al-Quds’ restaurant in Down Town. Enjoy it.

wasapninjordan

I know, I know, I know it’s been a while since I posted anything. I have really missed the blogging world. What can I say, our move to Egypt has not suited us at all. It is such a shame as I still have lots to share about my experiences in Jordan.

I was driving in Cairo the other day and heard the new track from Fadel Shakir and Elissa. I do not understand Arabic but you know how certain songs and certain artists take you back in time. Well that’s what happened to me when I listened to the duet from Fadel Shakir and Elissa, called ‘Juwa el rou7′. 

I went home and logged on to www.nogomi.com and downloaded the new track. Nogomi is a one stop shop to all your Arabic tunes on the web. You have to register, which is free by the way but I do not think you will be disappointed. Try it, you might like it.

Well I still remember my first few days in Jordan and I would hear songs from Elissa and Fadel Shakir. Whenever I hear songs from either of the two artists, it takes me back to the good old days in Jordan.

My all time favorite Arabic track is ‘Khidni Ma3ak’ by Fadel Shakir and Yara. Whats your all time favorite?

wasapninjordan

 

By Yasmeen Ahmed
 
I see images of you everyday,
images that are, and will remain imprinted on my heart forever.
I cannot escape them, even if I were to try.
I see you, stood firm with a mere stone in your hand,
bravely confronting the oncoming tanks.
Your oppressors laugh and see it as a foolish act.
but my son, your stength comes from your unwaivering Emaan.
It is they who are the fools.
 
 
I see images of you everyday,
images that are, and will remain imprinted on my heart forever.
I cannot escape them, even if I were to try.
I see you stood motionless, with a blank look on your face,
staring at the rubble,
the rubble which was once..
your home.
Deafening bombs, brutally sent by cowardly invaders,
Cowards who have invaded..
..your home...your land..your mind...your heart...and your tranquility.
I see images of you everyday,
images that are, and will remain imprinted on my heart forever.
I cannot escape them, even if I were to try.
I see your limp, injured, bloody body carried by your father, rushing frantically and crazed.
I hear his piercing, panicked scream.
Yet.
it is only a still image before me.
Looking at it..
I...
cannot...
find..
my..
breath.
I see images of you everyday,
images that are, and will remain imprinted on my heart forever.
I cannot escape them, even if I were to try.
I see the remains of your beautiful mother,
you were to be her first born.
Shattered inside her womb.
My insides contract in agonising, unrecognisable pain.
Pain borne from the horrific way we have lost..
both of you.
I see images of you everyday,
images that are, and will remain imprinted on my heart forever.
I cannot escape them, even if I were to try.
I see the hoards of people at your funeral procession.
Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, brothers.
Raising the banner. Hurt beyond words.
Martyrs. Lions. Mujahids.
I see innocent life lost.
you, and you, and you, and you, and..
I try to shake off the feeling of madness, of disbelief, of lightheadedness.
My child,
your situation,
eats away at me..more than my disease.
You, my child, our child, are from amoungst this noble Ummahs honourable.
Deserving of witnessing the victory in your lifetime..InshaAllah.
wasapaninjordan

Asaalam Alykum,

My dear sisters and brothers I wanted to take this opportunity to send you a message from the sisters in Gaza. Please hear our situation and tell everyone that you know and dont know.

Our situation is dire but our eman is strong alhamdulillah, even though we have no water to speak of, and when we do it is polluted and we have no money to buy mineral water. When we find the money those that sell it say that it is too dangerous for them to travel out to get new supplies. We have no gas, and have not had for the last four months. We cook the little food we have on real fires that we have learned to prepare.

Our men have lost all of their jobs. They spend their days at home now. My husband can spend a day just going from place to place just for the basic need of water. He usually returns empty handed. There are no schools, no banks, hardly any hospitals open. You are constantly aware that you risk your life when you go out and when you are indoors. They give us a curfew between 1-4pm. We can go out, they say, in safety to get your supplies, but that is a lie. They have ofetn used that opportnity to add more shuhada to their list.

We eat one day rice and one day bread. Meat and milk are a luxury. They are using chemical warfare in the areas which are on the borders.

All this and we are being told that people demonstrate all over the world. Masha Allah. the fact that you go to embassies and leave your homes makes us feel truely that we are not alone in our struggle.

But you go home at night and lock your door. We cannot do that. I have to leave my home on the second floor every night and stay with my sister on the ground floor. Should there be an attack, it’s quicker to leave from the ground floor.

Yes we are tired. When we hear rockets and bombs and see planes that fly too close to our building, I scream with my young son and my husband feels helpless.

In all this there is no one but Allah (swt) that can save us. But the ummah is asking where are the armies, where is the victory. Dont forget us because you are all that we have now. Your kind sadeqat is not reaching us, and when they open borders it only reaches a few. Keep up the work of Allah and pray that th victory will come soon insha Allah.

Ws.

Your sister umm Taqi.

American F-16's used by Zionists wreak havoc in Gaza

Israel decides to bombard the Gaza Strip with the help of its American supplied F-16 bombers. At least 225 innocent people were murdered by the Zionists occupiers, mostly if not all were policemen, women and children. Over 700 are also reported to be injured by the air strikes.

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has said that the operation “may take some time” and “It’s not going to last a few days,”. Mr Olmert continued to argue that “You – the citizens of Gaza – are not our enemies. Hamas, Jihad and the other terrorist organisations are your enemies, as they are our enemies…”They have brought disaster on you and they try to bring disaster to the people of Israel. And it is our common goal to make every possible effort to stop them.”

What ever the differences with the group of Hamas, it was and is an elected group that was chosen from its citizens. The only disaster that the people have witnessed is from the Zionist occupiers and this attack today is a testament to that aggression.

Further reports suggest that the Israelis’ actually demand a harsher response towards the Palestinian people. This sentiment in Israel has produced further support for the Beiteinu Party which takes a hard-line approach on Gaza.

Will the World condemn the attacks by the Zionsist occupiers? Will the World denounce support for Israel for murdering civilians in such a manner?

NO, the world will listen, watch and go back to sleep again whilst the aggressors continue to cause havoc in the region. The West who claims to be the beacon of justice and equality has and continues to stay silent over this and other atrocities committed by their friend Israel. Will the world condemn and boycott America for support and harboring a terrorist state?

I guess not, same as always.

It’s a sad state of affairs.

wasapninworld

WaSapnin Jordan wishes everyone a Happy Eid (Eid Mubarak) on this day of sacrifice. The day which symbolises sacrifice for the Muslims world over, should be seen as a present concept to be applied in our daily lives. Do we sacrifice enough for our families, our community and our world? It’s about doing that little bit better and more than last year, to make this world a better place to live in.
let’s sacrifice for our better future.

wasapninjordan