Today I had a lie in, had a late breakfast, leisurly mowed the lawn and then sat in the sunshine while eating my ice cream and reading Mellron's Monsters.
All the while, the editor of this website must have woken up really early, stressed out about running 10k, ran the 10k, and didn't have an ice cream or read a book.
Hmmmm....
Who would you rather be?
You know how the grass is always greener on the other side, or so we think.
This particular day, I was sat on the grass in Springfields as I often did before college on a Tuesday afternoon.
Again soaking up the sun when I was awoken from my day dream by the ringing of my mobile telephone.
“Salams Imran, how’s it going bro?” I greeted him.
On the day in question, the sun was shining bright. Temperature was a comfortable 21 degrees. I’d just finished work, enjoyed the two mile cycle to Springfields (a small ‘relaxing’ area just outside the town centre)
I was sat on the grass munching on my Twix, taking in the rays, getting a tan (not that I really needed a tan, my ethnic origin being what it is)
The big screen was on and there were a lot of people gathered round it.
During the wintery days I used to get the bus to college after work and wait in the canteen or library for lessons to start. But on days like this I loved sitting in front of the big screen watching the world go by. I still had 40 minutes before lessons started.
"I really need to go now, we've got the regional manager coming round and he failed us on the availability of soft drinks last time. I don't want the same to happen again." Stuart, the supermarket express store manager, really didn't want to lose his quarterly bonus for a sixth time. Everything else was ok about his assistant, but he was just not too good at ordering the right levels of stock. He didn't want to (or should couldn’t) fire him as it was his son in law and his daughter would give Stuart a hard time if he had fired her husband.
"Ah look Tahir and Mary are just walking into the shop. See, you can go now. Now I have enough cover." Kevin was a bit strict about the policy of having more than one member of staff on site at all times.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far from here there lived a young Muslim couple in a house by a field. Life couldn't get any better they often said to one another. Then, one day it did. It got better, a lot better (or so they thought). They had a lovely baby daughter who they named Sonia.
They loved her, cared for her, protected her, brought her up with Islamic values, sent her school, sent her to masjid. Made her to wear the hijab to preserve her modesty. How very special she was to them both.
I know it’s not really safe. But there’s not many cars about. From glancing down I noticed it’s a text message from Shabeer, I haven’t heard from him a long while. He always made time for me while I was going through my depressed stage in 6th form. I know what, I’ll just pull up on the side of the road and check the text.
SHABEERS TEXT: Salams bro, can you please call me when you have a minute, I need to discuss a concern I have about a mutual friend of ours.
Oh dear, it sounded serious, so I was glad I’d pulled my car to the side of the road. Now I could safely call him, So I switched off my engine and dialled his number.
“Hello” he answered
“Salams Shabeer, it’s been a long time. Hope you’re well.”
(Unverified source but you get the message right?)
An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:
When I first saw him I recall thinking I don't want to be seen within 100 miles of this dirty tramp.
I asked my cousin what this guys name is. "They call him Ment"
What a stupid name. What's Ment ment to mean?
"His real name is Moazam" my cousin explained "they call him Ment because he's Mental"
"Oh right, so he's actually mental is he?" he sure looked it.
"I don't no, no one ever takes him seriously or gives him the time of day, he's just Mental"
It seemed the whole village was in on this. All 14 people in his household called him Ment (even his 2 year old sister - she did sound cute when she said it), the neighbours all called him Ment, even the shopkeepers and the policeman called him Ment.
I heard there's a place called The Alhambra Palace, and another place called The Cordoba Mosque. Both are architectural gems that can found Spain.
Spain - ruled my Muslims for a good number of years. There are other improvements to the way of life for the people of that region that were made by the Muslim rulers. The Mosque and Palace was not their only contributions.
I hear they greatly improved the education and infrastructure of this place.
The Public Bath House was another of the great works of these Muslim rulers. I hear some of these bath houses have been restored to their former glory and are being used for the purpose they were created even today.
AN EXTRACT FROM A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL BOOK:
Janet and Trudy we laughing quite uncontrollably as they sat into Trudy’s little red car on their way to town. The sun was shining bright, almost blinding. Not warm enough to be wearing vest tops and miniskirts as the two girls who just walked past though which is why Janet and Trudy were snuggled up in their cosy summer jackets.
Life was good as a pensioner despite incidents like pulling up to the lights on Upper Market Street and the salesman like gentleman in the car behind honking his horn. “It’s OK Trudy” reassured Janet “just ignore him. You were right to stop at the amber coloured light. It’s the safest thing to do. You can never be too careful you know. He should learn to be a little more patient”
