Archive for category Egypt
Egypt’s Day of Anger
Jan 25
The Luxor-Aswan Nile Cruise
Feb 21
The long overdue post on the Eid alAdha Luxor-Aswan Nile Cruise!
Itinerary:
Friday, 27 November
- 2:30am: Depart Dokki for Cairo Internationl Airport
- 4:35am: Depart Cairo for Aswan on EgyptAir Flight 090
- 6am: Arrive Aswan Airport, Drive to Nile
- 7am: Check into Nile Cruise (boat M/S Domina Prestige Emilio)
- 8am: Visit Philae Temple & High Dam
- noon: Lunch on board
- 3pm: Navigation to Kom Ombo
- Dinner on board & overnight
Saturday, 28 November
- 8am: Visit the Kom Ombo Temple
- Navigation to Edfu
- Visit the Temple of Edfu
- Navigation to Luxor with passage through Esna Lock
- Dinner on board and overnight
Sunday, 29 November
- 8am: Visit West Bank (of Nile)
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple & Memnon
- Afternoon free on board
Monday, 30 November
- Visit the temples of Karnak
- Afternoon free in Luxor
- 6pm: Proceed to Luxor Airport
- 7:50pm: Depart Luxor on EgyptAir Flight 167 to Cairo
- 9:00pm: Arrive Cairo Airport, transfer to Dokki
Nile Cruise
On the Nile
Ancient Pharaonic Homes on Nile
Grazing Land on Nile (between Luxor and Aswan)
Cairo International Book Fair 2010, the only limiting factor: 2 suitcases and 50 lbs/item weight restriction for international flights!!!
Here’s an article that comes pretty close to doing justice in describing the book fair:
Source: alternativeentertainment.wordpress.com
Let me say right at the onset that the only reason I’m writing this is to help the Egyptian Tourism industry, and also to show my gratitude to the Organisers of the quite incredible Cairo International Book Exhibition. It’s not to make other students of knowledge and scholars feel jealous as they realise what they missed out on (although of course you did miss out) and it’s not to make others feel bad (although of course you should feel slightly bad and gutted on missing the greatest show around).
So no nazr on me folks. :)
Anyway, this معرض القاهرة الدولى للكتاب yearly get together is world-famous and rightly so. It is quite simply mind-boggling. Effectively all of the world’s Arabic book publishers come down for a couple of weeks with all their key stock and all their latest releases, prints, authenticated versions etc.
It’s nothing but books, books, and then more wonderful, amazing, gratifying, delightful…books. Seriously, it’s the playground of the scholars (and there are plenty of them walking round, it’s like spotting the celebrity!) and when you enter and walk around, you start to really feel like a kid again in a sweet shop. It’s ‘ajeeb ya’ni.
I think I visited over two hundred separate book shops/stalls over 18 hours and I probably had to leave 80% of the rest of the stalls because my body simply couldn’t handle it, despite wheelchairs, brothers and all the other help you can imagine. Okay, I’ve got to admit that we decided to use the wheelchair to carry the books, but hey.
I could wax lyrical to be honest, but instead why don’t I show you some of the pics that were taken from our group.
Books, books, glorious books!
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Momix at Cairo Opera House
Nov 26
Mt. Sinai – Eid Weekend
Oct 9
FINALLY UPLOADED! So to break it down: after a 7 hour drive from Cairo we arrived at the St. Catherine’s Monastery at the base of Mt. Sinai on the second to last day of Ramadan. The monastery is the oldest intact monastery in the world. It was granted protection by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and the original document is preserved inside the monastery. The site is holy to Jews, Christian, and Muslims alike as it is believed that the site at which Moses met God via the burning bush is located within the walls of the monastery. There is much to be learned from the text of the charter written by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) granting protection and rights to the monks and Christians of 7th century Egypt. Check out 
Dr. Aslam Abdullah’s article “Relations with Christians according to Muhammad (S)” which has the text of the charter.
After arriving at St. Catherine’s monastery around 5pm, exploring the area, breaking fast and eating dinner we all decided to take a nap before the planned midnight climb of Mt. Sinai. A lot of tourists visit the monastery, and climb Mt. Sinai during the night to view the sun rise from atop Mt. Sinai. We woke up around 1:30am, met our student group, and headed towards the road that leads up to Mt. Sinai. Along the road up to Mt. Sinai there are several rest stops where you can buy all your “favorite” drinks for hi-jacked prices: coca-cola, sprite, orange fanta, and of course, bebsi. You’ll also be sure to notice the many locals who attempt to sell you a camel ride up to the top of the mountain.
Personally, the climb up to Mt. Sinai was pretty epic. I’m glad it was night and I couldn’t see what we were climbing other than what was 10 feet ahead of us. Perhaps it was a bad idea to climb during Ramadan, but I was truly exhausted by the time we got to the top. I think around 3am, or more than half-way up, I got separated from everyone in our student group and from anyone else who was climbing up. If it wasn’t for the flashlight in my cellphone, it would’ve been nearly impossible to find my way to the top. At each of the rest stops it was amazing to look back down and see the dozens, if not hundreds, of lights (flashlights) of the people climbing the mountain.
Sunrise atop Mt. Sinai
After finally arriving to the top around 4am, I looked around for the masjid someone had advised to make sure to pray in, and was relieved to find comfort from the chilling weather outside. The masjid is more like a small musalla, just a small room accommodating perhaps 10 people at most.
Watching the sun rise was a really good experience. I made sure to bring a sweater up with me, but it wasn’t enough. The locals rent out blankets, which nearly everyone decides to buy and find a good spot to sit and watch the sun rise. Its not until the way down, that you actually realize what a long trail you’ve climbed. I remember I kept thinking, subhanAllah how did Prophet Musa (pbuh) climbed this when there was no trail. It must have been nothing less than Divine inspiration.
My pix:
By Dr. Aslam Abdallah
IslamiCity
Under the guidance of Pope John Paul II the Catholic Church provided significant leadership in promoting peace, justice and harmony among religions. Now the new Pope, the most revered figure in the Catholic world, infallible to his followers and the representative of God to his co-religionist is choosing a path of dialogue with Muslims that seems disturbing.
St. Catherine's Belltower
In a recent speech he decided to quote a 14 century monarch in his argument about Jihad. The quote of the emperor was a political statement within the context of his relations with the emerging Ottoman dynasty, not worthy of giving any credibility. Yet, the Pope chose to repeat it.
If the speech writers of Pope Benedict XVI had looked at a book the “Spread of Islam in the World: A History of Peaceful Preaching”, written by a prominent 19th century historian Professor Thomas Arnold, they might not have quoted the passage of the emperor.
Stronger than the book are the words of Prophet Muhammad himself with regard to Christianity. In 628 CE he sent a charter of freedom to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. If Pope Benedict XVI or his speech writers had looked at this document they would have found a different image of the Prophet.
This document consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians living under Islamic rule, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war.
Here is the letter written to the monks. This letter was written at a time when no one was talking about freedom of religion, pluralism or protection of human life.
“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”*
*The English translated text of the Charter of Privileges was extracted from the Book ‘Muslim History: 570 – 1950 C.E.’ by Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq, ZMD Corporation. P.O. Box 8231 – Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8231 – Copyright Akram Zahoor 2000. P. 167.
Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas
Sep 30
1st visit on class field trip
Taraweeh at Masjid Amr – Sept. 8
Masjid Amr – Ramadan Night of 27th
On the night of the 27th of Ramadan I decided to go to Masjid Amr ibn Al-Aas, despite having been warned that I wouldn’t find a spot to pray and that if I did go I should arrive well before Maghrib (another advice that, for some reason, I didn’t heed).
Islamic Architecture
Sep 30
I know I haven’t been doing a good job blogging my semester in Egypt. Now that Ramadan has come to pass, and I’ve finally found some time to write some posts, I’m going to try to blog about my experience at least once a week inshaAllah/God-willing!
To start off: I’m taking this really informative class on Islamic architecture “The Development of Islamic Architecture in the City of Cairo”. It wasn’t originally fitting into my semester schedule, so I decided to audit the class (just sit in and take the class, no credit). Its especially amazing because our professor is being issued a special permit to take us to some sites that aren’t open to tourists (or Egyptians for that matter), and others that are sealed off. So I’ll definitely be updating posts on our field trips. We’ve already been to several sites, that I’ve lagged to post 
Should be up today iA!
Taraweeh at Masjid Al-Azhar
Aug 30
Been praying Taraweeh at Masjid al-Azhar for a few nights. Surprisingly, Masjid al-Azhar is one of the only masjids that pray 20 rak’aat for taraweeh. I’m going to try to go to several different mosques throughout Ramadan and will post some info inshaAllah. As for Masjid al-Azhar:
- The university was founded by the Fatimid dynasty of Egypt, descended from Fatimah (may God be pleased with her), daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Fatimah was called Az-Zahra (the brilliant), and the university was named in her honor.
- Studies began at Al-Azhar in the month of Ramadan, 975 AD (364 AH). The university had faculties in Islamic law and jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, Islamic astronomy, Islamic philosophy, and logic.
- Azhar University is the world’s second oldest university that is currently in operation; the first being University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Morcocco.
Pyramids Excursion
Aug 29
Our study abroad group went for a tour of the Pyramids today with a leading Egyptologist, Dr. Randa Baligh, who teaches Ancient Egypt (Egyptology 301) at the AMIDEAST facility.
SubhanAllah, I couldn’t help but remember these verses. Some of these pyramids were built over 4,000 years ago! Nothing remains of them but these monuments, and only God knows what the status of the pharaohs will be on the Day of Judgment!
“And how many a generation (past nations) have We destroyed before them, who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance?” (Qur’an 19:74)
“And (remember) when We separated the sea for you and saved you and drowned Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh) people while you were looking (at them, when the sea-water covered them).” (Qur’an 2:50)
So here’s some random info I was able to write down or still remember:
- There are 90-100 pyramids in Egypt.
- The most famous and largest is located in Giza (Great Pyramid of Giza) and is one of the only seven wonders of the Ancient World that stands intact. It was built about 4,500 years ago in honor of the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. Although this pyramid was originally 146 meters tall, with the test of time and erosion it now stands at 138 meters.
- Generally the pyramids were built west of the Nile River. This is due to the fact that the Ancient Egyptians worshipped the Sun and the West, as the point of sunset, meant death and the eternal afterlife for them.
- The Pyramids point true north, and were measured using the North Star.
- Today, tourists enter the Great Pyramid through a tunnel dug by the Caliph Al-Ma’mum around 820 AD.
We were able to go inside the second largest pyramid, next to the Great Pryamid (you need to come early in the morning if you want to go inside the Great Pyramid)… but honestly there wasn’t much to it. Just declined a very small opening down into a pathway that led to the other side of the Pyramid where you can see a large room with a coffin at the end. Much of what was in the Pyramids is no longer there. It was either stolen by thieves, colonizers, or is in Museum’s in Cairo or Britain.