Driving Lessons (2)

You can read part (1) here.

The Illusion Of Control!!
Two weeks ago was my second driving lesson. This time, Dad decided to promote me to the 2nd level of speed. But before that, he checked if I still remember what we did last week. And here comes the comedy!!

First, I missed up the order of actions necessary to start-up the car. And after two miserable tries, I finally did it, thanks to Allah (I often miss the orders up :D )!!

After that, Dad aims to make focus on how to make the turn perfectly. The word "perfectly" here means: assuming that there's too many cars around me, how should I keep my car on its track without touching the other tracks, which in returns means touching the other cars, which in returns means a car crash! Soooo simple.

I thought that I'm doing great, just as I'm born a driver by nature B-). Dad has another point of view... Well... Let's skip that part O:-)

But, mainly, I've noticed that I treat the driving wheel in a binary system, with no smooth redirecting, which reflected as a terrible zigzagging moving :(

In the middle of Dad's flow of instructions, and my low speed of processing them, I imagined myself going through Cairo's crowdy streets, driving so professionally; and finally after long years of suffering in public transportation, I go to work with MY OWN CAR!

I woke up from my dreams on a yell from Papa, just after an extraordinary.. stupid turn..

I was shocked for few seconds. What have I don?!! How could I be so ridicules?!! Where was I?!!!!!

I realized that I've run away from feeling not so good, to a dream where I see myself as I'd love to see it! That made me lose my attention to the current moment, and that was just about to lead to a disaster!!

It's not the first time to do so. And I'm not the first one to do so too!!

So many people scape from their current miserable lives by just dreaming.. without taking any actions to change the present to the better! I feel that it's so dangerous. It looks like taking a Psychedelic. But Psychedelic never heals diseases, doesn't it?!

There's a huge difference between "Having a vision and a goal to seek it", and "Escaping from reality by living on clouds of illusion".

Hope I made myself clear,
And pray for me to quit my bad habits :D..
Or .. Perhaps.. It's Dad the one needs for prayers O:-)

You Came To Me

You came to me in that hour of need
When I was so lost, so lonely
You came to me, took my breath away
Showed me the right way, the way to lead

You filled my heart with love,
Showed me the light above
Now all I want is to be with you
You are my one true love,
Taught me to never judge
Now all I want is to be with you

Allahuma salay alla saedeena Mustafa
Ala habibika nabeeka Mustafa

You came to me in the time of despair
I called onto you, you were there
Without you what would my life be
Not know the unseen?, the worlds between

For you I'd sacrifice, for you I'd give my life
Any thing just to be with you
I feel so lost at times of all the hurt and lies
Now all I want is to be with you

Showed me right from wrong
Told me to be strong
Need you more than ever ya Rasulallah

You came to me in that hour of need
Need you more than ever ya Rasulallah

You filled my heart with love,
Showed me the light above
Now all want is to be with you
You are my one true love,
Taught me to never judge
Now all I want is to be with you

Song for: Sami Yusuf
Arabic version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ13Dc7VAGk

اللهم لا تحرمنا صحبته في الاخرة وفرحه بنا بوم لقاه

Palestine Will Be Free

Every day we tell each other
That this day will be the last
And tomorrow we all can go home free
And all this will finally end
Palestine tomorrow will be free
Palestine tomorrow will be free

No mother no father to wipe away my tears
That’s why I won’t cry
I feel scared but I won’t show my fears
I keep my head high

Deep in my heart I never have any doubt
That Palestine tomorrow will be free
Palestine tomorrow will be free

I saw those rockets and bombs shining in the sky
Like drops of rain in the sun’s light
Taking away everyone dear to my heart
Destroying my dreams in a blink of an eye

What happened to our human rights?
What happened to the sanctity of life?
And all those other lies?

I know that I’m only a child
But is your conscience still alive

I will caress with my bare hands
Every precious grain of sand
Every stone and every tree
‘Cause no matter what they do
They can never hurt you
Coz your soul will always be free

Palestine tomorrow will be free
Palestine tomorrow will be free

Lyrics: Maher Zain & Bara Kherigi
Melody: Maher Zain
Arrangement: Maher Zain & Hamza Namira
© Awakening Records 2009

Driving Lessons

Lesson Number One :)

This post has nothing to do with Rupert Grint's movie "Driving Lessons", it's about *My* Driving Lessons :D
Last Saturday, was my first lesson, supervised by my Dad ;).
Actually, I was planning for this post long time ago, but I think I'm going to switch into Arabic as my cars English vocabulary isn't that good yet :D

اخيرا... وبعد طووووول إلحاح على الباشمهندس بابا... قرر سيادته ان يحول وعوده الى افعال!

وفي الحالات اللي زي دي، لا يمكن انزل من بيتنا من غير تحميس ورفع معناويات *هايل* من عفريت العلبه (اخويا الضغير):" تبقى سلمي لي على الارصفه وعواميد النور!!!"

رحنا ااااااااااخر المدينة، حيث الجبال و الرمال والهواء الحسن. كان شارع رايح جاي، بس ماكنش فيه ولا حد رايح، ولا حد جاي، كان فاضي خالص... جو مثالي للتدريب...

اول ما ركبت مكان السواق... اترعبت!! وبدأت افكار سوداء تتزاحم في عقلي... (مش هاعرف... هاخبط العربية... هانعمل حادثه... ازاي هسيطر عليهاااا!!!! مش هاعرف... مش هاعرف... مش هااااعررررررررف!!!!)...

وهلم جره (على رأي د. عمرو)... إلا اني قررت ان لا اسمح لمثل هذه الافكار ان تسيطر عليا، وان تسلبني متعتي. فبدأت الافكار البيضا تحل مكان اخواتها السود... (اييييييييوه... دي اللحظه اللي كنت مستنياها... اكيد مش هاتكون اسوء من الـ
Python with OpernERP
زي نيد فور سبيد بالظبط... ياااه... بقالى زمااااان ملعبتش اللعبه دي)!!

دي كانت البدايه... مبشره جداااااااااا... النهايه كانت احلى... لاني قدرت امشي بالعربيه فعلا لمده نص ساعه او ساعه إلا ربع تقريبا في الشارع. كنت بلف الشارع زي ماكون بلف التراك!! يعني قدرت اني امشي في خط مستقيم وألف على الواسع والضيق كمان...

اللي في النص بقى... دا بيني وبين البشمهندس !!

بس اتعلمت عالشان تطلع ، تدوس دبرياج على الاخر خااااالص، تجيب السرعه الاولى ، وبعدين تشيل رجلك من على الدبرياج واحده واحده، وفي نفس الوقت تدوس بنزين... دوس بنزين براحه. كنت فاكره ان كل ما ندوس بنزين السرعة تزيد، بس طلع ان السرعه بتزيد من العصايه اللي في النص دي (مش فاكره اسمها). الموضوع تقريبا معتمد على الاحساس بدواسه البنزين والدبرياج و الفرامل، ودي حاجه لسه محتاجه اتدرب عليها.

بس فعلا تجربه ممتعه، ومن ساعة ما خلص الدرس الاول وانا مستنيه الدرس التاني بفارغ الصبر.

بعد ما رجعت، كان لازم احسس عفريت العلبه ان *تشجيعه* جاب نتيجه، اول ما دخلت قلت له: "شيلت 5 ارصفه، و 16 عمود، وترليتين، وبس!!!!"

يتبع... ان شاء الله

Sami Yusuf's Honorary Doctorate Speech

Sami Yusuf is one of my inspiration sources. For me, he's not just a singer that I'm one of his fans. I do respect him so much, and highly admire his believes and mentality. May Allah blesses him, and help hem to continue his journey.
Here's a part of his Honorary Doctorate Speech. If you read it carefully, You'd know what I'm talking about.


"I am absolutely honored to accept the award of Doctor of Letters. ...
You may be feeling daunted by this, but we have one thing in common.

We all face challenges in our lives, and we will all strive to overcome them.

Before I go on, I have to admit that I am not a very good Popstar. I don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and you won’t find me hauling Paris Hilton out of a nightclub at 4am. I am also shy, and I hate talking about myself, so please bear with me, I would much rather prefer to sing you a few of my songs – but I have not got any biographical ones.

So a speech it is…

I am not a man to give unwanted advice, but I can tell from my own heart that nothing has given me more pleasure than to be creative, to challenge orthodox thinking and to be the best I can be – from my personal and business relationships, to my work.

Let me explain.

Some of you will obviously be wondering who I am! It is very hard for me to explain, but simply put, I am a proud British Muslim, from London, who has only ever made music I have wanted to make – I kind of call it “Art with a Purpose”

Basically I write and perform music which infuse the spirit of the Muslim character into a new sound both Western and Eastern in flavor and appeal. I have sold albums to fans in countries as diverse as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Iran. Which is nice, but that is more of a footnote to the journey.

I created records that were unthinkable by certain Islamic scholars, creating a new market among Muslims of all ages who were not permitted to listen to any popular music without incurring the wrath of family, friends and certain religious authorities.

So - when I first started composing and song-writing, there was simply no market for my music. I was writing about my love of God – not exactly something which would get me the attention of Sony or any of the global labels. Let alone Simon Cowell!

Sitting there at the piano or violin, I never considered whether it was brave or stupid…
…to create music no-one had ever created before
… in a genre that didn’t exist
…to a market which had never bought a pop record before.
Sounds pretty stupid right!

It was just real to me, it was truthful and came from my heart.

Looking back now, I can tell you it is a relief. I certainly must have done something very right.

My own faith, my own identity led me to create this music, which spoke of my love of God and respect for fellow human beings.

All of this came about of me following my dream, being truthful with myself, not faltering or diverting when others have suggested a path I felt in my heart was wrong.

Happiness and success come when you make sure you hold your ideals and dreams as sacred, and then I assure you..

Anything and everything is possible to achieve in life."
References:
http://www.samiyusufofficial.com/?p=1372
http://www.samiyusufofficial.com/?page_id=1065