My name is tawfeeq .I am from Iraq , it is a Sumerians land . Iraq is located in the middle east , it is considered as the cradle of civilization where there first letter of writing was invented .But unfortunately Iraq now is unstable .
I was born in Najaf in the middle of Iraq .It is a holy city because it contains the shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib with its resplendent golden dome and minarets. His holy tomb under the shrine . He was buried here since a long time .Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib is a symbol of the social justice . This is one of his will ;
"My son, make yourself the measure for dealings between you and others. Thus, you should desire for others what you desire for yourself and hate for others what you hate for yourself. Do not oppress as you do not like to be oppressed. Do good to others, as you would like good to be done to you”. I always visit this holy shrine because it injects me by spiritual power.
There is a vast cemetery in the middle of my city . Shiites from all over the world ask to be buried here close to the Shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib. So , it becomes the largest cemetery in the world. When I was a kid I sat on the verge of the valley of this cemetery to ponder over graves ,feeling that my city was sad , and it took its sorrow from its graveyard which has devoured dead bodies eagerly for a long time . Ever since ,The cemetery has inspired me and makes me feel the absurdity of life .
I was born near the two places , shrine and cemetery .I always visit the street of our old home, reviving my old memories , remembering the old tree in the corner of the street .We used to sit under it when we were kids to play, fight to dream . My dreams began to be formed under this tree. The tree gradually fade away just like our dreams .later on , some of my dreams come true and some of them are no longer dreams because its time has been expired.
Near this tree ,there was a house of an old lady who taught me how to recite Quran , I was 5 years old , so I am still indebted to the late old lady.
I remember , we left that place when I reached puberty. My family moved to an another quarter. I feel quit nostalgic, still live spiritually in that old street , whishing if I could stop that time to live longer lasted period of childhood .
I like the place of my birthday I feel as if I am deeply rooted in .
Comments
Hi zahra@ Thank you for reading my blog .I really appreciate it .
Hi Ha ,
It gladdens me to see your nice comment on my blog .Friends like you have enriched my learning journey by encouragements .Once , I promised you to write a new blog and I did it dear Ha. Thank you so much for reading .
Rajesh …Thank you so much bother for your comment .I appreciate your reading and commenting
I feel glad to see your comment again.
The comment makes me curious . Once you told me about your religion does your comment mean that you have converted to another religion ? you can tell me inbox . I have not received a message from you for a long time. Thank you Anele for your nice comment .
It's nice knowing about your homeland. Thank you! :)
Dear Tawfeeq and Arif,
Yes, you both are absolutely right when it comes to thinking that dead people could no longer harm us. I guess I left my comment without giving so much thought on how other people might view it. When I was not yet converted, I used to have this eerie thought that cemeteries were the scariest place to go to. As a teenager, I grew up like normal teens who used to go with peers watching horror movies a lot.
When I became a convert, my spiritual outlook on this matter changed. I no longer consider cemeteries as the scariest place in town but since my religion considers dead bodies as unclean, cemeteries then become unclean for me. It is not my habit to inject my religion into my comments that when I left comments, they represented the general thought in the lightest mood.
I like your point .......I also see that dead people do not hurt anyone they just sleep peacefully .They are unlike some alive people who are callous and heartless ,but the place itslef is scary .
I am glad to hear that you read about Ali and Abo Baker dear arif .Thank you for your thoughtful comment .
I read much about him. I love him and all companions who stood by my beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). The love of Hadrat Ali and Abo Baker (May Allah be pleased with them) is as much important to me as soul to body, otherwise my faith remain incomplete.
@anele.
Thank you for telling us mysterious situation at the cemetery of your side, whereas where I usually go is not as much scaring as you explained. There is complete peace and tranquility. The fact is that we people scare dead body, who can't harm us, whereas love and support those living body, who are taking innocent lives and causing destruction of this beautiful world.
Hi Anele …….. I can’t see cemetery from my place now but still see the shrine and its minarets , still hear Azan [call of prayer ]in the dawn .I like to hear it ,I guess many people like to hear it .Just take a look on this photo and see what the actor said.
As you said “It's pretty scary living near the cemetery”. Yes you are right but I think living there makes you a kind of philosophers .You always think deeply of your end; how it would be ! feel that you will be soon a dead who sleeps underneath the ground .So , what is the aim of life ?
Thank you Anele for your wonderful comment , I really appreciate it.
By transferring to another quarter, I guess it means you are not living very far from your birthplace. Can you no longer see the big cemetery when you transferred?
It's pretty scary living near the cemetery. It's not because of those films that made us believe there are ghosts but because of the eeriness emanating from this place. There are also places known for being quiet but cemeteries are not a good place to go when you seek solitude and quieteness. The thought that there are dead bodies sleeping underneath the ground is enough to send chilly quiver to our spines.
I guess I learned something from your blog.... that each of us will always treat our birthplace/hometown as a home sweet home without considering their condition. There's really no place like home.
Really glad to see you write again!
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