A Day as a Arab

So this day was a fun filled adventure to learn more about the Arab culture in general. We knew a little of what was coming of course, but we really didn't know how neat it was going to be to learn and actually see a chunk of Arab culture in true form. The whole night included a live call to prayer and reading of the Koran, a dinner of true Arab food, and then a night activity of learning how to dance Arab style.

To tell you the truth, I didn't really know that much about how the Islamic religion functioned as far as it's Koran reading went or anything like that. I had seen the prayers at the mosque in Cairo, and I had heard the call to prayer (of course) but to actually see it live and to be able to ask questions about what was going on was a great experience. There were two men that came to do the readings and the prayers and we were actually greatly honored to have them. They are a father and son and they are the main two that get to say the call to prayer from the al-Aqsa mosque which is the mosque that accompanies the Dome of the Rock (al-Haram ash-Sharif or the Sacred Noble Sanctuary) on the Temple mount. This is the third most important place in Islam after Mecca and Medina, and now that it is a conflict area, it was the opinion of our translator that this is seen as one of the more important places now in Islam, if not the most holy. So to say the least, the guys that came and showed us all these things are some of the best in Islam. Actually, the job to call at the al-Aqsa mosque is a family responsibility, and these guys are in the 520th or so year of doing this for their family! It was really cool to actually hear the call live, and the voice of the guy that did it was simply amazing.

Here is the whole prayer that i took, I think that it's really neat. This happens 5 times a day every day reminding people that they need to pray now. Back in the day they would actually have people go to the top of the minarets and call, but now there are loudspeakers and the caller can just do it from the base of the mosque.

He also read to us from the Koran, the sura of Mary which tells the story of the virgin birth along with the story of her dealing with the persecution of afterwards. She didn't hook up with Joseph for al while after Jesus' birth win their version of the story. Jesus also rebukes the people of the town as an infant.. pretty cool if you ask me.

I think that it is amazing the way that the scriptures are read in Islam. When done correctly by an imam, the scriptures are 'sung' although they don't want you to say that. They still say that they are reading the Koran, but it has a melody to it, something that really gives it ebb and flow. It takes a lot of training and talent to read the Koran the way they do it, but they have the whole Koran memorized as well, so you tel them to start in any sura and verse, and bang, there they go! The guys that were with us had the Koran by the time they were about 9 or 10! Get going Luke! You're getting a little too old to get your chance!

They then showed us the way that they prayed, which was the same way that I had seen in the mosque, so i wont worry about going in to great detail here.

The next thing on the docket for the night was the meal that they prepared for us. We had the same cooks in the kitchen that we always do, but they had not cooked us lunch that day (we had sack lunches) so that they could have the whole day to cook the food for tonight. I tell you what, they cook up some mighty great stuff! There were really some foods that I don't think I would want to make again at home (there was this weird fish thing wrapped in steamed cabbage) and then there was stuff that was good that night, but when they gave it to us the next day... not too much! Anyway, it was fun because we got to try alot of new foods and it was a great time.

The last activity of the night was learning some fun Arab type dancing! We had 4 natives come in and teach us some simple steps to dance the night away. So now if we ever go dancing at the weddings around here, we will know what we are doing! It was all group dancing, and so we just got in big circles and would do the same steps over and over, curling around to the inside making what would have been a sweet pic from above us if we could have done that. We danced for a good hour though and really got into it all. I think that the native guys though we were a little nuts, but hey, if you tell us to get into something, we get into it!

Anyway, I think that about does it for today. I hope that you are are having fun! Laters!