Men Without Eyes, Men Without Voices

Assalaamu Alaykum,

I shared this quote from the German-American Poet Charles Bukowski a couple of days ago as it had really hit me.

“I walk through rooms of the dead, streets of the dead, cities of the dead: men without eyes, men without voices; men with manufactured feelings and standard reactions; men with newspaper brains, television souls and high school ideals.”

It’s still hitting me, it’s still bouncing around my brain as I observe popular culture and those around me and see the truth I have known and so far not found the words to articulate of what I had seen in all these people’s eyes for such a long time.

Though he was non-Muslim, indeed was very much against organised religion or organised anything in society, still it’s a truth about so many of the people who walk and work their way through life without ever really having any meaningful thought or action from the time they are indoctrinated into modernity as a child to the time of the their death.

They are born, they are raised to think in a particular pattern, to follow the status quo whatever that is, when and wherever they are, through a western standardised education, then when they are young adults they have a few experiences good and bad but nothing profound, before they need to work, to pay the bills or for the education they just went through, to afford the lifestyle everyone tells them they should follow but still nothing is really made, or battled for, there is no real striving in thought or deed.

Then they marry, they love to a degree then they start the whole program again this time through their progeny with slightly updated white goods and homes, but fundementally it’s all the same.

Though we say we believe in a different creed, a spiritual creed different to this materialism, can the Muslims in the UK or in the wider west say we are really showing this in our lives, living a different mode or are we (and I include myself in this) really just fooling ourselves we are making incremental differences?

Whilst at the same time our nafs and the program we run through living in the west forces us to assimilate day by day, month by month, year by year, generation following generation becoming more and more the same as all those around us.

Becoming just like everyone else, “Men without eyes, men without voices; men with manufactured feelings and standard reactions; men with newspaper brains, television souls and high school ideals.”

We compete for the worldly life, the latest gadgets and must have kitchen devices, the bigger car to drive us to the masjid, or to carry our goods back from the shops, the iphones and the breadmakers whilst fooling ourselves we are spiritually enlighted as we can now afford to go on Hajj or the latest uplifting holiday to Morocco or Turkey with the perfect holiday snaps uploaded to social media.

I get it, not everyone can think deeply, not everyone is made that way otherwise society will crumble, crops will not be sown, the cars not made and the calls to service providers go unanswered. But those who do have an ability to think have a duty outside of their work whatever that is, outside of their families, their day to day living to open their eyes to the truth, to seek it out, to speak it when they find it out loud and in letters and print.

How many with souls which could have flown and done great or terrible things have instead allowed them to wither away in the mundane day to day living until in their dotage they see they have never lived a true life that those around them could really have appreciated?

Maybe this is not you or me totally yet, maybe this way we live makes you uneasy in your soul as it does me increasingly, so should we not then strive to think original thoughts to the problems in this world, to seek out the truth and amplify it when we find it in our deen, to ponder over the meaning of the universe and why we are here and to then attempt to truly make a difference to our own selves first and then to others?

But I think we all fall into this trap to some degree living where we do. At some point we look at who we have become, think of every sensible worldly decision which choice by choice narrowed down our potential and wonder what if we’d gone the other way?

Though we cannot turn back the clock, Allah has put us in this life once only, and can change ourselves, we need to truly live it in the now, whilst aiming for the afterlife, striving and struggling to truly live and make a difference for our own souls and those around us.

Allah states,

And the example of those who disbelieve, is as that of him who shouts to the (flock of sheep) that hears nothing but calls and cries. (They are) deaf, dumb and blind. So they do not understand.
Quran translation, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:171

As I contemplated this short quote, and then looked into the life of Charlie Bukowski I felt a deep sense of loss and sadness he’d rejected the false life of the western secularised modernity only to fall into and embrace nhilism as an answer to the question of meaning in this world.

To think someone who had written such beautiful words only to move through life from bottle to bottle, woman to woman, that is achingly sad to me, to have reached half the truth whilst blinding himself to the next stage of it.

But I’ve not written any poetry myself for near ten years and not much else other than the odd blog post so though I think his answer is wrong, at least he attempted an answer. How many of us can say the same?

I used to spend endless hours walking, staring at the stars and the moon, listening to the animals and birds, sitting on a bench in the city centre observing all the people and their lives and pondering the why and the how, so why have I almost stopped doing this myself?

Allah commands us repeatedly in the Quran to contemplate, but instead we learn by rote and regurgitate. Yes we need to learn the truth, but we do really understand it and live it or are we still on some level dead in our hearts? men without eyes, men without voices?

I am going to go for a walk now in the country, to wake up myself up a little, to feel again if I can and keep doing so day after day until I find my words again.

I suggest whatever it was that opened your heart when you were young, you do the same as long as it’s good and wholesome of-course.

Assalaamu Alaykum,

Gingerbeardman

Begone Mr Fox…

Saw one of these nasty vermin going after my families cat this morning, after fajr salaah… Time to call in the local hunt, ‘TALLY HO!’ 🐎🐎🐎📯

Mirror Newspaper Corona Virus Casual Racism

There are obviously bigger concerns than casual racism in newspapers at the moment, and yes the tabloid newspapers are trash we shouldn’t read but instead use as emergency bum wiping supplies in case we can’t get enough of the proper stuff because of  the moronic hoarders, and yes the people who own them and write for them are partly responsible for dumbing down the public discourse on just about every issue they poison with their idiotic 5 or sometimes 6 letter word coverage but…

It is sometimes worth noting they are part of the problem when it comes to racism in society, to see the casual racism that these educated, middle class, liberal-elite writers pump out along with their celebrity gossip columns, horoscopes, and football coverage which then seeps into the subconscious brains of the millions of people who read such trash who might, just might generally be fairly decent and where they are not are certainly a whole lot less racist than some assume and are doing a lot better than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

Here is an image lifted from the Mirror website, thanks to Mohammed Sadiq on facebook for spotting this one. This was a stock image taken from online and then they’ve found or made a ‘white-washed’ version to remove all the visibly ethnic faces which might offend the sensibilities of their readers, who would freak out to see a cartoon image of the doctors who happen to not look like them (or most of the journalists and chattering classes for that matter).

The top image is lifted from the mirror, the bottom is the original.

In this we shouldn’t blame the working classes who make up the majority of the readership of this waste of tree pulp, rough substitute bog roll, who are not blind and are well aware the NHS workforce is made up of many different ethnic groups. I blame this on the actions of a well meaning, lefty journalist who perhaps working from home may have looked down from their hip, Islington, penthouse flat Ivory tower and thought “The working classes… they’re a bit thick and racist and voted for Brexit, no way could they bring themselves to show the support of the NHS whilst their nan dies of Corona virus if too many darkies are in the picture, let me do something about that.”

Remember this is the Mirror, the ‘good’ tabloid, the lefty one, supposedly non-racist one, according to many at least and whose articles are shared repeatedly at election times by certain types on social media and they’ve managed in these times of shortened staff to go the extra mile, get someone to put in the effort to cock up the most simple of messages, to support the medical professionals in these troubled times and taint it with racism, oh and insult the intelligence of their working class readers. To aim the proverbial shotgun at their corporate foot and pull the trigger on both barrels.

Ethnic minorities are massively represented in the NHS, and increasingly so and most people are glad of it accept for the real knuckle-draggers out there (yes you ‘Gary’).

It’s not just towns and cities, even little villages like the one my parents live in in Leicestershire has ethnic minority medical staff in the pharmacies and nearby GP surgeries. Even 30 years ago, the coal mining village in South Yorkshire where I grew up and which was at least back then pretty racist had an Asian doctor and black medical staff and all but the most moronic would still happily put their prejudices aside back then if it meant getting seen sooner.

People for the most part rarely care who serves them, especially when it comes to the their health and the well-being of those they love, where they want the best qualified person whatever colour, race or creed they happen to be.

Don’t get me wrong there is still racism out there, sometimes shocking instances of it, but things would probably get better sooner if the tabloids, part of a dying medium hurried up and went the way of the Dodo. We can only hope if there is a recession after Covid 19, the likes of the Mirror are the first to go bankrupt as people cut back on paying for this rubbish and get their news elsewhere instead.

 

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB…

Mary had a little lamb
And Mary’s Pakistani
Today it’s Eid, she’s with her fam
Now the lamb is biryani!

Eid Mubarak from the Gingerbeardman and family, Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum, may Allaah accept from us and from you.

(original credit goes Omar Haider Bhatti for the rhyme taken from his facebook page)

 

 

 

 

 

THE PALEO-DIET

In an anthropology class years ago, my professor began by stating that paleo-humans (the people living 10,000+ years ago) were the healthiest in human history.  That small fact intrigued me and stayed with me, pushing me to re-imagine our ancient ancestors and the reality of our modern world.  Thus, when recently I heard about the Paleo diet, I just had to find out more about this radical and sometimes controversial diet and lifestyle.

When most of us try to imagine the lives of the first people, back before the Iron Age or the Bronze Age, back before the agricultural revolution when most people were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, we tend to evoke a rather bleak image of those people’s lives: hunting giant beasts with rudimentary weapons, collecting a few roots and berries and barely surviving through winter and famine to perpetuate the existence of the species.  Contrary to popular belief, however, anthropologists are increasingly arguing that, based on accumulating evidence such as bones and dental records, Paleo Man was actually more robust and healthy than the average person today and for a variety of reasons, including their diet.

The Paleo diet and lifestyle is based on the idea of eating in a way that is similar to our paleo-ancestors, which works well within a modern context.  It is argued that such a diet best serves the needs of our bodies and leads to optimal health because it provides the right balance of organic foods which we are genetically wired to process, use and store in the most efficient manner. Humans are naturally omnivores; we are able to eat from a wide range of food sources, including many plants and animals and even some fungi. Therefore, the Paleo diet draws not only on anthropology, but on modern research in epigenetics and human development to argue for a diet that is rich in protein, fruits and vegetables and low in grains (carbohydrates) and sugar.

Paleo is often considered to be a variety of the low-carb diet, similar to the Atkins diet in that it stresses a reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates.  However, unlike Atkins, it lays more stress on the health and environmental importance of eating free-range and organic meat and eggs and also advocates not eating vegetable oils.

Allah has commanded us, in multiple places in the Qur’an, to eat not only what is halal, but also what is tayyib, which can be understood as what is good, wholesome and pure.  In modern terminology, that could translate as organic, meaning free of poisonous pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and artificial additives. In the case of our meat, animals should have space to roam, be well treated and fed a diet which is consistent with their natural disposition (i.e., not fed the products of other animals or synthetic mixes designed to make them fat). Eating what is tayyib is the heart and soul of the Paleo diet and lifestyle.

Don’t be fooled by the critics’ (and some zealous proponents’) over-emphasis of meat consumption.  In fact, a well balanced Paleo diet will include lots and lots of fresh fruit and veggies.  While the Paleo diet is also by no means vegetarian, the important thing to remember is that, when it comes to meat, quality (organic, free range) is far more important than quantity.

It is for this reason that the Paleo diet tends to demonise grains (which are our primary source of carbohydrates), and particularly processed grain products like flour and its many by-products.  What most people today do not realise is that what we consider to be an average Western diet is actually significantly more carb-dense than the human diet has been for most of history.  Furthermore, once something has been processed to the point that it becomes pure white powder, it has become a nutritional desert and should be avoided (fun fact: the term “empty calories” was actually created to describe breakfast cereal). Some evidence suggests that our paleo-ancestors did eat a variety of starches, particularly from roots, maize and other varieties of grain. Their sources were significantly more nutrient-rich than most modern varieties of corn and wheat and they still did not eat nearly as much of it as the average person today. This diet places an emphasis on freshness, nutrients and minimising the consumption of highly processed foods rather than eliminating grains and starches from our diets altogether.

What also impressed me about this diet is the general lack of branded “Paleo” products.  Unlike many famous diets, it has not spawned legions of extremely profitable bars, shakes, membership fees, etc.  The only people who profit from promoting the Paleo diet, besides a handful of Paleo diet book authors, are small scale organic farms and farmers’ markets.  It’s not being made into a big business because that would be inherently antithetical to the Paleo lifestyle.

The Paleo diet does not argue for us to all go back to being hunter-gatherers, which would be neither desirable nor really possible at this point.  However, the grain (or bone marrow) of wisdom in this diet and lifestyle is that we need a return to purity in our diets; to eat the good of this earth in all its many natural sources.

Tara Alomari is a freelance writer, wife and mum currently residing in Wales.  She has a passion for learning about genetics, anthropology, nutrition and a wide range of other sciences and tries her best to implement the knowledge she gains in her daily life.

RUSTIC EARTHEN KITCHEN CHARMS

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY FROM SISTERS MAGAZINE – https://www.sisters-magazine.com/2016/02/07/rustic-earthen-kitchen-charms/

“Are you serious?” my husband looked at me, amazed, as if I had asked for the most unusual thing in the world. I had just asked the waiter, at a fine dining restaurant, if I could take home the empty clay pot that contained the biryaani we had relished minutes ago. My husband had flatly refused to ask the waiter himself, suggesting that he’d buy one for me from the market instead. However, I wanted this biryaani pot because, apart from it being a reminder of the wonderful dinner we had just had, it would also be a good way to recycle.

My interest in clay pots began this summer while vacationing in India. It all started with some cold lassi – a traditional milk and yoghurt drink – served in clay tumblers. While most people would usually just discard the clay container afterwards, I brought it home with me to reuse, and have since been collecting earthenware.

The tradition of pottery in the Asian subcontinent is as old as human civilisation itself and is considered a sensual art form, identified with the feminine qualities of grace and delicacy. During early times, each village had its own potter, who held a respectable place in society because they made a myriad of articles used in the regular household. An example is the clay-made piggy bank that children used to have. This only had a one-way slot for coin insertion so that when the piggy bank was full, the custom was to smash it on the ground and retrieve the collected money.

The main use of clay pottery, however, was for making cooking vessels. These clay pots worked best for dishes that require cooking on a low heat for hours, like mutton curry, goats’ trotters, black lentil curry, etc. Hyderabad, India, is famous for its ‘dum ki biryaani’ that is slow cooked in a huge clay pot. In some parts of India and Bangladesh, there is a special, heavily-spiced fish curry that is cooked only in earthen cauldrons. In Pakistan, women prepare and store pickles in clay jars. Sweets like kheer – rice pudding – is also set, chilled and served in clay bowls.

Cooking in clay pots is a great way to add flavour and reduce fat in our diet. Unlike vessels of other materials, food cooked in clay pots is less likely to stick – thus reducing the need for more oils. The pot is always soaked in water for at least fifteen minutes before use so that it is saturated with water and because clay is a porous material, steam evaporates slowly when it is heated in the oven. During cooking, the food inside the clay pot releases liquid and cooks in its own juices. These juices remain sealed inside the pot until it is completely dry – which is around the time the food has cooked completely – hence adding to the flavour.

With the arrival of modern cooking vessels like non-stick pots, casseroles and pressure cookers, clay pots slowly disappeared from households. Besides, with the fast pace of today’s lifestyle, the slow cooking process in clay pots became quite an inconvenience.

However, it’s nice to see that efforts are being made to rediscover and revive the use of clay pots today, especially in high-end restaurants where food is served in earthenware. There are several advantages to bringing the ancient cooking vessel back: healthy food, being environmentally-friendly, a touch of tradition, jobs for potters and aesthetics (yes, food served in a clay pot is very appealing). In fact, it has gained so much popularity that some restaurants are giving decorative token clay pots for desserts! Finding food served in clay pots in India or Pakistan is common, but I am pleasantly surprised to find them here in the U.A.E – like biryaani, desserts and even tea!

I make an effort to use clay pots regularly because of the health benefits, added flavours and for being eco-friendly. Of course, another important factor is that I take a lot of food pictures for my blog and I know that serving them in traditional clay pots will make the presentation even better. Now, whenever we dine in a restaurant that serves in clay pots, I try to ask the staff if I can take the pot home, and they almost always agree. As a result, I am now the proud owner of six clay cups for tea, two clay bowls for sweets and one gorgeous handi or round-bellied clay pot in my collection – all of them complimentary tokens from restaurants! As much as I love cooking and serving food in them, family members and guests are equally delighted to experience eating out of a clay pot.

Nadia Masood lives in Dubai, UAE and writes about travel, food and photography on her website http://nadiamasood.com.

PURPOSE OF GINGERBEARDMAN SITE

“WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG?”

This blog is the random ramblings of a not so angry ginger bearded man, the online diary of a muslamic who most definitely loves Allaah and the way of life which is Islam far more than the country I happen to have been born into.

At the same time however I am British by birth and culture, and feel in this great melting pot that is Great Britain I have as much right to promote, agitate and call for an Islamic vision for these beautiful blessed Isles as anyone else does to promote their own way of life.

I am not apologetic to voice our intentions to take the call towards Islam to ever corner of Britain, to make the village Masjid (Mosque in arabic) the centre of every community, to make the call to prayer echo out over every town and city centre across the land.

So as well as personal musings, I’ll also be posting info, news and commentary about what is happening around us day to day, and maybe even a few of my brave and probably futile attempts to become a writer.

I’ll also be posting information about Islam, especially if it relates to Dawah (the call to Islam) and new Muslims.

I hope you enjoy the site, if not tough. I am writing out of a desire to please my Creator, not the creation but I’ll hope you’ll stick around and read either way and at least you may find it interesting, occasionally humorous, and at times an education.