As-salaamu `alaykum

If anyone is interested in getting a look and ‘feel’ for Cairo before jetting off – these are some random pictures taken (mostly by my room mates) in the heat of summer ’07 – click the images if you wish to englarge them.

Enjoy! 🙂

[Flying over what my sister said were the Alps… but I’m a little skeptical!] – Tabarakallah, I love mountains – a sign indeed for those who reflect.

Dar al-Arqam - beautiful masjid!

[Dar al-Arqam in Cairo]

[Busy, bustling Cairo! The incidents that happen on the road can be so funny (& dangerous). We once saw a car go past and the boot was open… we looked more and there was a sheep trying to get out! lol, must’ve been for dinner 🙂 Another time, this motorcyclist was overtaking people on the already-busy road, when this taxi-driver got really angry and tried to run him down! It was so scary, I stood watching in shock as the driver went around the motorcyclist and try to grab his shirt lol. Alhamdulillah I think although people get angry, nothing much happens in the end other than an exchange of some words. Btw, Mu7aaribah & Bint Islam, I still think the taxis look like the Police Academy cars! 🙂 ]

[This picture and the next few pictures are of Islamic Cairo – including the qal3a (fort) of Salaahuddin]

[Now you can see how populated Cairo is!]

[Beautiful… overlooking the city is just incredible masha’Allah]

 

[This is a picture of a notice in Masjid Sultan Hasan where the 4 madh-habs (schools of fiqh) were taught. Each had a seperate entrance and teaching ground. The next picture below shows for example, the entrance for those studying Fiqh al-Malikiyyah]

[Courtyard of the masjid – don’t ask what those hanging things are! I think they’re lamps]

[These ancient gates are so beautiful masha’Allaah]

Below are a few pictures of the pyramids – yeah, they are pretty huge. One time these tourists entered one of the tombs, but the only way to enter was to walk in backwards. I saw them try to enter (was trying my hardest not to laugh) and I thought subhanallah, imagine walking into a grave backwards, lol how more ‘backward’ can things get huh?]

[Egyptian guards and patrol are so hilarious subhanallaah. One time we asked these 2 traffic wardens for the exact place a certain bus was due to arrive (there were no signs) and they start to discuss it amongst themselves! I was thinking ‘please, just tell us where it usually comes, we’re late for something & I know the bus is coming any second now..’ So they pointed out a place just a few yards down & told us to wait there as it always stops there. We went along with some other locals, and stood there for a few minutes. Alhamdulillah the bus finally came… but surprise surprise, it sped past us fast and stopped like a good 100m-200m down the busy highway! Lol I couldn’t believe it. We all looked at the guards who just laughed and shrugged. Yeah, we had to sprint for the bus – along with all the locals, men women and children (who I can’t believe didn’t know the bus stop either! This is a bus that comes like every 1/2 hour). Everyone was so mad and shouting, but I was in stiches because it was so hilarious, subhanallaah it must have looked so funny.

[Coming up to Islamic Cairo. This road is sooo scary – that is, when you’re in a taxi 🙁 One day we managed to get a really good fare with this taxi driver alhamdulillah, so we went down here when he suddenly just accelerated. Ok, one thing is I don’t drive (other than the one time I drove a go-kart, after which my brother told me to give up after 1 lap lol), so putting me in a car and then pushing on the accelerator is a big No No. This driver then decided to overtake every single car, bus and donkey that were on this motorway in the picture. He was swerving in and out and dodging massive crater holes in the road at God knows what miles-per-hour. I started saying my shahadah because to top it off, there were no seat belts and my friend had just whispered that my door looked broken! lol, I’ll never forget that ride, Allahul Musta’aan – I really thought maybe the driver was getting us back for the deal we struck with him haha.

Beautiful city of Rahab:

 

It’s about 25-30mins drive from Madinat al-Nasr. Such a contrast, it’s really quiet, clean and somehow the air is very different (there’s also existence of plush green grass & trees lol) – an excellent place for families mashaa’Allaah. Only downside is, it’s pretty closed off & far from Madinat al-Nasr where all the institutes & classes are happening (but there is a bus that goes back forth – if you can find the bus stops!). As much I love Rahab & could walk from end to the other strolling and enjoying the air, Madinat al-Nasr is the place to be!

[Doesn’t it look refreshing?]

Ok, I’m done – I don’t know what happened to the other pictures we took (a note to my room mates: Do you understand the amount of pictures I’ve had to sift through?! What were you guys doing! lol).

Bint Islam, if you’re around maybe you can explain what some of these pictures are (especially Islamic Cairo as you had taken them)?