Tag Archives: Islam

There’s something about Persian door-knockers!

Posted on July 20, 2020 by

One of the things I like about travel is encountering different ideas and customs.  I really like noticing the differences.  Even in the U.K. there are huge variations in buildings, landscapes, foods, accents and even customs.  Whilst others delight in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, Heritage, Life, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is the Queen descended from the Prophet Muhammad?

Posted on May 10, 2018 by

It is said that most of us have hundreds or thousands of living relations, if only we knew who they were.  On one line of my family tree I have found to be descended from such people such as the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen

Posted on August 16, 2017 by

From time to time, I have written about iconic and pioneering women in relative recent history, well recent by British standards 🙂  I also sometimes write about the Middle-East which is actually the one area of life that I can … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, WW1 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Musa I of Mali – The richest man you may never have heard of

Posted on August 16, 2016 by

You might never have heard of Musa Keita I of the Mali Empire but it is fair to say that no-one alive today will ever make such an impact on the world today. Born in 1280 AD, Musa grew up in … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Volleyball in a Bikini​ or a Hijab?

Posted on August 11, 2016 by

Much has been made about the appearance of the Egyptian beach volleyball team playing in the Olympics wearing the all-encompassing Hijab Islamic dress rather than the usual Bikini style outfit and comment has been made over how appropriate this is. First … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Opinion, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sunni and Shia Islam – All you Need To Know – Islam 101

Posted on January 4, 2016 by

You’d have to be living on another planet not to hear about the seemingly endless troubles in the Middle-East.  To many in the west, Muslims are Muslims but it is much more complex than that with an ancient schism dominating … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, News, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Cultural Vandalism – The destruction of priceless monuments by ISIS / ISIL

Posted on March 21, 2015 by

One of my most popular blog posts that I have ever written was on the ongoing  destruction of historic Mecca by Saudi Arabia and whilst one day soon I hope to write more on the topic, I thought for now … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, history, Politics, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Shibam – The original high-rise city

Posted on December 13, 2014 by

Even going into London as frequently as I do it is hard to keep track of all the new skyscrapers going up with their weird names.  The Gherkin, Shard, Walkie-Talkie or as it used to be called The Death Star … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Recording Angels

Posted on September 16, 2014 by

I was going to write today about the situation in Syria and Iraq and torment put upon the ancient local Christians there but then I thought I would write something a little more positive and what I am going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

Qasr Amr is located on the desert road to Azraq and only a short distance from Iraq.  It is possibly the highlight of the chain of desert castles built in eastern Jordan.  It was built by Caliph Walid I around … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments