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My Third of Four Sons Has Passed Away

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 Innā li-llāhi wa-ʾinna ʾilayhi rājiʿūna

Verse 2:156 of the Quran meaning “Verily we belong to Allah (God), and verily to Him do we return.”

Umar Saleh Abdul-Basir, 41 years old. Born October 2, 1979 in Washington, DC at Howard University Hospital; deceased April 9, 2021 at University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore. Umar was found unresponsive with a fractured spine at a bus stop in Baltimore City on March 22, remaining on life support until his untimely passing.

Umar was one of my most favorite people in the world. He was handsome, intelligent, articulate, witty, charming, and funny. He will forever hold that place in my heart. Along with his attributes, he was challenged in ways that were not obvious to the casual observer. Despite being diagnosed at an early age with disabling mental and emotional conditions, he fought the good fight to accomplish things that are often taken for granted. A diagnosis of severe dyslexia delayed his learning to read until the 4th grade when a wonderful tutor at the Rose School in Washington, DC by the name of Mrs. Huber took him under her wing and opened up the world of reading to him. He was eternally grateful to her and often acknowledged and mentioned her fondly. He was also an accomplished athlete, who ran track in high school and was very skilled on the basketball court. Further, he successfully completed high school in 1998 at Tracy High School in Tracy, California, after a very troubling period of adolescence. Umar had a good heart and wanted so much to love and be loved by all. His personal struggles often filled the path to love with innumerous obstacles. Nevertheless, he was a beloved son, brother, father, uncle, nephew, cousin, and loyal friend, beyond measure, by those both near and far.

Umar was preceded in death by his father, Charles Willis, and his brothers Jawara and Muhammad. He is survived by his mother (Umi), Dr Muriel Baskerville (aka) Samira; his son, Isaiah Abdul-Basir and his daughter, Tajja Onley; his maternal siblings Asmaa, Najwa (Saleh Ahmed), Asiya (Haithem Abou Taka),  Daeemah, and Jomari; his lifelong best friend, Jerry McCarthy; maternal aunts, Zakiya Abdullah (Faye), Lisa and Erica Baskerville and a maternal uncle Andrew Baskerville (Andy); a favorite cousin Jibreel, numerous other cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of other family and dear friends, way too numerous to name in this brief synopsis of his life. You all held a very special place in his heart. You will always remain in mine for the outpouring of love and support imparted at this time of bereavement. Words cannot express my gratitude.

According to what is written in the Quran, “Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense.”

The Quran also urges mankind: “And die not except in a state of Islam, because “Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam”.

“He (Allah) who created death and life, so that He may test you as to which of you is better in deeds. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving”.

“Certainly, they see it (resurrection) as distant, but We see it as near”.

Pray that Allah expand Umar’s grave, allow the trauma he endured, which led to his death, to be an expiation of his major and minor sins, forgive him and have mercy upon him, allow him to experience the sweet smell of Jannah (Paradise) until the Day of Resurrection, and on the Day of Judgement, grant him entrance into Jannah where we will be reunited in Eternal Life. Ameen.

I pray Allah’s (God’s) blessings upon you.

With my Warmest Regards,

Umi

Yes, I’m Still Here in Egypt…

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First, I want to give a shout out to Angelica Isabel Pascia of Host Gator Live Chat for walking me through the reactivation of my blog. In the fog of my son’s illness and passing as well as being stuck in the US for 7 months during the Covid pandemic, I forgot to pay my bill.  She was patient and caring and got this old lady back on track.

Since I’m working mostly from home now, to break the monotony, I thought I might fill y’all in on my life over the past few years here in Egypt. A lot of “water has gone under the bridge” since I last posted but Alhamdulillah (All Praise is due to God), I’m still standing, even with my 2 replaced knees!

I’m going to share both some personal and professional stuff that I’ve  been doing and what fills up most of my days. I even have some pictures and videos to upload as well. So stay tuned and don’t forget to comment and subscribe so you won’t miss a beat!

It’s Been A While…My Life Will Never Be the Same

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In Memory of My First Born
‎  Innā li-llāhi wa-ʾinna ʾilayhi rājiʿūna
Verse 2:156 of the Quran, “Verily we belong to Allah (God), and verily to Him do we return.”

Kenneth Frizzell Diggs Jr (aka) Jawara Abdullah. Born October 11, 1968 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC; deceased June 27, 2020 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, MD, following a diagnosis and brief illness from interstitial lung disease.
 
Jawara, as he was affectionately known by me and my family, or Kenny, as he was known by his extended family and friends, was a larger than life figure in all the lives of those who were privileged to have known him. He commanded any room he walked in and was always so full of life, love and humor for those he met. He completed his education in Maryland public schools and successfully earned his General Education Diploma (GED). He held several jobs in his lifetime that included assisting with managing a family cleaning franchise, a landscaping helper, a construction laborer, and a housekeeper at Montgomery General Hospital.
He was a Muslim who tried to live the best version of his life, imparting his religious knowledge to all those he would meet. He was very proud of his religion and what he learned since the age of 4, when I, his mother, reverted to Islam over 47 years ago. He was the oldest of both his maternal and paternal siblings who all revered him as their big brother. This title was one he did not take lightly, standing ready to defend their honor against friend or foe.
He is survived by me, his mother (Umi), Dr Muriel Baskerville (aka) Samira Abdullah and his father, Kenneth F Diggs Sr (Pops); his two sons, Kenneth F Diggs III and Kamren Fazil Diggs, his maternal siblings Asmaa, Najwa, Asiya, Umar, Daeemah, and Jomari (preceded in death by his brother Muhammed); his paternal siblings Delores, Delonta, and Derek; his devoted life partner and mother of Kamren, Shirkeja M Snowden; his former wife and mother of Kenneth III, Lisa Hayes; and a host of other family and dear friends, way too numerous to name in this brief synopsis of his life. You all held a very special place in his big heart. You will always remain in mine for the outpouring of love and support imparted at this time of my bereavement. Words cannot truly express my gratitude.
 
According to what is written in the Quran, “Every soul shall taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment will you be paid your full recompense.”
The Quran also urges mankind: “And die not except in a state of Islam, because “Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam”.
“He (Allah) who created death and life, so that He may test you as to which of you is better in deeds. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving”;
“Certainly, they see it (resurrection) as distant, but We see it as near”.
 
Pray that Allah expand Jawara’s grave, allow his illness to be an expiation of his major and minor sins, forgive him and have mercy upon him, allow him to experience the sweet smell of Jannah (Paradise) until the Day of Resurrection, and on the Day of Judgement, grant him entrance into Jannah where we will be reunited in Eternal Life. Ameen.
 
I pray Allah’s (God’s) blessings upon you.
With my Warmest Regards,
Umi

Going to Play Catch Up

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Hey Folks!

It’s been a while and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. I have some exciting things to share with you and will be playing catch up over the next several days, weeks and maybe even months! I’ve got pictures and videos to share as well. So keep your eyes and ears alert for some upcoming posts!

Love

ME

Another Trip to Beni Sueth

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I made another trip to a different village in Beni Sueth to continue the roof and water tap project. This village is the home to a family that has pretty much adopted me as a grandmother figure to their children. The father is the “boab” (the Egyptian version of a maintenance man) to a villa a few doors up from where I live with my daughter and her family. Most of the “boabs” hail from the “ballad” or countryside in Egypt, travelling to live in the urban or suburban areas in Egypt in order to make a living. Wages are meager and living conditions are are not the best; they typically live in the basement of the building they care for and in addition to maintaining the building and grounds, they are expected to wash tenants’ cars as well as perform other tasks and chores required by the people who live in the building. And this could mean ANYTHING!

I met this family in 2011 and again in 2014 when I was just here in Egypt visiting. They are the nicest people and are always looking out for me and having me come drink “chai” with them. Our communication has improved since I started studying Arabic however, I am studying “classical” Arabic and they speak Amiya or the Egyptian version of Arabic. I always promised I would visit their village one day and I finally took the opportunity to travel there a few weeks ago.

After my visit to the first village where the initial roof and water tap project took place, I came back so excited, sharing the pictures and videos with them of the project. I noticed a sort of indifference from them that was not disrespectful but more puzzling than anything else. When I asked them what was wrong, the wife shared that they neither had water or a roof at THEIR house in THEIR village! I was mortified! Here I was showing off the pictures of a neighboring village that I supported through this project and they too were without these “amenities”. So I made a promise that I would go with them to their “ballad” and see what could happen for them.

So I went to the village of Kaffra Hakeem where they live and the above videos I recorded are a glimpse of the life there. If anyone is interested in contributing to these efforts, please leave me a comment and your email so that we can communicate.

 

Trip to Bushra, a Village in Beni Sueth Governate, Egypt

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A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip to a small village where we are helping the residents get water taps in their homes. There are approximately 21 more homes that need them. We pay to get the initial tap installed, then the head of the household must be responsible for running the tap to the kitchen and bathroom.

Additionally, we are helping to get a roof on on innumerable houses that either don’t have one or they have a thatched roof of leaves and branches, or wood, that is little protection from the severe elements they have to brave. This is but one small village of many more that exist where the residents live in abject poverty.

We believe in Islam that any cause we contribute to in this life will continue to bless us in the grave until the day of resurrection and judgement. Giving access to water and the protection of a “roof over their heads” will live on long after I have passed from this earth.

So, I have taken this on as one of my projects while living here. Being of limited means, I have considered starting a gofundme or crowdrise page to assist with this effort. A water tap costs around $250 and a roof is around $1500. I need your feedback as to what direction I should take in getting people to contribute. See videos below. Give me your honest feedback.

This above video is of a house that was featured as one in dire need of water and a roof due to the father experiencing the loss of sight in one of his eyes.

There is a system for prioritizing.

The people who live here are mostly farmers, subsisting off of the land and selling what they can to survive. Some are government workers who keep common areas (such as roads) clean, but the salary is only equivalent to about $50 per month. They are some of the most loving and caring people – when some one gets married or dies, the whole community comes together to support the family in any way they can.

I will continue to do what I can. It would be great if others could help, even in some small way.


New and Improved Site! …and More on My Other Pursuits

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I am sooo excited about my new blog design!

Khudos to Clarke at hospdesign.com. He is the bomb! If you are ever in need of help in designing a blog, website etc., look him up and let him know I sent you. He’s not cheap but he’s worth the cost. He even makes instructional videos to walk you through everything and you will have them as a resource and reference in the future.

I have totally immersed myself in learning the Arabic language. I attend class 5 days a week from 8:30-11:00 am, an online class twice a week for 90 minutes per class and my daughter teaches a beginner’s tajweed (proper pronunciation of the language) class once a week at home. So I have been swamped and sort of overwhelmed but it’s all good! This has got to be ONE of the most difficult (if not THE most) languages to learn, or maybe this is just a function of the age I have become! Sixty-four in just 2 more weeks!



Additionally, I have started my garden for the year. Bought some compost and plants to get it going. I’m trying to have a more robust yield than I had last year, even though it wasn’t THAT bad for my first attempt at a garden in the desert! Cabbage, cauliflower and strawberry plants are in the ground. After preparing some more of the soil, I will plant seeds for corn, okra, red onions, string beans, carrots, and cucumbers. I ran out of cherry tomato seeds last year and haven’ found any here yet. there’s still time. I heard an ACE Hardware opened recently so I’ll get adventurous and find it soon.



Finally, I am still on the journey to uncover and expose my “roots”. I actually got started back in the late 80s when both my mother and aunt were alive. However, we hit so many brick walls that we gave up trying. It was not until I saw how my son-laws’ uncle traced there heritage all the way back to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) that I thought about picking up the torch and going the distance to really find out who I am. I would love nothing more than to have those of you who are interested, to travel this journey with me. Be sure to sign up to follow my blog and gain unlimited access to research findings I uncover as a result of my DNA that, over time, will evolve into the most provocative testament of how far we have come as a people, in general and the story of who I am with respect to MY ancestry, in particular. I have already made a few of the most mind boggling discoveries that I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams!


My Hiatus

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01/01/2017

I want to apologize to my avid readers for the lengthy hiatus away from my blog. The first “wrench in the works” occurred when the super, duper, Lenovo Yoga laptop I purchased, just 2 weeks before moving to Egypt, ended up being a lemon! An emergency trip back to the US to get my house rented gave me the opportunity to ship it back to the manufacturer for a FULL refund. YAY!!!! My trip lasted longer that I anticipated but in the interim, I went and bought a good ole Hewlett/Packard with a DVD/CD drive that is working like a charm! read more

This Last Week of Ramadan

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I have faced some severe health challenges…

this past week that caused me to put aside fasting for a few days, per the doctor’s orders. In addition to being severely dehydrated, I have 2 infections and a level of inflammation raging in my body  that is through the roof! I am on medication to address the infections and feel 100% better than I did a few days ago. I am pretty in-tuned to my body and can tell early on when things are not right.  Alhamdulillah (All Praise is due too God), I am afforded the opportunity to still reap the reward of fasting.

“and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days” [Surah (or chapter)– al-Baqarah 2:185]

So far, I have 4 days I will have to make up provided I can get through these last 7 with no problem. The doctor even advised that I wait to make them up during the winter months when the days are shorter, InshaAllah (If God Wills).

The children and my son-in-law’s sister stayed up last night and decorated the house for the upcoming Eid celebration.



Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan

and celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting.  There is a particular obligatory Salat (prayer) that must be performed in congregation.  After the prayers, Muslims visit their relatives, friends and acquaintances or hold large communal celebrations in homes,mosques or rented halls. Eid gifts, known as Eidi, are frequently given at Eid to children and immediate relatives.

We are planning to travel AGAIN to celebrate the end of Ramadan. My son-in-law’s sister and his brothers’ family will be here as well. Not sure exactly where we are going but rest assured, I will chronicle it with updates and pictures!

 

The Community Park

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There is a lovely community park

located in the back of the villa where we reside. It was intended for the residents of the community to enjoy sitting, playing, and frolicking in at their  leisure. No one was prepared for the pack of wild dogs that has taken up living, breeding and pretty much “barring” any humans from so much as walking through it! So needless to say, it is not taken care of due to the absolute takeover by the dogs.



We (the grand-kids and I ) have decided to enlist the help and support of the neighbors and other community members in taking back this park from the dogs. We will print flyers and have a massive clean-up day once Ramadan is over.  We  even plan go to the local municipal office to get their support. The park could use a couple of additional dumpsters to place at each end for trash collection.



 

I will give you updates as the plans progress. Pray for the success of this project!