ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaDoes Islam allow Muslim men to marry Christian women?
QUOTE (Caladan @ Oct 1 2007, 10:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Catholicism is okay with it provided the children are raised Catholic,

Are there different sects of catholicism? The reason I ask is becasue I know this to be untrue in the case of the catholic church. My ex-husband's priest would never marry us in the church unless I converted to his religion because I was a pagan at the time and his brother married a budhist who also had to convert and take religion classes before the priest would marry them in the church.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-04 10:43:00
Middle East and North AfricaDoes Islam allow Muslim men to marry Christian women?
Are practising Jewish and Christian women premitted, by their faith, to marry a muslim man?
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-01 13:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy Story
Maybe he just likes American women? Everyone has a "type" they prefer, no?
I'm not familiar with the other case or the people involved so maybe I'm just missing something that makes this some kind of evil conspiracy.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-18 14:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy Story
I'm curious, exactly how long is the proper legnth of time to mourn a deceased spouse before remarrying?
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-18 14:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA/USA marriages
Wow, what have I given up since my husband's arrival.... ?
1. Housework - He pretty much handles that since he's there at the house waiting on his GC anyway.
2. Cooking - He cooks too since he's there and I'm not (He cooks better than me anyway hehehe)
3. Worrying about what my kids are learing at the babysitter's - He picks them up from school and helps them with their homework and all that stuff before I get home from work in the evening.
4. Being lonely - That's pretty self-explainatory I think
5. Wondering when he'll get the visa.... well, I've exchanged that for wondering when he'll get the GC lol
6. I almost forgot the BIG one!! DRIVING!! He takes me everywhere I want to go and I haven't had to get behind the wheel in over four months!!! kicking.gif

Other than that I haven't really given up anything for him. I didn't have male friends before marriage because it's against my religion, I already covered to my own satisfaction because of my religious preference, I've always liked food from different cultures so that's not a big change. We pretty much have everything in common so it's been a pretty easy adjustment IMO.... I guess you could say we're pretty boring laughing.gif blush.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-09-10 13:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaDramatic MENA MILs?
Good topic good.gif

Before my husband got his visa he took his mother to the doctor... when the DR told her there was nothing wrong with her she cursed! laughing.gif
I thought for sure she would fake a heart attack when it was time for him to leave but she just avoided him altogether. She hasn't spoken to him since he left in April and she even tried to get a fatwa against our marriage from a Saudi shaykh during umrah... she explained to the shaykh that her son married a CHRISTIAN woman from the US and moved away from her. What sucks is I'm NOT christian I'm MUSLIM and he's told her that from the beginning but she absolutely can not fathom that there are any muslims in America so it just goes in one ear and out the other rolleyes.gif I don't blame her much because she's old and set in her ways.... she's deeply engrained in the culture of their country and she isn't able to see past that and when I visit or we move there I intend to treat her with the utmost respect. I love her because she's the one who gave birth to my husband and raised him to be the incredible man that he is today.
The problem I have, however, is that I'm sure this hurts my husband even though he puts on his big brave face and acts like it's no big deal. I can't imagine if my mother refused to speak to me for months. sad.gif
To make matters worse, my family is a pain in the rear... we're not very close anyway (other than me and my mom) and they all pretty much had it set in their minds that they were going to hate him no matter what and he's trying so hard to show them that he's not at all like they imagined. He came to the other side of the world and left all his family and friends behind just to be with me only to be shunned by my family here and his mother there. It's sad and I hate that I can't change it for him.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-18 12:28:00
Middle East and North Africaspeaking of breakups...
Congrats Sereia! I'm glad you decided to go ahead with the marriage. Good luck getting out and on your own rose.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-18 11:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaChicken Soup for the ME/NA VJer's Soul
you can set up a free forum at proboards and set it to private so that you have to have a password to view it. I have a forum there and we have a private board for sisters only that you can't even see if you're not a member and you can't get into it without a password. http://www.proboards.com/index.html
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-19 15:21:00
Middle East and North AfricaChicken Soup for the ME/NA VJer's Soul
QUOTE (the sparrow @ Oct 19 2007, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok, I'm trying to think of ways we can compile our work in progress without complete strangers having access to it. Kind of like a private online writing workshop. Ideas? biggrin.gif

There used to be a private yahoo group for the women here to share personal matters but I'm not sure if they still have it up and running.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-19 14:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaJinns anyone?
QUOTE (wife_of_mahmoud @ Oct 23 2007, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Some of them even like to post on the internet.

laughing.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-23 14:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaJinns anyone?
QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 23 2007, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
he said he's saying hi to the Jinns.

blink.gif

In case you're interested in a proper du'a for entering the house When returning home from Fortification of the Muslim online.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-23 13:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaJinns anyone?
QUOTE (wahrania @ Oct 23 2007, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In Islam, jinns are fiery spirits (Qur'an 15:27) particularly associated with the desert. While they are disruptive of human life, they are considered worthy of being saved. A person dying in a state of great sin may be changed into a jinni in the period of a barzakh, separation or barrier.

rolleyes.gif
I would like to see the Islamic reference for this, otherwise, it's not Islamic belief but Arabian folklore smile.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-23 12:28:00
Middle East and North Africashipping them back and you are pregnant
Nevermind

Edited by Alhamdulillah, 25 October 2007 - 09:09 AM.

AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 09:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaME/NA
Translation?
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 11:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaAP in other countries besides Morocco and Egypt
My husband is from Libya and went thru the embassy in Tunis. He was on AP for one month. They didn't call it AP/AR though... they just said security and name checks.

Edited by Alhamdulillah, 25 October 2007 - 12:55 PM.

AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 12:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaHalloween in MENA
QUOTE (doodlebug @ Oct 25 2007, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
eb0dfafc.gif

It's just an article, no need for popcorn tongue.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 12:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaHalloween in MENA
Halloween, Harmless or Haraam
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 12:34:00
Middle East and North AfricaInteresting things to do while waiting for an NOA2
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Oct 21 2007, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have an eBay store(and no, I'm not going to violate the TOS by posting the URL here) wink.gif - I mostly sell stuff that I have bought in Nepal and India, and G has been sending me some things as well - it's a fun way to make some extra cash, though eBay fees are starting to get out of hand. sad.gif

Why would it be against the TOS to post the url here? unsure.gif If you can't post it then at least PM me with the link.... I'd love to visit. I love indian/pakistani style clothing and other items. One of my favorite websites to order clothes from is www.renukasilks.com luv.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-22 13:39:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy journey with a Moroccan is over
To the OP, what's happened has happened... as they say, you can't unring a bell. However, you have many options.... I would suggest counselling with your local imam and trying to save your marriage IF you love your husband and want to salvage your marriage but, ultimately, it's up to you. A lot of children don't have fathers in their lives, some of them are fine and others are not. rose.gif

To everyone else involved in this discussion.... Jesus (alayhi salaam) is quoted in the bible as saying "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". This brother is human like other men and so is his wife. No marriage is without hardships, big or small. I'd love to look in any thread in this section once and see good, honest, helpful advice instead of insults, placing blame and running the thread downhill with childish back and forth banter between rival MENA posters. rolleyes.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 08:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy journey with a Moroccan is over
QUOTE (FFFFF-rrrrr @ Oct 24 2007, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I didnt not sleep with any other woman, I admited the kissing, But there is no sexual relation, I thought everyone know that.

But any way I apologize to everyone, just please keep looking at your husbands positive they need to talk and get support in whatever they do,
And to answer your Question Sara, I came to america after I made sure I will never fail in my marriage, but Some woman changes after the husbands start making money, and especially the mother in LAW

Ya akhi that's cheating! rolleyes.gif I am amazed at the stupidity level of some of our muslim brothers :sigh:

You don't need to be telling everyone on VJ about your sins. Make tawbah with sincere regret and intention not to do it again. Try to reconcile with your wife if you love her and want to hold your family together. If it not, or if it's not possible then move on... talk to an immigration lawyer and find out how you can get residency... you have rights to your child as well.

Don't worry about what busy-bodies on this board or elsewhere think about you or their own husbands. Many women here don't need any excuse to disrespect themselves or their husbands and for the others with common sense, they avoid letting these kind of dramatic situations affect their own relationships.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 08:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaI Am A Muslim
QUOTE (brnidokiegurl @ Oct 28 2007, 09:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-29 09:47:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarm Fuzzy MENA thread
I'm glad to see this thread here! I'd like to add to it...
My husband doesn't mistreat me like everyone in my family predicted... he has never lifted so much as a finger nor could I imagine him doing so.
He helps tremendously around the house and has developed a wonderful relationship with my children in the four months he's been here... so much so that they have actually said to me that they wish he was their father and their father was their step dad. (LOL I don't think they realize if that was true it would mean I'd be married to their dad now and not my current husband laughing.gif )
Everyone who has met my husband so far has instantly fallen in love with him. He has such a generous and caring nature but without appearing effeminate.
Sometimes I sit in my house and wonder if it's really the same household I remember from 6 months ago... my children are well-behaved and mannered. My son is turning into a man now that he has a man to learn from and my daughter is experiencing the love of a man who doesn't expect anything from her in order to recieve his love. I feel like my house is our castle and we're the royal family, me being the queen of course, now that my king is here.
We are all growing every day... not only the bond between us as a family but also spiritually.
The wait was long and hard and there have been some bumps along the way but it was worth it 1000 times!
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-09-05 14:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaI wanted to share something nice my husband said last night
My husband does and says so many nice things to/for me it's hard to pinpoint just one. Something cute and funny he just said this morning is fresh in my mind though... he's been anxious for the GC since he's arrived. He's always worked and it's driving him crazy sitting at home. He wants to find a job NOW lol. I joke around with him all the time that he's just after the GC and as soon as he gets it he'll run as fast as he can away from me and my crazy ways (I admit I can be a lot to put up with at times whistling.gif ).... Anyway, when I called him this morning to tell him we got an email with his approval notice he said "Alhamdulillah! I love you so much (insert my name here), I swear I'm not gonna leave you!" I almost had to pick myself up off the floor... I've been laughing about that all day now. laughing.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 12:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaThings your husband/fiance does that drives you crazy.
QUOTE (amira_ordonia @ Oct 25 2007, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He made me subsrcibe to Animal Planet and now we can't watch any other channel! The other day, there were 2 lions having sex and he changed the channel bcz he didnt think it was appropriate for me to see. laughing.gif

laughing.gif

My husband likes Animal Planet too
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 14:47:00
Middle East and North AfricaThings your husband/fiance does that drives you crazy.
QUOTE (yassmine2878 @ Oct 25 2007, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Arggghhh, mine does that too. But that's okay. One of these days Im going to slam on the breaks and its going to fly back and hit him in the face biggrin.gif

That won't work for me.... he drives innocent.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 08:47:00
Middle East and North AfricaThings your husband/fiance does that drives you crazy.
laughing.gif If I don't answer the phone at my desk immediately (at work) he'll call my cell phone and then if I still don't answer he calls my coworkers to check on me blush.gif It's embarassing. blush.gif He doesn't seem to understand that I have times at work that I actually have to... work.

He spits out of the car window ranting33va.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-25 08:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaWelcome
QUOTE (mybackpages @ Oct 19 2007, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (SandyNJack @ Oct 19 2007, 03:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
LOL.

O.K. I am very lost on this one. huh.gif



laughing.gif What makes you think the rest of us have it figured out ? tongue.gif

Shall we form a club? lol
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-10-19 15:43:00
Middle East and North Africado you speak arabic?
If you have an IPOD/MP3 player or you just want to download some MP3s and listen on your PC or burn them onto a CD, you can try this podcast Arabic Pod
They just go through one short conversation each episode but they really break it down and explain how to piece the sentances together and I find that listening and repeating is the best way for me to learn to speak and understand. The Arabic speaking host is Jordanian so I'm assuming some of the words/phrases he uses are from his own dialect since my husband will sometimes hear something and say "oh no, that's wrong. It should be..." but he gets the meaning so he must understand what he's saying.
Not every Arab can understand Classical or Formal Arabic. My husband warned me long ago that his mother would not understand me if I only learned to speak in fusha and I have heard a woman call into a fatwa show to ask a Saudi scholar a question and she spoke to him in her dialect and neither one of them understood what the other was saying so they had to ask another party to translate from Saudi Arabic to either Morrocan or Algerian Arabic (I can't remember which country she was from but it was one of those two) but I think most of the younger people understand Formal Arabic as well as some other dialects. My husband is Libyan and they speak a cross between Arabic and Italian there but he understands others from Tunisia (who speak Arabic/French) and Egyptians (I don't know what that dialect is a cross of) and pretty much any other dialect. He can usually tell me where someone is from just from hearing them speak in Arabic for a minute because he picks up on which dialect they are using.

If you're trying to learn to read and write then you can download and print the Madinah Books from Fatwa Online in their download section, which can be used with this website Madinah Arabic for free as well.

Good luck!
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-12-18 13:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaEid Announcement
QUOTE (Alex+R @ Dec 18 2007, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Happy Eid.... wait, so, there is an option to just donate money? But instead people eat sheep? Instead of donating money?

??

????

Not everyone agrees that this is an option smile.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-12-18 14:24:00
Middle East and North AfricaEid Announcement
Eid Mubarak!
This will be my husband's second Eid away from his family (Eid al-Fitr this year was his first) and our second Eid together. It's a mixed feeling, you know, happy about being together but sad about being away from his family at the same time.
It's also going to be the first year that he has not personally slaughtered and cleaned the sheep himself.... I didn't know if the neighbors would complain about him doing it in the backyard since we live in the city limits and the halal butcher offered a great deal... he will do everything for the price we'd pay for the sheep anyway so we decided to play it safe and just go that route. My mom lives in the country (in the middle of the woods lol) and I hinted around to her that I'd like to come there and do it but she was having NO part of Little Bo Peep's sheep being done in on her property LOL
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-12-18 14:21:00
Middle East and North AfricaFunny Video
My husband and I saw it and we thought it was funny but we didn't like that he mentions Allah's name in his skit. The whole family runs around now saying "I KILL YOU!" over every little thing laughing.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2007-12-18 13:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaWednesday/Hump Day
QUOTE (jessNgeorges @ Jan 2 2008, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i didnt really think they ate camel there, isnt that like eating your car?'

While showing my family pics of his family and city back home, my SIL actually sounded surprised when she looked at one of the pics and said to my husband "Oh! They have cars there!" wacko.gif
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-02 13:58:00
Middle East and North Africajp - should be pregnant or not!
QUOTE (amal @ Jan 2 2008, 11:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Mabrookulations!!!!!

Hey! I was gonna say that! tongue.gif
Mabrukalations from me too JP!
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-03 09:29:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday!
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Jan 3 2008, 07:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You'll have to excuse me if I do not feel comfortable having men whom I do not know speculate on when I will become pregnant.

laughing.gif Everytime someone from Libya calls my husband they ask the same question "Any babies yet??" laughing.gif I have never met any of them but I let it go because I figure that's normal there and they're his friends/family.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-04 11:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday!
QUOTE (yassmine2878 @ Jan 3 2008, 05:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This day sucks. I just got a letter in the mail from USCIS stating our AOS application was denied. It only says they requested evidence and rcv'd no response so they denied the case. We never rcv'd a request for evidence so Im totall at a loss for what to do. Coupled with these lovely hormones, Im a friggin basket case.

Happy Thursday.

Sorry to hear this. I'd make an info pass appt as soon as possible and find out what they requested. You can tell them that you didn't get the letter and maybe they'll take back the denial... I heard a lady in front of me arguing about this when we were waiting for out appt and the immigration officer told her they'd send out another letter and to make sure her name was on the mail box and stuff like that so it just might work. Good luck! rose.gif

Edited by Alhamdulillah, 03 January 2008 - 05:09 PM.

AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-03 17:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaShisha smoking
QUOTE (monnik @ Jan 14 2008, 12:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (OlivianWaleed @ Jan 12 2008, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Anybody else have shisha smoking pix? I really enjoyed them in this thread.


Me at the Khan El Khalili market... some old cafe I don't remember the name of.
2006

I seriously would not post pics of yourself on here.... it doesn't look like you've been a member here for very long so you may not know about a certain incident by a certain hag... er uh "woman" that will not be named (mainly because I can't be bothered to remember her name lol) but photos have been snatched from here in the past to be used for sport so, like I said, I wouldn't post any.

Edited by Alhamdulillah, 14 January 2008 - 02:42 PM.

AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-14 14:41:00
Middle East and North AfricaMONDAY'S THREAD
QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Jan 14 2008, 03:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OH OH OH speaking of pink things....check out this purse..........


Cute purse!
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-14 15:32:00
Middle East and North Africahappy tuesday
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Jan 15 2008, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (?JP? @ Jan 15 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Jan 15 2008, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think teachers need to start giving projects that students can complete on their own. How much have you learned if your mom or dad has practically done the whole thing for you?

I think it's great when parents and kids spend time together, especially in the context of learning, but not doing school work that is supposed to be representative of the child's work.

Anyway, those are my 2 cents that nobody asked for. laughing.gif



I somewhat agree with you but are you taking into consideration that not all kids are on the same level? I'm sure there are some kids that can whiz through projects and others that may need extra help. What I really think is bad is when the parent takes over the whole project or homework assignment.


I think that homework/projects should be designed so that a child at any level can complete it. If you have a classroom with varying levels, then vary the requirements. I just don't think that kids who don't have their parents around to help them all the time should be at a disadvantage when it comes to learning. If a parent wants to help (help, not take over) then that's great, but that should not be necessary for a child to successfully complete the assignment.

I think most projects are given with the expectation that the child will complete at least the majority of the work. They are designed to encourage children to develop their own skills and imaginations and not intended for parents to complete the work for them. Most teachers I know wouldn't give a child a lower grade becaues the project isn't completed in a more professional manner because they're looking for the content and for proof that the child understands the subject matter.

My husband is one of those who likes to "take over" my son's projects because he thinks it's too hard for him but I wish he'd understand that it doesn't help my son at all when he does this because he'll never develop that skill or learn the material if someone else is doing most of the work.
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-16 09:37:00
Middle East and North Africahappy tuesday
QUOTE (yassmine2878 @ Jan 15 2008, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
*Hands out toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, and Elmer's glue* Get to work everyone. WE have a science project to finish! laughing.gif

I'm in, as long as there's no disecting involved *yuck*
AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-15 16:39:00
Middle East and North AfricaEmbassy in Tunis (Tunisia)
QUOTE (Ash * Habibati @ Jan 15 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Okay you're right loool - I remember reading about how it's hard for an American to even visit Libya - but I assume you went there to see him? How was it - it's ashame because I know there are so many beautiful places in that country and would be nice to be able to visit it - too easy for countries to get on the american ####### list anyway lol

Yeah Jihed and I joke about his name and he's asked me before if he should just go by Joe here lol - I'm like noooo habiby you will go by your name, we'll deal with people who are stupid later smile.gif hehe

I am so glad to hear that he is here with you now and that things were all okay for you guys!! I'm going to be so happy when I can say this is all behind us too!!

No, I haven't been to Libya and it's still hard for Americans to visit there. You have to be part of a tour group to get a visa and there is still no embassy.
I have heard from another woman married to a Libyan that it's much easier for the spouse of a Libyan to get a visa and I hope to visit soon inshallah.

I wouldn't count on him going by his name here laughing.gif my husband's name is Yousuf and people act like it's the hardest name in the world to say.... his boss at work can't quite get it so he's resorted to calling him Joseph, since he figured out that's what Yousuf is in English, and now his name at work is Joe! I told him to call them by their names in Arabic to get back at them but he says their names don't translate.... I told him to give them all vulgar names and call them that but he declined tongue.gif

I'm sure you will be reunited soon and you'll find yourself laughing at how much trouble this whole thing was inshallah.

Edited by Alhamdulillah, 15 January 2008 - 04:01 PM.

AlhamdulillahFemaleLibya2008-01-15 16:00:00