Bismillah

Thanks for the informative discussion of charity in Islam. Although briefer than both of us might like, it was entirely helpful.

I have so many vivid memories of fire fighting that I don't know where to start. And I was only in it for three and a half years! Some of the memories are funny, some are sad, and some are thrilling (at least to me). For instance, I once saw a thirty or forty foot tall column of twisting flames that resembled nothing so much as a tornado made of fire. It was exceedingly beautiful.

I also vividly recall the embarrassing day I was riding on the back of a fire truck when my pants fell down to my knees! The call had come in when I was fast asleep, and in the process of getting my pants on, my groggy self was not up to the task of getting them fastened right.

And of course, I remember going on rescue calls. As I'm sure you know, those could be very disturbing.

It was pretty easy for me to get into the fire department, but I think that was because I had a recommendation from one of the Chiefs. And it's true the department usually preferred military types (which I wasn't). The way they preferred them was by adding ten points to their written test score, so -- if you were non-military -- you had to score higher just to stay even. Of course, some non-military made the grade, but not many. I served with people from the Korean and Viet Nam wars. Most of them were good people and accepted me like a brother after I had proven myself to them that I was not quite foolish enough to get us all needlessly killed.

I think I can understand how you would find EMT work compelling. I put myself through university by working as a fire fighter for the city. In my life, I have since had few jobs as deeply satisfying, despite the times it brought me face to face with tragedy.

Thanks for the heads up with your art thread! I'm excited about it! Do you need my email? If so, it's [email protected] I go by "paul", rather than by "phil" with my email for reasons that amount to a long and boring story.

I sometimes wonder why people don't talk more of the humanity of Islam? Some years ago, I lived in an apartment building managed by a Muslim gentleman. He refused to evict people who fell behind in their rent if he knew they didn't have anywhere to go. I was given to believe that was because of Islam -- that it has some kind of prohibition against making someone homeless. Is that true?

An EMT? That's a noble job! Although I hear it's pretty stressful at times too.

I don't have many flowers. Just one pot of petunias that I take care of as if they were my children. I love how you're working with children. Kids need all the care and attention they can get these days. There are so many landmines waiting for them in our society. They need good people like you.

I have taken up painting portraits of people in acrylics as a hobby. I'm not very prolific. I tend to do two or three portraits and then let it rest a month or two before I do two or three more.

You can see some of my work -- my first few portraits -- in the album on my profile page, if you're interested.

I'll check out the threads you've linked to. Are you still a night owl?

Bismillah! Where have you been keeping yourself? Are you doing well?

I've been leading an unexciting life. Which, I suppose, is a good thing for the most part. So I try to focus on the little things --- my pot of flowers, the neighborhood kid's laughter, the sunlight on my lawn. Yeah, that unexciting. But much better than some alternatives, I suppose. What have you been up to?

Hope it was a good one,we're all good,hope yours are too.

Hahaha, totally.

Thank you for the friendship request.

Thanks for the frubal.

Thanx for the foreign devilie frubie!

You know your stuff! You are a wonderful representative of Islam!

Hey Bismillah. I was in London for 1.5-2 years, where I also got married. I moved back to Israel with my wife a bit more than a year ago, and been working as an archaeologist in a governmental body ever since. At the moment I'm taking part in an excavation run by them.

Happy Birthday!!!

Hey man thanks. Dread and i apprecate that. Do not know if you saw but sage tree is on this thursday.

Really? It was one of the first things I learnt; along with a'udhu billahi mina ash-Shaytan ar-rajim, subhan'Allah, bismillah, masha'allah, insha'Allah, and the whole surah of al-Fatihah off by heart.

And thanks; I've always tried to be polite so long as people are polite to me. Manners cost nothing, after all.

Why were you surprised to see the salawat from me?

Alaikum el salam,

I'm doing great Walid thanks a lot for asking. Its been a long time indeed. How are things going with you?

Eid Mubarak to you too. My studies and my family are fine. I'm closing in on the new semester. How's life with you?

Bday wishes are great all year!
Happy bday to you to....in advance.

Salaam brother! So nice to see you online! You are greatly missed.

Brother, long time no see.

I've been good too Alhamdulilah. Everything going nicely this part of the world. Running like clock work. lol.

Sometimes I like to take a break from this place but something always comes up which prevents me from doing so. One day insha Allah.