By the way.. is this how others precieve us Saudi women?

most of the Women’s (especially Saudi’s) spent their time in wondering in shopping malls & other wasteful activities, and child bring up in the hands of maids, TV & computer games.

That is bad and sad to know

First of all I like to appreciate you for well bringing-up of your son. Bring-up your son in a way that he feel confidence & proud on his parents & their ‘tarbiya’ (up-bringing). The most critical age of any man/women is from 2-7 years of his/her age. What ever he/she has learnt in that age will never be wasted & trashed in any circumstances. And sad to write now days most of the Women’s (especially Saudi’s) spent their time in wondering in shopping malls & other wasteful activities, and child bring up in the hands of maids, TV & computer games. Yea, you are right, you should stay in Saudi Arabia. I think purpose of blogs & discussion should be constructive not just criticism and saying bad to govt. & society. And reformation always starts from our-self, first we need to correct our manner, behavior and children, then other people. Family is the unit of society, if every one of us start focusing on our own home & family I believe very soon reformation will be very fast & strong.

Pls. stay in Saudi Arabia and I believe Saudi Society needs more mothers like you……who can give good manners, hardworking spirit, women-respect, education, open-thinking towards others nationalities & Sects (religions as well). Don’t think that you are one or group of 3,4 friends and how you can fight against these bad ethics. Never forget the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) incident of fire, when King Namrood put Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in fire a small sparrow (العصفور) bring water in her beak (المنقار) to douse the fire. Think what that small quantity of waters worth’s against that big fire. So, we should not look towards how bigger & longer the mission, rather we should do out part, rest leave on God. Our prays are with you……..

Surprise to know that in the 80’s people beat their women with wooden sticks, (forgetting hadith, ‘Who treat his wife WELL is the best from you’). I just want to know more about it, is it happened in villages only or cities also?, would you pls. update more on it.

Yea, I agree with you people of Najd are more harsh, closed and bad mannered. Some one told me that before 80,100 years, where there was no border, foreigners are not allowed to enter Najd without getting permission. Families are destroying very fast in Saudi Arabia, one of my Saudi female friend told me that 8 out of 10 marriages are ending with divorce. Very soon I will also try to write a blog on it, really its very alarming situation.

Regards,

Ali

I am trying to make my own way in this male dominating country, I am doing my masters, working part time and taking care of my lovely son.

Rasha you are seriously amazing and I wish more Arab women were like you. You are an inspiration for me.

You are right about all the points you have mentioned about Saudi Arabia, we do have so many problems and sometimes I do feel like nothing will ever change here.
Saudis have a strange way of thinking, they do think they are above all (I am talking in general, there are many exceptions) they think because Makkah is within Saudi Arabia that they are some how better. I agree with you totally, I believe we are all equal and this is Islam’s teaching although a lot don’t act on it here.
Men of God here don’t have manners, they treat women like sheep ( they used to hit women with wooden sticks in the 80′s.. thank god that is over) they still haras us and treat us and foreigners badly because they think they are superior.

Islam is used here superficially alot.. as you mentioned a lot of men here have their beards longer and try to look so holy yet they treat others badly. Islam is not based on prayer and salat only. Islam is the bases of humanity.. of dealing with people.. of respect..

Saudi’s (especially from Najd) have a somehow dry and aggressive attitude towards other races and religions. I hate saying all this about people of my country but it is a day to day struggle.

It is true there is an alarming high number of divorce here, three out of eight of my group of close friends are divorced this needs another blog for me to discuss.

I have seen so many good people who are well educated, have excellent potential and try day to day to make small changes.. at least in their homes with their children as you mentioned.

I am trying to make my own way in this male dominating country, I am doing my masters, working part time and taking care of my lovely son. I try to implement manners and respect in raising my child, I would love for him to be a free thinker, strong, independent and caring individual when he grows up and not to be manipulated by society. Now.. this is my greatest fear.. when my child goes to school he will be open to alot of society’s nonesense and stupid ideas about women, racism..etc.

I thought about trying to leave the country to be able to raise my child in a normal atmosphere (although I don’t have the full choice in that) but I don’t want him to be a foreigner in his own country. I have had this discussion so many times with my friends. We are all well educated and successful females who would just love to leave to have a descent life, but if all well educated Saudi’s who have a lot to offer their country pack and leave for a better life.. who will do the changes? how are things going to get better?

It is a challenge that I and so many like me face in day to day life.. I do have an influence through my work on some youth but it is so hard knowing that you are surrounded by so much ignorance.

I am very much surprised that Islam born & raised here in Saudi Arabi and Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) also said in his last sermon that ‘All are equal, regardless of Ajmee or Arabi, no one has proirity on each other. But why Saudis are still leaving in he era of Jahlia (Ignorance) ? and treating each other and foreigners (working in Saudia) with biasism.

May be my comment is out of context of this blog, but followings always irritate my mind ?

Why still tribal status is above & voilating the Islamic teachings ?
Why 44% marriages are ending in divorce ?
Why Saudi Society is not a accepting & open society ?.
Why after living 30,40 years in Saudi Arabia, despite you are muslim, you are sill foreigners (Alians) ?
Why you not consider others muslims equllay you yourself ?
Why foreigne Muslims can’t marry & own property in Saudi Arabia
Why Saudi religous dept. try to enforce their own brand of Islam on foreigners ?
Why they consider all muslim foreigners are ‘wrong’ and ‘bidatti’ and don’t know about religion ?
Why the religious dept. core focus is ‘bidaah’ ?, why not teaching on tribalism, equalism, giving due salaries to workers, treating foreigners with respect & care.

Lot to write more…….but……..who cares until oil is booming…….

My dear, I am not critisizing you or Saudia. Actually I always wonder on these things ?. Above mentioned things are my own personal experice of Saudi Arabia. I just want to know the reason of these things. Saudi Claim their-self as ‘Country of Humanism’. Just open any search engine and enter “Human Rights voilation in Saudi Arabia/Maid abuse in Saudi Arabia” and count the returns….Why, why, why ?

Despite of strong hold of relgious clerks on people & country why Humans are so much humliated, insulted and harmed in Saudi Arabia ?

I believe the main reasons of above problems are lack of ‘tarbiya’ (proper up-bringing), only focusing on the outfit (shorter thube, longer beard) and visible (ظاهر Ù‰) practices of Islam.

If people born & rasied in the lap & hands of maids, without any tarbiya, then they can’t make a good society. Second if from childhood you are taught that maids, drivers & all foreigners (regardless of their age, education & esperitse) are alians and second class poeple then they will behave same like today.

Education System & religious education should be redefined. Jumma sermons & books should condemn these Un-Islamic ethics & practices of tibalism, Womens driving, Misyaar marriage, biasism. Here in US, once you are a US citizen nobody cares about your origin & religion (before 9/11, still problem is only for Muslims).

I always believe that a single man/women can also bring positive change in Society, no matter how much time it will take. As you are a women & mother, you can bring better and bigger change. I remember once Churchel (former Primeir of UK) said ‘Give me good mother, I will give you good nation’. So as you give good tarbiya to your children, one generation will be change. And slowly, slowly all society will be changed. No matte you are alone now, be the first drop of rain, others drops will also follow you. Make group of womens are discuss, agree and promise with your-self that you will change the society. Very soon everyting will be better…….