Khilath Online

God, increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest; strengthen my resolution to perform that which wisdom dictates. Amen. - އަޅުގަނޑުގެ އެންމެ ހެޔޮލާބަޔާއި މަންފާ ދެނެގަނެވޭ ޙިކުމަތް އަޅުގަނޑަށް އިތުރުކޮށްދެއްވާނދޭވެ އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ވެރި ރަސްކަލާކޮ! އަދި އެ ޙިކުމަތުން އަންގަވާ ކަންތައްތައް ކުރުމުގެ ޢަޒުމާއި ހިތްވަރު އަޅުގަނޑަށް ވަރުގަދަކޮށްދެއްވާނދޭވެ! އާމީން.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

LIFE IN PICTURES: Expat life in Maldives

EID MUBARAK FROM MALDIVES: An expatriate works in a team employed by the Maldives government in setting up light decorations across the capital island Malé for the upcoming Islam's Adha Eid festival marked by Muslims across the world in commemoration of the conclusion of the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia's Mecca. (VIEW IMAGE IN LARGE FORMAT)

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COMMENT SPOTLIGHT (more comments below)

JJ Gayland 9:49 AM to "THE UNSUBTLE ART OF DEALING WITH TECHNOLOGY": Yes, our smartphones and other devices are not "haunted" and there are no "ghosts in the machine" as your country the amazing Maldives' Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s first president and former Member of Parliament (MP) Ibrahim Ismail (the elder brother of former MP Fayyaz Ismail who is currently the chairperson of the MDP) today publicly said on his Facebook at this link [in fact, I saw you had shared this link on your Facebook in a public manner] ... https://web.facebook.com/100004060310228/posts/3972037699608201/: "Isn't Facebook just marvellous? It has replaced the entire medical profession. You can find a cheap, natural, remedy" for every imagineable ailment: from a simple headache to cancer, to alzheimer's, to..... And you don't have to even search for it. Just leave your phone beside you while you have a conversation with someone about an ailment....and violà, the remedy will pop up on your feed...just like that! Thank you, Zuckerberg. What would we do without facebook?" That's why Internet is on even if the phone is in non-active mode. Switch off your wifi/data if you want privacy because otherwise now our lives are not private at all. Cheers and peace. -- JJ G.

COMMENT HIGHLIGHT

Anonymous 5:11 AM to "SHORT STORY: LIFELONG HAPPINESS": 1990s Male. The ambience of Dolphin, Tascaloosa, West Park. The time when black coffees & Camel hard was the thing, just as when partey sub-culture & joints were gaining momentum. Young, ambitious men in neckties & shirts (myself included) spending their days at the cafes were just realizing they were against an impregnable wall. I think this story captures the essence of that time when a large number of people hit that point where they started questioning their own existence. They realized they were all chasing something that was so elusive, so incredibly hard to attain. Reading your story made me think if we as a society had realized what was happening to the collective psyche of our society and somehow gotten people in power to do something about it maybe, just maybe, there would have been a chance to change our course. It’s a very enjoyable story. Thank you very much for this, Hilath.

CAUTION!

There are some mistakes found on this blog of mine. So, please do not regard my faulty texts and imagery as examples to be followed. Please always seek professional help if you want to improve your language or imagery skills. This decision by me to leave errors as they appear stems from the fact that I want this blog to reflect that it is managed by a human (me) and not by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) (ro)bot! I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but if you find this blog irritating, you have the freedom not to visit this blog :)

DISCLAIMER

Assalaam Alaikum and welcome to this blog. As commentators to this blog would already be aware, comments to this blog are not moderated, and immediately appear when the commentator clicks on the "Publish" button. Therefore, the comments that appear on the comments section do not reflect my beliefs and views, and might contain comments that some visitors may find offensive and insulting. After going through the comments, I reserve the right to delete comments that I feel are not in line with the moral, ethical, and decent conduct I aspire for all material that appear here in this personal blog of mine. Hence, I wish that all commentators ensure that their comments conform to standards of public decency. Salaam and peace. -- Khilath

LATEST COMMENTS - ފަހުގެ ކޮމެންޓްތައް

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Anonymous 4:15 AM to "SHORT STORY: LIFELONG HAPPINESS": this Madih guy seems like a real psycho, why would he be unhappy because his sunrise was ruined when he was able to save the life of his friend. wtf? and he has a puff on the joint before helping his friend down? are you kidding me? "Now as they sat at the elevated Dolphin View café, he found Mirah’s round face basked in golden light, much like a sun itself, but a poor substitute." Is this supposed to be funny? Because it is ridiculous. The bit on technology creating more problems for us is so overused, even in 2004. A Booker Prize? You can't even win the Majeediyya School short story prize with this, come on. There's no real depth to this, it's pseudo existential, the protagonist wants 'lifelong happiness', which is itself a very juvenile desire. There is no real confrontation with life's paradoxes, with death, with loss, grief. I hope the literary landscape of the Maldives has changed since this piece was penned, and for the better.

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Anonymous 9:58 AM to "SHORT STORY: LIFELONG HAPPINESS": you were on fire back then i remember khilath. you didnt need to have stopped writing short stories because with this new perspective you can still find creative ways of applying these realizations to new circumstances. for example if something as simple as the taste of cherry had convinced an old man in that iranian film not to commit suicide then you can also employ your creative writing to continue writing short stories which i notice you had given up since your lanka days in 2015. also you can apply that same approach when writing dhivehi articles to adhives magazine. take the case of the palestinian poet hiba kamal abu nada who wrote the famous poem about gazans finding protection in her heart because it is also part of the universe and therefore even if israel annihilates each and every gazan on earth they will still live forever. anyway hope to see more of your writings and it would be interesting if you reinterpret and reimagine everything when you write from hereon. peace

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Anonymous 9:15 AM to "SHORT STORY: LIFELONG HAPPINESS": From a philosophical level, seems way back you unconsciously realized what this existence in this universe is. Perhaps you were led to this realization because our stifling environment drove to the point where you thought there was no escape and you contemplated suicide. But then right at that point, God made you realize that you are part of this universe and there is no escape from it. You can murder yourself but that only kills only one aspect of your existence. Your soul or your form may escape from Maldives but it will just simply shift elsewhere and you will find a new circumstance and you will have to cope and adapt and find happiness by dealing with that new situation in a new life because of a rebirth of sorts. Suicide or not, life in this eternal universe is a series of natural deaths when our physical body ages and perishes, and so, introduction to new environments and having to find new ways to be happy in the series of endless new environments you will find for all eternity. You have inevitably realized what Siddhartha realized in Hermann Hesse's novel about Buddha's Enlightenment - the novel he called Siddhartha. If you read it now, you will realize that what happened to Siddhartha and Buddha happened to you too way back in 2004. I think you would also find that your story Lifelong Happiness is thematically similar to the suicidal Iran film A Taste of Cherry. Watch it. Have a good day. Thanks for sharing this eye-opening and enlightening story. I guess I now don't need to say this but I will, because as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, reminders help Muslims to remember to always be on the Right Path seeking the Truth as you wrote in your first blogpost in this blog. So, I will say this anyway: Just don't worry about anything. Life goes on. Forever. For all Eternity. - A FRIEND

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Anonymous 11:45 AM to "BOOK REVIEW: 'DESCENT INTO PARADISE: A JOURNALIST'S MEMOIR OF THE UNTOLD MALDIVES' BY DANIEL BOSLEY": “Bosley challenges the idealized image of the Maldives as a tourist destination. He exposes the darker realities of human rights violations, political oppression, and social struggles that lie beneath the surface of this idyllic facade.” That’s the conundrum not just all nation states but each & every one of the 8 billion individuals also are faced with. Outwardly we portray an image that is very different from the reality inside.

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Anonymous 2:03 AM to "މަޖާކުރަން ދިވެހި ފިލްމް ބަލަން ދިއުމުގެ ކުރިން ސިނަމާއަށް ދާ އެހެން މީހުންނަށްވާނެ އުނދަގުލާމެދު ވިސްނާލިން ހެއްޔެވެ؟ ":އުމުރުން 60 އަހަރުވަނީ. އަހަރެންނަކީ 70ގެ އަހަރުތަކުން ފެށިގެން ސިނަމާއިން ފިލްމް ބަލަން ޝައުގުވެރިވާ މީހެއް. ދިވެހިންގެ މެދު ސިނަމާއަށް ދިއުން ނުވަތަ ބައިސްކޯފް ބަލަން ދިއުމަކީ ވަރަށް ސާދާ ސަގާފަތެއް އޮތް ކަމެއް. އެހެންނަމަވެސް މިހާރު ސިނަމާ އަށް ނުވަތަ އޮލިމްޕަހަށް ވަދެ ދިވެހި ފިލްމެއް ބެލޭނެ މާހައުލެއް ނެތް. ސިނަމާގެ ބޮކޮތައް އަލި މަޑުކުރާ ހިސާބުން ފެށިގެން ހޯބޯލަވާ ހަޅޭއްލަވަން ފަށާ. ސްކްރީންއިން ފެންނަ މަންޒަރުތަކުގެ ރަނިންގ ކޮމެންޓްރީފަށާ. ފޯނުތަކުން ސްކްރީން ރެކޯޑް ކުރާންފަށާ. ސޯސަލްމީޑިއާއަށް ފިލްމުގެ މަންޒަރުތައް ޕޯސްޓް ކުރަންފަށާ. ފިލްމްގައި އުޅޭ ދެމީހަކު ގާތްވެލާ ކޮންމެފަހަރަކު ރޯއައުގުރާނަ ގޮވަންފަށާ. ހޯލުތެރެއަށް ރިހާކުރާ ރޮށި ވައްދައިގެން ކައި ހަދާ. ހޫނުފެން ތަރުމޯޒާ ކަޕް ނޫޑްލސް ވައްދައިގެން ކައިފި. ބާތުޑޭ އެއް ފާހަގަ ކުރަން ހޯލަށް ރިހާކުރު ފުރައިޑް ރައިސް ވައްދާ ކައި، ކޭކުގައި އުއްބައްތި ރޯކޮށްގެން ލަވަކިޔާ ބާތުޑޭ ފާހަގަ ކޮށްފި. މިހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ހޯލުގަ ހުރި ސިކިއުރިޓީ ކެމެރާ ތަކުން ފެނޭ. އެކަމަކު އޮލމްޕަހުގެ މެނޭޖްމަންޓުން ޝައުގުވެރިކަމާއެކު ފިލްމް ބަލަން ވަންނަ މީހާއަށް ފަހި މާހައުލެއް ގާއިމްކުރެވިފައި ނުކުޅެދިފަ ވަނީ ޤަވާއިދާއި އުސޫލު ތަންފީޒު ކުރަން ބޭނުން ނުވާތީ. މިއިހުމާލަކީ ގަސްތުގަ ރޭވިގެން ސިނަމާއަށް ދިއުމުގެ ރޫހު ނަގާލުމަށް ކުރާކަމެއް.

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- Anonymous 1:07 PM to "MALDIVES ARTIST IPHPHA'S MUST-SEE EXHIBITION AT NATIONAL ART GALLERY": Isn't art also sinful in Islam? Read this disturbing article: https://vaguthu.mv/news/1077760/ Whatever these irrelevant Maldivian NGOs are doing to get attention to themselves and attempt to make themselves relevant to our contemporary society, no Maldivian will ever give up football, art, and music. They can't live without those. This Conservatism of Maldives' island communities due to fear-mongering by Sheikhs after the tsunami may prevail in rural societies but not on the urban "mainland" - the Greater Male' Region. I think it has something to do with urban vs. rural communities. Rural communities have smaller populations who know each other and therefore is easier to spread Conservative values. Urban centers contain large populations of strangers and therefore it's not easy to spread conservative values. Nobody protests the rise of the new Maldivian musicians, artists, and football players who are becoming successful sensations on both mainstream media and social media. Unless the government imposes Wahhabi ideals by force or for some reason like Afghanistan and Iran the majority of the Maldivian population embrace Wahhabism, I don't think there is any reason to fear these Islamic NGOs trying to forcibly impose Salafi lifestyles on Maldivians.

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- Anonymous 2:28 PM to "MALDIVES ARTIST IPHPHA'S MUST-SEE EXHIBITION AT NATIONAL ART GALLERY": Yes, there is a difference between Salafis and Wahhabis, although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Here's a breakdown: Salafis: A broader term referring to a movement that seeks to follow the practices of the "Salaf al-Salih," the righteous predecessors of Islam, particularly the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. Focus on strict adherence to the Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet). Can be diverse in their interpretations and practices. Not all Salafis are extremists. Some advocate for a more puritanical lifestyle, while others focus on education and reform within the existing Islamic framework. Wahhabis: Followers of the teachings of Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, an 18th-century Islamic scholar from Najd, Arabia. Considered a specific branch of Salafism with a stricter interpretation. Emphasize monotheism (tawhid) and reject practices they see as innovations (bid'ah). This can include veneration of saints, visiting shrines, and certain Sufi practices. Wahhabism is the dominant religious ideology of Saudi Arabia. Here's an analogy: Think of Salafism as a large circle, and Wahhabism as a smaller circle within it. All Wahhabis are Salafis, but not all Salafis are Wahhabis.

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- Anonymous 10:51 AM to "NATIONALISM AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS": I can understand the need for a financial expert to decide the Maldives' economic future but when we put a businessperson to head the parliament's financial committee, isn't that a gross conflict of interest? Check the one comment by a commentator to this article which reflects my view: https://vaguthu.mv/news/1069285/ ... Remember Qasim was finance minister where he had access to information on all state-owned enterprises (SOE), some of which his Villa company was competing against.

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- JJ Gayland 5:12 PM to "THE IRONY OF BEING HUMAN": We crave connection, yet yearn for solitude. We judge others freely, while preaching empathy. We prioritize possessions over genuine relationships. This inherent contradiction is what makes being human so ironic. For years, I've distanced myself from those who embody this dissonance. They prioritize expensive gadgets over simple gestures of friendship. They preach understanding but lack self-awareness. As I approach 50, peace of mind reigns supreme. I actively avoid negativity and surround myself with those who uplift me. The irony lies in our shared humanity. We all carry emotional baggage, myself included. While I cannot fix others' problems, I commend those who seek help. The stigma associated with mental health is slowly fading, and that's a positive step. This journey of self-discovery, from self-medication to embracing professional care, has been a long one. I'm grateful for those who supported me and for the growing awareness of mental health issues.

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- Anonymous 6:47 AM to "I AM STILL REELING FROM WATCHING Killers of the Flower Moon LAST NIGHT": The ‘white supremacist colonial’ narrative, like nearly all historical phenomena, is a result of random historical chance occurrence. The chaotic processes that shape human history favoured the people of an island off the coast of Europe, hitherto insignificant in the bigger human history, to conquer half the planet during the 18th & 19th centuries. The result of that now is that billions of people including you & me think, speak, read, write and even dream in their language through concepts & devices that were created by them. Without their legacy you and I are effectively bereft of our faculties of thinking & communicating. This may sound crude but the reality is that effectively all of us are to a large extent rendered deaf & mute. No?

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- Anonymous 9:41 AM to "LIFE IN PICTURES: PEACE 🤲": Us Muslims are ok with Hindus becoming Zoroastrians or Jews becoming Christians & vice versa. Change religion as frequently as you change your undies. Be my guest. But if you even by accident become a Muslim you can’t leave the faith. If you do we want to kill you. If you are an evangelical Christian you need to do everything to get Jews to rebuilt their Second Temple. End of times somehow can’t come if that isn’t done. Even if you are an atheist but of Jewish ancestry you still believe Moses’ Yahweh promised the land of Israel to the Jews.

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- Anonymous 5:47 PM to "INDIA IMPLEMENTS CITIZENSHIP LAW OPPOSED BY MUSLIMS BEFORE ELECTION": How do you differentiate an ochlocracy from democracy? There is no defined & fool-proof way to do that. Democracy even by definition is mob rule. Democracy & ochlocracy are one & the same thing. 🤔 No? In democracies like India, Maldives & elsewhere, we are seeing the impairment of the civil process & the eroding of of the purported powers of the entire polity with virtual impunity by the majority mob. India is a democracy. And Indians are 80% Hindus. It is only natural that the Hindu mob would rule that country. We often forget that no Maldivian ever wants to give any space in the Maldives for a non-sunni Muslim. Hindu Indians are simply claiming for themselves that same right they believe is fair & justified. Any thoughts?

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- Anonymous 2:11 PM to "MP JABIR AND 2,000 YEARS OF MALDIVES' PROFANITY": We could be mentally retarded if all the thousands of people who sat on those holhuashis by the beach, throughout those 2000 years, mostly thought and talked of one of the most lowest animalistic desires and focused mainly on developing their vocabulary of profane words instead of marvelling, admiring or immersing themselves in the great natural beauty surrounding them. It is a sad situation if we cannot let the beauty and marvels we see around us transform us into remembering or recognising the greatness of their Creator who produced such natural beauty and allow such thoughts to increase our piety and make us refrain from doing what is hated in Islam. If we don't ignore the religious aspect of using profanity, having a language rich in auguraana and admiring who uses it a lot is nothing to be proud about.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

LIFE IN PICTURES: Expat life in Maldives

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