Palestinian Harvest Season Prior to the Theft of 1948 🫒

 

Prior to 1948, the harvest season in Palestine, particularly the olive harvest known as mawsim al-zaytoun, was a deeply ingrained and joyful cultural cornerstone, far more than just an agricultural event. It was a time when entire families and communities, from elders to toddlers, would gather in the groves for days or weeks of collective labor and celebration. Preparations began with the first September rains, believed to bring barakeh (blessings) for the year ahead. The work involved picking olives by hand or using small rakes and spreading tarpaulins beneath the ancient trees, many of which had been planted by ancestors generations before. The atmosphere was one of shared purpose, filled with conversation, laughter, singing, and storytelling. Meals, such as musakhan (sumac-spiced chicken) and mujaddara, would be prepared and shared in the shade of the trees, often accompanied by fresh bread and mint tea  🍵🫖

The celebration extended beyond the fields. After the harvest, the crops were taken to local olive presses, which operated around the clock, filling the air with the pungent aroma of fresh oil. The first taste of the new, gleaming green oil was a moment of great pride and satisfaction. Beyond olives, other important crops like wheat and barley were also harvested with community feasts, traditional dabke dances, music, and food sharing, reinforcing strong social bonds and a profound connection to the land. This annual cycle of planting and harvesting was central to the self-reliant subsistence economy of most rural Palestinian communities, symbolizing a deep, generational link to their identity and heritage that was celebrated with communal joy and unity    🌿🍈 

The Forest Library - kids' reading 💗

 

Three cutest versions of the ''forest library.'   Enjoy kiddos 💕

Sunlit morning

Twilight version

Rainy day version

Beneath the sheltering branches of a leafy oak tree, the forest library scene unfolds as a gentle celebration of a natural forest  (Alhumdulilah), learning and peaceful companionship of the cool little forest people 🐰🐿️   A rustic wooden bookshelf, nestled among wildflowers and puddles, offers a colorful trove of stories to its woodland readers - three white rabbits and two bright brown squirrels, each absorbed in a book around a low wooden table.  The sunlit morning is bright and cheerful, books and fresh fruits.  Another day, rain falls softly, forming shimmering reflections in the grass, while cheerful umbrellas add warmth and whimsy to the tranquil setting.  During twilight, the interplay of light scattering in the atmosphere casts gentle blue and mauve hues that softly color the forest landscape.  Sparrows and hummingbirds perch above, watching with quiet curiosity, as the forest stretches mistily into the distance. This tender moment, rendered in bright watercolor, evokes a world where knowledge is shared in harmony with the rhythms of the serene surroundings, and even the smallest creatures find joy in the pages of a book.

The Beautiful Princess Lala Rukh

 

A story from 18th-century Afghan fictions

 Princess Lala Rukh and her love for music

Princess in quiet repose

Lala Rukh, whose name in Farsi evokes the blush of “red cheeks,” was a young Persian-speaking princess from Kabul, Afghanistan, in the 18^th-century. She was engaged to a noble prince from Bokhara, Uzbekistan — then a flourishing city within the cultural realm of  Islamic Persia.

Though their engagement was arranged with the blessings of both royal families, the princess had never met her betrothed. A formal meeting was planned in Bokhara, some 560 miles from Kabul. Lala Rukh was to travel there in a grand springtime caravan, accompanied by her elite entourage: twenty coachmen, eight grooms, five maids, three cooks, twelve guards, and a witty, eloquent musician-poet whose verses would entertain the royal party during their long journey and nightly stops at the  caravan-serias.

The caravan comprised ten ornate horse-drawn carriages, winding through verdant valleys and mountain passes. Though the weather was gentle, the journey spanned five weeks, with stops every 8 to 12 hours at the caravanserias spaced roughly 20 to 25 miles apart - each a haven of rest and replenishment.

  The caravan to Bokhara

As the days passed, Lala Rukh found herself captivated by the musician-poet. His charisma, intelligence, and refined manner of expressing ideas stirred something deep within her. Yet she was torn - for falling in love with someone other than her future husband was a breach of honor she could not reconcile. As Bokhara drew near, her heart grew heavy with anxiety and longing.

pon arrival, the princess and her retinue were welcomed into the royal guest house within the palace complex. The horses were led to the stables, the carriages cleaned and inspected, and preparations made for the formal meeting scheduled the next morning. Lala Rukh, accompanied by two maids, was to meet the prince for breakfast and lunch at his palace.

That night, she stood alone on the ornate balcony, gazing at the star-strewn sky. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered prayers to Allah Almighty, seeking guidance for the turmoil in her heart.

The tearful princess on the balcony

The next morning, as she approached the palace door, overwhelmed by fatigue and emotional weight, she collapsed onto the embellished tiles. A flurry of concern swept through the palace, and she was swiftly carried to the dar-al-shifa, a small, elegant clinic within the palace grounds.

An hour later, she awoke to a disclosure that changed her life: the witty, charming poet she had fallen in love with was none other than the prince himself - her fiancé.

Knowing her love for gentle music, wise and didactic poetry and refined humor, he decided playing this secret role in disguise to maintain a spirit of cheer within the princess through the long journey she willingly undertook to meet him and his family.  Witty as always, this was the prince’s style of expressing his gratitude without breaking the moral rules. 

It was the happiest day in the life of princess Lala Rukh.

The following is my anime style art for kids' storybooks of a tearful Princess Lala Rukh on the balcony.

Caravanserais in Medieval Islamic Persia, Turkiye and North Africa (Maghreb)

 

The caravanserais (or inns) were large fortified roadside complexes that had a central courtyard, arcaded walkways and guest rooms designed specifically to shelter long-distance caravans, pack animals, and travelers of all ranks. Stopping at the caravanserais or ribats (in Persian) was a necessity that offered rest, regular meals and security along arduous travel routes.

The caravans stopped at the caravanserais approximately every 8 to 12 hours, as they were strategically built to be about a day's journey apart.  This distance was typically between 19 to 25 miles.

The central courtyards were spacious enough to accommodate dozens of animals and multiple carriages, allowing for maneuvering, unloading, feeding, and watering. Large covered stables lined parts of the courtyard, offering shelter for horses, camels, mules, and oxen. Shaded porticoes surrounded the courtyard, providing space for merchants and travelers to sit, dine, and oversee their animals.

Caravanserais were enclosed by thick stone or brick walls, built to withstand bandits and harsh weather. The main entrance was a towering wooden or iron gate, tall enough to admit fully loaded camels and horse-drawn carriages. Upscale caravanserais frequented by prosperous merchants and wealthy families often featured crenellated walls, as they served as overnight repositories for valuable goods.

A separate stable area was typically reserved for prized horses and carriage teams belonging to affluent travelers.

At the heart of the courtyard stood a stone fountain for watering animals, often fed by a deeper well or underground reservoir to ensure a steady supply of fresh water.

Guest rooms were simply furnished with raised platforms or bedsteads, thick carpets  and braziers for warmth during winter months. Wealthier travelers were sometimes offered larger chambers with better bedding and more privacy. These guests, usually accompanied by servants, brought their own cushions, bedding  and food  which attendants arranged within the rooms. Many caravanserais included locked storerooms for securing traders’ valuable goods overnight.

Ottoman and Persian caravanserais often featured a small mosque or prayer hall, typically perched on a raised platform beside the courtyard.

By sunset, the caravanserai transformed into a lively hub of movement. Carriages rolled in under the heavy gates. Horses and camels were unhitched and led to water troughs. Servants laid out carpets, lit lamps, and prepared evening meals. Traders set up stalls beneath the vaulted arcades. The keeper of the caravanserai (kahya) oversaw lodging, secured valuables, and provided basic supplies such as oil, grain, and fodder.

After dark, the gates were bolted from within. Guards patrolled the walls and courtyard. The thick masonry kept interiors cool by day and warm by night. The sounds of the caravan - animals resting, guards calling to one another, soft conversations by lamplight - evoked an atmosphere of temporary yet secure refuge along the long and winding roads of medieval  travel and trade in the Islamic Golden era.

The following two of my oil on canvas ai artworks are of Shah Abbas caravanserias maintained as landmarks until the present, the first in southern Iran and the second in south-western Iran.  Both are more than 400 years old.

Forest Treehouses: Children's Storybook Pictures

 

An apple treehouse carved beneath a leafy tree loaded with golden-yellow apples in the midst of a flowery forest.  An ideal hangout for the bright brown tree squirrels with bushy tails to collect their favorite food.

 

👆 And my artwork capturing another vision of a forest tale. 

In the heart of a whispering forest, a treehouse stood tall, where two curious bunnies watched from their leafy windows. Down below, a snug dining room and a gentle fluffy lamb rested quietly at the entrance, while cheerful birds gathered around a tiny table outside the treehouse for a tasty treat. Wildflowers danced in the breeze, and behind it all, the forest faded softly into the mist.

Welcome to the Cherry Tree Birds’ Neighborhood!

 

A place full of storybook charm. In this happy, leafy tree, bright red cherries dangle like shiny jewels, and little sparrows chirp and flutter all around. Two cozy birdhouses sit firm with the trunk of the cherry tree. Feathered friends peek out and chat with one another. Down below, the soft green grass is sprinkled with fallen cherries and crunchy leaves. Look, two curious rabbits have come to visit! One sniffs a cherry on the ground, while the other stands tall, watching the birds with wide, wondering eyes. It’s a busy, cheerful day in the cherry tree neighborhood where everyone has something to see, taste or tweet about!  🍒🦜

Peaches, blueberries and tea

 

Early autumn, a sun-dappled parlor in a 16^th century Ottoman home nestled just beyond the edge of a sleepy village, some distance the vibrant town of Bursa. The room is filled with soft golden light filtering through lace curtains, casting delicate patterns on the wooden floor. A lace-covered table stands near the wall, adorned with a gilded fruit basket and a vintage porcelain teacup that glows with warm amber tea.

The autumn air is filled with the fragrance of the fading roses, the leaves turning russet and the distant chimney smoke. The tastefully adorned living room carries a gentle and reflective atmosphere with the ticking of a grandfather clock echoing faintly in the background.  A breeze rustles the dull red taffeta curtains now and again. It’s the kind of afternoon that feels suspended in time.

The fruit basket holds memories for the family, the tea is an etiquette.  The moments  capture the finesse of the porcelain treasure and the fruit basket, an amazing still life aura with textures so rich as you feel the aroma of the peaches mingling with the steam of the tea contained in the cool glaze of the vintage porcelain.

A scene that whispers of quiet indulgence and timeless charm.

What is Islam?

 

Islam did not start with Prophet Muhammad in the 7^th century.  Technically Islam is the Message that was delivered by all the prophets of God from Adam to Muhammad.  Islam is neither named after a person or a tribe nor does it end with an –ism.  Though each Prophet had a relatively different law, the essence of the message of Islam was always the same:  have faith in One God and do good.  In the Bible (original before it began being altered), the first four of the Ten Commandments enjoin the worship of One God;  the rest urge believers to avoid what is wrong and do what is good.  All Prophets and their followers (including Essa and his disciples) are simply called ‘Muslims’ in the Quran.  Hence anyone who submits to One God only and strives to be a good person can be called a ‘muslim’ (with a ‘m’) from a linguistic perspective. 

Every human being is born with innate will (fitrah) to submit to One God, but parents and society change this nature, and in order to relate to The Almighty, many have put a face on God (mostly human or animal) throughout history.  The process of restoring the fitrah is called reversion.  

Islam is not only a religion but a comprehensive of life.  Based on common sense and clear cut teachings, Islam defines the rights and responsibilities of every individual in regards to their relationship with God and His creation.  It balances the spiritual and material needs of its followers and helps them gain happiness with peace of mind in this life and salvation (maghfirah) in the next.

Introduction from Dr. Mustafa Khattib’s English translation of the Quran, The Clear Quran

18th century desert village in eastern Libya

Beneath the quiet gaze of the crescent moon, the desert transforms into a realm of hushed elegance. The golden sands shimmer softly, echoing the glow of lanterns nestled beside ornate tents whose silken folds ripple gently in the night breeze. Each tent, a sanctuary of warmth and mystery, stands like a jewel against the vast azure sky, where stars scatter like diamonds.  Palm trees frame the silence, their shadows stretching long across the dunes, while the sparse shrubs add texture to the tranquil expanse. In this nocturnal stillness, the desert breathes beauty - timeless serene, steeped in quiet wonder. 

All praise be to Allah The Most Glorious, The Sole Creator of everything within and beyond the Earth.