When most people hear the name Saudi Arabia they would probably automatically connect it to terrorism and as some of you read the title of this blog you're probably thinking Saudi Arabia and peaceful country shouldn't even be in the same sentence, do you ever sit and ask yourself why? is it because what the media has told you or maybe you have a friend who already has ill feelings perhaps they were raised to hate something that they don't know much about, I know I'm guilty of that and I know many others are also, I too once thought Saudi Arabia was bad and the people scared me I didn't like them even though I never met a Saudi person but why was I hating them? * I have written about my fear of Saudi Arabia in another blog if you care to read it please check it out (http://loveforksa.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-saudi-arabia.html)...
So now back to the main topic *Saudi Arabia the country of peace! what does Saudi Arabia think about terrorism and how exactly do they and why don't they do anything to speak out against it?? and is it safe for westerners to travel here let alone work here!?
I know many people are thinking how ironic for a blog like this to come out especially with the current attacks in London and now the and now the news making it a huge deal because the apparent terrorist visited Saudi Arabia a few times, please know just because you visit a country it doesn't turn you into a terrorist and to be honest that is what pushed me to write this blog to try to teach and educate the people who have been fed the lies of the media listen to those who've lived here everyone has a different experience and majority have a positive experience living here!!!
First off Saudi Arabia does not support terrorism let alone allow it to happen here! if someone is caught being suspected of terrorism this is a serious crime and is not taken lightly if you're involved with any terrorist groups or linked to any attacks you're punished by execution which means the person is beheaded! lethal? yes but effective! this link talks about the execution of 47 terrorist convicts (http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/859176 ). Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country Muslims from all over the globe come to Saudi Arabia to visit Makkah and Medina to pray, to ask for forgiveness to ask for better health an for a better and safe world to live in etc. because this is what Islam teaches anyone who commits an attack by killing an innocent person or themselves doesn't represent Islam, Islam is perfect people are not!
So what does Islam say about killing innocent people?
"The Holy Qur’an says, “Whosoever killeth a
human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be
as though he had killed all of mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it
shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.” (Al-Mai’dah 5:32).
“The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has
strongly prohibited killing of innocent people. One of the Hadiths says,
“Whoever killed “Muaahadan” (a term used in Islamic state to refer to
non-Muslim citizens), will not smell Paradise. And its scent can be smelled
from a distance of 40 years (a term in Arabic means “far distance”).” (Narrated
by Al-Nasaie)
There are many other Hadiths that urge Muslims
not to kill others.
Before engaging in a battle, the Prophet
Muhammad used to instruct his soldiers:
• “Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elderly or sick person, or Unarmed or the one who surrenders .” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Do not practice treachery or mutilation. Do not uproot or burn palms or cut down fruitful trees. Do not slaughter a sheep or a cow or a camel, except for food.” (Al-Muwatta)
• “If one fights his brother, (he must) avoid striking the face, for God created him in the image of Adam.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
• “Do not kill the monks in monasteries, and do not kill those sitting in places of worship.” (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)
• “Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari; Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to God to grant you security, but when you (are forced to) encounter them, exercise patience.” (Sahih Muslim)
• “No one may punish with fire except the Lord of Fire.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Accustom yourselves to do good if people do good, and do not do wrong even if they commit evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi)” http://www.arabnews.com/node/375112
• “Do not kill any child, any woman, or any elderly or sick person, or Unarmed or the one who surrenders .” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Do not practice treachery or mutilation. Do not uproot or burn palms or cut down fruitful trees. Do not slaughter a sheep or a cow or a camel, except for food.” (Al-Muwatta)
• “If one fights his brother, (he must) avoid striking the face, for God created him in the image of Adam.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
• “Do not kill the monks in monasteries, and do not kill those sitting in places of worship.” (Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)
• “Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.” (Sahih Bukhari; Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy. Pray to God to grant you security, but when you (are forced to) encounter them, exercise patience.” (Sahih Muslim)
• “No one may punish with fire except the Lord of Fire.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)
• “Accustom yourselves to do good if people do good, and do not do wrong even if they commit evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi)” http://www.arabnews.com/node/375112
So why hasn't Saudi Arabia spoken out against the current attacks? We have we speak out against it and we're working hard to try to fight it! here are some links to prove that yes we indeed speak out against these attacks and will never support such hideous crimes.. http://saudigazette.com.sa/world/saudi-arabia-condemn-terrorist-attacks-in-paris/ , http://www.arabnews.com/node/960431/world,
http://www.arabnews.com/node/946651/saudi-arabia, http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arab-and-muslim-leaders-condemn-vile-terrorist-attack-nice-860788171
Saudi Arabia is also fighting terrorism inside the country this is a recent video of a shoot out between police and 2 terrorists...
I think we can agree on one thing, terrorism is like cancer it has no religion and it doesn't care in who you are and what your race or religion you are it's only mission is to destroy you and the only way to defeat cancer or terrorism is to stand together and fight together and put discrimination aside because as long as we keep pointing fingers in who created what then terrorists win, if you ever meet a Saudi student he or she will tell you that we don't accept this behavior because its "HARAM" (forbidden) and not Islam!
Why does Saudi Arabia send their people to America? well majority of the saudis you'll ever meet in America or any other country outside Saudi Arabia are students or for business with companies and are some of the most kindest generous people you'll ever meet and are very interested in learning about your culture and life style so do please be hospitable and kind cause the students that come there not only come for education but to better their future when they return to Saudi Arabia and none of them want any trouble their normal people like anyone else so do please be kind....
Okay, how safe is Saudi Arabia for westerners to travel to let alone work?? first of all Americans, people from London or Europe are some of the most respected people in Saudi Arabia majority live in some of the best compounds that is only for them no Saudis are allowed to enter because in those compound areas the people that live there are free to do what they want, from ladies driving inside the compound yes you heard right women can drive in the compounds and also in some small cities in Saudi Arabia anyways, women don't have to wear abaya or hijab in these areas if you went into these compounds you would think you're in one of the beaches of California its that luxurious!
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| One of the homes in one of the compounds, photo taken by Jessica Fay. |
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| Aramco beach photo taken by Jessica Fay. |
A lot of companies that hire Americans get paid tickets to go back home at least once a year or more, they get paid medical, schooling for their kids Saudi Arabia is also tax free so you don't pay taxes but don't forget you still have to pay taxes from what ever country you're coming from... American's and Europeans that come here to work they're some of the highest paid people in the country an the most respected they get double the salary that a Saudi citizen would get even if they had the same qualifications!
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| on of the beaches inside the compound. *photo taken by Jessica Fay* |
So what is there to do for foreigners that choose to come to work here? well if you like shopping we have a ridiculous amount of shopping centers here for almost anything you can think of. If you're a foodie we have some of the best restaurants here American restaurants too!!! So how do women get around if women can't drive? well that's easy!! if you're sponsored by a company to work here and if you're a woman you'd be provided with a driver who will drive you to where ever you need to go and also we have car services like *Uber, and Careem* to get you to where you need to go and the old taxi services.
So how safe is Saudi Arabia to live in?? Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries I know you may laugh, but do you know what the number one cause of death is in Saudi Arabia??? I know you probably thought by suicide bombers right? Wrong! and no its not by murder or violence. The number one cause of death in Saudi Arabia is Coronary Heart Disease, number two being Stroke! surprised???
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So as long as you're in good health you really have nothing to worry about, because Saudi Arabia is known for their harsh punishments and for that reason crime rates are verily low, not say they don't happen they do but they don't rank number 1 of cause of death and if anyone was to attack a foreign person let alone an American not only does the embassy get involved the the police will protect you as if you're a VIP because you're a guest in this country and we take care of our guests because this is what Islam teaches us to take care of our neighbors and to protect...
So do women have to wear the hijab or niqab??? No they don't I had addressed this in another blog but when I first arrived here to Saudi Arabia the first thing that shocked me is the women who didn't cover but were respectfully dressed....
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| This being example of women wearing what she likes, yes the ladies face is covered because in Saudi Arabia if you take someones picture without their knowledge you can get in big trouble so in all aspects i'm protecting my ass and also her identity!
So you may ask yourself why would anyone want to visit Saudi Arabia let alone work there? my question for you is why not!!! what is there to fear? you're at higher risk at getting shot by wearing the wrong color in the wrong neighborhood than you are to get attacked here! in fact firearms are not allowed here, even the police and Military are not allowed to use their firearms unless given authorized to do so so yes Saudi Arabia is safe and probably one of the most hospitable countries you'll ever visit and people you'll ever know... an also coming to a different country will open your mind and views about another culture and religion and life style and if you get bored Bahrain and UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, Oman are near by to feed your needs of drinking or clubbing eating pork and watching movies in the cinema...
My conclusion is this Saudi Arabia is safe there is no doubt about that but all I can say don't believe everything you hear in the media the media tells you what they want you to know and most of that time they will feed you what they want to put fear and hate into your minds and heart so when you see something ask the people of the countries and the religions the media is attacking and ask with an open mind and open heart and with the intent of wanting to learn and to understand and always keep in mind "the fingers on your hand are not the same they're all different and nether people"!
I end the blog with this video, I hope I was able to answer some questions and misunderstanding about Saudi Arabia
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