I sat watching the sunset over the hills of Bait Bos from my bedroom window. My straying eyes had simply alighted onto the scene and I stood riveted. I was struck by the play of the sunlight in the sky. The scenery remained the same, still and uncompromising, but as the sun began the countdown the colors cast an alluring magic. The master brush with its sweeping strokes was painting the scene anew every second. Every changing shade and hue cast a new picture. I watched as the mountains grew from dark to darker to black, majestic and magnificent, against the back drop of an unresisting sky that splashed shades of dying blue and orange.
The scene reminded me of the sunset in Bab – ul – Mandhab, the fishing village on the Red Sea. The burning sun, just before sinking behind the mountains of Djibouti on the other side of the bank, had for a few seconds held the ridges within its cradle. The scene had held me immortal for that brief space of time.
These brushes with nature make me pensive. I am reminded of the English poet, William Wordsworth who revered nature – its virginity, its grandeur. His words, “The world is too much with us” are a recurring lament. I ponder over the words of the wise Red Indian Chief Seattle’s, “part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people..all things are connected like the blood which unites one family.’ His well quoted speech to the Chief of the White people in 1854 is the most passionate defense for the protection of the natural environment.
The natural world is a living library of knowledge but before we have even begun to explore it we have destroyed so much and continue to do so. This is the recurrent bane of the conservationists and as we sit here in Sanaa discussing the plight of the Yemeni leopard, really a symbol for all the wildlife and its habitat, our diseased global environment has come to haunt us. Only 200 left they say. Where have they gone and why. Do we really need to ask this question. We have all contributed to the present danger in one way or the other, small or big. Those who disagree may want to consider that either by directly contributing or by simply ignoring the impact of misguided practices and choices, wars, over exploitation, consumerism and wastefulness we have aided this impact. As human beings we are responsible for our own actions and choices. As Muslims we are also responsible for adjoining good and forbidding evil. Think about it!
Back in the early 19’s , my husband decided to switch to a career in the field of environment. Many who found out were taken aback. The green people were not to be taken seriously. As for me it made me aware of my lack of understanding of the subject and hence I found my self volunteering at the World Wide Fund for Nature in Pakistan, They had a vast collection of films on environment issues made by TVE. The British venture that seeks to educate in issues of environment. The documentaries were brilliant. They highlighted issues and gave possible solutions. I learnt that problems were not the concern , it was not having solutions that was the main concern. Contrary to my expectation they were rather enjoyable. My attitude began to change, suddenly everything around me began to make sense. I began to question my needs and my choices were no longer random but informed.
Islam requires this understanding as an essential need to understand the reality of being. “Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and the day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” It is these people who when reflecting deeply about the creation cry out, “Our lord! You have not created this without purpose.” If nothing has been created without purpose do we have the right to endanger it and if it is endangered is it not imperative to make amends. This much we know, we are all connected, all interdependent - All of us serving some purpose, some need which is vital to the balance of life.
The extinction of the Yemeni leopard, the Nimr, one of the most majestic species, must alert us to the fact that the natural habitat and the eco- systems that support them and eventually us are dying.
My growing awareness of the beauty of the natural world has made me realize how much satisfaction I derive from it. Blooming colors of flowers, heady natural fragrances, thick luscious forests, flowing rivers, the first snow fall, the warm sun on chilly days, the cool rain in sweltering heat, the expanse of the wild ocean, leave a sharp impact on the soul. The effect is calming. Yet we have little time for all this.
I was one of those people who did not like animals. They scared me but all this changed when I visited the wilderness of Zimbabwe. In a resort called Sinamatela, we arrived quite late at night, certainly not a wise decision – we joined a group of people sitting outside a simple tavern. It was getting dark, the jungle was fast disappearing and suddenly all that was left was the star studded, brilliant and busy sky. It was the color of the sky and the number of stars that took my breath away - hundreds, no thousands, the milky way too splashed on black velvet. I have never seen anything like it. Raw and pure it completely intimidated me. You never see that in the cities.
We did not sleep much that night because of the cries of a lion, maybe more we could not tell but it all seemed too close for comfort. We were in small huts that suddenly seemed too insecure. My husband and his two friends stood on guard, unable to close their eyes. The morning brought relief and the guides. We were to hurry if we wanted to see the lions and their family. Apparently they had made a kill that night. I was certainly not thrilled with this piece of news.
We hurried down the incline in jeeps and saw the whole pack crossing the plain. Two lions, at some distance from each other, one in front and the other in the rear, the lionesses and the playful cubs. The lions watched us carefully while the others steadily made their way. They seemed satiated not vicious and oddly very human. For me this was the beginning. I could not take my eyes off them. They were so majestic, so poised, so graceful. I wanted to be closer to them but my husband kept going further. We actually had an argument over it.
We tracked all day and then the next day at the Hwange National Park, actually a jungle, visiting watering holes in hope of seeing game. We did see a lot of different animals. We were not all get the chance. Every animal was beautiful and content in its world. One has seen them on television and at a closer distance in zoos but here they seemed complete – at home. It seemed a post card picture perfect world. But it was not always so, I discovered only a couple of minutes later. I was perturbed when I saw a zebra standing alone. His mein was down, a sure sign that he was sick and consequently, he had been abandoned by his comrades. Cruel as it seems this is the real world of self survival. The authorities allow the rule of the jungle to prevail. They do not intervene. Nature manages and balances life all by itself. The air was fresh, no waste, no decay, life evolved pure.
I had only one wish left by the end, to see another lion at close range, so close that I could look into its eyes. My husband was shocked, this was not me. He is in element in such an environment. It was never my thing.
The last morning, cuddled in blankets we went with the guides in an open jeep. It was very early and biting cold. Very soon after, I began to feel disgruntled, not an animal in sight and for the cold we could not focus on much else. In a fit of reaction, I cast the blankets aside and forced my husband to stand up with me. We had not gone far when he gave a warning cry. He had detected a movement. The jeep stopped and we waited. Sure enough there was something there. The movement had been the raising of a head . Then the creature began to move towards us. It came nearer and I discovered to my delight that it was a lion cub. It came right up to the jeep. The guides sitting in the front were ready with their weapons and all of us sat very vulnerable in the open vehicle. I was not scared, amazingly, not a bit. It went all around the jeep, taking in all details, not scared nor wanting to scare, simply curious. I watched him with bated breadth. It then, came to my side and I looked straight into his eyes. It was love at first sight. I was gone. Years of conditioning had made me wary of any animals. They can only hurt I believed but that one look cured me for ever. They will attack only when threatened.
We have all grown up with the Mowgli story and the Tarzan cartoons. It occurred to me after this adventure that the story is timeless and of universal appeal because it touches the basic truth in us. Our one being. Man, natural environment and animal live together in harmony – dependant and nurturing each other. They take only what they require. No conflict inhabits this perfect world till greed sets in. The hunters bring with them the danger that threatens life. Their vision is limited to the short term benefits for themselves. They say the world has enough for mans needs but not his greed. A wise man put it even better when he said it is only when all the trees are gone and all the water dried up that we will realize we cannot eat money. It is time to start analyzing our lives, sifting between essentials and luxuries. This is incumbent on all of us. Incumbent for our own survival and our generations whose future rests on the decisions and efforts we make today.
The scene reminded me of the sunset in Bab – ul – Mandhab, the fishing village on the Red Sea. The burning sun, just before sinking behind the mountains of Djibouti on the other side of the bank, had for a few seconds held the ridges within its cradle. The scene had held me immortal for that brief space of time.
These brushes with nature make me pensive. I am reminded of the English poet, William Wordsworth who revered nature – its virginity, its grandeur. His words, “The world is too much with us” are a recurring lament. I ponder over the words of the wise Red Indian Chief Seattle’s, “part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people..all things are connected like the blood which unites one family.’ His well quoted speech to the Chief of the White people in 1854 is the most passionate defense for the protection of the natural environment.
The natural world is a living library of knowledge but before we have even begun to explore it we have destroyed so much and continue to do so. This is the recurrent bane of the conservationists and as we sit here in Sanaa discussing the plight of the Yemeni leopard, really a symbol for all the wildlife and its habitat, our diseased global environment has come to haunt us. Only 200 left they say. Where have they gone and why. Do we really need to ask this question. We have all contributed to the present danger in one way or the other, small or big. Those who disagree may want to consider that either by directly contributing or by simply ignoring the impact of misguided practices and choices, wars, over exploitation, consumerism and wastefulness we have aided this impact. As human beings we are responsible for our own actions and choices. As Muslims we are also responsible for adjoining good and forbidding evil. Think about it!
Back in the early 19’s , my husband decided to switch to a career in the field of environment. Many who found out were taken aback. The green people were not to be taken seriously. As for me it made me aware of my lack of understanding of the subject and hence I found my self volunteering at the World Wide Fund for Nature in Pakistan, They had a vast collection of films on environment issues made by TVE. The British venture that seeks to educate in issues of environment. The documentaries were brilliant. They highlighted issues and gave possible solutions. I learnt that problems were not the concern , it was not having solutions that was the main concern. Contrary to my expectation they were rather enjoyable. My attitude began to change, suddenly everything around me began to make sense. I began to question my needs and my choices were no longer random but informed.
Islam requires this understanding as an essential need to understand the reality of being. “Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and the day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” It is these people who when reflecting deeply about the creation cry out, “Our lord! You have not created this without purpose.” If nothing has been created without purpose do we have the right to endanger it and if it is endangered is it not imperative to make amends. This much we know, we are all connected, all interdependent - All of us serving some purpose, some need which is vital to the balance of life.
The extinction of the Yemeni leopard, the Nimr, one of the most majestic species, must alert us to the fact that the natural habitat and the eco- systems that support them and eventually us are dying.
My growing awareness of the beauty of the natural world has made me realize how much satisfaction I derive from it. Blooming colors of flowers, heady natural fragrances, thick luscious forests, flowing rivers, the first snow fall, the warm sun on chilly days, the cool rain in sweltering heat, the expanse of the wild ocean, leave a sharp impact on the soul. The effect is calming. Yet we have little time for all this.
I was one of those people who did not like animals. They scared me but all this changed when I visited the wilderness of Zimbabwe. In a resort called Sinamatela, we arrived quite late at night, certainly not a wise decision – we joined a group of people sitting outside a simple tavern. It was getting dark, the jungle was fast disappearing and suddenly all that was left was the star studded, brilliant and busy sky. It was the color of the sky and the number of stars that took my breath away - hundreds, no thousands, the milky way too splashed on black velvet. I have never seen anything like it. Raw and pure it completely intimidated me. You never see that in the cities.
We did not sleep much that night because of the cries of a lion, maybe more we could not tell but it all seemed too close for comfort. We were in small huts that suddenly seemed too insecure. My husband and his two friends stood on guard, unable to close their eyes. The morning brought relief and the guides. We were to hurry if we wanted to see the lions and their family. Apparently they had made a kill that night. I was certainly not thrilled with this piece of news.
We hurried down the incline in jeeps and saw the whole pack crossing the plain. Two lions, at some distance from each other, one in front and the other in the rear, the lionesses and the playful cubs. The lions watched us carefully while the others steadily made their way. They seemed satiated not vicious and oddly very human. For me this was the beginning. I could not take my eyes off them. They were so majestic, so poised, so graceful. I wanted to be closer to them but my husband kept going further. We actually had an argument over it.
We tracked all day and then the next day at the Hwange National Park, actually a jungle, visiting watering holes in hope of seeing game. We did see a lot of different animals. We were not all get the chance. Every animal was beautiful and content in its world. One has seen them on television and at a closer distance in zoos but here they seemed complete – at home. It seemed a post card picture perfect world. But it was not always so, I discovered only a couple of minutes later. I was perturbed when I saw a zebra standing alone. His mein was down, a sure sign that he was sick and consequently, he had been abandoned by his comrades. Cruel as it seems this is the real world of self survival. The authorities allow the rule of the jungle to prevail. They do not intervene. Nature manages and balances life all by itself. The air was fresh, no waste, no decay, life evolved pure.
I had only one wish left by the end, to see another lion at close range, so close that I could look into its eyes. My husband was shocked, this was not me. He is in element in such an environment. It was never my thing.
The last morning, cuddled in blankets we went with the guides in an open jeep. It was very early and biting cold. Very soon after, I began to feel disgruntled, not an animal in sight and for the cold we could not focus on much else. In a fit of reaction, I cast the blankets aside and forced my husband to stand up with me. We had not gone far when he gave a warning cry. He had detected a movement. The jeep stopped and we waited. Sure enough there was something there. The movement had been the raising of a head . Then the creature began to move towards us. It came nearer and I discovered to my delight that it was a lion cub. It came right up to the jeep. The guides sitting in the front were ready with their weapons and all of us sat very vulnerable in the open vehicle. I was not scared, amazingly, not a bit. It went all around the jeep, taking in all details, not scared nor wanting to scare, simply curious. I watched him with bated breadth. It then, came to my side and I looked straight into his eyes. It was love at first sight. I was gone. Years of conditioning had made me wary of any animals. They can only hurt I believed but that one look cured me for ever. They will attack only when threatened.
We have all grown up with the Mowgli story and the Tarzan cartoons. It occurred to me after this adventure that the story is timeless and of universal appeal because it touches the basic truth in us. Our one being. Man, natural environment and animal live together in harmony – dependant and nurturing each other. They take only what they require. No conflict inhabits this perfect world till greed sets in. The hunters bring with them the danger that threatens life. Their vision is limited to the short term benefits for themselves. They say the world has enough for mans needs but not his greed. A wise man put it even better when he said it is only when all the trees are gone and all the water dried up that we will realize we cannot eat money. It is time to start analyzing our lives, sifting between essentials and luxuries. This is incumbent on all of us. Incumbent for our own survival and our generations whose future rests on the decisions and efforts we make today.
