Misbaha (Rabha)
Dublin Core
Title
Misbaha (Rabha)
Description
A prayer rosary; this is very precious and valuable to me, because I got it in Mecca when I was performing my Hajj pilgrimage in 2010. It was an experience of a lifetime, to be at the Holy Place, with millions of people from every country who were having their own spiritual journey. I have used my misbaha in my daily prayers ever since. To give glory to my God and to recognize his mercy and power gives me peace of mind.
Source
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Language
Moroccan Arabic and French
Is Part Of
Immigrant & Refugee Stories
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Speaking French and Moroccan Arabic
The object I have is something I brought home from Saudi Arabia when I made my pilgrimage in 2010.
I brought this object home to Morocco, then I brought it here. It always keeps me company, even while I’m sleeping.
It’s a rosary that I ?filled with/used for? all my prayers to thank God for allowing me to take the pilgrimage, and for giving me good health and well-being… that’s all.
It’s important. It’s always with me, even when I walk - during my daily walk.
It’s been almost seven years. Yeah, from 2010 until 2018, that’s almost seven years. And even when I travel and go to Morocco, it’s always in my pocket. There are objects that give you confidence, that give you serenity, that give you peace with yourself. Even when you walk alone.
I was in Mecca. I was sitting down praying the maghreb prayer, when a woman passed in front of me, and she gave it to me. It was a gift. Like sadaqah - like a donation. People there want to do good. They want to give, they want to do charitable things. So a woman that I didn’t know walked in front of me and gave it to me. And I kept it.
I bought some for my friends and family in Morocco - I bought more of them. But this one, I kept because it was offered to me. It was a gift from God.
I am happy to share this moment with you. It’s a pleasure to share. Because in Morocco, people aren’t closed off. You find people in the street, in the mosque, in the hamaam - do you know the hamaam (bathhouses)? And we talk, we talk! We discuss things! We’re used to to people - to the presence of people. Me, I’m open. The difference [here] is that when I’m going from my house to the mosque, or from my house to the library, there aren’t many people who walk. Whereas in Morocco - well, these days many people have cars - but even so, we walk. We go out, we take walks, we have picnics. Conviviality doesn’t exist here.
People here come together at parties, special occasions. But there, every Friday you see a family prepare couscous, and we come together around the table. Neighbors, friends, family. It gives you warmth.
Speaking Arabic
This couscous we cook - you know couscous, right? We cook it and make a big plate, and we call it Gsaa (the plate), this is where we knead it. And we come together. All the family comes together.
Speaking French
Now that I’m in Denver, I don’t make couscous on Fridays anymore. Couscous is a dish that requires people - a large presence of people. You can’t eat it alone. I made it yesterday, and it just sat there. No one touched it. You see? That’s the difference.
There [in Morocco] on Fridays we make a big platter of couscous and we bring it to the mosque. To share with people - the poor people who come. And these people have the opportunity to eat well, to eat meat and chicken. You see? That does good. Sadaqah - we call that Sadaqah. Charity - that’s it. Charity. And we pray to God that he accepts it and forgives us, that’s all. That's why I always have my rosary with me. My prayer rosary. My prayer rosary.
The object I have is something I brought home from Saudi Arabia when I made my pilgrimage in 2010.
I brought this object home to Morocco, then I brought it here. It always keeps me company, even while I’m sleeping.
It’s a rosary that I ?filled with/used for? all my prayers to thank God for allowing me to take the pilgrimage, and for giving me good health and well-being… that’s all.
It’s important. It’s always with me, even when I walk - during my daily walk.
It’s been almost seven years. Yeah, from 2010 until 2018, that’s almost seven years. And even when I travel and go to Morocco, it’s always in my pocket. There are objects that give you confidence, that give you serenity, that give you peace with yourself. Even when you walk alone.
I was in Mecca. I was sitting down praying the maghreb prayer, when a woman passed in front of me, and she gave it to me. It was a gift. Like sadaqah - like a donation. People there want to do good. They want to give, they want to do charitable things. So a woman that I didn’t know walked in front of me and gave it to me. And I kept it.
I bought some for my friends and family in Morocco - I bought more of them. But this one, I kept because it was offered to me. It was a gift from God.
I am happy to share this moment with you. It’s a pleasure to share. Because in Morocco, people aren’t closed off. You find people in the street, in the mosque, in the hamaam - do you know the hamaam (bathhouses)? And we talk, we talk! We discuss things! We’re used to to people - to the presence of people. Me, I’m open. The difference [here] is that when I’m going from my house to the mosque, or from my house to the library, there aren’t many people who walk. Whereas in Morocco - well, these days many people have cars - but even so, we walk. We go out, we take walks, we have picnics. Conviviality doesn’t exist here.
People here come together at parties, special occasions. But there, every Friday you see a family prepare couscous, and we come together around the table. Neighbors, friends, family. It gives you warmth.
Speaking Arabic
This couscous we cook - you know couscous, right? We cook it and make a big plate, and we call it Gsaa (the plate), this is where we knead it. And we come together. All the family comes together.
Speaking French
Now that I’m in Denver, I don’t make couscous on Fridays anymore. Couscous is a dish that requires people - a large presence of people. You can’t eat it alone. I made it yesterday, and it just sat there. No one touched it. You see? That’s the difference.
There [in Morocco] on Fridays we make a big platter of couscous and we bring it to the mosque. To share with people - the poor people who come. And these people have the opportunity to eat well, to eat meat and chicken. You see? That does good. Sadaqah - we call that Sadaqah. Charity - that’s it. Charity. And we pray to God that he accepts it and forgives us, that’s all. That's why I always have my rosary with me. My prayer rosary. My prayer rosary.
Collection
Citation
“Misbaha (Rabha),” Stories of Colorado, accessed December 21, 2024, https://stories.cvlcollections.org/items/show/3.