Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
"Ahlan wa Sahalan! Peace and good health!
Welcome! Welcome! My name is Faroukh, but most people call me Abu Hashem ('father of Hashem' -- my son). Family is so important in our part of the world that when we have children, we earn the honor of being addressed by the title 'abu' (father of) or 'oom' (mother of) and the name of our first child, or sometimes the first boy if your eldest is a girl. Hashem is our oldest child so we didn't have to choose, Al-Hamdel Allah (Thanks be to God). My family and I live in Tehran, Iran, where I serve as a community leader and Imam. Much of my time is spent praying or reading the Qur'an, so your visit is a welcomed break.
We such an interesting itinerary, let us begin at a famous Ottoman house of prayer."
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul​
"This colossal mosque is commonly called the 'Blue Mosque' due to its coloring and dramatic hand-painted blue tiles throughout the interior. It was completed in 1616 CE and served as an imperial mosque to the Ottoman Empire. While it remains a functioning mosque today, non-muslims and tourists can also visit this historic site in-between daily prayers. Color may be in the name of this mosque, but it truly defines our next destination: a holy place of another faith.
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Hot Air Balloon over Cappadocia
"Hold on to your hats -- here we go! What fascinating natural structures. To think, these funny looking towers of soft stone were once carved into homes, churches, and entire underground cities! Incredible. It saddens me there was so much religious persecution people had to go to such extremes in order to worship their God freely, but, my, what a unique metropolis they created. What amazing ingenuity needed to build a safe place to live -- so unlike our next stop, which was built for the dead."
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Bekhal Springs Waterfall, Erbil​
"Ya Jameel (how beautiful) -- Just look at all that water! This powerful spring can produce up to 13 cubic meters (3400 gal) of clean water every second and serves as an important source of drinking water to Kurdistan/Northern Iraq. It looks like they have built up a little tourist attraction around the spring as well. This certainly would be a pleasant family outing for a hot day. Perhaps some of the water from this spring make it all the way down the Tigris River to water the gardens surrounding out next stop."
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"Seems rather peaceful now, but this square in downtown Baghdad was the epicenter of the October 2019 Iraqi protests demanding fair elections and better quality of life. See that bridge over there? That's the 'Freedom Monument'. Its large metal forms depict the various key events in history leading to the creation of the modern Republic of Iraq. A rather appropriate backdrop for humanitarian protests, don't you think? Our next stop is also a political tribute to freedom."​
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Wadi al-Salaam Cemetery, Najaf
"This somber necropolis is the largest known cemetery in the world and its name literally mean 'Valley of Peace'. Tens of millions of bodies are buried here -- Allah urHamhum (God rest them). While it's probably not very high on many must-see lists, this holy Shia cemetery is an excellent location to contemplate this region's complex history of violence, death, and bloodshed in the name of one empire or another. Many famous holy men are buried here, including two Grand Ayatollahs (most holy Shia Imams). Perhaps our next stop will help rejuvenate us a bit, like a cold glass of water on a hot morning?"
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"Formally known as 'Shahyad Tower' (Shah's Memorial Tower), this massive arched monument marks the western entrance to Tehran and was renamed 'Adazi Tower' -- meaning 'Freedom' -- following Iran's 1979 Revolution. The basement level houses the Azadi Museum, which displays rare artifacts representing various periods in Persian history. The gleaming white exterior is encased by over 8000 blocks of local marble and celebrates Persian artistry and craftsmanship. Persian heritage is ancient -- much like the religion celebrated at our next destination."
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Vank Armenian Cathedral, Isfahan​
"So many vibrant colors! Even as a devout muslim, it is difficult not to be moved by the profound dedication and commitment of the artists who created this kaleidoscopic house of worship. The border states have such a diverse heritage, but some of the smaller minority groups, such as the Armenian christians, are sadly forgotten -- despite their incredible influence in the region. Armenians have lived in the Iranian territory for millennia and many of the oldest Armenian churches and monasteries are actually in modern-day Iran -- and are equally polychromatic. All these bright hues remind me of the mode of transportation we will use at our next destination."
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Chak Chak Zoroastrian Shrine, Yazd
"Perched in a cliff-face on the central Persian Plateau, this fire temple is the most sacred mountain sites in Zoroastrianism -- an ancient indigenous religion of Iran and India. Founded sometime during the 6th Century BCE, Zoroastrianism is among the world's oldest surviving religions and is devoted to a single creator deity, Ahura Mazda, and the cosmic duality of good and evil. Did you see that amazing bronze figure of Zoroaster -- the founder -- on the entrance door behind us?"
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