One man’s journey into the world of Agarwood
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 31st, 2009
Maraym sent me a letter with her warm thoughts and prayers. She also sent some money from the business. She mentioned that my brother is running things well and that I can relax and rest easy about it. As for Mayram and the kids, I’ve already taken care of the bills in advance and I’ve [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 31st, 2009
Sayyad is planning to take me to the Oud distillery in Assam. I have been reading abundantly about the process of Oud distillation and I am excited to see the process in person. The distillery is located on the edge of the city, near the forests. Sayyad mentioned that the distillery location is hundreds of [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 21st, 2009
As we entered the zawiya I could smell a rich, potent, and beautiful aroma from the entrance. Once we entered the main hall, I saw woodchips burning in the corner and I noticed how the smoke created a mystical sheet that floated above the room. The building structure was old but it was obvious that [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 21st, 2009
Sayyad brought me to his guest house and helped me with my bags. As soon as he left, I called Maryam to tell her of my safe arrival. The kids were all screaming in the background wanting to talk to me. Maraym put me on speaker phone and so I could talk with all of [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 20th, 2009
Flying over Assam into the capital, Dispur, I could see the rich natural resources and biodiversity that Assam is known for from my window seat. Assam has lots of rainfalls so it has lush greenery. It is known for its Sal tree forests that have depleted much, however. Assam, of course, is also famous for [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 12th, 2009
Maryam and the children bid me farewell, giving me salaams and making supplication. Zainab gave me a plastic necklace that she made so I will always remember her. I told her “I don’t wear pink necklaces, but I’ll use it to recite my litany”. She made an awkward laugh through her shiny tears. Junaid rode [...]
Posted in Agarwood: The Journey on Jul 5th, 2009
Allah willing, I will in eight days travel to Tunis via the Sha’b Bus. Hopefully I will not have any problem at the bus station with the street police because of my Islamic appearance. It was as if Sheikh Ibrahim knew my worries when after the dhikr gathering in the zawiya this morning he said, [...]