RCT

In traditional Sunni Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam (أركان الإسلام) is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salat (Prayers), Zakat (Giving of Alms), Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the congregation. Prayers are said at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. These five prescribed prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of ... read more

I was told before leaving that there would be no need to drive in Saudi. All my transportation would be provided, and besides -getting a drivers license would take an act of Congress (or should I say an edict from the King). And while I am looking for the best in the country I am visiting, in the area of automobile safety, Saudi has much work to do. I had a two-day workshop in Jabail, 65 miles North of Dhahran. Leaving at 6:00 am in the morning, we would drive a three lane stretch of highway that had deep 6-12 inch shoulder drop offs. I noticed cars whizzing by my cab on the shoulder and then swerve back into the lanes when clear. Many times cars would straddle lanes trying to get past a car. ... read more

Six days into my visit to Saudi and I am beginning to settle into my assigned tasks and get a little more comfortable in moving around this beautiful country. The first three days were a little frustrating due to a complete lack of connectivity to the internet and lack of cell phone signal strength. When I got my first call from Susan, it was as if I had been rescued from a deserted island. The area around the Dhahran compound I am staying in is surprisingly quiet. No stereo’s blaring, boom boxes from SUV’s, and even the conversations in public are soft and reserved. For most of the morning, you hear hundreds of doves cooing at one another. It reminded me of the Benedictine monastery in Cullman Alabama. Daily activity is interrupted five times for prayer, ... read more

Just four weeks ago I was in a staff meeting when my supervisor asked how I would like to spend April in Saudi Arabia. I thought she was joking. It seems an associate in the Midwest was listening in on teleconference while I gave a presentation to a client here in the Puget Sound. After the presentation, he asked my boss if I could join his team on an extended project in Saudi. My wife Susan and I discussed it that night-not for long. We both were very excited about the opportunity. Not being much of a traveler, I can't think of a more exotic and interesting place to visit for a few weeks. Passport and Visa in hand, expensive plane tickets secured, practicing my pronunciation of "Naaam" (yes), "Iaa" (no), "Min faDilik" (please), and "Shukran" ... read more