Morire di nulla

Come muoiono oggi gli anziani? Muoiono in ospedale.

Perché quando la nonna di 92 anni è un po’ pallida ed affaticata deve essere ricoverata. Poi, una volta dentro, l’ospedale mette in atto ciecamente tutte le sue armi di tortura umanitaria. Iniziano i prelievi di sangue, le inevitabili fleboclisi, le radiografie.

“Come va la nonna, dottore?”.

“E’ molto debole, è anemica!”.

Il giorno dopo della nonna ai nipoti già non gliene frega più niente.

Esattamente lo stesso motivo (non per tutti, sia chiaro!) per il quale da diversi anni è rinchiusa in casa di riposo.

“Come va l’anemia, dottore?”.

“Che vi devo dire? Se non scopriamo la causa è difficile dire come potrà evolvere la situazione”.

“Ma voi cosa pensate?”.

“Beh, potrebbe essere un’ ulcera o un tumore… dovremmo fare un’endoscopia”.

Chi lavora in ospedale si è trovato moltissime volte in situazioni di questo tipo. Che senso ha sottoporre una attempata signora di 92 anni ad una gastroscopia? Che mi frega sapere se ha l’ulcera o il cancro? Perché deve morire con una diagnosi precisa? Ed inevitabilmente la gastroscopia viene fatta perché i nipoti vogliono poter dire a se stessi e a chiunque chieda notizie, di aver fatto di tutto per la nonna.

Certe volte comprendo la difficoltà e il disagio in certi ragionamenti. Talvolta no.

Dopo la gastroscopia finalmente sappiamo che la signora ha solamente una piccola ulcera duodenale ed i familiari confessano che la settimana prima aveva mangiato fagioli con le cotiche e broccoli fritti, “…sa, è tanto golosa”.

A questo punto ormai l’ospedale sta facendo la sua opera di devastazione. La signora perde il ritmo del giorno e della notte perché non è abituata a dormire in una camera con altre tre persone, non è abituata a vedere attorno a sé facce sempre diverse visto che ogni sei ore cambia il turno degli infermieri, non è abituata ad essere svegliata alle sei del mattino con una puntura sul sedere. Le notti diventano un incubo.

La vecchietta che era entrata in ospedale soltanto un po’ pallida ed affaticata, rinvigorita dalle trasfusioni e rincoglionita dall’ambiente, la notte è sveglia come un cocainomane. Parla alla vicina di letto chiamandola col nome della figlia, si rifà il letto dodici volte, chiede di parlare col direttore dell’albergo, chiede un avvocato perché detenuta senza motivo.

All’inizio le compagne di stanza ridono, ma alla terza notte minacciano il medico di guardia “…o le fate qualcosa per calmarla o noi la ammazziamo!”. Comincia quindi la somministrazione dei sedativi e la nonna viene finalmente messa a dormire.

“Come va la nonna, dottore? La vediamo molto giù, dorme sempre”.

Tutto questo continua fino a quando una notte (chissà perché in ospedale i vecchi muoiono quasi sempre di notte) la nonna dorme senza la puntura di Talofen.

“Dottore, la vecchina del 12 non respira più”.

Inizia la scena finale di una triste commedia che si recita tutte le notti in tanti nostri ospedali: un medico spettinato e sbadigliante (spesso il Rianimatore sollecitato di corsa per “fare di tutto”) scrive in cartella la consueta litania “assenza di attività cardiaca e respiratoria spontanea, si constata il decesso”.

La cartella clinica viene chiusa, gli esami del sangue però sono ottimi. L’ospedale ha fatto fino in fondo il suo dovere, la paziente è morta con ottimi valori di emocromo, azotemia ed elettroliti.

Cerco spesso di far capire ai familiari di questi poveri anziani che il ricovero in ospedale non serve e anzi è spesso causa di disagio e dolore per il paziente, che non ha senso voler curare una persona che è solamente arrivata alla fine della vita.

Che serve amore, vicinanza e dolcezza.

Vengo preso per cinico, per un medico che non vuole “curare” una persona solo perché è anziana. “E poi sa dottore, a casa abbiamo due bambini che fanno ancora le elementari non abbiamo piacere che vedano morire la nonna!”.

Ma perché?

Perché i bambini possono vedere in tv ammazzamenti, stupri, “carrambe” e non possono vedere morire la nonna? Io penso che la nonna vorrebbe tanto starsene nel lettone di casa sua, senza aghi nelle vene, senza sedativi che le bombardano il cervello, e chiudere gli occhi portando con sé per l’ultimo viaggio una lacrima dei figli, un sorriso dei nipoti e non il fragore di una scorreggia della vicina di letto.

In ultimo, per noi medici: ok, hanno sbagliato, ce l’hanno portata in ospedale, non ci sono posti letto, magari resterà in barella o in sedia per chissà quanto tempo. Ma le nonnine e i pazienti, anche quelli terminali, moribondi, non sono “rotture di scatole” delle 3 del mattino.

O forse lo sono. Ma è il nostro compito, la nostra missione portare rispetto e compassione verso il “fine vita”. Perché curare è anche questo, prendersi cura di qualcuno.

Anche e soprattutto quando questo avviene in un freddo reparto nosocomiale e non sul letto di casa.."
(fonte facebook)

Corona Virus, la verità?

Joe Biden chiede ai servizi segreti di «raddoppiare gli sforzi e preparare un rapporto sull’origine del Covid-19 entro novanta giorni». In una nota diffusa dalla Casa Bianca, il presidente americano rivela «di aver già ricevuto un primo report», ma di non essere soddisfatto. «Dobbiamo andare avanti su due possibili scenari: il virus può essere emerso dal contatto tra uomini e animali infetti; oppure può essere derivato da un incidente di laboratorio». Biden annuncia che il governo Usa, in accordo con i partner mondiali, «continuerà a premere sulla Cina, in modo che possa partecipare a un’inchiesta internazionale, pienamente trasparente e basata su dati scientifici». La posizione di Washington è condivisa dall’Unione europea e da altri 13 Paesi. La comunità internazionale dei virologi, a cominciare da Anthony Fauci, sta cercando di separare scienza e politica. Impresa non facile, poiché fin dal gennaio 2020 il dibattito sulla nascita della pandemia è stato inquinato da teorie cospirative, in parte alimentate anche da Donald Trump. Al centro dell’attenzione l’Institute of Virology di Wuhan, la città-innesco della pandemia.

Sospetti e provette

La pista di un esperimento andato male ha ripreso quota da qualche mese. Per quale ragione? La risposta è facile: le missioni, le ricerche condotte dall’Organizzazione mondiale della Sanità non hanno dato esiti convincenti. Nel maggio del 2020 l’Oms ha promosso uno studio congiunto con gli scienziati cinesi. Poi nel febbraio del 2021 un team internazionale ha visitato Wuhan. Una missione giudicata «poco più di una farsa» dal Dipartimento di Stato americano, con Biden nel frattempo insediato alla Casa Bianca. In ogni caso il risultato è un papiro di 313 pagine, pubblicato sul sito il 30 marzo 2021, sulla base di dati esaminati tra il 14 gennaio e il 10 febbraio 2021. L’analisi conclude che «è molto probabile» che l’infezione sia stata trasmessa dagli animali (forse pipistrelli) agli esseri umani; mentre è «decisamente improbabile» che il virus si sia sviluppato nei laboratori di Wuhan. In realtà, ed è questo il passaggio chiave, non ci sono prove sufficienti a sostegno né dell’una né dell’altra tesi.

I dubbi degli scienziati

La comunità scientifica internazionale segue con perplessità crescente gli sforzi dell’Oms, guidata dal direttore generale, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Diversi virologi escono più volte allo scoperto. L’iniziativa più efficace è una lettera pubblicata il 13 maggio dalla rivista Science. «La ricerca è stata costruita sulla base dei dati forniti dagli scienziati locali; gli altri non hanno avuto accesso diretto agli accertamenti sul campo. Inoltre, nonostante non ci siano prove in un senso o nell’altro, il rapporto è estremante sbilanciato», scrivono i 18 specialisti provenienti da centri studi di alto livello (14 Usa, 2 Canada, 1 Regno Unito e Svizzera) che hanno firmato la lettera. «Su 313 pagine, solo quattro sono dedicate all’ipotesi di un incidente in laboratorio; tutto il resto esplora la possibilità di una trasmissione tra animali e uomini». Il dibattito tra gli scienziati stimola la curiosità dei media e, nello stesso tempo, incoraggia la fuga di notizie. Negli Stati Uniti saltano fuori dossier rimasti segreti per mesi. Il 24 maggio il Wall Street Journaldà notizia di un report dell’intelligence americana che rivela come, nel novembre del 2019, tre ricercatori dell’Institute of Virology di Wuhan si fossero ammalati contemporaneamente. I tre finirono in ospedale con «sintomi compatibili sia con il Covid-19 sia con l’influenza stagionale». Le carte dei servizi, quindi, non sono risolutive.

La versione di Pechino

Da mesi i cinesi ribattono che gli Stati Uniti continuano ad accusarli sulle origini del virus per coprire «il loro fallimento nella reazione alla pandemia». Ora pensano che il rapporto di intelligence sia stato passato al Wall Street Journal perché facesse rumore alla vigilia dell’assemblea generale dell’Oms. Il dottor Yuan Zhiming, direttore del Laboratorio di biosicurezza di Wuhan dice che «questa storia è una falsità costruita sul niente». In realtà, l’informazione sui tre ricercatori dell’Istituto di virologia che si sarebbero ammalati nel novembre del 2019 non era nuova, tanto che ne aveva discusso in pubblico anche Marion Koopmans, virologa inviata a Wuhan con la missione Oms lo scorso gennaio: «È normale che qualcuno stia male in autunno, noi non abbiamo riscontrato niente di grosso».

La visita guidata

C’è poi la risposta sull’efficacia della missione di febbraio. I 17 esperti internazionali a Wuhan hanno lavorato con 17 colleghi cinesi, che li hanno guidati e controllati in ogni spostamento, portandoli anche nel laboratorio (3 mila metri quadrati, completato nel 2015 a un costo di 42 milioni di dollari e pienamente operativo dal 2018). La loro permanenza è durata un mese, ma 14 giorni li hanno passati in quarantena chiusi in un albergo. Nel rapporto, pubblicato a marzo, il team Oms ha definito «estremamente improbabile» un errore durante ricerche scientifiche cinesi sui coronavirus e non ha riscontrato «falle nella sicurezza». Però, lo studio ammette la carenza di «raw data», dati grezzi sulle cartelle cliniche dei primi pazienti individuati. I colleghi cinesi hanno replicato: «In base alla nostra legislazione, alcuni dati non potevano essere consegnati o fotografati, ma li abbiamo analizzati insieme ai colleghi stranieri e tutti hanno potuto vedere il database».

L’indiziata numero uno

In questi mesi, tra gli indiziati per una possibile fuga del Sars-CoV-2 dal laboratorio, c’è stata Shi Zhengli, la famosa «Bat Woman» cinese che per quindici anni ha fatto ricerche nelle grotte della provincia sudoccidentale dello Yunnan, infestate dai pipistrelli. La virologa ha riferito di aver ricevuto una telefonata il 30 dicembre 2019, mentre era a una conferenza a Shanghai: «Era il direttore dell’Istituto di prevenzione e controllo delle malattie virali, da Wuhan: avevano trovato un nuovo coronavirus in due pazienti con polmonite». Shi Zhengli ha ammesso di aver subito avuto il dubbio atroce: «Può essere venuto dal nostro laboratorio?». Rientrata in città accertò che non era possibile: «Posso garantirlo sulla mia vita». È stato ipotizzato anche che persone infettate dai pipistrelli nello Yunnan abbiano portato il contagio a Wuhan. «Nessun abitante di quella zona ha avuto il Covid-19. Così, la teoria secondo cui il paziente zero viveva vicino alla zona mineraria di Tongguan nello Yunnan e poi ha viaggiato fino a Wuhan è falsa», ha concluso la scienziata."

The secrets for a correct work relationship

Whether you consider this fact disheartening or motivating, you can't deny its truth: You probably spend more time with your colleagues than you do with anyone else.

When you're in the office at least 40 hours per week, the people you work with become a big part of your life. So it pays to have solid relationship with them.

Not only does that give you a strategic advantage in the workplace (hey, it never hurts to be well-liked!), it also makes work that much more enjoyable.

If you don't consider yourself particularly close with your colleagues, don't worry—cultivating a more caring and supportive atmosphere at work doesn't need to be a complicated undertaking.

 

There are some super simple things you can do to show your colleagues that you care and, as a result, make your office a place that you look forward to spending time in.

Offer Help

Think of the last time you were struggling at work. Maybe you were swamped and overwhelmed, or perhaps you were stuck on a challenging project. Wouldn't it have been nice if someone had stopped by your desk and provided some advice? Or even offered to take something off your plate? Wouldn't that alone have made you feel so much more valued and supported?

Absolutely. So, why not do that same thing for a colleague? When you see someone who's stressed or confused, just ask: Is there anything I can do to help?

Even if your co-worker doesn't actually take you up on your offer, just the fact that you recognized the challenge and wanted to do something about it goes a long way in fostering a more empathetic culture.

Don’t eat lunch alone

This is an easy one to implement, whether you’re on day 1 of our job, or whether you’ve been there for 10 years. You should never feel awkward about asking a colleague to lunch or for a coffee break – it’s a natural way to make a connection and get to know someone on a more personal level, yet still in a professional setting so they won’t be caught off guard.

Initiate

Don’t wait for someone to ask you to lunch or to introduce themselves. Reach out, and be proactive about developing those healthy work relationships. Make yourself open and available, and try to project an approachable attitude that invites interaction, conversation, and friendship.

Volunteer

Be proactive about volunteering when opportunities come up, and fight your urge to isolate yourself within your own workload or team. You may feel a bit out of your comfort zone at first, but putting yourself out there in professional yet social situations is a great way to enjoy positive and more personal interactions with your colleagues.

Get Personal

No, you don't have to be too personal, but even if you are - maybe the colleague is really nice and you are attracted to her - still try to keep your crush at a level that does not disturb other colleagues, after all you are still in the office.

But, even if you are in a work environment, try to create a relationship with the whole person, not just a job title. This means that the more you can learn about your colleagues' interests and passions outside the office, the easier it will be to connect with them on a more human level. Whether it's asking about her  or admiring her desktop wallpaper with a photo of her recent vacation, don't neglect to have the occasional small talk. This will demonstrate your investment in them, while also providing common ground that you can use to connect even more.

Provide Recognition

Everybody loves to get a pat on the back for a job well done—that's universal. But gratitude and adequate recognition can easily fall by the wayside when we're wrapped up in the chaos of our everyday lives. Step up and be that colleague who always applauds the hard work of your colleagues. Maybe that involves sending a quick slack message to let her know how much you enjoyed her presentation. Or, perhaps it means highlighting your colleagues contributions when your boss commends you for your own hard work on a recent project.

These sorts of comments might seem small, but they can make a huge impact when it comes to helping others in your office feel valued. 

Do Something Nice

Little acts of kindness won't go unnoticed—particularly in the office. So, when's the last time you did something nice just because you felt like it? Go ahead and pick up some bagels, pretzel or simply falafel -depends where you are working-on your way into work one morning (when in doubt, free food is always effective). When you're heading out for lunch, ask that colleague who looks insanely busy if you can get anything for her. Your colleagues are sure to appreciate those little niceties and treats that you sneak in every now and then. Plus, as an added bonus, doing these sorts of things makes you feel good too!

Support system

No job or department or organization is without its challenges. When you have a solid support system of workplace friends around you, the inevitable difficulties or roadblocks that you’ll face will seem much more manageable.

Communication skills

Having good relationships with your colleagues means you’re more likely to communicate with them on a regular basis, which, in turn, leads to better business outcomes. Open, honest, positive, and constructive communication is the foundation of good collaboration, and when you have a solid friendship as your foundation, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish together.

So now that you understand how important workplace friends are, how do you go about forming these key relationships if you don’t already have them? What if you’re new to the job and don’t know many people? How do you reach out and start to build some meaningful workplace friendships?

Strategies are great for showing your colleagues you actually care about them. And they're incredibly simple and take almost zero effort on your part. So, if you're eager to forge better, more supportive relationships with your colleagues (and if you aren't, you definitely should be!), put these tips to work. You're sure to become one of the most-liked people in your office—while simultaneously cultivating a more positive atmosphere for the entire team.

Still waiting

A Chinese proverb mentions: "To those who know how to wait, time opens every door",

Postponing the importance of a virtue, that of patience, now almost forgotten; nowadays we no longer recognize any value to patience, despite the fact that it is essential in interpersonal relationships and highly effective in everyday life.

In the age of speed and "everything and now", waiting is one of the conditions experienced with the greatest discomfort.
It is clear that each situation is unique, that is, there are circumstances in which the discomfort is understandable since the wait is linked to dramatic and painful events, such as illness or the outcome of a diagnostic examination, but often they are also lived with impatience. moments of daily routine (e.g. a prolonged waiting line, the outcome of a job interview that is late in arriving or traffic to go to work) in which rather than letting oneself be dominated by anxiety and nervousness, it could be It is useful to approach that "pause" in a different way, taking it as an opportunity to observe, listen to and discover, at times, aspects of oneself that we would not have been able to see in the throes of impatience and agitation.

In these cases, the secret lies precisely in this: in the ability to resist the temptation to fill at all costs the "void" that waiting entails ; we are talking about the dimension of “not doing” , of “ not intervening ”, of the ability to observe and observe oneself without preconceived expectations and ideas. Only in this way could we transform a moment of stasis into an act of attention to ourselves.

Stopping does not mean "not to move", but to move better, since even an apparently annoying wait can favor reflection useful for our improvement.

Waiting is helplessness. Waiting is pain.

Waiting is part of our existence, it is a necessary but extremely painful, often humiliating moment, which cannot in any way be avoided. It is possible to use it with other activities, but it is a little voice in our head that never goes out: we are perfectly aware that we are waiting for something or someone even if we keep ourselves busy, even if we are in company. We're waiting. It is helplessness, and endurance, in the case of illness, and it also becomes painful and boring, because we can do nothing to change our state but wait, to heal, a response or death. It is helplessness in war or in prison where “even the light switch obeys an internal direction”.

It is pain even when we are forced to realize that we have waited in vain: “Those who love can never afford to be late. Desire arrives on time". The other always arrives late. And let's face it, how many questions, how many doubts about ourselves or the other are consequent to the waits, be they short or long? A phone call that does not arrive or a late reply to the message are not reasons for anguish? Anguish is another point in favor of waiting and against us.

This tangle of emotions grips me every day are the lifeblood of my novels.

Egypt and Islam

At the beginning of 2021 I lived in Egypt for two months, for business reasons. It wasn't the first time I had the opportunity to visit the country, but this one, unlike the others preceded it, was different for many reasons.

First of all because I got to know fantastic people, affable, helpful, affectionate, nice, lovely, willing to help me and to put up with me in what were my curiosities and needs. Of course I am talking about women and men who were always smiling and helpful, certainly not gruff and unpleasant inhabitants of Albione's land.

Egypt, a large country oriented towards becoming the center of that part of Middle East Africa very close to the Islamic world and a crossroads of many religions sharing a peace achieved at the cost of many sacrifices.

An Egypt with chaotic traffic where driving is a constant danger, an attractive Egypt where, perhaps, it would be nice to live appreciating all it has to offer, an Islamic Egypt that made me fall in love with itself and not only that.

But Egypt is not only that, Egypt is also culture and religion and Islam.

In this essay, I will talk about my version of Islamic culture and the - important - aspects that do not divide Christians from Muslims, on the contrary, they unite us. Religion is wisdom and not fear, knowing them better we will learn to appreciate their culture too, forgetting the extremists that exist in every religion and in every corner of this huge planet.

What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion, but it is the same truth revealed by God to all his prophets since the creation of the world. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a way of life. Muslims profess a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness that has nothing to do with the grave events erroneously associated with Islam.


Who are the Muslims?

In Egypt, Muslims represent the majority of the population out of over 120 million individuals of all ethnicities, nationalities and cultures. These people, women and men, are linked by a single, common, Islamic faith.


What Do Muslims Believe?

Foese many of you will not believe in what I am going to write here, but Muslims believe in one God; in the Angels created by Him; in the Prophets, thanks to whom his word was revealed to humanity; on the Day of Judgment when each of us will be judged individually according to his own actions; in the supreme authority of God over the destiny of men, and in life after death. Muslims believe in the concatenation of prophets which begins with Adam and includes Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. God to man, confirmation of the eternal message and compendium of all that has been, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, through the Archangel Gabriel, and this is the only substantial difference with the Christian world. 

Surprised?


What is the meaning of the word Islam?

The Arabic word Islam simply means submission and comes from a word that means peace. In the religious sphere, it means complete submission to the will of God and the believer is defined as a Muslim. Mohammedan is therefore an erroneous term as it leads one to believe that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God. Allah is the name of God in the Arabic language, used by Muslims as well as Arab Christians.


Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?

No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and the three prophets descend directly from the latter's sons: Muhammad from the elder, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham founded the settlement that is now the city of Mecca, and built the Ka'ba, to which Muslims turn when they pray.


How has the spread of Islam affected the world?

One of the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam lies in the simplicity of its doctrine: Islam teaches to have faith and to worship one God. Islam also teaches man the good use of the power of the intellect and ability. of reflection. In the space of a few years, great civilizations and universities were born, since, according to the Prophet, the deepening of knowledge is a duty for every Muslim, man or woman. The synthesis of Eastern and Western thought and a new conception of tradition allowed great progress in fields such as medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature and history. . Many systems, of crucial importance, such as algebra, Arabic numerals, as well as the concept of zero (vital for the development of mathematical thought), were transmitted from Islam to Europe in the Middle Ages. Sophisticated tools were developed that made possible the long European voyages of discovery, such as, for example, the astrolabe, the dial and accurate charts for navigation.


What are the "Five Pillars" of Islam?

They are the basis of Muslim life: faith, prayer, obligatory almsgiving, fasting during the month of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able to do so.
They are:

1. FAITH
There is no God but God and Muhammad is his Prophet. This declaration of faith is called shahada, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic the first part sounds like this ilaha illa'Llah - there is no other God besides God; ilaha (God) refers to whatever we could put in God's place - wealth, power and the like. Then comes illa'Llah: outside of God, the source of all creation. The second part of the Shahada reads Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: Muhammad is the messenger of God. An enlightened message reached us through a man similar to us.

2. THE PRAYER
Salat is the name of the obligatory prayers that are recited five times a day and which form the direct link between the believer and God. There are no hierarchical authorities, no priests in Islam, therefore the guidance of the prayers is entrusted to a person who knows the Koran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an and are recited in Arabic, the language of Revelation, however personal supplications can be recited in the language of any believer. Prayers are recited at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and when night falls, thus marking the rhythm of the whole day. Although it is preferable to pray together in a mosque, a Muslim can pray almost anywhere, in the fields, in the office, in the factory, at the university. Those who visit the Arab world are struck by the importance of prayers in people's daily lives.

3. THE ZAKAT
One of the fundamental principles of Islam is that all things belong to God and therefore wealth is entrusted to mankind. The word Zakat means both purification and growth. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a portion of them for the needy and, as happens when pruning a plant, this cut allows for new growth. Each Muslim calculates his zakat individually. In general this implies the annual payment of 2.5% of your capital. A pious person can give what he wants as a sadaqa, and preferably in a confidential manner. Although the term can be translated as voluntary charity it has a much broader meaning. The Prophet said:
“Welcoming your brother with a smile is also a charitable gesture”. "Charity is a duty for every Muslim," He was asked, "What if a person has nothing?" The Prophet replied, "He should work with his own hands for his own benefit and then give something of his gain in charity." The Companions asked him: "What if he cannot work?" The Prophet said, "He should help the poor and needy." The Companions asked again: "What if he can't even do that?" The Prophet said, "He should urge others to do good." The Companions said, "What if he also fails to do this?" The Prophet said, “He should refrain from behaving wrongly. This too is charity."

4. FASTING
Every year, during the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse. The sick, the elderly, those traveling and pregnant or breastfeeding women are allowed to break the fast, then observing during the year a number of fasting days equivalent to those not performed. Those who are physically unable to observe the fast must offer food to a person in need for the same number of days as the fast was not observed. Babies begin fasting (and saying prayers) from puberty, although many start even earlier. Fasting, while very healthy, is mainly observed as a method of self-purification. Who fasts, even if for a short time, is in harmony with all those who fast and at the same time grows spiritually.

5. THE PILGRIMAGE (Hajj or Haj)

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca - the Hajj - is a duty for all those who are able to fulfill it both physically and economically. About two million faithful, from all over the world, go to Mecca every year and this represents, among other things, a unique opportunity for individuals of different nationalities to meet. Although Mecca is always full of visitors, the annual pilgrimage begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so both Hajj and Ramadan sometimes fall in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special garments: simple garments that erase all social and cultural distinctions, so that all are equal before God.

The Hajj rite, which dates back to Abraham, requires seven laps around the Ka'ba and seven times the journey between the heights of Safa and Marwa, as did Hagar, wife of Abraham, while in search water for his son Ishmael. Then the pilgrims gather in Arafat's wide esplanade and join in prayer to implore divine forgiveness, which is often seen as a foretaste of the Last Judgment. In past centuries, carrying out the Hajj was a truly arduous undertaking. Today, Saudi Arabia offers a modern network of means of transport, and equipment equipped with every comfort. The end of the pilgrimage is marked by a holiday - Eid al-Adha - which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts within the various Muslim communities. This anniversary, together with that of Eid al-Fitr, the day in which the end of Ramadan is celebrated, are the two most important religious holidays in the Muslim calendar.

What do Muslims think of Jesus?

Muslims respect and honor Jesus and look forward to his second coming. They consider him one of the greatest divine messengers. A Muslim never refers to him by simply calling him Jesus, but always adding the words peace be with him. The Koran confirms his birth from a virgin woman (a chapter of the Koran is titled Mary), and Mary is considered the purest woman in the universe.

Why is the family so important to Muslims?

The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security provided by a stable family unit are highly valued and are considered essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is given by the existence of patriarchal families; children are precious gifts and rarely leave their home before marriage.

How do Muslims deal with older people?

There are no retirement homes for the elderly in the Islamic world. The effort to take care of one's parents in this difficult time of their life is considered an honor and also an opportunity for spiritual growth. God asks us not only to pray for our parents, but to behave with infinite mercy, reminding us that when we were helpless children they put us before themselves. Mothers are particularly revered: the Prophet believed that Heaven is at the feet of mothers. When they are older, Muslim parents are treated with kindness, kindness and self-denial. In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty that comes after only prayer, and this expectation is their right. It is considered despicable to show irritation when, through no fault of their own, old people become difficult.

The Koran says: "Your Lord has ordered you not to worship anyone but Him, and to be kind to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach an advanced age, in the course of your life, do not say words of contempt to them, do not reject them, but address them with respect ". "And with goodness incline the wing of humility and protection towards them, and say: O my Lord, grant them your mercy because they took care of me in my childhood" (Koran 17:23, 24).

There will come a day when Muslims and Christians will coexist in peace, that day will be when women and men all over the planet will finally learn that we are all equal before God.

This essay is dedicated to a dear friend of mine known in Egypt, I know she appreciates me and I reciprocate affectionately. May God always illuminate our lives.