Mohammed and following one’s dream. I am not talking about Mohammed the prophet – Peace Be Upon Him – who once promised a bounty hunter whilst being a fugitive to hand in King of Persia’s’ bracelets. Talk about a mission that was fulfilled and a vision that was lived!

I am also not talking about Mohammed al-Razi; a celebrated scholar known to be a chemist, an alchemist, a physicist and a polymath. Nor am I talking about Mohammed Igbal, a poet whose poems spread throughout the Indian subcontinent and sang for hundred times by great men such as Gandhi. 

Those who enjoy fine music might be under the impression that I am writing about Mohammed Abd el Wahab, a famous Egyptian composer, whose tunes still play to remind us that music soothes the beast within. And do forgive my words that may have led you to think that I’ve meant Mohammed Ali; “Sportsman of the Century” Oh no I am not talking about any of these mohammeds.

The Mohammed I meant is none other than my friend, a 19 year old Qatari kid, who walked with me through the alleys of the Exhibition center on fine a day that I will always remember. On a day that I have decided to write about, to you..

yes, You .. the reader,

yes You.. Tomorrow’s leader.

“Mohammed sit down and tell me what is it that you enjoy?” I asked.

“I enjoy languages, yes helping those in need and being around kids too” he replied.

I looked around and “Well, there are no circuses here! So you are not becoming a clown today” I sarcastically said.

“Wait a minute..How about working at a hospital?”I asked again. It seemed like fate that we stood in front of a medical institute’s booth.

“You know Raed, I have always wanted to become a nurse, quiet uncommon I know, but to relief a pain and transform a sad face to happy one is what I always wanted” he revealed to me with somewhat a worry face that I would think that this is not manly enough. “

Well, a nurse you shall be then.” I smiled as I walked towards the booth. “Excuse us” I have looked around, happy that I will make a change in one’s life. “Someone’s dream will come true today, oh hurray!” Silly me to have ever thought that. There, from his throne he descended, and from his fine chair he departed to acknowledge our existence. The official in a white thobe, our countryman yes our angel and our hope.

“Allow me to introduce to you our sponsoring package and what a fine package it is.” He boastfully said.

A lucrative offer he made, one that Mohammed opened his jaws at and one that made me think, “perhaps it’s not too late to throw away years of engineering and pursue a medical career myself.”

 “Pardon my naivety; can this young man enroll in your program?” I pointed at Mohammed.

 “Well sure he can, have you taken the TOFEL?”

“Yes, sir and I did pass.” Mohammed replied with joy, it’s a step towards his dream.

“And, are you married?” “No…Not yet” to which I have interrupted “is that bad? I mean if you guys need only married people, we will get this young man married in no time!” The Hr personnel laughed, and we all did. It was a good atmosphere!

He went on and told us that it’s not a problem at all. “GREAT.. a step closer” I thought to myself. But I was thrown miles away by the following statement:”well then all he needs to do, is get us an admission letter of any of the universities listed by the Supreme Council of Education”

 “Pardon me again, Mohammed has the TOFEL, he has all the papers you ask of him”

 “Good for him, all he needs to do now is apply.”

“Mohammed, you go ahead and apply and once you get accepted I will personally guarantee your scholarship.”

 “How am I to go about it?” Mohammed asked and was puzzled as I was.

 “But he was not trained on how to write that essay, he does not how to apply!” My frustration grew at my fellow countryman. “YOU, of all people should know! Were you trained to apply to a western university? Is that why you fail to see?”

“I am offering thousands, future and better prospect and all I ask in return is an admission letter from a university”

 “Kieta.. “ (Disappeared in Japanese) I heard Mohammed whisper with a smile, my giant friend whose eyes dazzled with hope a minute ago.

“You wait for a minute.” I commanded Mohammed in an irritated manner, and looked at my fellow countryman who handed out his business card in a “you have a good one, now leave” gesture .This person whose body was a punch away and whose mindset was far lost in dark ages. “Wait… Wait, how is it that you are taking any risk? And how much can this whole process cost your organization? Please don’t kill his dream. Give him a chance, you should… “I started rambling trying to hold on to any string of hope. “

Can we go, this is embarrassing” Mohammed looked at me with piercing eyes, and now that I remember this looked like a classical

 “But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” Scene. Unfortunately, the person whom we have ask these crumbs of hope was not as generous and never will be.

“It is your right to be given a chance, it isn’t a charity bestowed.” I angrily answered without missing a beat.

“close yet so far “he answered and that was how it ended as we faded away.

 On that day I have learned how hopes can be crushed, how dreams can be destroyed and how spirits can be killed. And when thousands of Mohammeds lived to see their dreams come true, my friend Mohammed didn’t even get the chance to.

I am selfish, I have to admit for I thought of my unborn kids should they ever fall ill I just wanted the likes of Mohammed to look after them. Because I know they will look after them passionately and not as a mean to get their next paycheck. I do apologize, as I would like to come clean.

And to those of you who wonder what ever has become of my friend?

Well Mohammed now is an operator at a reputable petrochemical organization, where he has become part of a percentage that can impress officials and attract yet another citizen whose dreams were never meant to be.

Viva Qatarization!

I want to capitalize on talents that I was blessed with : learning, speech and writing.

Within me I want peace, sense of content and transparency in public and in private.

With my Family I want to create a happy, secure shelter both financially and emotionally. In me they will find refuge and legacy I shall give to spare throughout times. That is my gift.

Professionally  I lead by example, and leave with a smile. My work will only add value and my contributions are to be noticed by all team members.

In My community I will add to the development of people and infrastructure. My works will be marked with Passion and signed with sincerity.

And to the world, I will send a message of who we are as a nation with literature that brings joy to their hearts.

Hardships can only engrave this deeper in my acts, obstacles can only strengthen my resolve.

When all is said and done; I will leave this world but my Works will stand witness to remind history that there existed someone by the name of Raed.   

Dear BMW’s head of quality,
I congratulate you for manufacturing one of the world’s best cars while having one of the most miserable services and treatment to your customers. Shocked? Perhaps not as I was while I was starring at the “quality award of the year” given by your group to Qatar’s local agent.

At Alfardan’s workshop, I entrusted my X5 over the span of 10 colander days to fix a mere rear light fault and a Problem with the A/C. However, and to my shock I discovered after 10 days and as I wanted to leave that there exists yet another problem! Miraculously the front kidney grill has a “fitting problem!”

I use the term “miraculous” since no formal explanation was offered to justify what seemed to be caused by an accident! Sitting for extensive hours, I thought of few questions that I would like to ask you:

- Why wasn’t this reported to me “the owner” formally?

- How did this car make it through all the quality checks to the point of returning it to the client with a major defect that was not there when I entrusted the car to Alfardan’s group?

- If this has happened during the 10 days, what efforts were made to meet the deadline of receiving my car on the agreed date?

To be fair workshop and the existing staff, the workshop manager Mr. Nick has apologized and offered me “a solution to go about my life with little inconvenience.” What I did not understand at the time was that the word “little” referred to a “mini” cooper.

Over the span of 4 days, I have kept waiting for a word of apology or an explanation, but I received none. I did receive my car however, which also had to return to the workshop the very next day because of a “low tire pressure fault” this painful exercise lasted for a whole afternoon.

Bear in mind that the saga was witnessed by Mr. Chris, the after-sales General Manager, and the conversation with Mr. Nick took place in Mr. Chris’s office. Mr. Chris who hangs a leadership model high on his wall has refused to meet, talk or even shake my hand followed by a word of apology.

I wonder what leader fails to accept accountability and runs away from responsibility?

Lastly, I fail to understand why BMWs’ standards drop dramatically as they sell their cars away from places like the U.S. or EU? BMW promotes cars with words like “experience” and “sheer pleasure” yet the only experience I am getting is: “shear painful experience” and that is how you lose customers loyalty