Ask Ali: The meaning of shaheed and what other GCC countries to visit

In this week's Ask Ali we learn about the maning of the word shaheed during the period of mourning and what other GCC countries to visit while in Abu Dhabi.

Dear Ali: What does the word shaheed mean? I've been hearing it a lot during the period of mourning. RT, Dubai

Dear RT: This is a very emotional question for me, because many of us are still trying to heal our pain from what happened to our beloved Emirati brothers/heroes in Yemen.

In Islam, if someone dies while protecting and defending the land and the rights of the people, they’re considered “shaheed”, which means martyr, and we pray that God grants them higher levels in paradise.

That’s probably why you have been hearing this word during these days of mourning.

The classical meaning of shaheed in Arabic is “witness”, but people also use the word for Muslims who are murdered, drowned, burnt or die as a result of a building collapse, or killed, especially in war, protecting their land and rights.

Islam teaches us that there are different levels or grades for shaheed. The highest level is a shaheed of war, like our brave soldiers who were protecting the rights of the Yemeni people, which is considered protecting our region.

The main belief of shaheed is that all their bad deeds and sins are erased, and they avoid punishment in the hereafter.

When a Muslim dies, certain rituals are observed. The deceased’s body should be washed in clean water and wrapped in a kafan, shrouding the full body.

In the case of a person who has died in a condition that made him a shaheed of war, their body shall not be washed, nor be shrouded, but buried with the same clothes they were found in.

We ask God to help the martyrs’ families and loved ones stay strong. We all feel proud of our heroes, and we shall continue our purpose to bring justice and safety back to Yemen.

Dear Ali: I have always had a strong wish to visit the GCC, and I finally booked a trip to Abu Dhabi. I'm thinking of using the opportunity to see other Gulf countries during my stay. Where would you recommend? LT, Estonia

Dear LT: You have plenty of choice. The GCC comprises the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. All of them deserve a visit.

If you haven’t been to the Gulf before, the UAE is a good start. Our country is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, and welcomes people from all over the world.

After travelling all over the world, I think that Oman is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen. Besides the country’s breathtaking nature, the Omani culture is unique, and their people proudly preserve and present it.

Bahrain has great history, and its people are some of the kindest you will meet. It only takes about an hour to fly from Abu Dhabi to Manama, which is the capital of Bahrain. All GCC countries share similar features, but we have a lot in common with the Bahrainis, because our culture is one, although you might still notice some differences from people from other GCC countries. Many cafes and restaurants in Manama are must-tries – make sure to taste their tikka kebabs.

I could continue telling you amazing things about each of the GCC countries, but I won’t limit your imagination. I suggest you visit all of them one by one, if you have the chance.

Ali Al Saloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from the UAE. Follow @AskAli on Twitter, and visit www.ask-ali.com to ask him a question.