Ohh girls, you know exactly what I’m about to talk about, don’t you? Tisk tisk.

For those of you who know what Nour is, I’m sure you already know what I’m about to talk about just by my title.

For the rest of you, get ready to be amazed at a real life example of everything that’s wrong with TV– because it’s all represented in this one Turkish soap drama, recently dubbed in Arabic, which has caused the whole Arab world to become obsessed.

It’s making its way to America too. (See Facebook groups.)

Alright, let’s first talk a little bit about Nour:

Most women who watch the show watch it because of this strikingly handsome guy, “Mohannad.” Most will also tell you they never liked the blond hair look because they all wanted the tall dark and handsome guy. Well, to them the only exception to that rule is “Mr. Mohannad.”

Anyway, apparently he marries this girl named Nour, they live amongst their huge wealthy family, babies everywhere, kidnappings, love stories, etc. etc.

I have to say I didn’t even think these people were Muslim but apparently I was told they fast Ramadan but they drink alcohol at all times of the day. Then I remembered the guy’s name was supposedly “Mohannad,” which confirmed what people have said.

In any case, the obsession of this drama has gone way too far. I don’t know anyone in Egypt or any other part of the Arab world who DOESN’T watch this show. Even people in America who have a dish are obsessed with the show.

Mufti’s in Saudi Arabia recently declared the drama to be “haram,” and rightfully so. (But isn’t almost everything else on TV?) Well, that just shows how far people have taken it. It’s gotten to a point where sheiookh have had to name it specifically and told people it’s haram to watch.

Still not convinced? Ohh just wait guys it gets better (actually horrible):

Recently, there have been reports of the divorce rate climbing in the Arab world. Why? Because of Nour fever. Women want their husbands to “be like Muhanad.”

Instead of me reporting it, go ahead and read this well written, but shocking article written by AlArabiya.net:

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DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

The hit Turkish soap “Nour” which is being aired on MBC has sparked a rash of divorces in countries across the Middle East as women compare their real-life husbands to the TV heart throb, according to press reports.

The trouble centers around the lead male character called Muhannad – played by Turkish actor Kivanç Tatlitug – whose good looks and charms have left many Arab women weak at the knees.

Fed up with his wife’s obsession with Muhannad and constant complaints that he should be as romantic as the TV hunk, a Saudi husband from Dammam divorced his wife and threw her out of the marital home, Saudi newspaper Al-Yawm reported.

A Jordanian daily said a husband divorced his wife after she uploaded Muhannad’s picture on her cell phone.

And a Syrian website reported that there were four divorces in Aleppo because of the steamy soap.

In one case, a husband divorced his wife after they had a heated argument about the actor while watching the series, which MBC has dubbed into Arabic to suit Middle Eastern audiences.

According to a neighbor, the wife reportedly told her husband: “I want to sleep with Muhannad for only one night and die afterwards.”

In another case, a husband divorced his wife after she hung a picture of Muhannad – the character Mehmet in the original Turkish version – on their bedroom wall.

Nour, which airs on MBC, the parent company of Al Arabiya, is about a woman who is married to Muhannad after he loses his true love in a tragic accident.

Muhannad is then forced to marry Nour by his family. The series traces the hardships Nour must go through to win her husband’s heart and to prove herself on a professional level.

Nour, called Gümüs in the original series, is played by Turkish actress Songül Öden.

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid).

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!! I seriously can’t believe women would say and do these things. Wallahul musta’an. Seriously, this is everything that’s wrong with TV. May Allah protect us all.

1. Pretty Much it’s Going to be Hot Everywhere:

2. Sandcastles

3. 911 Call from 4-year-old Kid:

4. Crouching Tiger Hidden Kitten:

5. Very Long Snake:

If there’s one thing I dislike more than someone calling me extreme, it’s calling me extreme in front of my face as if I’m not even in the room.

Yesterday, I went to this jeweler we go to every year in Alexandria. I was outside the store looking at the display in the window while my mom, aunt and cousin made themselves comfortable inside.

I was happy my mom did her routine warning of telling men, “My daughter doesn’t shake hands (with men).” It’s actually kind of funny; I’m not the one that gets embarrassed to tell a guy if he puts out his hand that I won’t shake his hand. I think my mom is the one that feels awkward in that situation. Sometimes, I’d actually rather the guy be a little embarrassed so he’ll think twice the next time he’s about to try to shake a random woman’s hand.

Anyway, I was looking at some rings with my mom when the owner comes up to me and asks me, “Shaking hands with men, halal or haraam?” (Typical Egyptian question. Look at number one on my past post about Egypt)

“Haraam,” I answered.

“No wallahi, it is not haraam,” he said.

At this point I’m thinking. ‘Who are you? And why did you just swear by Allah on a fatwah you just pulled out of the air?’

I knew exactly where this conversation was going. I knew they typical Egyptian mentality in which anything non-Egyptian like is considered extreme or abnormal. I figured before he says something else that’s extremely haraam, I’m not going to respond because 1. Any response may lead him to say more dangerous statements, so it’s better I stay quiet and 2. That mentality is very hard to convince otherwise.

But no. He wanted to try to “change my mind.”

“Wallahi I’m telling you it’s not haraam. Believe me, this is what I say. It’s all about intentions,” he went on to say.

At this point I begin to open my mouth to try to correct him, in which he asks, “Who told you it was haraam?”

“Rasool Allah, salallahu alayhi wa sallam did. In a hadith…” And before I could even site the hadith.. he turns to my mom and asks her, “Where does she get these ideas? Probably from America and the people she hangs around over there.”

At this point I’m thinking of the irony of that statement. That I can learn something correct in the deen in a non-Muslim country, while people here, in a Muslim country, are clueless. Alhamduliillah for the guidance of Allah. In the end he continued telling my mom I was extreme and that a “sheikh on religious TV channel” told them it wasnt haraam. (See number two on my list.)

Today, being called extreme is a compliment. I don’t want to be liberal and wishy washy. A friend of mine told me a long time ago of this matrimonial service in which one of the main questions they ask is:

“How religious should your partner be?”

A. Liberal

B. Moderate

C. Extreme

Extreme…seriously? Haha. Sadly, that’s what I’d circle.

When you start to change and start becoming more religious, often times you’ll see the first people to call you extreme are your family and friends (i.e. those closest to you.) Then it’ll slowly progress to random people and jewelers you hardly know.

Be patient. The more your endure the more your eman will increase and the firmer you’re feet will be planted in the deen. Wallahu alem. Just my two cents/rant for the day.

Wallahu alem.