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On July 27, a pricey pal, Khamis al-Subhi, despatched me a message with a tragic voice. He stated, “Good morning, Khaled. Sorry to disturb you early within the morning, however I wished to inform you that our expensive pal Musabbah handed away final night time.”
I used to think about Musabbah by some means my Omani “Waled” (father in Arabic). I met him round 15 years in the past whereas we have been exploring, together with my spouse, my son, and Deborah, a pal of ours, the decrease a part of Wadi Al Hijri, one of many predominant branches of Wadi Tanuf within the Dakhiliyah governorate.
Whereas I used to be taking footage within the wadi, I heard “Assalamu aaleykoum”. It took me a couple of seconds to localize the particular person greeting me. I took my digital camera and zoomed in to see an previous particular person trying in my path along with his binoculars.
He was crossing a traverse at round 40 m above the wadi mattress. The previous man informed me to watch out and invited me to cease by his place for a espresso on my means again.
One hour later, after I joined Marta, Kevin, and Deborah, they informed me {that a} girl got here to ask them to return for espresso at her place.
After having a snack, we visited the couple in Dmeitha, their hamlet constructed within the caves on the suitable financial institution of the wadi.
Since that day, Musabbah and Nasra, his spouse, have grow to be very expensive to my entire household, and now we have visited them many instances and had the prospect to study quite a bit from their distinctive expertise.
They lived alone in Dmeitha; their hamlet was the final one within the canyon for round 30 years earlier than they moved to Tanuf when “Al Waled” Musabbah had some medical points.
A memorable journey that I did with my household, within the firm of Musabbah, Nasra, Khamis, and his spouse Moza, was after we adopted “al waleed” within the wadi to examine on his bees after he had moved to town.
The temperature that day was near 40 levels, however it didn’t appear to disturb my practically 90-year-old pal or his spouse.
On their faces, I may learn the happiness of being again of their pure surroundings. They have been so proud to point out us round and clarify using a number of small shrubs, timber, and vegetation. Musabbah was virtually working and leaping from stone to stone, and we may hardly observe him. He informed me that he involves the wadi for a stroll at the very least 3 or 4 instances a month. I’m positive that that is what stored him wholesome, bodily and mentally.
Some 45 minutes after we began strolling, Musabbah stopped and pointed at a tiny yellow dot on a boulder.
“That is qass,” he stated, “it’s a tiny droplet of wax {that a} bee dropped.”
He defined that it was an indicator of the presence of a beehive close by. Just a few meters additional, Musabbah went to the suitable financial institution of the wadi and began climbing in direction of a small cave within the cliff. He moved three flat rocks to point out us the primary beehive. With naked palms and nothing protecting some other a part of his physique, Musabbah began gently shifting the bees off the wax that was dangling from the ceiling of this cavity within the rock along with his skilled palms.
We have been all terrified as a result of the bees began to fly in direction of us. “Don’t fear! Simply be calm; they received’t sting you!” shouted the previous man.
We adopted his directions, and the bees began touchdown on us, ready for Musabbah to complete his inspection of their home! It was simply unreal!
The hive was nonetheless empty with none honey. As quickly as our pal stood again, the bees went again to their home within the cave, and Musabbah put again the three stones that he had moved earlier to guard the beehive from the burning solar.
Musabbah and Nasra are a novel couple whose attachment to the standard Omani tradition and methods of residing, made them standard figures of their Dakhiliya area.
“After all, I do know Musabbah and Nasra. Who doesn’t?” exclaimed a shopkeeper in Nizwa, with a giant smile on his face. “They’re probably the most uncommon couple on Earth!”
Relaxation in peace, “Al Waled Musabbah.” Oman will miss you dearly.
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