I just returned from Egypt and had a wonderful time elhamdulilah, but feel the need to vent about one phenomenon that attracted my attention...and smell buds :#. As you correctly guessed from the title of this entry, it is about the invasion of the sheesha across the streets of Egypt. What is that all about?! I started noticing this a few years back, but never have I seen it spread to that extent. Every little cafe/restaurant/hotel had nearly served it. I remember when I used to live in Egypt many years ago, it was known that only "me3alemeen" smoked them, or members of the lower classes of society. Now, neither class or level of education has anything to do with it, in addition to the popularity that the sheesha has gained among the youth. Even in the United States, it has become the focus of an outing among the shabab at the arabic cafes...and even on the naseeb website, the sheesha has been alluded to on many profiles in a positive manner. I think I may have even noted a village for sheesha lovers!!!

So..what's with the whole sheesha phenomenon?

No offense to those who smoke it, but I think that the wide-spread of sheesha in our societies has very negative indications...and is one of many symbols of "un"-civilization.

The increase in the number of women who smoke it publicly without a shame, is a whole different issue :*

What are your thoughts... "men gher darb" :) I pray my criticism was constructive insha'Allah, and so is my hope of the responses.