In this issue, we will dive into an uncommon idea to express love for the homeland. We won’t talk about anything—or rather, we will talk about nothing. In fact, both statements are true. How? The truth is, I don’t know, but I wanted to pose this question to you so that we can derive a name for the meaning and content of this article. Of course, I have an idea I’d like to present in this issue to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day, but I haven’t found the right angle to present or view it. So, I made peace with the principle of not knowing, and I took it as the central theme and purpose for this exploration.
On the first of Muharram, as is customary every year, the ceremony of changing the cover of the Holy Kaaba for the new Islamic year takes place. However, two new things caught my attention, and I wanted them to be the focus of this article, but I didn’t know how to incorporate them into the idea of expressing love for the homeland in an uncommon way... The first is the participation of Saudi women for the first time in these ceremonies, and the second is that the Saudi fashion brand Lomaar was responsible for designing the uniforms of the workers and those involved in the ceremony. I really liked this idea, and I was amazed by the harmony among the country’s institutions—of all kinds and directions—in the process of developing and elevating Saudi industry, from the cover of the Holy Kaaba to the "Kaabah covers" (if that term is correct).
I was truly amazed by the strength of the vision’s influence and the belief in it from all sectors and institutions of the nation. It is indeed a sign that a “leader” is not the one who orders people to do something, but the one who inspires people to do things on their own to achieve a vision that everyone believes in, and it becomes something ordinary, a routine that doesn’t draw attention, or in other words—nothing.
Nothing might be perceived as meaningless, but I’d like to highlight it from another perspective, from a different sector, and with an example to help understand the article. It’s unlikely that many would disagree that the 90s sitcom Seinfeld is the most successful comedy series in television history. Whenever the show is mentioned, it’s often noted that it’s about "nothing," or in English, "it’s a show about nothing." Despite that, it ran for nearly ten years, won numerous awards, and turned all its actors into high-paid stars. The main reason for its success was its ability to exploit the often overlooked or unremarkable aspects of daily, mundane life. And here lies the genius: turning the impossible into the ordinary.
When I was a child, National Day didn’t hold much significance. But the vision has changed, and along with it, the perspective. In previous years, we enthusiastically talked about the major projects and the future of the Kingdom. Without a doubt, in 2030, we will proudly discuss the achievements of the vision and the future of the Kingdom beyond that. But now, we are living through the changes and the achievement of goals, which have become a normal part of our daily lives. We may overlook them and consider them as "nothing," and this is where the point lies.
I would like us to fully grasp and give this phase the attention it deserves because it is crucial in solidifying past accomplishments and achieving future ones. It’s like the middle part of a flight, neither takeoff nor landing. It’s a phase of relaxation, reflection, and gratitude for the blessings.
We thank Allah for granting us security and peace in the land of the Two Holy Mosques, and for bestowing upon us wise leadership that has made our efforts to achieve the goals of our nation feel like an ordinary daily routine. Finally, the fact that I am writing this article in this magazine is a clear testament to my solidarity with those behind it in celebrating National Day and realizing the vision, even if I didn’t fully recognize it at first. Wishing you and my homeland all the best, year after year!
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