Alo, Alo. Bismillah al-Rahmān al-Rahīm. Luwīs. Kayf al-Hāl?….Hello, Hello. In the Name of God, The Merciful, The Compassionate. Louis. How are you?…
-First Words of KhairAllah’s Ramadan Greeting, Received in a M4A audio file by email from his son Soliman’s account, April 15, 2021
I had to download an app to play this audio file when I opened Soliman’s email. I listened to KhairAllah’s voice and didn’t understand much so I played it over the telephone to a Sudanese friend living here and he translated the gist of it. About buying seven sheep, sending three children to primary school, and wishing the best for my Walad, Bint, and Madame during this holy month.
I had previously sent him a recorded message via Soliman, hoping that he was healthy and not travelling far from home to buy his livestock as he did in the past. He assured me that he was buying animals in the Omdurman market where prices are higher than in the countryside. Even so, I am sure he can make a profit. KhairAllah is a shrewd buyer and seller of sheep.