Lasting impact
I was in the Philippines in Dagupan province when the 9/11 attack happened. I had just returned home from work that day. My boss called and informed us that there were attacks on the famous World Trade Center buildings in New York. Actually, I never really understood its impact that day. Life went on as if it were just any other normal day. But as the days went by, I came across bits and pieces of information about the situation. With news spreading about the incident, I came to realise I needed to explore the other side of the world. I wanted to see how other people lived their lives. So many questions were bothering me following 9/11. This year, I was able to browse most of the videos on 9/11 and it hit me because only after 10 years have I truly understood how life was taken instantly — in the blink of an eye. I came to realise that even if we try to make peace with some radical elements, they will not agree with us. Forever, this battle will continue. I feel sad for the next generation because they will suffer, too. I am pretty sure it will be worse for them. My opinion is that we should not base our judgment on religion, culture or nationality. Let’s all pray that time heals.
From Ms Madelon Umbal
Sharjah
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A sad day for mankind
I was in San Francisco when 9/11 happened. I woke up after I received an SMS from our corporate head asking all employees to stay at home due to the tragic circumstances. I switched on the television and noticed the first tower had been hit and just as the news anchor was describing what had happened, another plane crashed into the second tower! I felt I was watching a Hollywood movie as I heard the news anchor screaming “Oh my God!” over and over again. A very sad day for mankind. In my opinion, the world changed for every Muslim too that day, especially in the US.
From Mr Haider
Dubai
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Change in plans
I was in New York on the same day — 9/11. I had my flight back to Dubai at 4pm that day and was planning to visit the twin towers and the Statue of Liberty in the morning but could not wake up early, so could not visit these. When I woke up, I heard the news about the attack.
From a Reader
Dubai
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Absolute shock
I had flown home from John F. Kennedy Airport just the day before 9/11, after a holiday in New York. I had visited the twin towers five to six days earlier. I got out of the shower when my mum called me and showed me what was happening on the CNN news channel. I was in absolute shock.
From Mr Zeeshan
Dubai
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New world era
I remember I was travelling to submit my admission form to a university in Lahore, Pakistan, when somebody told me that some people had attacked the US. Before 9/11, I had never heard of the twin towers, Al Qaida, Taliban or terms like these. Later, when I reached home in the evening and saw footage of the planes crashing into the buildings, it was horrible. It was just extremely unfortunate that the incident happened. It ultimately started a new world era.
From Mr Adnan Ahmad
Dubai
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Feels like yesterday
I was a senior in high school in Pennsylvania, US, when this happened. I remember sitting in religion class and watching the twin towers get hit. I was scared about what was going to happen next. I remember trying to drive up to New York to help in the search efforts but there was no way to get into Manhattan with all the bridges closed. I remember going to give blood to assist the victims who were injured. I remember my native country coming together as one over the following months in a show of patriotism that I have never and may never again seen. It’s crazy to think this was 10 years ago — feels like yesterday.
From a Reader
Dubai
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Still suffering
I was in grade 11. We were shocked to see the twin towers disintegrating and falling like rain. It was like watching an action movie or a channel where a planned demolition is done. We Muslims are still suffering for what we haven’t done.
From Mr Mohammad Fahad M.
India
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Unbelievable
I was sipping tea at my aunt’s residence in Mumbai when 9/11 happened. We were watching regular music channels on television. The habit of changing channels gave us a picture of what was happening out there. We were really terrified as it was unbelievable!
From Mr Prasad
Dubai
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Ironic
I was at a local internet gaming cafe in my hometown, playing a video game that has players acting as counter-terrorist agents whose mission is to eradicate terrorists. Suddenly, breaking news came up on TV in the cafe’s hall, where all of us could see and hear the live broadcast of 9/11. How ironic.
From Mr Roque
Albania
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Collapsing towers
I came back from work on 9/11 and turned on the TV, but put it on mute. While looking up to see a CNN broadcast, for the first five to ten minutes, I was under the impression that it was the trailer of a new movie. But then I realised that something was wrong. I could not believe my eyes that the twin towers were collapsing.
From Mr Mustaqeem Chaudhry
Abu Dhabi
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No future
I was watching 9/11 live from Florida as a student, as I was graduating the same year. I could not have imagined the major impact that it did have on the world. At that moment, it all seemed very unreal. I was very sad to see that happen. Now, I am back in Dubai since there was no future for me in the US.
From Mr Ali
Dubai
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A convert’s thoughts
I was doing some artwork in my villa in Ajman when an Emirati friend called and told me to switch on the television as something bad was happening in New York. He knew I had family there — one of whom worked in the twin towers, and an aunt who worked just one block away. I was horrified and when I realised it was a terrorist attack and who they were blaming, I wondered what my family in New York must now be thinking about me, considering I had recently converted to Islam.
From Ms Louise Abousidou
Brighton, UK
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Shocked
It is my birthday on this day and I was celebrating till the tragic incident happened. I was completely shocked.
From Mr Esmail
Dubai
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No trick
I was in college when 9/11 happened. I was in my sophomore year back then. When I got home, I saw the news and was amazed at how they did the trick on television of two buildings collapsing. That’s when I realised it was actually the twin towers in New York being attacked.
From Mr Marlon
Abu Dhabi
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Horrific scenes
I was sitting with my friends in a restaurant and the news flash suddenly came up with some horrific shots of the scene in New York. We were all shocked by the scenes.
From Mr Asif Ali
Al Ain
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Changing lives
I was at home in Ajman at the time. I had just switched on the local Hindi radio station and there was live coverage of an “attack on America”. I rushed to switch on the TV and watched as both twin towers were burning. Every channel was carrying the news. This day surely changed lives for many, especially Muslims.
From Mr Fazal Wadood
Dubai
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Nightmare
I was a student at school during that time. I remember I was sleeping in our living room when my sister switched on the television and tuned in to this news. I woke up to see what felt like a nightmare. The two tallest buildings were crashing down after being hit by aeroplanes. It was a very sad moment.
From Mr Omar
Ajman
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Traffic reduced
I was working as the head of a furniture showroom on Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai at the time. I was sitting indoors and looking out of the window when I observed that there were very few vehicles on the road. I was surprised to see that. One of my friends called me on my mobile phone and told me the story of what was happening in New York. I felt like it was the beginning of the third World War, but it has had a far greater effect.
From Mr Khan Khalil
Peshawar, Pakistan
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Unforgettable
A decade has passed, but it is still really fresh in my mind. On that day, we were having a discussion with our teacher in physics class when one of our deans at the university knocked on our door and told us that the US was being attacked by terrorists.
They gave us a break to watch live coverage, which was being aired on television in our school canteen. It was very sad and devastating to know that a lot of innocent lives had been taken. We prayed for the loved ones who they left behind. It is part of our history — we can’t forget it.
From Mr Gilbert
Dubai
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News spreads
During the regime of Taliban, I was living in Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, I was studying English in a private institute. At that time, television, internet and mobile phones were prohibited but, during my class, a classmate informed us about 9/11 and explained how the US was attacked at the World Trade Center. It was really shocking.
From Mr Mohammad Haroon
Dubai
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Unfamiliar word
At that time I was studying in grade 10, and when I saw the incident on television, I was really shocked to see it and couldn’t believe what was happening. For the first time, I got to know the word ‘terrorist’. I didn’t even know what it meant. But now I am very sad and upset when this word is used, often with reference to Muslims.
From Mr Mohammad Naveed
Abu Dhabi
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Numbing effect
I was sleeping in my home in Kerala, India, when it happened. My mother told someone to quickly switch on the TV and, curious, I approached the TV, too. It was an unforgettable shocking moment. I didn’t even know about the World Trade Center before that. I felt numb the whole day.
From a Reader
Dubai
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