The Hammali: You would see him there every day when you walk in the streets in Souq Waqif, helping and guiding others with a smile that never leaves his face. Sheikh Ali is a humble Iranian man in his mid 70’s living and thriving in Qatar. He knew the Souq like no other, as it became the home he never wanted to leave, and separation was not an option for him. It all began when Ali reached Qatar in the 1970s to earn a living in the trading business in the Souq, his intelligence and brightness allowed him to earn a lot of regular customers. They trusted his taste and opinion, and he was a smooth talker, so making a sale became like a piece of cake to him. As the hard working person he is, going to his shop in the Souq felt like a hobby for him, even on holidays it felt like it would be a place for him to celebrate with his customers by adding joy to their shopping experience. Sharp as an eagle, he was able to effortlessly adapt to the Qatari lifestyle, and his local regular customers treated him like family. Although shoppers would come from different places in Qatar to find what they need in the Souq, just by their footsteps, he can know which of his regulars arrived as they all know that his store was the one stop whatever they needed, and with the best prices available. Also, he would often bring them clothes right to their door steps, back when delivery was not even the way to go.
He found himself inseparable from Qatar, and especially the Souq. “The star of the show” as most of his regulars would refer to him, he outshined the rest of his buyers in the business with his persuasive smooth talk. Time flew by, and the sales were not paying as it used to, life became less of an enjoyment and more of a struggle, and he found himself lost between bills that he could not pay for, and his regulars slowly disappeared. Malls became the center of attention, and people became blinded by the lights, by forgien brand names, and modern shopping experience that became an intruder to the business of Souq, and it soon became like a ghost town. Ali unfortunately lost his job and all that he was left with was memories of the place that became abandoned, and his show then came to an end. Time was taking bits and pieces of his strength and youthfulness. Noticing the paths of life imprinting in his forehead. Ali with a beautiful spirit became helpless and aimed to find a way to bring him back to where he used to enjoy his time the most, and he became closer to the Souq in a way he never thought possible. At the age that he thought he would be resting until resting would not be an option for him, he became one of many Souq Waqif porters, a Hammali. He worked everyday from early morning till 10pm, to help shoppers and visitors by carrying their belongings and helping guide them through the Souq. From alley to alley you would find him waiting patiently for the visitors to welcome them and be their mentor to when they visited his beloved place, some would walk by him without really caring for what he has to offer, other will take a minute from their busy lives to smile at him and sometimes allow him to help in exchange of money that would help support him a little. During the crowded days in the Souq, mostly holidays, he disappears in the background, while people are rushing to take pictures and enjoy the Souq, and the allies feel tighter with the crowd, he feels the need to step in and guide people when looking for a store. “Allah yateek - God may give” one the visitors were saying to him whenever tries to offer help, and they misjudge him for asking for money instead. It broke one girl's heart as she apologized for the other person’s actions. She then proceeded to ask him about an Abaya place she was looking for and he answered without taking a minute to think.“I can lose my sight but I will never forget a piece of rock that was placed in the Souq,” Ali once said, when she was wondering how can a man this old be able to remember every corner of the Souq. What she did not realize was that his love for the Souq would not change, and there is no place else he would rather be. On rainy days and dry, hot days, whether it was full of people coming to have a nice time, or when it was empty. He never took a day off, how can he? Would you take a day off from home? Ali would sometimes take time from his day to wander around and observe, while holding a karak in his hand. The balloon Man would pass by and give him a balloon and say “Salam alikom Sheikh Ali,” as he said whenever he gives him a balloon, his sales would always be blessed and Sheikh Ali became his good luck charm since he started selling balloons in the Souq. Not longer after that children would gather around him and he would make a fortune. Sheik Ali, was never lonely, the Arabana (wheelbarrow) was his joy and comfort. He will carry it whenever he is helping the visitors and it will carry him when he wants to rest and take a break. One day, during Esha's call to prayer, his fellow Hammali, was waking him up for the nap he was taking on his Arabana, but who knew that his best friend would be the only one to hug him goodbye.
He found himself inseparable from Qatar, and especially the Souq. “The star of the show” as most of his regulars would refer to him, he outshined the rest of his buyers in the business with his persuasive smooth talk. Time flew by, and the sales were not paying as it used to, life became less of an enjoyment and more of a struggle, and he found himself lost between bills that he could not pay for, and his regulars slowly disappeared. Malls became the center of attention, and people became blinded by the lights, by forgien brand names, and modern shopping experience that became an intruder to the business of Souq, and it soon became like a ghost town. Ali unfortunately lost his job and all that he was left with was memories of the place that became abandoned, and his show then came to an end. Time was taking bits and pieces of his strength and youthfulness. Noticing the paths of life imprinting in his forehead. Ali with a beautiful spirit became helpless and aimed to find a way to bring him back to where he used to enjoy his time the most, and he became closer to the Souq in a way he never thought possible. At the age that he thought he would be resting until resting would not be an option for him, he became one of many Souq Waqif porters, a Hammali. He worked everyday from early morning till 10pm, to help shoppers and visitors by carrying their belongings and helping guide them through the Souq. From alley to alley you would find him waiting patiently for the visitors to welcome them and be their mentor to when they visited his beloved place, some would walk by him without really caring for what he has to offer, other will take a minute from their busy lives to smile at him and sometimes allow him to help in exchange of money that would help support him a little. During the crowded days in the Souq, mostly holidays, he disappears in the background, while people are rushing to take pictures and enjoy the Souq, and the allies feel tighter with the crowd, he feels the need to step in and guide people when looking for a store. “Allah yateek - God may give” one the visitors were saying to him whenever tries to offer help, and they misjudge him for asking for money instead. It broke one girl's heart as she apologized for the other person’s actions. She then proceeded to ask him about an Abaya place she was looking for and he answered without taking a minute to think.“I can lose my sight but I will never forget a piece of rock that was placed in the Souq,” Ali once said, when she was wondering how can a man this old be able to remember every corner of the Souq. What she did not realize was that his love for the Souq would not change, and there is no place else he would rather be. On rainy days and dry, hot days, whether it was full of people coming to have a nice time, or when it was empty. He never took a day off, how can he? Would you take a day off from home? Ali would sometimes take time from his day to wander around and observe, while holding a karak in his hand. The balloon Man would pass by and give him a balloon and say “Salam alikom Sheikh Ali,” as he said whenever he gives him a balloon, his sales would always be blessed and Sheikh Ali became his good luck charm since he started selling balloons in the Souq. Not longer after that children would gather around him and he would make a fortune. Sheik Ali, was never lonely, the Arabana (wheelbarrow) was his joy and comfort. He will carry it whenever he is helping the visitors and it will carry him when he wants to rest and take a break. One day, during Esha's call to prayer, his fellow Hammali, was waking him up for the nap he was taking on his Arabana, but who knew that his best friend would be the only one to hug him goodbye.