If one were to reflect on the course of their life, they would find that much of it is shaped by coincidence rather than conscious decision. We do not choose the place of our birth, the identity of our parents, or the society we belong to, yet these factors exert the greatest influence on our future.

We have no say in the color of our skin, the language we speak, the faith we inherit, the nationality we carry, or the homeland we call our own. And yet, these elements form the essence of our identity, neither by merit nor by fault of our own.

As for our careers, they often unfold as paths laid before us by time rather than deliberate choices. We follow them without fully grasping their implication, and they come to define a significant portion of our lives.

Marriage, too, a seemingly personal choice, is often dictated by circumstances and chance encounters that lead us to a partner with whom we paint the canvas of our future.

So, is life merely the sum of coincidences? Or is there an unseen force of destiny steering us toward an inevitable fate?

Are we programmed from birth, moving through life according to a predetermined script? Or do we possess a degree of freedom, enough to give us the illusion of choice while remaining unaware of the boundaries we can never cross, boundaries that make us believe the space we navigate is the entirety of existence?

How can we discern whether our thoughts and emotions are confined within an invisible cage, one that restricts our perception of the world? What if the reality we see is but a fraction of a much vaster existence, one that remains beyond our reach, hidden from our senses and understanding?

I lean toward believing in the duality, a blend of predestination and free will, a constrained liberty that allows us to move within limits defined by the strength of our wings.

Abdul-Hay Abbas

Born in 1936 in Homs, Syria.

Education and Academic Degrees:

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Damascus University, 1960.
Specialization in otolaryngology from the University of Pittsburgh, USA. American Board Certification in Otolaryngology, 1965.
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCS), 1965.

Teaching, Practice, and Professional Activities:

Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University: Lecturer, then Assistant Professor (1967–1978).
Faculty of Medicine, Damascus University: Professor and Head of Department (1979–1987).
Faculty of Medicine, West Virginia University, USA: Professor (1987–1990).
Private practice in Cleveland, USA (1991–2004).
Private practice in Damascus, Syria (2004–2011). Currently retired in Cleveland, USA.

Professional Memberships and Contributions:

Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Former President of the Syrian Medical Association. President of the Syrian Society of Otolaryngology for several terms.
Chairman of the Scientific Council for Otolaryngology under the Syrian Ministry of Health for multiple years.
Supervised numerous doctoral dissertations at Damascus University.
Authored a medical textbook on otolaryngology in Arabic, used for teaching in Syrian universities.
Edited the otolaryngology section of the Arabic Encyclopaedia, published in 2013. Delivered numerous lectures in his field in both Syria and the USA, as well as lectures on medical ethics, the Global Charter for Compassion, the history of medicine, and the language of higher education. These lectures have been published in Al-Arabi magazine (Kuwait), Al-Mustaqbal Al-Arabi magazine (Lebanon), and various Syrian journals.
Published an article titled Between the Ego and Conscience in Al-Arabi magazine and another on enlightenment in Al-Mustaqbal Al-Arabi magazine.
Published a book titled Science Between Faith and Atheism in 2019.