September 18, 2009
The good news is that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The bad news is that I discovered mama hides her large squash-like homegrown vegetables in the basement. This is not sexual innuendo, but rather is a fact I discovered moments ago when mama went downstairs empty-handed and came back upstairs carrying what is called a spaghetti squash, grown by her, the size of her bum.
As I type, she is showing off her back garden (again, not sexy innuendo) via web-cam to our family in Gaza. She is also wearing pistachio green sweater to “matching” lime green socks (yes, with pants; no, not any shade of green). She is as happy as a squirrel with nuts amongst her squirrel friends who have less nuts on which to feast and so is gladly sharing said nuts.
Everywhere I have looked recently, I have felt defeated, usually beginning all thought with ‘I hate people; why are they so useless?; why do they care so much that some pop singer’s small pet died / was carried away / is lost?; why aren’t they reading about Palestine?; paying attention to Darfur?; seeking out more info on the women in the Congo?; Why so mean?; Why such bullies?; Find balance outside of pill-aw-tees, you entitled useless twat, SHUT UP!’ Then I look at the eccentric weirdo with whom I live and I am made better.
And I recently realized that when she is gone, she will take 95% of the love I feel in this often-times grotesque and hurtful world, and that turns me into a sad sobby creature with mascara around her nose. But in the interim, I get to appreciate her weirdness and her bizarreness and love every bit of it and for that I am grateful.
So, most especially for those of you who have had a tough Ramadan and who were trusting enough to share their experiences with me, I thank you and hope that you too have at least one person whom you are able to turn to and who is capable of swallowing you up in their innocence and kindness. If it is your mama, then get up and hug her, high five her, kiss her, tell her you love her before you wish her Eid Mubarak.
Peace and love to you all, including you asshats.
September 18, 2009
Note: this is an objective entry and that means this may or may not be my perspective (a perspective that is none of your business). By posting this particular perspective, I am not extending your way the right to speak about either my state of iman or my personal perspective.
This is meant as merely food for thought and contemplation, and to help us all become aware of the different sides of the argument, so that we may then accept the conclusions most rational to us. It was sent to me by an Al-Azhar University graduate who frequents this blog and who read the ass-hatery re hijab in the comments of the post titled Tell me about Ramadan.
It is in Arabic and so only accessible to those of you who can read and understand Arabic (sorry!).
To you non Muslims who live here – Although you can not read the Arabic, I would like for you to take the following away from this entry: As Muslims, we are required to read / investigate / consider / and then choose (that which is most logical to us) of the varying scholarly opionions presented on issues such as this one. We are never to follow blindly – and the choices we make to bring things in to / expel them from our lives is in fact one based on the idea of open discussion and questioning and dissent. It is a thought process epitomizing the idea of democratic free thinking.
Additional info, sent to me by the same Al-Azhar University graduate: This was published in Rosa El Yousef – one of the most credible periodicals in Egypt – by Dr. Mostafa Mohammad Rashed about the Hijab. One of the attached files is a copy of the PhD certificate that Dr. Rashed had obtained from Al-Azhar University with an “Excellent” grade. (Read: Dr. Rashed’s credentials.)
[...]it is identical to my understanding of the subject from my studies at Al-Azhar University, and from my own private readings. The writer’s approach is logical, rational, and is rooted in Quranic and historic evidence. Dr. Rashed states his conclusion very clearly that the Hijab is not an Islamic “Fareeddah;” i.e. it is not a requirement from any Muslim woman.
You may wish to read it and get the benefit from this scholar’s research on one of the most controversial subjects of our time. Feel free to circulate to others, if you believe that they would benefit.
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September 16, 2009
Hi!
How are you?
My father and uncle received the letter (photographed here) from Rogers Cable Inc., detailing your special offers specific to the Muslim celebration of Eid.
I don’t have cable and I currently use bell for both my mobile as well as internet services. But guess what, Phil? Because your company is amongst the first to respectfully acknowledge that there is a demographic of creatures called Muslims – who celebrate rather than explode – you have just gained a new customer (that’s me, Phil).
Also, it is exceptionally cool of your communications team for having properly included both “Eid Mubarak” as well as the crescent moon (which is – to those who do not know – the symbol of Islam).
With thanks, and looking forward to eventually buying a rogers product,
Maha
P.S. To those of you interested, please find Rogers’ official press release here.
P.S. to the P.S. Here is the Rogers site.
September 01, 2009
Usually, Ramadan is a more-heightened-than-normal-life experience. Last year was the first year I had an exceptional Ramadan. I woke up every morning before sunrise and had a small bite to eat, prayed subuh (the 1st of 5 daily prayers) and then fell back asleep before waking up to begin my day.
Last year was also the first ever year I was completely entrenched within Ramadan. I was focused on, living and breathing the character that – failing to carry it throughout the year – was supposed to be representative of Islam. When I stood to pray, I imagined myself inside of and protected by a teardrop that was being looked after by God. It was a wonderful, amazing and – admittedly – exhausting experience; focused and clear and simple.
This year, I can’t seem to find my way to any of the above.
I was, and remain humbled that I am experiencing another Ramadan with a near 1.5 billion sisters and brothers in this, my faith tradition of Islam. I am grateful for every blessing I find in every nook and cranny of my everyday life (& everything is indeed the cherry on the cake that is an already blessed life; I am not complaining and I am not taking for granted anything). I am equal parts excited and scared that this is the month during which I get to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, in order to focus on all that I hope to change, accomplish, dismiss, refine and deepen this coming year.
With that still, this is not my month – not this year, anyway.
This, I do not mean physically, as even though the fasting day is at nearly 14 hours per day, I am not at all hungry. In fact, I feel healthy and energized all day long.
It is, unfortunately, a spiritual malaise and fatigue that has overwhelmed me. I am going through the motions without a sense of connection to anything horizontal or vertical, and this saddens me in a way I can not express as I don’t fully understand it. This year, and with all of the laughter and excitement that rises with the pretty sun, I am feeling a little bit out at sea without focus during the one month where I should be firmly anchored.
There are 19 days left; I don’t believe we live in the age of miracles – or perhaps we no longer recognize them – and so I don’t expect much to change over the coming three weeks. All I can hope is that next year, inshallah, I will be capable of experiencing Ramadan at center, once more.
August 24, 2009
“…and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, “We are Christians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.”
-Qur’an 5:82b
July 09, 2009
If you never read another political book in your life, then please and for the love of all things righteous and humane, please please please read Ilan Pappe’s The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.
Pappe is a (Jewish) professor at Haifa University inside of Israel and remains among the towering authorities on the subject matter of Palestine and Israel. He is a fierce advocate of human rights and equality for all, refusing to fall victim to the Zionist spin of “Jewishness”. Pappe is in the same class as Chomsky, Klein, Hass, Reinhart and Falk and is a man to which you should pay great attention.
Find his personal site here.
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July 03, 2009
Please take a moment to read this.
From the article: “Richard Falk [who is an expert on international law], an American Jew and the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said the move was part of Israel’s “cruel blockade of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza” in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibiting any form of collective punishment against “an occupied people”.”
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July 01, 2009
Israeli journalist / writer Amira Hass.
If you read French, read her here, otherwise, find her works here.
Comments closed.
June 29, 2009
What we usually call “liberals” have been extremely quick to jump on this bandwagon > to the point where Twitter has set up a page asking people to point out ‘suspect’ pages. Most of the posts / recommendations being made by the general population is either from people pointing out spam Twitter accounts or Twitter accounts that say they are people who voted for and continue to support Ahmadinejad. Which, of course – after watching the news about EYE-fkn-ran for 5 minutes – must mean that you’re informed and so are fully aware of the fact that everyone voted Mousavi. Of course. You’re so smart. You’re so politically en vogue.
From some of these people, I have received hate mail calling me a fascist.
Do you think they’ll remember their brotherly and siterly love of the EYE-ranians when it comes time to bomb the shit out of them and steal their natural resources so that ‘we’ can drive around in our SUVs for cheaper still? Maybe they’ll see it as a means to free and liberate the Shee-height Mozlims from a dictator.
Yay.
(Of course, here I must say that from many of these individuals, I have also received more links and information calling for caution, as well as thanks for a mini head’s up about possible misinformation. Also that individuals who don’t have any sort of label have been asking for more information and are interested in digging deeper. I don’t need to post any of these emails.)
But – my favourite form of hate mail has come from the inidviduals who are so narrow minded that they see any argument – any argument posing even the slightest challenge to their own perspective, in fact – as one which supports Ahmadinejad. The following two are my favourites thus far:
“Shame on you! No wonder you support Ahmadinejad, you have already got enough money from him! You are selling younge Iranians blood killed by his regim to this idiot who most Iranians know him better and hate him. Shame on you. You support a criminal.”
&
“Shame on promotors of facism.
Dear “leftist” :
The enemy of your enemy . is not your friend.
Join the fight against facism, rather than promoting it. Talibanism, Tehran or Kabul style, is at odds with humanity.
Do not presribe that at the expense of my people , and for the sake of your agenda.”
I believe Ahmadinejad is a stain on Islam (& I wouldn’t vote for either him or Mousavi; more to the point, I would never live under any theocracy), and yet, any call for caution and a more nuanced approach solicits this sort of a reaction. Absolutely amazing and fascinating and I love it. People’s ignorance is both prolific and deeply profound.
Recommend that you please visit this link at Middle East Report Online and take the time to read and reflect. My article is extremely light on all subject matters and is intended to point out that reform is not ‘revolution’, that it is not a simple matter of black vs. white & that the destabilization of Iran serves greater ends (food for thought); if you wish to learn more and dig deeper on the internal political situation, then this is an excellent place to burrow.
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