Posted on December 11, 2022 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
The best shot in World Cup history!
They attacked Muslims for not raising the rainbow flag.
Muslims raised the flag of Motherhood with flying colours and dancing strides
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They attacked Muslims for not celebrating gay-pride parades.
Muslims showed the world the sweetness of celebrating family, with joy and pride.
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They attacked Muslims for not allowing alcohol in the stadium.
Fans enjoyed a most peaceful, hospitable, friendly, prayerful ambiance and spiritual ground.
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They wanted to humiliate Muslims by imposing on them supremacist genocidal occupiers.
Muslims united, sang for liberation and raised the flag of the downtrodden beloved Palestine.
* * *
Motherhood, Family, Love, Faith, Gratitude, Faithfulness, Humbleness, Steadfastness, Endeavour, Freedom and Justice are Human Values worthy of celebration.
Winning the match or not is irrelevant, the true winners are those who carry on these Human Values for generations to come.
Posted on November 27, 2022 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
Disclaimer: in a time of Cancel Culture, many refuse to consider different opinions. Before closing this page, give yourself the challenge to read on. Cancel Culture does just that, it cancels culture.
In the name of love, truth, kindness, compassion, justice, peace, and tolerance, I invite you to come with me on a short journey, to explore and taste life from a different perspective. A perspective foreign and totally unfamiliar to you. A subjective and personal perspective of a Muslim woman.
As you probably can imagine, faith and spirituality are central in the lives of Muslims, as they do occupy a significant part in my life too.
Faith to Muslims is a profound awareness and a belief in the existence of a Supreme Creator, to whom belongs ALL Sublime attributes; Ultimate Love (الْوَدُود), Ultimate Truth (الْحَقُ), Ultimate Compassion (الرَّحِيمُ), Ultimate Goodness (الْبَرُّ), Ultimate Kindness (الرَّحْمَنُ), Ultimate Wisdom (الْحَكِيمُ), Ultimate Awareness (الْخَبِيرُ), Ultimate Justice(الْعَدْلُ), Ultimate Peace (السَّلاَمُ), Ultimate Forbearance and Tolerance (الْحَلِيمُ)…etc.
On a personal level, faith gives me answers to fundamental existential questions that began raging and roaring in my head since I opened my eyes to the world and began to wonder. The idea of the existence of a God (a Perfect Intelligent Aware Creator ), as a meaningful, logical and rational explanation of my own existence, existence of life and the universe makes more sense to me as opposed to the idea of a “gazillion and one coincidences”
By far, I prefer saying “insha’a allah” (God willing) rather than “finger crossed” or “touch wood”. The former appeals more to my commonsense.
From that perspective, my default position is being in a state of awe, adoration and gratitude to the Creator of this exquisite, super magnificent universe.
Faith also is the framework that allows me to find my bearings in this mysterious existence, in any given situation. It is my philosophy of life and my moral compass, if you will. Faith helps me align my values with the Divine principles and attributes, some of which are mentioned above.
In Islam we believe that God’s compassion engulfs and overwhelms God’s justice. In our tradition, we trust that God’s love to God’s creation is greater than a mother’s love to her children.
So from that standpoint of love and compassion I speak to you, and from that perspective, I want you to know that I do not intentionally wish to hurt or to be a cause of harm to any one, ever.
With this introduction, I would reiterate my invitation again, kindly asking you to try to see the world from my perspective as a Muslim woman, even if it was just for an hour. So bear with me.
From an Islamic perspective, freewill is granted and hardwired in the consciousness of every human being. However, that divine gift comes with a inbuilt disclaimer from the Creator:
1) Do not use your freewill to cause harm to others, to life, to the planet, or to yourself.
2) Do not use your freewill to impose your will and ways on others (do not force them against their will, nor take their freewill away)
In order to respect and fulfill the conditions of the Sublime Creator, Muslims choose to limit their freewill and to abstain from engaging in certain activities or behaviours which might end up violating these conditions.
Beyond the universally acknowledged values of “do not worship idols, do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not bear false witness….etc”, Islam also advocates for the abstinence from usury, drinking alcohol, eating pork, exposing nudity, pornography, sexual relationships outside marriage, same-sex relationships, eating & drinking during Ramadan, backbiting…etc.
These limitations, or “forbidden” deeds are called “haram“, or sins, because they are viewed as harmful either to others, to society, to life, to the planet or to oneself.
Furthermore, Islam directs its followers to use their freewill in acts which fulfill the purpose of his/her creation, as a caretaker, a khalifa (meaning caretaker) who benefits others, protects the planet and cherishes life in all its forms.
You may wonder what is so harmful about two consenting same-sex adults engaging in an intimate relationship?
Such relationships are detrimental to the continuation of procreation, thus harmful to life and its natural flow. Moreover, and without being graphic or going into details, health and hygiene do not exactly fair well or thrive and may even be harmed.
Muslims are advised with an extensive and detailed code of ethics in the Qur’an, which draws the boundaries of their freewill, beyond which violation of others’ may occur. However, like all free-willed human beings, Muslims make their own choices in life whether to respect these recommendations or not.
In general, practicing Muslims abstain from committing these sins, and try not to violate them, Naturally, some Muslims do.
When Muslims choose not to abstain from what we call sinful acts, they are exercising their freewill, they can still call themselves Muslims, however, they are Muslims who commit sinful acts. Even though they have the right to use their freewill to sin, however, they have no right to demand that Islam must change its code of ethics to suit their whims and desires. They have no right to demand that consuming alcohol and pork, backbiting, unregulated sexual behaviours, pornography, adultery, and usury, must become “good deeds”, applauded and celebrated.
If you are unhappy with these self-imposed regulations, don’t follow them. If you don’t like a club’s rules, don’t demand changing them, practice your freewill and leave the club and start your own.
Moreover, Muslims have no right to enforce their rules or values on other peoples. They have no legal or moral right to impose their code of ethics on others.
When people point to Muslims and demand that they should carry the rainbow flag and celebrate the gay-pride parades, it is exactly like asking Muslims to eat pork, go to pubs, become drunk or praise drunks for their wonderful way of enjoying life.
Demanding that Islam must change by accepting same-sex marriage, is like demanding that Islam should normalise the consumption of alcohol and pork, encourage alcoholics to drink more, or demanding that Islam should cancel Ramadan and make adultery an act of kindness.
When Muslims abstain from alcohol, pork, usury, extramarital affairs or homosexual acts, they do not force others to do the same. They just hold themselves and ONLY themselves accountable by abiding by their own rules and code of ethics. This is called tolerance.
However, forcing or coercing Muslims to carry a rainbow flag celebrating other peoples’ sexuality, demanding that Muslims change their ethics and be criminalised if they refuse, is exactly like forcing them to eat in Ramadan, drink alcohol, eat pork, or like forcing vegetarians to consume meat at barbecue parties. This is called tyranny.
Imposing your way of life on others, and demanding that they change their ethics and values to your taste is called harmful oppression, cultural imperialism and thought terrorism.
If I choose not to drink alcohol, don’t call me “anti-alcoholics”.
If I choose not to have extra marital affairs, don’t slander me as “anti-liberty”.
If I choose to wear my modest hijab, don’t call me “oppressed”.
If I choose to mother my children rather than chasing a career, don’t call me “anti-feminist”
If I choose not to celebrate your private sexual life, don’t label me a “bigot”.
You want to drink alcohol, you are free to do so, but don’t force me to drink.
You want to eat pork, you are free to do so, but don’t ridicule me if I don’t.
Posted on January 8, 2022 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
My uncle sent me this video of our beloved village of Beit Iksa, so I wrote
You touched me deeply, dear uncle I asked my tears How breathtakingly beautiful this part of earth is! How deep is her pain and how profound is her sorrow!
When I saw her, as if my eyesight was lost The mind wandered like a terrified motherless filly that doesn’t know the way Heart stopped beating Soul melted, limbs trembled Guts churned, breath taken away
Deep love drowned in excruciating pain Overwhelming joy faded away into eternal sadness I no longer know who I am, where I came from or where am I going
Do I cry of euphoria or laugh of sorrow and grief? The strings of my soul intermingled with her soil You wouldn’t know anymore, which was me or which was her
Sun stood still and earth is no longer revolving Overwhelmed with nostalgia Childhood love erupted without warning The yearning of youth in my being set ablaze Weaving agony in my grieving heart I thought I had buried years ago
However, Laws and Truth of God, can never be changed, forever prevail From the darkness of agony shines the dawn of glory and hope From the bitterness of sorrow, the sweetness of patience and gratitude, enjoyed forevermore
“The earth will gleam with the Light of its Lord, and the Records shall be set up, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward: and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).”
Would a rope tightened to God be ever cut off? Does a heart connected to the Most Loving Sublime, would ever know despondency or despair? Would a Divine promise from the Most Merciful ever be broken?
God-forbid… No way!
“when the second of the warnings will come to pass, We will raise up a people that they may disgrace your faces and may enter the Mosque as they entered it the first time, and that they may destroy with utter destruction whatsoever extreme power/ hegemony, you may have achieved/accumulated”
Posted on January 8, 2022 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
أرسل لي خالي هذا الفيديو لقريتنا الحبيبة السليبة بيت إكسا فكتبت
أثرت يا خال شجوني فسالت دموعي ما أروع هذه البقعة من الارض وما أجملها ما أشد الامها وما أعمق احزانها
وكأني حين رأيتها زاغ مني البصروتاهت البصيرة وشرد العقل كمهرة يتيمة مذعورة لا تعرف الطريق احتبست أنفاسي التاع كبدي والتَوَت أحشائي ذابت روحي وارتعشت جوارحي وأطرافي وتوقف القلب عن الخفقان
امتزج الحب العميق بألم مروِّع شديد والفرحة العارمة ذابت في حزن سرمدي سحيق ما عدت ادري من أنا، من أين أتيت ولا الى أين المسير أأبكي فرحاً أم أضحك حزناً وكمدا اختلط حابل روحي بنابلها وسكنت الشمس وما عادت الأرض تدور
غمرني الحنين لوعني عشقٌ تجذر في الطفولة وشوق الصِبا صَبا في كياني وفتّح في حنايا فؤاديَ المكلوم شجوناً حسبتني دفنتها من سنين
ولكن هي سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ولا تجدن لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا من عتمة الآلام يسطع فجرالحمد والأمل ومن مرارة الأحزان تذاق حلاوة الصبر والعرفان
Posted on December 6, 2021 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 This is how we were created to be Joyful, innocent, curious Tender, graceful, awash in love Prayerful, playful, Full of awe 💗 💗 💗 Children is how the universe smiles Scattered bundles of poise and joy Most precious gift From the One Most Gracious, Most Sublime 💗 💗 💗 Flowers of Heaven Your Creator I revere, you, I adore Wouldn’t I give my life and soul To see the twinkle in your eyes, glow
Posted on November 7, 2021 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
It has been said Every cup seeps out of what it contains
My father is an exemption
Trenched in sadness Filled to the brim with pain Yet always oozing fun and joy
A bundle of delight Captured in a human form Bouncing with elation
Sharp in his wit A magnet of humour A storyteller without a rival
A sparkle of light Landed from Heaven Intense… flowing poise and euphoria
Endearing to the oppressed Fearless before the cruel Gentle, yet audacious
Cheeky, mischievous, playful like a child Adored by little ones Charming to all around
Graceful like a scented rose Awesome in his wisdom Eccentric yet sublime
Serene in his demeanour Modest in his splendour Humble yet grand
To his curious mind Knowledge is his quest and treasure Learning, from cradle to grave
To his loving heart
Every human is his brother or sister
Every family is his very own
To his sensitive persona
Every person is a saint
Worthy of the prayer, “may God be pleased with you”
To his grateful soul
Every day is Eid
Every moment is anew, worthy of celebration
A smile-painter, life-infuser A heart-healer, pain-soother A magic-performer without a wand
A bright light in an ocean of darkness Earth is much dimmer with his departure But Heaven is glowing ever brighter Paradise is rocking with angels’ laughter
Posted on April 9, 2021 by Nahida Exiled Palestinian
If you are anti-racist who cares about humanity and the future of humanity, please download this power-point presentation and keep it as a reference file, however in this PDF format the video clips cannot be saved as such, but you can find it in the previous posts either in a Keynote or a PowerPoint format
Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms.. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.
Poetry for Palestine 