To keep trying to do the little we can and not loose hope in spite of hopelessness is tough, but we must. Thank you for your consistent hope and spotlight on our shared humanity 💜
Thank you Sakari. It is truly awful. We need to continue to demand a ceasefire. 30,000 Palestinians (and counting) are dead. At least 10,000 are missing, buried under the rubble and likely dead. 60,000 are injured, with more getting injured and killed every day. 1,200+ Israelis are dead or being held hostage.
Even one more death is one death too many, and a Palestinian child dies every hour on average.
This is such an urgent and vulnerable piece Noha. It really captures that feeling of our own human power feeling so small against the vastness of atrocities. Thanks for writing and sharing. I linked to this piece in my most recent poem titled ‘dawn’ because more people need to read this, feel this, and act on this in whatever ways they can. In power and solidarity with you 💙
Thank you so much Anagha. I agree that we need to keep talking about it, making sure it doesn't fade away. Our governments are expecting our eventual exhaustion and apathy.
A much needed reminder, thank you. Currently experiencing the drought after the pouring from the tap, pushing myself to just sit on my prayer rug and pull whatever words I can from my soul. He hears our words, may we know this and be sustained and energized by that knowledge Ameen.
That's a good approach, Ambata. I like to think that even when nothing is coming, God knows we're trying by the time we spend on the rug. in fact, I think going and sitting when we're in a drought is the most indicative of our efforts of all.
Thank you so much. I'm glad you felt it the way it was intended. I always struggle with how much to explain and how much to just let stand on its own when I'm talking about Muslim ritual.
This poem so beautifully captures to be so far away to something that feels so close. I felt especially the sentiment the feeling around praying for something insignificant. There’s a verse in the Bible that reads - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord( Romans 6:23). Something I’m thinking/wondering about is how does God ‘wage’ our prayers? Would love your thoughts as a believer of the Muslim faith on this. (Hope this question makes sense)
Marc, that's such an interesting question. I think there is the concept of the wage of our prayers in Islam - First, there's our prayers as in what we ask God for vs. the ritual prayer we have called Salah, that we are obliged to perform 5 times a day (I can't remember if you saw this post - I explain what Salah is more here: https://pronetohyperbole.substack.com/p/pray-tell-five-times-a-day-i-find)
Muslims believe in the concept of heaven and hell and a day of judgement in the afterlife, where do-gooders will be rewarded and do-badders (heheheh that's not a word but why not) will be punished. Within that, the ritual prayer is one of the things that we believe we will be judged on. God tells us in the Quran that ritual prayer is "a biggie" (I can find the exact verse and translation if you're interested, but essentially, ritual prayer is one of the pillars of our faith and so the performing of it, consistently, with excellence, is rewarded, and the missing of it is the negligence of God, which is the height of arrogance.)
Meanwhile, the prayers for insignificant things: there's a few takes on this. One is that we're told to focus on what matters - our relationship to God and the eternal life. The other is that God loves for us to ask him for anything, and talk to him no matter what, even if it's for stuff that's irrelevant. I think there's a saying that the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (essentially Islam's disciples) used to pray to God for guidance before decided whether or not to tie their shoes - aka, they took every opportunity to talk with God. In the Dua course I took years ago, the Sheikh told us to never minimize any conversation with God. It can be wanting sushi, it can be wanting world peace. It can be wanting a raise or clear skin. Pray for all of it.
Thank you for everything in this post, Noha, your necessary poem above all, but the mention is very kind. Your Letters series sounds wonderful, and I will both direct people here and think of my own questions. And I am sending all virtual hugs that can travel.
(And me too, checking on the journalists in Gaza. My heart stopped a moment at Bisan’s photo in your post, worrying in that split-second that somehow this was going to be that worst news.)
Tina, that is so kind. Your writing last week had a profound effect on me, and I am still so grateful that I found it and you. And thank you for the hugs. I'm receiving them gratefully.
I know what you mean about Bisan. Sometimes I click on Motaz's stories and he's showing nearby fighter jets circling, or airstrikes and the post is minutes old. I feel like I spend the next hour holding my breath. It's all too much.
Thank Noha for your words and for your resources. There is horror and hope coexisting and while that's overwhelming, this was a powerful reminder. Thank you again. <3
This was a beautiful poem, and something so special about the frustration & hopelessness you felt in your last verse immediately followed with, “ok, now here’s what we can keep doing.” I, personally, have found myself up against a wall these last few days, especially being so far from home and unable to take part in community and in the ways I’d like. This felt like a beautiful acknowledgement of The Wall™ as well as the necessity of continuing.
Thank you, Zefan. It is very much born from a place of frustration. I feel like no matter how much I do, it's just so little and makes so little difference. The important thing is just to keep speaking out anyway, even if I'm not affecting change. Change can be imperceptibly slow. I have to believe it's still worthwhile.
I'm sorry you're hitting up against a wall. I hope you have people you can commune with nearby, even if it's just a fraction of what you normally would hope for.
To keep trying to do the little we can and not loose hope in spite of hopelessness is tough, but we must. Thank you for your consistent hope and spotlight on our shared humanity 💜
Thank you for always engaging, Mya. It means the world.
Your poem, Noha. Achingly beautiful. Thank you. xo
Thank you so much, Sandra. I felt the ache as I was writing it.
Excellent initiative Noha, I look forward to reading your letters.
thanks Rebecca!
I picked up the phone to do something else and read through this instead. Thank you Noha! This was heartwarming!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Ayesha
Beautiful poem. It’s so devastating that innocent people on both sides are being killed
Thank you Sakari. It is truly awful. We need to continue to demand a ceasefire. 30,000 Palestinians (and counting) are dead. At least 10,000 are missing, buried under the rubble and likely dead. 60,000 are injured, with more getting injured and killed every day. 1,200+ Israelis are dead or being held hostage.
Even one more death is one death too many, and a Palestinian child dies every hour on average.
This is such an urgent and vulnerable piece Noha. It really captures that feeling of our own human power feeling so small against the vastness of atrocities. Thanks for writing and sharing. I linked to this piece in my most recent poem titled ‘dawn’ because more people need to read this, feel this, and act on this in whatever ways they can. In power and solidarity with you 💙
Thank you so much Anagha. I agree that we need to keep talking about it, making sure it doesn't fade away. Our governments are expecting our eventual exhaustion and apathy.
A much needed reminder, thank you. Currently experiencing the drought after the pouring from the tap, pushing myself to just sit on my prayer rug and pull whatever words I can from my soul. He hears our words, may we know this and be sustained and energized by that knowledge Ameen.
That's a good approach, Ambata. I like to think that even when nothing is coming, God knows we're trying by the time we spend on the rug. in fact, I think going and sitting when we're in a drought is the most indicative of our efforts of all.
Beautiful. Well written.
thank you🖤
This imagery and the poem is really powerful Noha. Thank you for the work you are doing, more power to you!
Thank you so much. I'm glad you felt it the way it was intended. I always struggle with how much to explain and how much to just let stand on its own when I'm talking about Muslim ritual.
💜✨
This poem so beautifully captures to be so far away to something that feels so close. I felt especially the sentiment the feeling around praying for something insignificant. There’s a verse in the Bible that reads - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord( Romans 6:23). Something I’m thinking/wondering about is how does God ‘wage’ our prayers? Would love your thoughts as a believer of the Muslim faith on this. (Hope this question makes sense)
Marc, that's such an interesting question. I think there is the concept of the wage of our prayers in Islam - First, there's our prayers as in what we ask God for vs. the ritual prayer we have called Salah, that we are obliged to perform 5 times a day (I can't remember if you saw this post - I explain what Salah is more here: https://pronetohyperbole.substack.com/p/pray-tell-five-times-a-day-i-find)
Muslims believe in the concept of heaven and hell and a day of judgement in the afterlife, where do-gooders will be rewarded and do-badders (heheheh that's not a word but why not) will be punished. Within that, the ritual prayer is one of the things that we believe we will be judged on. God tells us in the Quran that ritual prayer is "a biggie" (I can find the exact verse and translation if you're interested, but essentially, ritual prayer is one of the pillars of our faith and so the performing of it, consistently, with excellence, is rewarded, and the missing of it is the negligence of God, which is the height of arrogance.)
Meanwhile, the prayers for insignificant things: there's a few takes on this. One is that we're told to focus on what matters - our relationship to God and the eternal life. The other is that God loves for us to ask him for anything, and talk to him no matter what, even if it's for stuff that's irrelevant. I think there's a saying that the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (essentially Islam's disciples) used to pray to God for guidance before decided whether or not to tie their shoes - aka, they took every opportunity to talk with God. In the Dua course I took years ago, the Sheikh told us to never minimize any conversation with God. It can be wanting sushi, it can be wanting world peace. It can be wanting a raise or clear skin. Pray for all of it.
Thank you for everything in this post, Noha, your necessary poem above all, but the mention is very kind. Your Letters series sounds wonderful, and I will both direct people here and think of my own questions. And I am sending all virtual hugs that can travel.
(And me too, checking on the journalists in Gaza. My heart stopped a moment at Bisan’s photo in your post, worrying in that split-second that somehow this was going to be that worst news.)
Tina, that is so kind. Your writing last week had a profound effect on me, and I am still so grateful that I found it and you. And thank you for the hugs. I'm receiving them gratefully.
I know what you mean about Bisan. Sometimes I click on Motaz's stories and he's showing nearby fighter jets circling, or airstrikes and the post is minutes old. I feel like I spend the next hour holding my breath. It's all too much.
“I ask God
for everything the people won’t give me
for safety and courage
for words that reach to the farthest edges of the world”
Poignant. May Allah grant them freedom and peace, ameen.
Ameen ameen ameen.
Thank Noha for your words and for your resources. There is horror and hope coexisting and while that's overwhelming, this was a powerful reminder. Thank you again. <3
Thank you so much for being here to witness with me, Emmy. We have to hope, actively, while raising our voices and making any difference that we can.
This was a beautiful poem, and something so special about the frustration & hopelessness you felt in your last verse immediately followed with, “ok, now here’s what we can keep doing.” I, personally, have found myself up against a wall these last few days, especially being so far from home and unable to take part in community and in the ways I’d like. This felt like a beautiful acknowledgement of The Wall™ as well as the necessity of continuing.
Thank you, Zefan. It is very much born from a place of frustration. I feel like no matter how much I do, it's just so little and makes so little difference. The important thing is just to keep speaking out anyway, even if I'm not affecting change. Change can be imperceptibly slow. I have to believe it's still worthwhile.
I'm sorry you're hitting up against a wall. I hope you have people you can commune with nearby, even if it's just a fraction of what you normally would hope for.
Noha, your poem is heartbreakingly beautiful. Thank you for the resources. I have so many questions. Thank you for doing the good, important work. ❤️
Maureen, I am honoured and touched that you are learning and engaging with this. Thank you! Ask away and I will do my best to help❤️❤️