When Thoughts Become Words

Just to keep myself busy when I find ANY free time; in addition to storing some of the random things that interest me.

[frompalestinewithlove]

Palestinian Christians distribute water to Palestinian Muslims who can’t make it home in time for Iftar because of Israeli checkpoints.

[beardgame-loves-yall-deactivate]

<3

[acrosstheunivese]

You need someone who goes out of their way to make it obvious that they want you in their life.

(via nargessi)

[blackonpalestine]

Video

[neineh]

Otherwise Worlds: Against Settler Colonialism and Anti-blackness Conference Opening Remarks - Ashon Crawley First Panel - Tiffany Lethabo King, Jared Sexton, Maile Arvin

[islamic-art-and-quotes]

Happiness is attained by three things: being patient when tested, being thankful when receiving a blessing, and being repentant upon sinning.

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah

Originally found on: yeahiamamuslim

(via islamic-art-and-quotes)

[fallforgreen]

Missing You - All Time Low

[daysbreak]

[allahonmymind]

🌴

[thawrah]

ahhhhhh this is so needed. 

[breakingnews]

Officials: 147 confirmed killed in attack on Kenyan college

The Guardian: An attack on Kenya’s Garissa University campus has ended with 147 confirmed fatalities, Kenya’s disaster agency said Thursday.

Follow updates on BreakingNews.com.

Photo: A woman is rescued from the building where she was being held hostage during the attack by Al-Shabaab. (Dai Kurakawa/ EPA)

[ninjatengu]

Once you start to speak, people will yell at you. They will interrupt you, put you down and suggest it’s personal. And the world won’t end. And the speaking will get easier and easier. And you will find you have fallen in love with your own vision, which you may never have realized you had. And you will lose some friends and lovers, and realize you don’t miss them. And new ones will find you and cherish you. … And at last you’ll know with surpassing certainty that only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.

Audre Lorde    (via isqat-al-nizam)

[dr-abood-dds-deactivated2017040]

Iman fluctuates, It’s a characteristic of the heart. Prayer sometimes feels like Just going through the motions,

But the next time you have that moment where you realize your blessings and say Alhamdulilah, All Praises to Allah. Take a moment make a mental note That feeling That feeling of gratefulness.

That moment defines consciousness of Allah. 

Recall that mental note, Recall that gratefulness, Recall that consciousness of Allah When you approach prayer. 

Pretty soon You’ll have a lot of reasons to put your forehead on the ground and praise Him.

It won’t be 

just a motion.

[standwithpalestine]

It’s easy to lose sight of some of life’s simple pleasures when you’re mired in the politics of a land you’re forbidden to enter. But every now and again we deserve to be reminded of just how beautifully the sea sparkles in the Gaza Strip, or just how high the rainbows over the West Bank’s grassy hills can go, or just how easy it is to visualize the earthy way of life in villages wiped away in 1948. 

Source: Sixteen Minutes to Palestine

[moonlittmusings]

God will love you and forgive your sins; God is most forgiving, most merciful.

The Qur’an, 3:31 (via thawrah)

[seedo-amjad-deactivated20160707]

Five Stages of Grief.

I. Denial.

I know when I get up She’s going to be Fine. She’ll be In the living room Watching old Arabic sitcoms And telling me to Get her the remote. She’s going to be okay. She’ll be here in the Morning.

II. Anger.

Why her? She didn’t hurt anyone. What did she do to Wrong you, God? All the shit going on In the world and you Had to take the one Good thing? Fuck you.

III. Bargaining.

I’m sorry. That was wrong. I didn’t mean it. I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll pray 5 times. I’ll fast. I’ll be a good person. Fuck it. Take my life Instead. She’s worth more Than I am. Please.

IV. Depression.

It hurts so much without her. I can’t breathe. I can’t sleep. The pain doesn’t go away. I don’t want to be On this earth If she’s not on it. It hurts so much.

V. acceptance.

You’re okay, mama. You’re in a better place. It’s selfish of me to Want you here While you’re in pain. I’ll be okay. I promise.

I’ll be okay.

-akh.

[neineh]

:(

[saudi-blogger]

ترى الجمال في كل شي الا نفسها She sees beauty in everything but herself

(via arab-quotes)

[fatubalilghuraba-deactivated201]

"Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him."

The Prophet (ﷺ) - Sunan an-Nasa’i 1837 (via fatubalilghuraba)

[cloak-of-love]

You might be married to the worst man ever like Asiyah was married to Pharaoh, but it didn’t change her, or her loyalty and love to Allāh. You might be married to the best of men, like a Prophet of God yet still not enter Heaven like the wife of Prophet Lūt. You might not be married to any man like Maryam and Allāh can make your rank higher than any woman on earth. Know your priorities, love and trust is with Allāh first.

Dr Muḥammad Ṭāhir al-Qādrī (via intoxicated25)

[blackonpalestine]

Reciprocal Solidarity: Where the Black and Palestinian Queer Struggles Meet by Sa’ed Atshan and Darnell L. Moore. http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/biography/v037/37.2.atshan.html WORKS CITED Abukhater, Jalal. “Black people against Zionism, Black people against Apartheid.” Electronic Intifada, 6 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Abulhawa, Susan. “Confronting anti-black racism in the Arab World.” Al Jazeera, 7 July 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. “The Palestinian struggle is a black struggle.” Electronic Intifada, 11 June 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. Abunimah, Ali. “Israel ‘far worse than apartheid South Africa’ says ANC chair as Pretoria conference backs boycott.” Electronic Intifada, 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. ADDAMEER: Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. “The Palestinian Prisoners of Israel.” Addameer, 2011. Web. 14 July 2014. African Heritage Delegation to Palestine/Israel. “Statement of the Second African Heritage Delegation.” Interfaith Peace-Builders, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: New P, 2012. Print. “Alice Walker: Palestinians Face Oppression Much Worse than Jim Crow of Old South.” Interview by Amy Goodmann. Democracy Now! Gordon Coombes. YouTube, 6 Oct. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Bailey, Kristian Davis. “Why Black People Must Stand With Palestine.” Ebony, 21 May 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Baldwin, James. “Open Letter to the Born Again.” The Nation, 29 Sept. 1979. Web. 14 July 2014. Barrows-Friedman, Nora. “‘I wasn’t prepared for the white supremacy’: dream hampton on her visit to Palestine.” Electronic Intifada, 4 Feb. 2014. Web.14 July 2014. BBC News. “Tutu condemns Israeli ‘apartheid.’” BBC, 29 Apr. 2002. Web. 14 July 2014. Brady, Nicholas. “The Void Speaks Back: Black Suffering as the Unthought of the American Studies Association’s Academic Boycott of Israel.” Out of Nowhere, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. Carter, Jimmy. Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006, Print. CBS News. “Nelson Mandela quotes: A collection of memorable words from former South African president.” CBS, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. [End Page 703] Cvetkovich, Ann. Depression: A Public Feeling. Durham: Duke UP, 2012. Print. “Desmond Tutu protests alleged Israeli torture of Palestinian prisoners.” i24news, 5 June 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. “Fred Moten Speaks on Solidarity with Palestine—The New International Insurgent of Feeling.” American Studies Association Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C., 7 Nov. 2009. YouTube, 4 Dec. 2009. Web. 14 July 2014. Hammad, Suheir. Born Palestinian, Born Black. New York: Harlem River, 1996. Print. Illouz, Eva. “47 years a slave: A new perspective on the occupation.” Haaretz, 7 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Jewish Voice for Peace. “Stop McCarthyite campaign-apartheid.” Jewish Voice for Peace, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014. Jordan, June. “Moving Towards Home.” Living Room. New York: Thunder’s Mouth, 1985. Print. JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). “Danny Glover calls for cultural boycott of Israel.” Haaretz, 13 May 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Kane, Alex. “‘A level of racist violence I have never seen’: UCLA professor Robin D. G. Kelley on Palestine and the BDS Movement.” Mondoweiss, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. Liptak, Adam. “U.S. prison population dwarfs that of other nations.” New York Times, 23 Apr. 2008. Web. 14 July 2014. Lutz, Meris. “Gaza: Palestinians Rally for Haiti: ‘We were exposed to our own earthquake.’” Babylon & Beyond. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 14 July 2014. Mallory, Peter. “Political friendship in the era of ‘the social’: Theorizing personal relations with Alexis de Tocqueville.” Journal of Classical Sociology 12.1 (Feb. 2012): 22–42. Print. Marcelin, Megan French. “Linking Violence in Solidarity: Ferguson, Gaza, and the US State.” Jadaliyya, 18 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. Moore, Darnell L. “On Charges of anti-Semitism and Palestinian solidarity activism.” Mondoweiss, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. “The Liminal Space Between Love and Non-Love: An Introduction to the ‘Love as a Radical Act’ Forum.” Feminist Wire, 2 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. “The Occupation Stole my Words: June Jordan Helped me to Relocate Them.” Feminist Wire, 1 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. “A response to Judith Butler: I hear you.” Mondoweiss, 31 Aug. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. “What is queer about the anti-occupation movement?” Mondoweiss, 6 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Moore, Darnell L., and Lisa Weiner Mahfuz. “Our Eyes Witnessed: On People of Color in the United States and the Palestinian BDS Movement.” NewBlackMan, 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Mullin, Corinna, and Azadeh Shahshahani. “From Gaza to Ferguson: Exposing the Toolbox of Racist Repression.” Foreign Policy in Focus, 21 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. Muñoz, José Esteban. Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity. New York: New York UP, 2009. Print. [End Page 704] Nesher, Talila. “Israel admits Ethiopian women were given birth control shots.” Haaretz, 27 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. “An Open Letter to LGBTQ Communities and Allies on the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.” Queersolidaritywithpalestine.com, 25 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Partnoy. Alicia. “Concealing God: How Argentine Women Political Prisoners Performed a Collective Identity.” Biography 36.1 (Winter 2013): 211–41. Print. Pfeffer, Anshel. “Appointment of Ethiopian envoy doesn’t represent community’s standing.” Haaretz, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. Ransby, Barbara. “Why We, as Women of Color, Join the Call for Divestment from Israel.” Colorlines, 13 July 2011. Web. 14 July 2014. Royster, Francesca T. “Fela!: Fela Kuti, Bill T. Jones, and the Marketing of Black Masculine Excess on Broadway.” Biography 34.3 (Summer 2011): 492–517. Print. ———. “Introductory Notes: Performing Queer Lives.” Biography 34.3 (Summer 2011): v–xii. Print. Russell Tribunal on Palestine. “South Africa session—Full Findings.” Russell Tribunal, 5–7 Nov. 2011. Web. 14 July 2014. Salaita, Steven. “John Legend implores us to love Palestinians.” Electronic Intifada, 22 May 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. Schulman, Sarah. “Israel and ‘Pinkwashing.’” Opinion Pages. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2011: A31. Web. 14 July 2014. ———. Israel/Palestine and the Queer International. Durham: Duke UP, 2012. Print. Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Nadera. “Criminality in Spaces of Death: The Palestinian Case Study.” British Journal of Criminology 54.1 (Jan. 2014): 38–52. Print. Shea Murphy, Jacqueline, and Jack Gray. “Manaakitanga in Motion: Indigenous Choreographies of Possibility.” Biography 36.1 (Winter 2013): 242–78. Print. Sheen, David, and Max Blumenthal. “Israel’s New Racism: The Persecution of African Migrants in the Holy Land.” VideoNation. YouTube, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 14 July 2014. Sheppard, Ferrari. “I Traveled to Palestine-Israel and Discovered There is No Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.” Huffington Post, 2 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 July 2014. US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. “Letter to Black America on Palestinian Rights and June 10th [2007] March and Rally.” End the Occupation, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014. Wessler, Seth Freed. “The Israel Lobby Finds a New Face: Black College Students.” Color-lines, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 July 2014. “Witness: Palestine.” Pleasure Dome Newsletter Winter 2013. Pleasure Dome, Web. 14 July 2014. [End Page 705]

(via blackonpalestine)

Because I needed a space to save these links

[farahfilasteen-deactivated20170]

The African Palestinian community of Jerusalem is in the heart of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. Walk through the busy Damascus Gate and the market streets, passing the 4th and 5th Stations of the Cross. The paving stones have been polished by foot traffic for 2000 years or more. Spice aromas, the Muezzin calls and church bells ringing lead to the almost hidden African Palestinian quarter. Here, the African Palestinians live on both sides of Al’a ad Deen Street, ending at the great door of the Haram al Sherif (Noble Sanctuary Plaza).

Some 50 families, comprising 300 or more people, live in apartment blocks on both sides of the street. Called Ribats, these apartment blocks were originally built as hostels for pilgrims of the 13th century Mamluk period. The Habs Ad Dam, a prison during the latter part of the Ottoman era for those condemned to death, stands across the street from the Habs Al Ribat, built for short-term prisoners. At the start of the British Mandate period (1918), the former prisons (Habs) were given by the Islamic Wapf authorities to the African Palestinian families to serve as residences, and they remain so today. The wrought iron prison bars still define small windows and entry gates.

It is noteworthy that the African Palestinians of Jerusalem consider themselves proud, steadfast Palestinians. Since the 1967 war and occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, most of the community has been directly involved in the resistance. Many have served long sentences in Israeli prisons, as have many other Palestinians in the territories. With the 1967 war, a quarter of the African Palestinian community became refugees in surrounding countries, particularly Jordan and Lebanon. They currently cannot return.

Ali Jiddah says that he and all Palestinians now live in a larger prison defined by the eight-meter high “separation wall,” snaking 400 miles through Jerusalem and the West Bank. The wall protects Jewish settlements—and bifurcates Palestinian villages and farmlands. Ordinary family visits or commutes to work become difficult and humiliating journeys, caused by the Jewish-only roads, military checkpoints, and the wall.

African Palestinians came to the Holy City as Hajj pilgrims, mainly from Chad, Sudan, Niger and Senegal. Among the African ethnic groups are the Al Salamat, Al Housa, Al Barquo, Al Falata and Al Balata. And Qanembou and Boulala.

As early as the Mamluk era, the Jerusalem Wapf (Islamic authority) honored the African Palestinian community with an historic role as Guardians of the Mosque, due to both their proximity to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Haram Al Sherif, and their high regard in the larger Palestinian community. Known for their integrity and courage, even today some from the community are bodyguards at East Jerusalem consulates and embassies, and for the Palestinian leadership.

Because Israel has annexed all of Jerusalem and is expanding the municipality, the African Palestinians, and all other East Jerusalem residents, cannot avail themselves of Palestinian passports and travel documents. Instead, they must choose (or not) to obtain Israeli identification for foreign travel. They live in legal limbo.

One can see and feel Sumoud on the faces—and sense it in the words and the bearing —of the African Palestinians in Jerusalem. Their quiet perseverance and resilience endures, just footsteps away from both the omnipresent Israeli occupation and the treasured historical holy sites.

Source [and for more photos]