When your daily grind involves jihaad; our inner battle to be the best of who we wish to be as part of who WE all are as one humanity.
Things as they are, myself as I am : A culmination of me being WOMAN
Me, muslim, South African first generation migrant, a changemaking creative educator, a daughter , lover , wife, mother of four children, and an extraordinary ordinary person like you! (1/8)
Things as they are, myself as I am : A culmination of me being WOMAN
Me, muslim, South African first generation migrant, a changemaking creative educator, a daughter , lover , wife, mother of four children, and an extraordinary ordinary person like you! (1/8)
Walking my talk: DIALOGUE is my tool of trade, I speak, engage , discuss, debate and listen. This medium empowers me with no resources to develop a stronger sense of myself and embrace others by demystifying and being a living example of a fallible and fierce female. (2/8)
MR MEN amidst azure : Darling Dad, always my special safe place, a retired doctor who migrated to Australia with his wife and three young children in 1978, just as the all white migrant policy was supposedly abolished. Studied medicjne jn Ireland as apartheid South Africa restricted educational opportunities for 'non-whites' like us. My heartspace: husband of twenty years. Wish I had met you sooner so I could love you longer. My biggest blessing, a surprise fourth child and second son. Loved by his three elder siblings. (3/8)
My Monday morning meandering in Musgrave Park Brisbane City : Solidarity as an activist standing and documenting; engaging and changing our foreign policies of racism, our lifestyle of inequality between indigenous and non-indigenous. Songlines not coalmines, stop teaching our primary school about colonialism without the wisdom of a richer history. What about the Malacca Straight fisherpeople who first bartered here. The positive Islamic influence with that. The intermarriages of these people and consequent camaleers, Afghan, Indian and Pakistani who created the road networks of this otherwise desert land? (4/8)
Modesty is the most elegant beauty. : The myth that muslim women have to be dressed in black, lack charisma, individuality , style , subservient to men, uneducated and mistrusted? The confusion society has between cultural traditions versus theological lifestyle teachings. The differences in how people interpret and practise beliefs. These are regularly discussed topics as I readily converse with anyone and everyone, as the world is bursting with beautiful individuals who want to work/ talk /share and care. All the positive ions flowing in the atmosphere work to bring us all together. (5/8)
Annual Ramadaaan Iftaar ( dinner) at St Andrews Church hosted by Muslim Australians for the homeless in Brisbane : So every year when the holy month of Ramadaan descends as part of a lunar calendar, muslims are encouraged to observe self-reflection, improvement, charity giving and if possible fast from sunrise to sunset only. This occurs for thirty days with an evening iftaar to break the fast, prior to more meditation and ritual observations . Amongst many other community events of interfaith sharing, a group of friends I identify with host a free meal to share iftaar with the disenfranchised at a gorgeous old church so there is common coming together breaking the barriers of demographic, economic, religious and political rhetoric! (6/8)
Staying GROUNDED literally, with a prayermat that is used on the floor. : So I try, as is recommended: for mental, spiritual and physical health, to meditate and stay grounded up to five times a day.This being an Islamic lifestyle guide .Before sunrise, at midday, prior to sunset, after the sun sets, lastly later in the evening. Yes- this like anything else, can prove challenging. However when we acknowledge the blessing of this gift- pausing, ritual washing and cleansing , then positions and sounds very similar to.some traditional yoga forms, leaving you refreshed, focused and calmer. Then its inviting to break the day up this way. (7/8)
Transforming lives through a social upliftment project Shamime _&_U: By giving back we give forward. I collaborate with independent, marginalized artists, both locally and abroad, showcase and sell their arts, books, jewellery and crafts at market stalls and source likeminded businesses to stock the products. Changemakers for sustainable, handcrafted, independent, meaningful and mindful products that empower people. (8/8)
Mostly, those of us blessed with perfect sight are visually aroused.
As a creative -I am very visual.
I have much to share , so I invite you to experience my space.
Through my language of love ...
Words and images.
'UBUNTU '- I am what I am
Because of who we all are
Collective consciousness
Wishing you all peace and laughter.
As Rumi my favourite poet says ..'the wound is the place the light enters.'
This story was submitted in response to Who Am I?.
Thank you for sharing the scrapbook of your life. Your energy is refreshing and inspiring. It is wonderful to see you fighting for your rights as a muslim woman, while also fighting back stereotypes about muslim women, "All the positive ions flowing in the atmosphere work to bring us all together" was a particularly delicious anecdote.
I would love to learn more about your activist experiences in Australia and your experience learning history in Australia - what is accurately depicted in children's classrooms and what is hidden away?
I particularly connected with the picture of Ramadaan dinner as it reminded me of going to dinners hosted by my synagogue when I was younger - how religion is not only about devotion to a higher power, but equally about giving help to people in need and coming together as a community.
Thanks....I'm not in a good 'time 'space, also finger typing on my phone. However, I do want to say that primary schools now offer between token lessons and a meaningful week long experience about indigenous culture- the truth of Australia history. They still often miss the Islamic influence from the Malaccan Straits fisherpeople who traded and sailed with various first peoples. Ofcourse and loved, intermarried took the good of each others faiths ....both so connected with the spirit, the creation, nature
Thank you for sharing these lovely photos! It's so wonderful to learn about the things you do to create safe spaces and make the world a better place. I look forward to reading more about your future endeavours!
Dear Givebackart,
Thank you for sharing the scrapbook of your life. Your energy is refreshing and inspiring. It is wonderful to see you fighting for your rights as a muslim woman, while also fighting back stereotypes about muslim women, "All the positive ions flowing in the atmosphere work to bring us all together" was a particularly delicious anecdote.
I would love to learn more about your activist experiences in Australia and your experience learning history in Australia - what is accurately depicted in children's classrooms and what is hidden away?
I particularly connected with the picture of Ramadaan dinner as it reminded me of going to dinners hosted by my synagogue when I was younger - how religion is not only about devotion to a higher power, but equally about giving help to people in need and coming together as a community.
I look forward to reading more of your words.
All the Best,
Thanks....I'm not in a good 'time 'space, also finger typing on my phone. However, I do want to say that primary schools now offer between token lessons and a meaningful week long experience about indigenous culture- the truth of Australia history. They still often miss the Islamic influence from the Malaccan Straits fisherpeople who traded and sailed with various first peoples. Ofcourse and loved, intermarried took the good of each others faiths ....both so connected with the spirit, the creation, nature
Thank you for sharing these lovely photos! It's so wonderful to learn about the things you do to create safe spaces and make the world a better place. I look forward to reading more about your future endeavours!