Christchurch: On Pain, Healing and Hope.
It’s been a while. Over three months actually, since I wrote my last blog post. It’s not that I’m lazy and don’t want to write or share content. Trust me I do. I’ve been writing a lot in my journal. It’s just that I’ve been healing. I felt like it wouldn’t be right for me to blog anything without talking about Christchurch first. I still find it hard to find the right words. To express the pain, the healing and the hope. And I don’t think I ever will.
It still hurts. And whenever I pass the mosque, I still can’t help but shed a tear or two. The mosque is a place where I love to go. I’m not overly religious but I have been frequent and I had always felt safe and at peace when I’m there. It shocked me to know that the person who committed such a horrible act was lurking around my local mosque just weeks before the attack as I would normally be alone when I pray. To this day, it gives me goose bumps to think that I was praying alone at the mosque just after the attack as I didn’t know and New Zealand was then on high alert.
Although it was very much appreciated that the police were to guard all the mosques in New Zealand, it made me uncomfortable to see them with their guns at hand. For over a month, it was a constant reminder that the place that I loved going to, had a risk of no longer being safe. But the flowers, posters and gifts placed next to the mosque also reminded me that there is still hope and the love of others.
And the love that poured from all over New Zealand and even the rest of the world was truly healing. I’ve never seen anything like it before but it was such a beautiful thing to experience. People from different backgrounds, colour, faiths and race came together and they united as one. And I hope that we continue healing together because there is still a long way to go.
Nonetheless, there is so much good that came out of it rather than bad, alhamdulillah. Along with healing we also need to do some work within our communities, society and within ourselves. We need to start conversations about racism and call out wrong doing. We need to instil universal morals and values with our children such as respect and love. We need to reach out and make the minorities feel welcome and safe. And we need to question ourselves if our intentions are good and if we also need to seek more knowledge to understand.
To conclude, here is a poem in which I had wrote and recited for a show ‘This is Who We Are’ to raise money for the victims of Christchurch. I’ve also included the captions in which I had wrote on my Instagram to further express on how I felt and still feel. I wish I could say more or do more. But I really don’t know what to say and I don’t know if what I can do myself will ever be enough. I just really pray for the victims and the families of the victims and that we all continue to heal and learn and grow together. I really pray for a better understanding and loving future for or children and that God has made this a light to guide us. But I do believe that if we all do our part, we can collectively make a difference. Because change really does begins with you.
Welcome to Al Noor
“Hello brother”,
Welcome to Al Noor- The Light,
In which darkness will never prevail.
We have been waiting earnestly for this day,
To meet with our Lord.
How blessed are We to have been chosen
On a blessed day, a blessed state and in a blessed place?
And with Allah’s blessing He said “Be and it is”:
Fifty martyrs are beloved by God immensely
That they are honoured to Be loved
By the rest of mankind.
Humanity mourns for them, for they, for us.
Even the rain and autumn nights,
But there is a silver lining
And the warmth from each hug of strangers and neighbours,
Of children and loved ones,
Of white, black and red.
In which there is but one single eye of the needle.
And it is through understanding that it can thread us together.
Understanding is a powerful thing.
It can mend hearts.
It can bring peace.
And it can change the world.
With every beautiful sunrise and sunset since,
Each day we understand more and more,
Each day our differences becomes smaller and smaller.
And now the full moon is marvelled
By us.
Allahu akbar. God is most great.
Now the smell of blood has blossomed into flowers,
Each laid gently and watered by tears,
As we silently pray for them to rest in peace-
Salaam,
Peace and blessings be upon you all.
We embrace in the divine notion of Us,
In this moment,
We share what it means to be human.
And it illuminates the whole world
As we come together as One in solidarity-
Hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands
Flamed with our candles and our broken hearts;
Lighting up the darkness with love and compassion.
United. United. United.
As one. As one. As one.
Not just for
Today.
Tonight.
Or Tomorrow.
But for every day…
InsyaAllah-
With God’s will.
