Below is a very beautiful poem written by Auntie Mona Rahman from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the place where I was born.
May Allah SWT open our heart and remind us about our humanity.
DON'T TELL ME
Don't tell me
That the riots in Ferguson
Don't concern or affect me
For my sons are black
Despite the heterogeneity of their make-up
In the United States of America
In Canada
They are Black.
Don't tell me
That the injustices in Iraq
Have no connection to me
For my maternal ancestors
Came to Bangladesh
From Basra
Not that long ago.
And don't even get started about Afghanistan
I've got that covered too
From my ancestors from my father's side.
Those who travelled from one land with the Deen to the new.
Don't tell me that the injustices of ISIS
Don't affect or concern me.
My family contains
Muslims, Christians and Jews
Who love each other as family
While respecting our diversity.
Don't tell me that the injustices in Egypt
Don't concern or affect me
For my Sister I grew up with
The Tant who named me
In our adopted extended family
Came from this land.
My Prophet (saw) taught
That no race is superior
Allah (swt) creates nations and tribes
So that we may know one another
The diversity of our languages
As among His Signs.
My Prophet (saw) taught me
That the Jews and the Christians
Are People of the Book
To be respected
Why else would he have sent the oppressed
To a Christian king
Known for his justice.
Why else would he honour the Jew on his funeral.
For was he not a soul?
And what about his uncle?
Abu Talib
Who cared for him, protected him,
The uncle who lived his life as a mushrik
Unable to let go of the ways of his people
The Prophet (saw) loved and respected,
And never mistreated.
If Allah (swt) had willed
He would have created us as one.
But He didn't.
The differences between us
Should not serve as barriers,
Excuses for hate.
The diversity within us
Should enrich our humanity.
So don't tell me
That the tragedies happening around us
In Gaza, Syria, Iraq
Egypt and the USA
Don't affect or concern me.
For the most important connection
That we have between us:
That we are all descendants
Of Adam (as) and Hawwa
Originated from clay.
Our most important connection
Is the one we've forgotten:
Our Humanity.
May Allah SWT open our heart and remind us about our humanity.
DON'T TELL ME
Don't tell me
That the riots in Ferguson
Don't concern or affect me
For my sons are black
Despite the heterogeneity of their make-up
In the United States of America
In Canada
They are Black.
Don't tell me
That the injustices in Iraq
Have no connection to me
For my maternal ancestors
Came to Bangladesh
From Basra
Not that long ago.
And don't even get started about Afghanistan
I've got that covered too
From my ancestors from my father's side.
Those who travelled from one land with the Deen to the new.
Don't tell me that the injustices of ISIS
Don't affect or concern me.
My family contains
Muslims, Christians and Jews
Who love each other as family
While respecting our diversity.
Don't tell me that the injustices in Egypt
Don't concern or affect me
For my Sister I grew up with
The Tant who named me
In our adopted extended family
Came from this land.
My Prophet (saw) taught
That no race is superior
Allah (swt) creates nations and tribes
So that we may know one another
The diversity of our languages
As among His Signs.
My Prophet (saw) taught me
That the Jews and the Christians
Are People of the Book
To be respected
Why else would he have sent the oppressed
To a Christian king
Known for his justice.
Why else would he honour the Jew on his funeral.
For was he not a soul?
And what about his uncle?
Abu Talib
Who cared for him, protected him,
The uncle who lived his life as a mushrik
Unable to let go of the ways of his people
The Prophet (saw) loved and respected,
And never mistreated.
If Allah (swt) had willed
He would have created us as one.
But He didn't.
The differences between us
Should not serve as barriers,
Excuses for hate.
The diversity within us
Should enrich our humanity.
So don't tell me
That the tragedies happening around us
In Gaza, Syria, Iraq
Egypt and the USA
Don't affect or concern me.
For the most important connection
That we have between us:
That we are all descendants
Of Adam (as) and Hawwa
Originated from clay.
Our most important connection
Is the one we've forgotten:
Our Humanity.
