Salaam, peace, R & B Yogis, Beloveds, lovers, believers, seekers and those that question. I, like many of you, am absolutely devastated by the crimes of humanity being committed against the people of occupied P@lestine by the Iz r a hell i government. I've been crying every day since the most recent carnage began. Although, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the Holy Land (that of the three Abrahamic religions) has been going on for 75 years. I am unbelievably sad. And angry. I feel despair. Guilt. Helplessness and basically feel paralyzed. I try to fight my way out of depression as I have for the majority of my life.
As I was walking the other day, I asked myself why does this "conflict" feel different than any of the other battles I have engaged in. Probably because every battle I have signed up for, whether it was in a Capoeira jogo (game) or spiritual warfare, I had a deep knowing that victory was mine. Also my faith was unshakeable. But when one puts ones efforts whether they are boycotting, divesting and sanctioning Iz ra hell, or showing solidarity through wearing a kufiyeh, or praying for Gaza, or spreading knowledge about the genocide through posting and sharing on social media, it seems like they are futile against the gargantuan imperialist, colonial war machine backed by Amerikkka's deep pockets.
But then I remembered, my greatest battles in life were won solely on prayer. And I am reminded of the power of Islam every time I witness the grace the Palestinian people exhibit every time tragedy befalls them and they cry out, "Allahamdulilah! All Praise to Allah!"
There are 99 Beautiful Names of Allah. There are 99 Divine attributes mentioned in the Quran. There is only one God (La Ilhah il Allah) with 99 different essences. When they are invoked, we call upon that attribute and become that essence. It is the same premise as mantra and meditation. Just a different language and religion.
The one we will "remember" through Dzikr, is AL MUNTAQUIM. Which means The Avenger.
We will say: YA MUNTAQUIM which means Oh Avenger. 1,000 times. Which takes a little more than a half hour.
We will gather online through Zoom on the first new moon of 2024, January 11th at 8- 9pm EST. We will have time to share information and ask questions afterwards.
One of the best pieces of wisdom I have ever received was from my Sheik in Bahia when I was in the depths of despair after my husband was murdered. I was very sad and angry. Very similar to how I am feeling now. He said:
Let Allah fight your battles.
I did. And I was able to complete the hardest task I have ever had to see through in life. Let's trust Allah's plan for Palestine, the Palestinian diaspora, the Middle East, the world and ourselves. Lets focus on what is within our ability to do rather than focus on the evil that is escalating and will always be here until it is not. Lets continue to boycott, divest and sanction Iz ra Hell. Lets share actions that are taking place in our cities and throughout the world. Lets wear kufiyehs in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Lets discuss over coffee and at our dinner tables what we are doing to make positive change in our lives and the world. Lets spend our blood dollars at business that are on the right side of history. We have more power than we realize. Let's remember and be comforted by that power. That power is Allah.
- mama luz
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