Palestine Dreams
A poem-become Haiku honouring Gaza's Karate Champion Nagham Abu Samra—another Olympic Flame Extinguished by Israel
Their intention is to extinguish God’s Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But God will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).
— Quran 61:8 (A. Yusuf Ali trans.)
Just a few days ago I came across a reference to one of the many victims of Israel’s crimes against humanity. Nagham Abu Samra fell in love with Karate as a child. Her passion for this Japanese art, her hard work, and her father’s support, led her to become one of Palestine’s most celebrated athletes. She dreamed of representing her country at the olympics. And she would have done so, if it were not for Israel.
On December 17, Israel bombed Nagham's home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing her sister Razan instantly. Young Nagham was shot in the head, slipped into a coma, and had to have her leg amputated…1
As she struggled for her life in a hospital being targeted by Israeli soldiers, her father and others tried desperately to have her evacuated to Egypt for emergency medical treatment. She eventually passed away on January 12th, 2024. Nagham was twenty-four years old, and in the prime of her life, when Israel killed her.
As I reflected on the meaning of her life—a Gazan child who fell in love with a Japanese martial art form, and dreamed of becoming an olympic champion, confronted by a demonic enemy bent on extinguishing every aspiration, every hope, every joy in her life and the lives of young Palestinian men and women like her; I took up my pen to write. As I wrote, my words formed a poem that sought to honour her life; and the words insisted, in the end, on expressing themselves—like Nagham—through a Japanese art form.
Dreams in a Withered Field
by Munawar Ali Karim
Rest in Peace Nagham Abu Samra. Your precious spirit joins the green birds of Paradise, soaring above heavenly gardens beneath which rivers flow. Our broken hearts await alone in the dark for daybreak And the vanquishing of Demons. ... Your life was like your name—a sweet song (‘nagham’) Expressed in ‘kata’ (型) And ‘himma’ (هِمَّة) And ‘hubb’(حب) ... Our souls Are left behind in your absence —like Basho on a withered field: ... Your fight is our fight dreams on a barren landscape (夢は枯野を* ) And so we go on (かけ廻る**) ... Israel breathes out fire Huffs and puffs to blow out Light In Gaza, the season of stars
Reading Notes
*yu me wa kareno wo (“dreams in a barren landscape”)
**kakemeguru (“running around/rushing about”)
[these lines are from Basho’s famous haiku on death]
Books
You might also enjoy reading my books:
Liberty’s Jihad: African Muslim Slaves and the Meaning of America