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3-2-whump · 4 days ago

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Khaled’s Backstory, Part 1: The Way Things Were

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This backstory begins approximately two years (maybe give or take a few months) before the Eternal story actually begins. Thanks goes out once again to my amazing beta readers @whumped-by-glitter and @generic-whumperz

TW/CW: none, I think, but please let me know if I missed any.

Language Note: The Urdu and Dari words I used were learned through reading multiple language-learning blogs, culture blogs, Reddit, and of course, the ol' reliable Google Translate. If I misrepresented any of the expressions (which is extremely likely) please let me know as civilly as possible, because I'd rather know than not know.

“A 32% in Urdu, a 29% in Social Studies, and a 25% in English?” a muffled voice sounded through the thick apartment door. The latch to the door clicked open and the door knob turned as a pair of four-year-old identical twins rushed through the meager opening. A ten-year-old girl soon followed them into the apartment, with her twelve-year-old brother right behind as he kicked off his shoes at the entrance. Their eldest brother, the thirteen-year-old, was still detained by their disappointed parents.

“But, I passed Math, and Science, and Islamic Studies-” the boy defended.

“Barely!” his father snorted. “How did you fail Urdu, of all things? The language you speak every damn day?!”

“Ammi, come on,” he whined, trying to gain sympathy from his mother, “don’t you remember the part where Mr. Khan said I was ‘the friendliest, most outgoing boy in the class’?”

“School is not a social club, Khaled!” A crashing sound outside their living room redirected her attention. “Haye Allah, that cat is back,” she sighed then marched quickly to the door that led to their balcony. The stray that knocked over her plants merely blinked at her as Khaled’s mum gave it a scolding to match the intensity of the one he received on the way home.

That left the rest of the tongue-lashing to Khaled’s dad. “You are the eldest brother, beta; you’re supposed to be setting an example for your siblings! What kind of example are you setting for them if you struggle to pass your classes?”

“An example they can easily exceed?” The flat glare from underneath his father’s bushy eyebrows made Khaled backtrack from his wise remark. “But Abba,” he tried, “You never had to learn this stuff and you turned out alright, didn’t you? You got a job that provides-”

“I ‘turned out’ alright?” Abba interrupted, voice raising on the precipice of his signature lecture. “I got ‘turned out’ of my home and my country, along with the rest of my family, because the beghairat koskhol Russians razed our farm to the ground!”

Ammi poked her head back in from where she was sweeping up potting soil and ceramic shards. “Abdul! What did I tell you about swearing in front of the kids?!”

“Zainab, they don’t understand me, it’s fine!” Dad yelled back.

Yes, we do, Khaled thought. Most of what he knew of his father’s language was nearly entirely expletives. He listened through the rest of his father’s lecture before accepting his punishment with all the dignity a thirteen-year-old could summon. Grounded for two weeks, no football with his friends, only study and sleep? Harsh, but it could be worse, Khaled reasoned.

“Bhai! Bhai!” the twins squealed at him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked down to see his little sisters Besma and Zara tugging at his shirt. “Come play with us!”

“They want to play newscaster, and they insist on having an anchorman,” Ayesha said with a smile. She was the third sister, and the middle child of the family.

“Well, what about Yusuf?” Khaled asked, referring to his little brother and the second eldest child. “You heard Abba, I need to study!”

“I’m the weather man, obviously,” Yusuf announced.

“He can’t be the anchor man and the weather man!” Zara said.

“Come on, bhai,” Ayesha coaxed him, steering him towards the living room/impromptu play area. “Your grades aren’t going to get any worse if you miss one study night!”

“Well…fair enough,” Khaled laughed.

After dinner, Khaled hung around outside the apartment building, watching his dad fix up the old motorcycle and occasionally handing him the tools he’d need.

“I’m sorry about my grades, Abba,” he muttered.

“I know, beta.” His father reached out a hand behind him, holding a wrench out to Khaled. Khaled wordlessly took it and put it back with the other instruments in the tool kit.

“I’ll try harder, I promise,” he vowed.

“You do that.” Abba unfurled from his crouching position in front of the motorcycle and sighed, a contented little smile on his face as he wiped his brow. “Now, do you want to take this thing out for a test ride? Make sure I fixed it up properly?” he suggested.

Khaled raised a skeptical brow up at him. “But Abba, you and Ammi said I’m grounded, remember?”

“Yeah, but as the man of the house, I unground you, just for tonight, okay?” He swung his leg over the seat of the motorcycle and kicked up the kickstand. “Come on,” he said invitingly, patting the seat behind him.

Khaled beamed ear to ear as he climbed up onto the motorcycle and held onto his father’s waist. He buried his face in the man’s broad back and melted into the smell of sweat, motor oil, and cologne. The motorcycle started up, revving to life under Abba’s hands. He couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled out of him as they peeled out into the street.

They whizzed down the fluorescent city streets, glowing every color of the rainbow under the dark velvet of the moonless sky. Khaled waved to drivers and fellow motorcyclists as his dad weaved in and out and around and through them.

They eventually ended up at their usual destination for late-night father-son outings: at Port Grand, sitting on a bench looking out at the waters, each one with a skewered kebab in hand. The shadows of cranes loomed over the horizon, marking the dock yard where Khaled’s father worked during the day. But at night, the port –no, the world –was theirs.

“What if I can’t do it?” Khaled asked.

Abba had just polished off his kebab, and now had a mouthful of meat to chew. Khaled looked down at his own bare wooden skewer and began fidgeting with it. “I mean, what if I still fail next term?” he elaborated. “I am trying, really, but what comes easily to Tariq or Muhammad or Imran does not come easily to me. What if I end up failing no matter how hard I try? Then what’s the point?” he asked.

That monologue gave his dad enough time to chew and swallow his mouthful. He wiped the grease from his lips and his beard with the back of his hand, then collected Khaled’s empty stick from his hands. “Khaled, you can do so much more than you think you can,” he started. Sincere, deep, dark brown eyes met the boy’s own. “You are my son, and we Bakhsh men are tough, yeah? You can do it, and you will do it, because Bakhsh men always do it.”

The way he said it so confidently and certainly, like he believed in him, made Khaled want to believe in himself too. “Yeah,” he murmured, smiling warmly.

Abba mirrored the smile back as he rose from the bench. “Now, don’t tell Ammi we went out for these, or she’ll have my ass,” he said, waving the kebab sticks around before he threw them away.

Khaled giggled, but gave his dad the thumbs up. Their father-son time would stay between themselves, just like Abba’s father-son time with Yusuf last week, or his father-daughter time with Ayesha the week before. As they rode back home and returned to the apartment at far too late at night, Khaled never realized that this would be the last father-son time he’d have.

Le Tag List: @kabie-whump @rainydaywhump @whumped-by-glitter @skittles-the-whumpee @generic-whumperz @bamber344 @there-will-always-be-blood @morning-star-whump @a-la-whump @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees @defire @phoenixpromptsandstuff @scumashling

#whump writing #my ocs <3 #oc backstory #nice normal childhood you got there #be a shame if something were to happen to it #leaving off on a semi-supsnseful ending

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yourimagines · 11 months ago

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hii could you do like a fluff alphabet for khabib and islam please? <33

Yesss

What they adore about you

* English is not my first language I apologise

* Triggers: fluff

Khabib

A = Admiration, what he absolutely adore about you: Your face when it lights up when you talk about the things that makes you happy, he loves to see that twinkle in your eyes.

B = Body, what is his favorite part of your body: you’re beautiful eyes, they tell everything about you. How you feel, what you’re thinking about. He loves to get lost in them.

C = Cuddling, how he likes to cuddle: You laying on his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around you, his head laying on top of yours so he can plant a kiss or two.

D = Dates, what his ideal date with you would look like: When it’s raining he loves to cook something together at home. When the weather is good enough he loves to take you out on a picnic date, enjoy the basics of life.

E = Emotions, how he express his emotions around you: He controls them very well, you saw him only once being very angry and it wasn’t at you. He’s an open person to you but he would never lash out on you, he saves that for his students at the gym.

F = Family, does he want one? If he does, when: Yes he wants a family, a big one and he wants it right after he retired, he’s more at home now and has more time to be a father.

G = Gifts, how he feels about gift giving? What is his habit when it comes to this: he loves to give you flowers or something you really need, he doesn’t like to give stuff just to give you stuff, it needs to have a reason behind it. He gives you every Friday flowers, every time different once.

H = Holding Hands, when/how he likes to hold hands: He likes to hold your small hand in his, in twined. He holds your hand when you go to a busy location because he doesn’t want you to get lost or when he feels like you want some affection from him when you’re in public.

I = Injury, how he would act if you got hurt: he tries to be calm to have a clear mind so he can think clearly but if he sees you’re okay he would lose his temper a bit to find out what happened and who did it to you. If you’re just being clumsy he would give you a lecture about being more careful for the next time.

J = Jokes, does he likes to joke around with or prank you and how: he likes to joke around, like making you say funny things in his language or something like that but doesn’t like to fool your feelings, he would never disrespect or hurt your feelings with a joke or prank

K = Kisses, how he likes to kiss you: he likes to kiss the top of your head, especially when you guys are cuddling.

L = Love, how he shows you he loves you: He’s always there for you, he always picks up his phone if you call him, he brings you every Friday flowers, makes time for you when you need him or brings the stuff you need from the store without you asking him.

M = Memory, favourite memory together: Marrying each other, the whole day was perfect and you guys even felt more in love with each other.

N = Nightmare, what is his worst fear: losing you, he’s afraid that one day you are gone and he has to live his life alone , without you next to him.

O = Oddity, what is one quirk he haves: His English accent. He tries to improve his English language but it’s difficult for him.

P = Pet Names, what he likes to call you: My love. You’re his love so he calls you a lot my love.

Q = Quality Time, how he likes to spend time with you: At home, cooking or gardening together. Nothing to crazy he likes a calm private life with you.

R = Rhythm, what song reminds you of him: his walkout song ‘The Eagle's song 'Stream Дагестан Сабина Саидова’ because he doesn’t really listen to music anymore.

S = Secrets, how open is he with you: He tells you everything, you’re his muse and he’s yours. He trusts you with his life. He thinks it also important to share these things with each other, it keeps the relationship healthy.

T = Time, how long did it take you to get together: 5 months because he didn’t want to scare you off because he’s a fighter and his English wasn’t the best at that time.

U = Upset, how does he acts when you’re upset: Calm, listens to you and gives you the room to let all your emotions out, he’s there for you and will make it better.

V = Vaunt, what is he proud of, Does he likes to show you off: He’s proud of you moving in with him, in Abu Dhabi and in Dagestan and he likes to remind people that.

W = Warrior, how would he feel about you fighting? Would he fight for you: he doesn’t like to see you hurt but he teaches you some self defence. He always has your back and will fight for you.

X = X-Ray, how well can he read you: He knows when something is bothering you, he knows what you want and he can tell in what mood you are.

Y = Yes, how would he propose to you: On your dream trip, he plans it all out, beautiful ring and goes on one knee.

Z = Zen, what makes him feel calm: you by his side, especially at night. He likes to hold you at night, he sleeps better when you are there. But a good intense training at the gym makes him calm down too if he’s angry.

Islam

A = Admiration, what does he absolutely adore about you: you’re patience you have with him, he’s an handful sometimes but also the passion you have for your hobbies.

B = Body, what is his favorite part of your body: you’re hands, they are smaller and softer than his hands. His hands are bigger and rougher, your hands perfectly fits in his as they where made for each other.

C = Cuddling, how he likes to cuddle: Spooning, holding you from behind. His head nuzzled in the crook of your neck, placing soft kisses on your shoulders.

D = Dates, what his ideal date with you look like: Going to a restaurant for some dinner after that going for a midnight drive in his car and end the date with watching the stars together.

E = Emotions, how he express his emotions around you: He’s trying his best but sometimes he hides his sadness from you, he doesn’t want you to think he’s a crybaby or not strong enough for you.

F = Family ,does he want one, If he does when: yes he wants a family but not now, he’s very busy with his career but he’s secretly thinking about it so who knows.

G = Gifts, how he feels about gift giving? What is his habit when it comes to this: he spoils you, a little bit to much tho. If you say oh that’s cute, the next day you have it. He’s loves to buy stuff for you.

H = Holding Hands, when/how he likes to hold hands: he holds hands with you all the time, he loves to touch you and holding hands is the most appropriate thing he can do in public.

I = Injury, how would he act if you got hurt: he’s angry at himself that you got hurt, he’s also freaking out a bit.

J = Jokes, does he likes to joke around with or prank you and how: he’s a prankster, he loves a good joke. He pulls these small pranks on you, swap stuff in the kitchen with weird things, jump scaring you and telling lame jokes from the internet. His pranks are innocent and he always makes sure you’re okay.

K = Kisses, how do he likes to kiss you: your sweet lips, he just loves them.

L = Love, how he shows you he love you: giving you gifts, calling or texting you on a daily basis and making love to you.

M = Memory, favourite memory together: meeting you for the first time, his English was bad and you thought he was a funny guy, you were also a bit shy.

N = Nightmare, what is his worst fear: That someone hurts you and he isn’t there to protect you. He’s afraid of not being good enough for you.

O = Oddity, what is one quirk he haves: he’s a silly guy, a real joker.

P = Pet Names, what does he likes to call you: baby or babe, he learned it from some chick flick movies and it got stuck with him.

Q = Quality Time, how he likes to spend time with you: Doing things you like to do, watching movies, going out for some lunch, doing some shopping, just everything that would put a smile on your face.

R = Rhythm, what song reminds you of him: the song you guys sung together for the first time in his car ‘Something just like this, Coldplay.’ he barely knew the words but tried it for you.

S = Secrets, how open is he with you: He tells you a lot but not everything, he thinks some things are not meant to be shared like his troubles or sadness. A man needs to be strong for his partner and can’t not show weakness. He rarely opens up about his feelings, he likes to deal with it on his own.

T = Time, how long did it take you to get together: 3 months, he took you on a few dates till he had the courage to ask you if you wanted to be with him. His English was very bad but you already felt for him.

U = Upset, how does he act when you’re upset: he leaves you alone at first, to give you some space to think. He always comes back to you and tries to find out why you’re upset and making it up to you.

V = Vaunt, what is he proud of, Does he likes to show you off: That you’re his girl, who tries to understand his culture and ways of living. He loves you’re trying to speak his mother language and proudly helps you out.

W = Warrior, how would he feel about you fighting, Would he fight for you: he doesn’t like it at all, no fighting for you if you have him. He’s always ready to fight others to protect you.

X = X-Ray, how well can he read you: He isn’t the best in reading you but when he knows he immediately acts on it. Trying to make you feel better or trying to calm you down. He’s trying and that’s what counts.

Y = Yes, how would he propose to you: He would propose you back at his home in Dagestan. Asking if you want to be his wife and move in with him. He buys you a expensive ring to show you how much you means to him.

Z = Zen, what makes him feel calm: You’re touch, you’re hands on his chest or on his back, just you’re touch makes him calm and at peace. You’re hands caressing and scratching his back makes him fall asleep very quickly, he loves that.

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maryjanewagner · 4 months ago

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My Time in New Haven / Yale

I want to make it clear that I did not officially study at Yale and my time there wasn't due to my academic achievements. Instead, I was fortunate to spend three months in New Haven because my best friend is a fellow at Yale.

Back in September of last year, I was juggling numerous responsibilities in New Haven. I was pet-sitting, occasionally babysitting, and sometimes house-sitting. I was also interning at a local refugee resettlement NGO called IRIS, which does fantastic work. Additionally, I attended lectures whenever I could. I simply asked the professors if I could join their classes; some declined, but others were happy to have me. I never missed a class with Frank Griffel on Islamic Law and thoroughly enjoyed participating in Elisabeth Wood's seminar on Contesting Injustice.

September in New Haven was hot, but I was fortunate enough to witness the leaves change colors throughout the month. I quickly found my favorite hangouts: G-Café, Atticus, but especially Book Trader. I even managed to get myself a bicycle for commuting between Wooster Square and East Rock, thanks to a post on Reddit. However, one month was far too short to fully enjoy everything. I knew I had to return soon, especially to see my closest friend again.

In the law lounge / The delicious baked goods at Book Trader / Woolsey Hall in Schwarzman Center

My winter was lonely, with little progress at university and nothing really keeping me at home. So, I decided to head back to the U.S. again. Flights were incredibly cheap—I paid just 150 Euros for a direct flight from Berlin to JFK. Since I was subletting my dorm room and didn't have to pay rent in New Haven, staying with my friend this time instead of a host family, I would actually save money by being in the U.S. rather than staying here.

a lovely New English house / The view from Common Grounds / The path next to the Grove Street Cementary

In February, New Haven greeted me with a blizzard, the likes of which I hadn’t seen in years. Determined to make this stay productive, I approached it as a form of self-care and a luxury retreat, even though my accommodation was far from luxurious. I stayed in my friend's law school dorm, sleeping on his carpet after the air mattress his suite mate kindly provided turned out to be broken. Adaptable as ever, I had no trouble making do with the floor.

I depended on my friend to access buildings since I needed his ID or had to sneak in. Still, I aimed to be as independent and busy as possible. I managed to get a bicycle again, this time a racing bike loaned to me by a generous neurology researcher. With newfound mobility, I quickly started exploring the city and surrounding areas. I rode 20 miles on the New Haven Northampton Canal Greenway until the snowy path made further progress impossible.

Attending lectures became a significant part of my routine. I registered for several classes, but the ones I frequently attended were "Politics Without Politicians" with Helene Landemore and "Capitalism as Religion" with Paul North. I also made a point to attend every intriguing talk I could. The most memorable was a European Studies Council talk hosted by Seyla Benhabib, featuring Hans Kundnani and Dmitry Kochenov. Before leaving for Germany, I bought Kochenov's "Citizenship" from Barnes & Noble and spontaneously emailed him to request a signature, which he kindly agreed to. We even exchanged some friendly emails after I returned home. That was such a wonderful experience!

During this stay, I managed to develop a daily routine. I would ride my bicycle, visit dining halls for lunch or dinner, attend lectures, or spend time at Book Trader. Through dating apps, I met some new people, one of whom invited me to Mory's, the legendary club and restaurant. Soon after, I met a guy who is now my boyfriend. Our first date was during my second week, and as the weeks passed, we met more frequently. Together, we explored new bars and pubs, and now I can confidently say I know all the good ones in town. My favorite is The Owl on College Street, a cigar lounge with live jazz music every evening. The band that performs on Wednesday nights is my absolute favorite. I feel very nostalgic thinking about those cold nights, sipping wine in that smoky bar—the smoke having a pleasant, almost vanilla-like aroma.

In a study lounge of a college / watching my favourite jazz band / the smokey lounge

During my stay, I grew attached to New Haven. Though at times I felt out of place—having no official residence, no key to a personal door, and no courses I was officially enrolled in—it was still the only foreign city where I had spent a significant amount of time. New Haven is far from perfect. The city grapples with high levels of crime and homelessness, starkly evident despite being home to a prestigious private university, or perhaps partly because of it. Sirens were a constant background noise, and one night I stumbled upon a crime scene where a shooting had just occurred. On another occasion, I called the police about boys breaking into a car in Wooster Square, only to find they didn’t seem to care.

It would be wrong to idealize New Haven; its imperfections and dangers remind me a lot of my hometown in Germany. Locals often say not to venture past the Popeyes on State Street, as the area becomes increasingly unsafe. Despite this, I spent a week dog-sitting in Beaver Hills and crossed that street several times a day. The change in the neighborhood's atmosphere is indeed stark, but it's possible to fit in if you don’t act overly conspicuous.

However, I miss New Haven deeply. I feel a profound melancholy for the various parts of the city. Wooster Square, where I sampled all the famous American pizzas; East Rock, where I interned, enjoyed walks, and eventually visited my boyfriend; Baker Hall, with its distinct clean, homey, and warm scent, and classrooms where I spent nights reading, writing, or having dinner with my friend; and Beaver Hills, with its grand houses and the adorable greyhound Mango that I cared for.

I am endlessly happy knowing I will return to New Haven sooner or later, especially since my boyfriend's mother lives there. Additionally, my friend recently found a room in a shared flat in Cambridge, Boston, so I hope to explore that area soon as well. To wrap this up, here are some pictures from my stay:

Bathroom Selfie / Mango, the bike and me in front of law school / Me in my friend's office in law school, assisting him from time to time

Me in the law library

#academia #student life #diary #journal #studyblr #places #dark academia

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cairamelcoffee · 1 year ago

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I am Dr. Rafat al-Araeer, 44 years old.

I'm an academic and lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza, teaching foreign poetry and English literature.

I've participated in writing novels and books about the challenges of life in Gaza under Israeli blockade. I've been very active in exposing Israeli crimes on social media.

I always used to say: "When we write about martyrs, it must be known that the Israeli occupation killed them. We must not leave the perpetrator unknown."

The last thing I said was: "The situation is very bleak, we don't even have water... I only have my pen, I'll throw it at the occupation soldiers if they invade, even if that's the last thing I do. We have nothing to lose."

My brother was martyred by the Israeli occupation in the 2014 war, and today, I bid you farewell. My family and I are going to paradise next to my brother.

Dr. Rafat was martyred in an assassination carried out by the Israeli occupation. He and his family were martyred today, December 7, 2023.

Martyrs of Gaza

#refaat alareer #free palestine #palestine

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hollowed-theory-hall · 7 months ago

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What would you suggest to read about Alchemy?

Honestly it depends what you want to know. Alchemy is a pretty vast field with some fascinating history, so the books about the history of the field, the philosophy of it or explanations of the actual recipes would be different ones.

Like, I'm no expert, but I read a lot (books and articles). Like, there's a reason the philosopher's stone is called that, Alchemy isn't only the practical application of purifying materials, but also a whole philosophy with many religious elements. There's a reason the motto of alchemists is Ora Et Labora (pray and work), the work being any alchemical process. The process of making the Philosopher's Ston specifically is referred to as "The Great Work" because it's the greatest work an alchemist could accomplish.

There are books about the psychological approach to Alchemy that is common in the modern outlook of Alchemy, but I didn't read any of them (Jung is the most well-known author of this idea). Basically, these books treat Alchemy as a psychological journey for the alchemist, and it was, the older books all mention the alchemists transform with their creations, but they also legitimately discovered elements and minerals and did proper lab work, so treating it as entirely psychological the way some modern scholars do/did kind of undermines Alchemy as the father of modern science that it is.

Also, the books I've read are all about Western Alchemy, since I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to Eastern alchemy. Although, many concepts are similar because everyone kind of copied from each other. Ancient Greek philosophy and the Islamic golden age had a lot to do with European Alchemy that we're familiar with. This is a lecture on YouTube about the history of Alchemy if you're interested.

Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy by Robert Allen Barllet is a good starting point. It's a modern book that covers both the philosophical aspects but also the practical application in lab work; an overall good overview of the field. He includes a lot of experts from medieval and Renaissance alchemical texts and the book is pretty short. I like this one a lot since it treats Alchemy as more than just a psychological journey but an actual art of science. It's also not some new-age witchcraft approach to Alchemy.

With Alchemy you can actually go to the sources as there are plenty of translations available for medieval and Renaissance Alchemy books. I should warn though that these older books are long. Like, some go over the 800 pages mark, so, be aware.

I have an English translation of the Book of Minerals by Albertus Magnus which is a 13th-century book that worked as a basis for many beliefs and philosophies in Alchemy in later periods. It covers philosophy, mineral alchemy, and astronomy (the Harry Potter kind, not the science kind, where you need to do certain Alchemical processes in accordance with certain star positions. Most Alchemy books actually talk about this).

Similarly, there's the Summa Perfectionis Magisterii by Pseudo-Geber, he has more books about Alchemy but this one is a summary that is considered the most in-depth summary of the discipline of Alchemy as understood in the 13th century (it was also written back then).

There is also Paracelsus and his various writings (none published in his lifetime) who was a pioneer in Alchemy in the 16th century. Many of the modern terms associated with Alchemy come from a movement based of Paracelsus' writing that came about after his death. Even Isaac Newton wrote about alchemy. It was the proto-science and it was all the rage among old academics.

Basically, there are plenty of old sources if you're willing to go to them, I didn't mention them all here because there is a lot. It's all really a matter of what specifically you want to learn, but the first book I mentioned, I think is the best starting point. I mean, I'm not close to reading everything I want to read when it comes to Alchemy, there's a lot out there.

#asks #anon asks #anonymous #alchemy #resources

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moneeb0930 · 8 months ago

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“Sonia Sanchez was born Wilsonia Benita Driver in Birmingham, Alabama. After her mother’s death in 1935 she lived with her grandmother. Her grandmother taught her to read at age four and write at age six. When her grandmother passed away in 1943, she moved to Harlem, New York where she stayed with her father Wilson Driver.

Driver attended Hunter College in New York City where she took creative writing courses although she graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in 1955. Continuing her education at New York University, Driver focused on the study of poetry. She also married and divorced Puerto Rican immigrant Albert Sanchez, although she retained his surname. She later married poet Etheridge Knight and together they had three children. They would later divorce.

In 1965 Sanchez taught at San Francisco State University. The course she offered at San Francisco State in 1966 on the literature of African Americans is generally considered the first of its kind taught at a predominately white university.

Sonia Sanchez released her first collection of poetry in 1969 entitled Homecoming. Her poetry was described at experimental and innovative; Sanchez was the first to blend the musical elements of the blues with the haiku and tanka poetry styles. She tackled many genres of literary art such as writing children’s books, and plays. Sanchez is most famous for her Spoken Word poetry books. She was awarded the American Book Award in 1985 for one of her best-known books, Home girls and Hand grenades.

Sanchez was a major influence in the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movements of the 1960s. She was an active member in the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) as well as the Nation of Islam. She was inspired when she met Malcolm X and used his vernacular in some of her poems. She left the Nation of Islam after three years of affiliation in protest of their mistreatment of women. She continues to advocate for the rights of oppressed women and minority groups.

Sanchez has received countless awards for her work including the P.E.N. Writing Award (1969), the National Academy of Arts Award (1978), and the National Education Association Award (1977-1988). She has guest lectured in over 500 colleges and universities. Her poetry has been heard worldwide in Africa, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, China, Cuba, Europe, and Nicaragua. Sanchez’s last faculty appointment was at Temple University in Philadelphia where she was the first Presidential Fellow at that institution and the first to hold the Laura Carnell Chair. Sanchez taught courses in English and Women’s Studies until her retirement in 1999.”

Ms. Sanchez now resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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a-journey-to-true-self · 7 months ago

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Unveiling the Puzzle: Understanding Islam in Today's World

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studentaishah · 1 year ago

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Islamic book recommendations - Kitab at Tauhid

An excellent book to understand true meaning of monotheism, and understanding that nothing is to be worshiped except Allah swt. This book consists of proofs and explanation of what monotheism is and what it isn't.

I highly recommend studying it with an Ulamah/Ustaad, for you to fully understand and grasp the messages of this book. There are many lecture series on YouTube (in English and other languages) which are really helpful!

I purchased this from Darussalam books 📚

#Islam #booker #salafiyyah #alimah #book reccomendation #kitabattawheed #tawheed #aqeedah #muslim #kitab at tauhid

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notetaeker · 1 year ago

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Assalamualaikum, hope you are doing well. A fellow muslimah here, I want to start understanding Quran in depth, know and understand it's word to word meaning like Quran journaling. I do listen to online tafseers of Sheikhs but I want to know it myself. I have seen your journals pics about the same. If you don't mind, can you please tell how you do Quran journaling. Like the steps or guides as to how to collect all those tafseers and organise them. Please tell us about the resources too. Books,YT etc you reach out to make those journals.

Please sister, help us in connecting with the Quran. May Allah SWT bless you.

Jazakallah khair

Wa alykum assalam! I hope you're well too! That's so nice to hear that you're interested in Qur'an journaling alhamdulillah it's such a beautiful intention and I pray Allah will put barakah in your efforts.

SOURCES:

I think most of my posts about tafsir are either from my own studies (using translations of Tafsir ibn Kathir, or from Towards Understanding the Qur'an). I personally use those two because they are the ones I'm most familiar with, those are the ones I physically have in my home, and because they usually include all the opinions of scholars about the meanings of things. Like for example if there was ever any discourse about if a surah was makki or madani then they go into who said what and what their evidences were etc. So they're definitely very comprehensive.

I do also often take notes from tafsir classes I'm attending as part of the Miftaah Online program (this semester's tafsir class is for Surah Nur). These are usually done by scholars who have studied in the islamic world and are directly teaching (in english) from the arabic tafsir books.

As for youtube videos/lectures, there's a variety of scholars but I would encourage you to look up the speakers credentials, and what tafsir book they're using as a source etc.

NOTE-TAKING FORMAT

Since I'm in a sisters halaqah group (which i strongly recommend joining if you can find one) many times I'm taking notes with the intention of being able to explain the surah from my notes (which helps when trying to decide what I should write down and what I leave out)

I follow the same format that's found in Towards Understanding the Qur'an which is:

Naming of the Surah - what does it mean? Where does it come from? What is the etymology of the word?

Place / Circumstance of Revelation / Historical Context - Is it makki or madani? Were any parts of the surah/ the whole surah revealed in response to a specific event? What the situation when the surah was revealed? What was the culture, situation etc.

Bigger themes and subject-matter - What does the surah talk about? which ayahs focus on what topic? If you're interested in just the meaning of the qur'an, I would definitely recommend The Clear Qur'an translation by Dr. Mustafa Khattab. It's also divided very nicely into themes and the language is very clear (lol)

Ayah by Ayah explanation - detailed information about each ayah (one of the most interesting parts to me to be honest. The arabic language is so rich with meaning and connotation so even small ayahs have multiple layers of meaning) - This section can be extremeeeely long lol - depends on how many ayahs you want to study at a time - I also use this section to write the meanings of any arabic words I want to remember the meanings of (especially for short surahs)

Personal lessons/Reflections (Considered tadabbur - NOT tafsir) - how do I myself relate to these ayahs? Does an ayah remind me of something? What lesson do I get out of it? How can I possibly apply this ayah to my own life?

Dua - I mean you don't have to write it but it's nice to always make dua that the knowledge you wrote will be useful to you and that Allah gives us the tawfiq to benefit from it and protect us from this knowledge testifying against us.

Inshallah I hope I was able to be of some help! I'm no expert in the matter, just another student of the qur'an just like you, just sharing my experience. May Allah bless you sister for your desire to connect more with the Qur'an. I make dua that Allah makes all of us companions of the Qur'an so that we can be comforted thru it in this dunya, in the grave, and on the day of judgement. May Allah guide us and grant the correct understanding. Ameen.

#🌙#replies #anon #Feel free to ask any questions about anything I wrote #part of my duties at the halaqah group is explaining to new members how to write up tafsir notes lol #always happy to do it

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readyforevolution · 2 years ago

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Sonia Sanchez was born Wilsonia Benita Driver in Birmingham, Alabama. After her mother’s death in 1935 she lived with her grandmother. Her grandmother taught her to read at age four and write at age six. When her grandmother passed away in 1943 she moved to Harlem, New York where she stayed with her father Wilson Driver.

Ms. Sanchez now resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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