Author: WhispersofAqsa

Dear Mr. Will,Hello! My name is Aqsa Rahmani. I am in the 4th grade now in America. I want to say a big thank you to you!Before I came here, I did not speak English. Now, I am learning so much! Sometimes I even help my dad speak better English. He laughs when I correct him.I have a big dream now! I want to be the first Afghan-American girl to go to space. I want to be an astronaut. I did not think about this dream before because it was so hard for girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban are very…

ProlongIn the heart of Whispers of Aqsa, a blog inspired by the rich history and profound significance of Masjid al-Aqsa or Jerusalem, lies a simple yet powerful belief. Named after this sacred place and Aqs’a name, Whispers of Aqsa aims to bridge the gaps between the followers of Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, stories that foster understanding and unity have never been more crucial. Whispers of Aqsa believes that sharing personal tales of friendship, struggle, and growth can light the way to peace. We hope to weave a tapestry of empathy…

As promised last week, here we are with Sara’s story. Sara, my best friend. It’s a story about friendship, dreams, and holding onto hope, even when things seem tough.Back in Afghanistan, Sara was more than just a friend to me; she was like my adventure buddy. With her brown eyes and dark brown hair, she was more like a tomboy than a girly girl, and that’s what I liked about her. We lived next door to each other, and she was the only person I really talked to because I’m kinda shy. Sara always pushed me to try new things,…

Shekerbura, pakhlava, qoqal, semeni decorated tableNowruz is this super cool day that my family and I celebrate every year, and it’s like a giant birthday party for the whole world! It’s the start of the new year for people in lots of places like Iran, Afghanistan, and even far away spots like the Black Sea and the Balkans. Imagine a day where people from all around, even places you’ve never heard of, are partying at the same time on March 20th. It’s special because it’s the first day of spring when the sun shines equally on both halves of the…

Hey everyone! You know how in America there’s Christmas? Well, us Muslims have something super cool too, it’s called Eid. Guess what? It’s not just one day, but three whole days of fun! On Eid, we go to visit our family and friends. The grown-ups talk and eat lots of food, and us kids? We get to play games with our cousins and friends, either outside or in a different room. And there’s this awesome part where adults give us kids money called “Eidy.” It’s like getting presents, but in cash!For Eid, we all dress up super fancy because it’s…

When I first heard that two National Guard soldiers were shot in Washington, D.C., I felt so many emotions at the same time. I was shocked because something like this is the last thing I would ever expect during Thanksgiving Break. I was scared too, because D.C. is very close to where I live. My family and I go there all the time to play soccer, walk around, and have picnics. Knowing that something so dangerous happened so close to us gave me chills.I was also confused. Why would someone do something like that? What did those two soldiers ever…

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This week, I want to talk about what school was like for me in Afghanistan and how different it is from my school here in America. When I was in school in Afghanistan, we only had one teacher who taught everything: math, English, science, art, and social studies. We didn’t have cool subjects like PE, music, or the library. I don’t remember the exact schedule, but I do remember that we had to bring our own snacks for lunch. Our parents gave us 20 Afghanis, and we would go to the store before school to buy snacks. The snacks were…

I want to tell you about my aunt. I have lots of aunts, but today I’m going to talk about my Aunt Zuhal. Before the fall of Afghanistan, we used to spend time with her and our other relatives. Aunt Zuhal was funny and smart, and she was my favorite aunt! I love all my aunts, but she was special because she always made me feel comfortable. When I was 6 or 7, she taught me to cut onions, wash dishes, and much more. The last time I saw her was the day I left Afghanistan. She helped me take…

Yesterday, I was in New York with my family, having fun at my cousin’s place, playing on the PS5. It was a nice day until my friend Sarah called my mom’s phone from Afghanistan. She had some really sad news. At first, I tried to ignore it and keep playing, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, I went to the computer and started looking it up. The Taliban are getting more and more mean every day. They’ve made a new rule where women can’t even talk in public anymore. Can you believe that? They say that women…