Author: WhispersofAqsa

Eid Mubarak Eid al-Adha in America is both fun and strange for me. Here, we go to the mosque, and men and women pray together. In Afghanistan, women aren’t allowed to go to the mosque, so it’s special to pray with my family here. I got to stand next to my mom and watch her pray, which I couldn’t do in Kabul. Adding to this strangeness, we don’t have our big family in the US. Mr. Will is helping some of our family members get out of Afghanistan; when they come, it might not feel strange anymore. But right now,…

I’m honored to publish our first featured writer on GCV+F, Aqsa Rahamni. Aqsa Rahmani came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, a few months before the fall of Kabul. Her father, a dear friend, has been sharing her thoughts with the world for a few months. Now, however, she’s part of the GCV+F family. I was first introduced to Aqsa’s writing prowess during my retirement ceremony. Below is a copy of a letter she wrote me for the occasion. Her father read it out loud during the event, causing a flood of emotions throughout the auditorium. Without further…

Hello everyone! I haven’t written in a while because I was super busy preparing for these big tests at school called Standard of Language (SOL). I wanted to do really well on them, so I didn’t have time to write. I’ve missed sharing stories with you all, but I’m back now with a fresh story to tell about why it’s hard for refugees like me to learn English when we arrive in the US. Here in America, I have to remember how to speak two languages every single day! I need English for school, which is important for all my…

When we had to leave Afghanistan in 2021, my mom packed something super special— a tiny bottle of ZamZam water that came from my great-grandpa. It’s really important to us because it’s not just water; it’s like a little bottle of miracles! People say it can fix boo-boos, scare away worries, and even make you feel happy if you drink it the right way. It’s amazing because it never goes bad, no matter how long you keep it. So, carrying it with us felt like we had a little bit of magic to help us as we started moving to…

I wrote about my friendship with Sara and how I couldn’t say goodbye to her when I left Afghanistan. Today I want to tell you all about why Sara was so special to me. She was the only friend I had back then. Since I had no other friends, Sara would tell me I should try to make more. At first, I told her I didn’t need anyone else because she was enough. Later I took her advice and tried to make some friends, but it went really bad for me because I am a Hazara and at the school…

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…

Nowruz 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 world, making day and night…

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…

Prolong In 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…

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…