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Good morning

As I watch news unfolding from Afghanistan, like so many others, I’m heartbroken. And as a Muslim woman it’s so hard, once again, seeing my religion wrongly used as a justification for violence and oppression. So opposite to what Islam as a faith is really about.

Watching families trying to get away, trying to escape, is painful viewing. Where will they go? What will happen to them? How will they be treated in the countries where they end up? Will they find open hearts and open doors in communities which have so much?

This month is Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar year. Like Jews, Muslims follow a lunar calendar alongside the Gregorian one and we use it to remember important moments in our history as well as religious festivals. It is known as the Hijri calendar. Hijra means migration and it’s a time when we recall how the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also fled persecution. He and his companions migrated from Mecca to Madinah, where they were greeted by jubilant singing in the street. People welcomed them, took them into their homes and helped them start their new life, showing immense generosity and hospitality. They were known as ‘The Ansar’, The Helpers.

As I watched the scenes of Afghans fleeing Kabul this week, I found myself wondering if they too will find helpers - modern day ‘Ansar’ as they travel far beyond their homeland. I pray – and hope - they will.

Alongside the news from Afghanistan, I’ve been following a wonderful project known as ‘Walk with Amal’ - a travelling festival of art and hope in support of refugees. Amal is a 3 and a half metre tall lifelike puppet symbolising a young refugee girl. She’s begun her 8000km journey across cities and towns – starting in Turkey, walking right across Europe, and ending here in the UK - in Manchester - in September. Amal is walking through the streets as she crosses the continent, meeting communities along the way.
Her name means Hope in Arabic.

As I see what is happening on the ground in Afghanistan, I’m trying to keep optimistic, keeping Amal in my mind. It is hard to hear what ordinary people are going through and it is important to remember that they are families like us.

Women in Afghanistan have had to deal with so much over so many years. I believe they will be strong through this, they are resilient. We need to listen to them, to work with them, to support them, to find out what they need, to speak up and amplify their voices, to have our hearts open when their families are looking for refuge.

And as Amal is symbolising on her walk, however hard it feels at times, we must always have hope.

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