Today is this home’s 10 year anniversary. Yeah, it’s as unbelievable to me as it is to you, my seven readers. Last night, I participated in my first ever panel…

Editorial Note: Originally published on 2012/11/19. ——————– “Since masculinity is defined through separation while femininity is defined through attachment, male gender identity is threatened by intimacy while female gender identity…

I couldn’t have been older than six or seven years old when this happened in Gaza. It was around Eid festivities and so the family had lamb. Precisely like the…

“Jills! I need a big favour on your way in — I am having a makeup emergency!!” was the first of many hysterical text messages I sent to Jills this…

My mum and I were recently in a shopping mall when I noticed that some women do very strange things to the heads of their infants, like taking the only…

This is the first photo taken when in 2008 we landed in Tunisia for Nizar and Sissina’s wedding. It is with my aunt, over the moon was she that her…

Hi Maha, […] My fiance and I are hitting a serious roadblock. His mother is in an old age home even though she lives in the same city as us. It didn’t…

Of late, I have been quite heavily and v happily wrapped in citizenship issues and questions. I understand this struggle of immigration on a personal level and also the depth…

Two months back, I was caught not knowing what to write. Often, my head is so filled with thousands of stories that the only thing I can see with my…

The early years after my parents fell out of love with one another and divorced, I didn’t much act out against my mother. One way I did act out is…

Every little thing is packed, and although it’s only 8.30pm, I am in bed still with this headache. At least it now ebbs and flows, and when it flows it…

Let me tell you about that amazing and heart-warming moment between my baba and I when he, well intentioned, took my crushed heart and hammered it like he was on…

Editorial Note: I have witnessed first-hand step-mums who have done their best and tried their hardest and plowed through to the best of their ability and strength…only to be met…

I am the little one, with head shaped like a potato. The beautiful woman is my patrilineal grandmum Standing by the Mediterranean’s wintered coastline at Gaza, in approximately 1980, my…

In The Hands of God from Mustafa Davis on Vimeo. At a time when y’all are preppin’ to throw down some cash in the name of Baby Jesus (♥ +…

To Mothers By Baraka Blue To those mothers who buttered sandwiches and lit loves lanterns when sweet dreams turned into nightmares- and cloaked us in radiant safety net bear hugs…

If you are Muslim, I need you to today please read Al-Fatiha for a little baby named Youssif, only three months, flown up to heaven this early morning. If you…

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, “where mother is.” ~Keith L. Brooks Often, I have teased my mum about the weird seeds she saves in her fridge….

I was at a stop light watching a child who couldn’t have been older than four years old. She was holding on to her father’s hand and hanging, legs and…

When my matrilineal grandmother – teeta – died, found in her night table drawer was the most important photograph she’d carried with her throughout her life. Teeta came from what…

The saying “Paradise is at the feet of mothers” is rooted in the following: A man asked the Prophet Mohammed whether he should fight in a war. To this, the…

Dear Reader, Oh look. I’ve gone and changed the title again. As starting point, I would like to introduce you to the lunatic + lovely coupling which brought forth yours…

Last night, my cousin’s girlfriend – Mingchao, who resides in Hong Kong – and I tumbled through the SoHo district, though it was only I who on several occasions nearly…

Exceptional first night in NYC; evening started out with an in-depth literature and film discussion with Laurie. (Who is, quite possibly, one of the prettiest women on whom I have…

As previously ascertained, baba thinks he procured a complete lunatic in me. I have not done anything to dissuade him of this particular perspective as I don’t see it at…

  That’s the mac light which Baby Jane brought as a gift for my Treehouse. It now sits in my bedroom window and I have decided that I shall use…

I used to think groundhogs were cuddly and cute, until this past weekend when I started battling mama’s groundhog. Actually, he’s not my mother’s and I’m not quite certain it’s…

Is one of the properties my (father’s) family owns in Gaza. On this land were thousands of orange, grapefruit, lemon, olive & valencia trees. We’ve owned this land for generations…

Please say hello to my niece Sophia: Whose papa called me a few hours after the above photo was taken on March 8th, 2008, to leave me the following message:…

This is Deema, my baby cousin aged 12. Last night, we had the following conversation that very nearly made me pee in my pants… Deema: Maha, I need to ask…

I’ve finished my trip to Oman where I saw for the first time ever wild dolphins. They move in the most beautiful symmetry…and I will post videos soon enough, Inshallah….

I chose Moroccan and Russian, because they are the crème de la crème and if I am to emulate any hooker, it would be a combination of the two. My…

.1. My mouth attracts disaster. A few evenings ago, I roasted chestnuts. I was so tired and in my own head that I didn’t make the cuts in the chestnuts…

Allah yir7amak ya Seedo. I can’t even begin to express how much I miss my Seedo. It’s been years since he passed, but these last couple of weeks have seen…

When mama gets anxious or upset or nervous and tries to communicate in English, she sounds a little like Dr. Seuss. Exhibit A: ‘If I could tell her I would…

This happened recently and I’ve been uncertain as to how or what to post, so forgive me if it is a little without context. Recently, mama had a health scare…

My very first memory of futbol was as a baby of less than four years. My father played on a local team and my mom and I would watch and…