A Mother’s Love by Jenan Abdelsalam Aqsa School
Among all people who love us, you will not find someone who will adore you more than your mother. The mother has unconditional love toward her children, which helps the child feel special and welcomed. Saja Abuzir, an Aqsa senior, said, “I love how I know with 100% certainty that my mother will be there for me when I need her.”
A mother is always there for her children through thick and thin. I recall when I was going through a hard time, I refused to speak with anyone but my mother because she was the only one that I could trust.
Children are their mother’s life. A mother once said, “I feel like my child is my arm. I must take care of it well.” This touching expression of love should move even the most disobedient child into immediate submission.
This does not mean that you forget the father’s existence. The father is also one who should be shown deep love and affection. A man asked the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “Who should we show the most compassion to? He said: Your mother. He asked, then who? He said: your mother. He asked, then who? He said: your mother. He asked, then who? He said: your father.”
If we follow the wisdom of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), one day when we become parents, inshallah, we will truly understand the love our parents had for us.
Grape Leaves by Laialee Zughayyer Aqsa SchoolEvery Arab loves grape leaves, not only for their delicious taste, but also for their cultural connection. It’s a tradition; every family gathering must have a platter of grape leaves. The grape leaves flowing juices make us feel instantly closer to home and to those we love. These leaves, rolled into logs of purple loveliness, represent unity. Whenever I smell the mix of rice and meat, I know it means a long day in the kitchen with mom. Not only do I enjoy helping her, but I value the time I get to spend with her. We all know the cultural way of getting grape leaves is entering the forest and picking each leave individually. It takes me and my mom an hour just to wash up all the dry leaves. Ordinarily, standing at the sink, washing individual leaves would feel like a lifetime, but laughing and bumping elbows with my mom makes the time fly. The best aspect of preparing grape leaves is the long strenuous work of rolling the wet leaves. The slippery leaves slip through my hands. I admire my mom’s steady fingers as they rapidly fill the leaves. Chatting away, I forget my clumsiness. Finally, after the long and hard work, my mom gets the pot ready, and the aroma of delicious spices rise. In the end, everyone gathers, and, sure enough, the plate of grape leaves is the first to be emptied.