One of our official advocates for the event at The Chilterns AONB Haleema Ali wrote this beautiful poem about the concept of “Ghuraba”, the idea that Muslims are perceived as strangers. But being strange or weird doesn’t have to be a bad thing – in fact, she thinks that’s what makes life interesting! We should embrace our strangeness and what better way to do that than to explore beautiful lands together?
I am but a stranger, travelling strange lands
We travel these lands as The “Ghuraba” – The Strangers.
Strange, foreign, alien.
Yet through our strangeness,
We often find connections
Seeking togetherness
The strange uniting
To trek strange lands
Embarking on strange adventures
When strangers
Become the new norm
The touch of strange grass
Running through strange fingers
The strange silence
Broken by strange birdsongs,
Beckoning us to come forth
Forging friendships
Strangers finding a sense of familiarity
When the strange hush of darkness falls
Under a familiar sky
Illuminated
Walking strange paths
In the footsteps of our ancestors
Rejoicing
Finding tranquility
Sharing ancient tales
Of strangers who once walked these strange lands