Noha!!! This just made my day seeing her (you -if you’re reading this!) here!! So fun to learn more about her (you).
“I often think of that line from the Mary Oliver poem, “mostly, I just want to be kind.” My two guiding forces are kindness and justice.”
This really hit home for me as I feel much the same way. I too would become overly emotional regarding unfairness when I was younger and it still bothers me to no end today.
Thank you, Jane, for giving us the chance to learn more about Noha! 😍😍😍 She’s one of my favorite writers here in Substack land.
Me too!!! My dream is to one day just travel to hang out with all of my favorite Substack friends. Or find a way to bring us all together somewhere for a week or few days at least, a Substack writers retreat! 😍😍😍
Yes!! So fun. Let’s brainstorm. We could write and read in solitude and come together around the fire to read from our own work or celebrate poetry by sharing our favorite poems and poetry. Analog Substack. We could have silent reading groups too.
Mesa, thank you sooooo much! You’re making me blush ☺️
I loved filling this out. So many questions where I didn’t have an immediate answer and had to really thing about it, but that line from that poem is always on my mind.
That’s what I loved about the questions too - they forced me to think a lot!! Also, I forgot to mention - I love that you have a Bilbo Baggins bunny!!! Bilbo has always been one of my favorite characters and The Hobbit was one of the first books my mom ever gave to me <3
Bilbo Baggins the bunny is my absolute delight! She's so hilarious! I don't remember if this story made the cut in the questionnaire (I think it didn't because it's just rambling at this point, but she came to us with the pet rescue thinking she was a he. We picked her name, then took her in to be neutered and then I got a call saying "please come back and pick up your bunny, we can't neuter him because he's a she and she needs to be spayed but that can't happen for another two months" 😂😂😂
By then we were already attached to Bilbo as a name and it stuck.
Noha! So, so wonderful to see you here on this stack I adore. What a treat to get to know you more. I am very glad you realized your story has value and that you’re sharing it and yourself here through your words.
“Mostly, I just want to be kind.” Makes so much sense this is your guide.
And isn’t Adiche just so so good. I think I’ve read most of her work.
Oh Holly, thank you thank you thank you! I've felt so loved this week with everyone's responses. Adichie is phenomenal! It would take a book that good and a writer that masterful to pull me back in after not being able to read for ages.
Thank you so much, Kaylen! I haven't read "The Divine Reality" and now I have to look it up and add it to my list. Growing up, my parents and teachers were my main source of Islamic knowledge, and then it became podcasts that were essentially just audio of Imams giving their sermons, so I have so few English recommendations in book form to share, and I'd love to have more of a list. Let me know if you pick up any of the other books. I'd love to hear what you think.
I absolutely will report back with questions/comments on the other books!
The Divine Reality was gifted to me by my husband's best friend who survived a horrific oil explosion while working in Saudi. His medical treatments brought him to the US for 6 years. When he speaks of Islam, I feel so much love. The book carries that same feeling.
OMG that sounds so so awful! I hope he is recovered as well as can be. I'll definitely look into it, and yes! come back with questions / comments on the other books. Hugs to you too from Ottawa.
What a treat to read about your life and your light, Noha! I love these interviews so much, Jane. Honestly, such an insightful line of questioning that we get to all be a part of. Noha, I especially love that you kayak into the middle of a lake to belt out sad songs from the nineties. I would join you in that practice ANY DAY. And thank you for what you said about how game-changing it was to begin to view God as loving first, in order to break down that fear barrier (and that you hadn't even really been aware of it being there, which is so utterly relatable.) Brilliant and wonderful- I'm so happy you realized how much we need and want your voice and story in this world!
Thank you so much, Kendall. And hahahaaa I'm glad the lonely lake singing resonated. I think there's a reason I always relate to those scenes in tv shows or movies where a character is singing at the top of their lungs in the car - Richie singing Love Story in season two of The Bear might have been my favourite part of the whole show lol.
The perspective on God stuff continues to be mind-blowing. Like, I think of that daily, and I tell my aunt she saved my life in some ways with that conversation.
That scene in the Bear was THE BEST. I sing loudly and ridiculously in my car all the time. And sometimes I just cry and yell out the window and scare the cows on my way to work. And yes, yes, yes to the mind-blowing nature of God. I began to allow God to speak to me as Love itself, and it changed absolutely everything for me. I realized God talks to me like I talk to my daughter when she is afraid or sad. And I once heard Elizabeth Gilbert say something to the effect of "Being with God should be like relaxing in the presence of someone who is very fond of you" and I though, oh, oh, oh. Yes. That.
I love knowing more about my friend Noha. It is daily work for me to examine my own life and my habits and my belief systems. Books and smart friends help with that. Thank you Jane and Noha. 🙏❤️Long live Bilbo!!
So happy to see Noha here!! Her writing touches the deepest fabrics of my soul. I also recognize all that she says about the city I live in: Montreal. If ever you want to come for a visit Noha, I will invite you to the best choco-framboise cake, promise! Better than premier moisson :)
BETTER than premier moisson!! I am intrigued, Imola! Wish I was in town more often heheheh... but seriously, it would be so lovely to meet you and to connect over delicious food and wonderful conversation.
"As a child, my mother tells me that I would end up in tears if I felt that a situation was unfair, and not just when I was on the bad end of a situation."
The same! As a child, and still today.
Noha, it was wonderful to learn more about you. Jane, thank you for this series.
Kindness is a wonderful thing to learn, and I'm glad that justice has always been there. In some ways, I see Kindness as the very personal version of Justice.
"I want to be known, and by that, I don’t mean famous or well-known, but rather, that my rituals and traditions are not othered or treated as alien." SO. GOOD!!!
Noha!! I’m just discovering you here and you give wonderful reading recommendations. Thank you.
I am Persian American. I used to have a copy of my father’s Quran. What English translation would you recommend? I’m curious about the culture of kindness too. Thank you, Jane, for this!
Hi! So glad to meet you. My go to recommendation for Quran translations is The Clear Quran by dr Mustafa Khattab. Written in relatively plain English so much easier than older translations that were written by not native English speakers and so are very intense and sometimes harder to follow
Good morning! Thank you very much. I’m a seeker not a practicing Muslim. I’m curious to connect to my Persian roots. I’m trying to learn some Farsi too. Not easy. Merci, Noha Joon. Merci.
Did your parents ever speak Farsi to you when you were little? I was spoken to in Arabic and can speak it with relative fluency and I still find it hard, so I can definitely relate here. The English will help, I hope!
The Arabic and Farsi also use the same alphabet, which is always disorienting when I try to read an Arabic sign if we’re visiting my in laws in Toronto where there’s a huge Persian population, and then the sign is actually in Farsi heheheh…
I wish! My Mom was not Persian. Only my Dad. So I didn’t learn Farsi. I’d love to learn some Arabic too. I studied mostly French from grade school through college. I’m learning Spanish too on my own.
It’s so impressive that you’re trying to learn and get in touch with your roots now though. I studied French through grade school and high school too! Arabic is a beautiful language but also quite complex, which can be intimidating. I’m glad my parents kept pushing me when I was super disinterested as a kid.
Thank you. I’m happy for you that you learned Arabic. Good for your parents. I love languages! Have you heard of Chai and Conversation? https://www.chaiandconversation.com/lessons
The idea of scream-singing 90's music makes kayaking seem more enjoyable :) I love that Noha doesn't know whether it's the sad music or the absence of her sisters that makes her cry ... I'm often overcome with that same sense of nostalgia, and question whether it's specific people I'm actually missing, or just that youthful exuberance. (I've loved The Great Gatsby since high school, but I swear it gets more relatable with every passing year)
Your comment made me laugh out loud, Emily! So true. And also true about nostalgic sadness without knowing the source. Glad you enjoyed the interview! 🌸
Jane and Noha, thank you for this wonderful interview!
Noha, it was great to hear about the amazing books you're reading. I've been meaning to pick up Jess's book and this is my reminder to do so. My favorite part of this piece was reading that you are getting closer to God after your Aunt shared her wise reminder! I agree with your Aunt that God is loving and good and will draw us closer if only we ask. I chuckled at the woo-woo mindset stuff because that's my language so I'm glad to hear it's working for you!
Donna, Hi! Hope you've been well... Jess's book is sooooooooooo good. I really need some joy in my life these days and laughter is a great way to get it.
I'm glad the bit about my Aunt resonated - I think about it myself on a near daily basis. So grateful to her for that conversation and I recently told her that, and she was so surprised because to her it was just this normal exchange and to me it was life-changing. That in and of itself amazes me... Lol the woo woo stuff... I think I believe in a lot of woo woo but I put up that little disclaimer in case others don't. That's the conformist in me 😅
Noha!!! This just made my day seeing her (you -if you’re reading this!) here!! So fun to learn more about her (you).
“I often think of that line from the Mary Oliver poem, “mostly, I just want to be kind.” My two guiding forces are kindness and justice.”
This really hit home for me as I feel much the same way. I too would become overly emotional regarding unfairness when I was younger and it still bothers me to no end today.
Thank you, Jane, for giving us the chance to learn more about Noha! 😍😍😍 She’s one of my favorite writers here in Substack land.
I love that line, too! And I'm so glad you enjoyed the interview, Mesa! I loved learning more about Noha, as well. I wish we were all neighbors!!
Me too!!! My dream is to one day just travel to hang out with all of my favorite Substack friends. Or find a way to bring us all together somewhere for a week or few days at least, a Substack writers retreat! 😍😍😍
I love this idea of Substack retreat!!
Ooooo….. a Substack Writer’s Retreat!!! Let’s organize one!! 💛
Maybe one for Spring or Fall next year?! How fun would that be!!
Yes!! So fun. Let’s brainstorm. We could write and read in solitude and come together around the fire to read from our own work or celebrate poetry by sharing our favorite poems and poetry. Analog Substack. We could have silent reading groups too.
I would absolutely LOVE this if I had the vacation days
I'm in!!! I want to come! Yes, please!!! :)
Yes! To be neighbors and poetry for nourishment.
It would be THE most fun if we were all neighbours
Mesa, thank you sooooo much! You’re making me blush ☺️
I loved filling this out. So many questions where I didn’t have an immediate answer and had to really thing about it, but that line from that poem is always on my mind.
That’s what I loved about the questions too - they forced me to think a lot!! Also, I forgot to mention - I love that you have a Bilbo Baggins bunny!!! Bilbo has always been one of my favorite characters and The Hobbit was one of the first books my mom ever gave to me <3
Bilbo Baggins the bunny is my absolute delight! She's so hilarious! I don't remember if this story made the cut in the questionnaire (I think it didn't because it's just rambling at this point, but she came to us with the pet rescue thinking she was a he. We picked her name, then took her in to be neutered and then I got a call saying "please come back and pick up your bunny, we can't neuter him because he's a she and she needs to be spayed but that can't happen for another two months" 😂😂😂
By then we were already attached to Bilbo as a name and it stuck.
Bwahahahahaha that’s hilarious!! Well, Bilbo fits (boy or girl) :)
😅😅😅😅
She was almost Pippin! (I still call her "Fool of a Took" randomly, just for fun.) If she had been, we could have switched to Pippa.
Adored this entire thing and am so honored to have gotten a mention from such an amazing woman!!!! Thank you so much!!!! xx
OMG JESS PAN!! I really want Substack to allow the insertion of memes into the comments because this is exactly the kind of moment where I would pull out my Jonah Hill getting super excited meme (yeah you know the one! https://tenor.com/view/jonah-hill-excited-screaming-yelling-gif-2059884829495405303)
Thank you for the endless entertainment. I adore both your book and your Substack!
I’m fan girling here for you!
Hahaaa you and me both, Shaista!
hahahahaha amazing meme - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!
Noha! So, so wonderful to see you here on this stack I adore. What a treat to get to know you more. I am very glad you realized your story has value and that you’re sharing it and yourself here through your words.
“Mostly, I just want to be kind.” Makes so much sense this is your guide.
And isn’t Adiche just so so good. I think I’ve read most of her work.
Thank you, Jane and Noha.
Ooooh, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Holly! This stack adores you! ❤️
🥰
Oh Holly, thank you thank you thank you! I've felt so loved this week with everyone's responses. Adichie is phenomenal! It would take a book that good and a writer that masterful to pull me back in after not being able to read for ages.
Enjoyed learning these parts of the lovely Noha!
I’m so glad! I did, too!
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Super excited to read your interview, Noha! I'm an ardent follower of your newsletter, and I enjoyed reading your responses to the questionnaire!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Maryam!
Awww thank you so much Maryam 🥰🥰
What an excellent interview and article, Jane!💕
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sheila!
Thanks so much, Sheila!
Loved reading you over here Noha!
Thank you for recommending an English version of the Qu’ran.
My husband has been reading The Divine Reality to me each night and every objection I muster is addressed so beautifully by the author.
I enjoy learning about Islam through you and women’s perspective and enjoyed learning about the books you love and are currently reading.
Thank you Jane, for yet another inspiring interview!! 🤩🏮
I'm so glad you enjoyed it (do you go by K or Alexandra?)! I was likewise inspired by Noha's beautiful words!
Jane hi!! I will go by whatever you call me- my FIL used to refer to me as “girl” 😂
Thank you for another beautiful interview!!
I love seeing Noha featured here. So special to see behind the scenes. You’ve been on a roll with Mesa, Marc and no Noha!
So happy to be here!! 🤍
Thank you so much, Kaylen! I haven't read "The Divine Reality" and now I have to look it up and add it to my list. Growing up, my parents and teachers were my main source of Islamic knowledge, and then it became podcasts that were essentially just audio of Imams giving their sermons, so I have so few English recommendations in book form to share, and I'd love to have more of a list. Let me know if you pick up any of the other books. I'd love to hear what you think.
I absolutely will report back with questions/comments on the other books!
The Divine Reality was gifted to me by my husband's best friend who survived a horrific oil explosion while working in Saudi. His medical treatments brought him to the US for 6 years. When he speaks of Islam, I feel so much love. The book carries that same feeling.
https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Reality-Islam-Mirage-Atheism/dp/0996545387
Hugs from San Diego <3
OMG that sounds so so awful! I hope he is recovered as well as can be. I'll definitely look into it, and yes! come back with questions / comments on the other books. Hugs to you too from Ottawa.
What a treat to read about your life and your light, Noha! I love these interviews so much, Jane. Honestly, such an insightful line of questioning that we get to all be a part of. Noha, I especially love that you kayak into the middle of a lake to belt out sad songs from the nineties. I would join you in that practice ANY DAY. And thank you for what you said about how game-changing it was to begin to view God as loving first, in order to break down that fear barrier (and that you hadn't even really been aware of it being there, which is so utterly relatable.) Brilliant and wonderful- I'm so happy you realized how much we need and want your voice and story in this world!
I agree with all of this, Kendall!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🌸
Thank you so much, Kendall. And hahahaaa I'm glad the lonely lake singing resonated. I think there's a reason I always relate to those scenes in tv shows or movies where a character is singing at the top of their lungs in the car - Richie singing Love Story in season two of The Bear might have been my favourite part of the whole show lol.
The perspective on God stuff continues to be mind-blowing. Like, I think of that daily, and I tell my aunt she saved my life in some ways with that conversation.
That scene in the Bear was THE BEST. I sing loudly and ridiculously in my car all the time. And sometimes I just cry and yell out the window and scare the cows on my way to work. And yes, yes, yes to the mind-blowing nature of God. I began to allow God to speak to me as Love itself, and it changed absolutely everything for me. I realized God talks to me like I talk to my daughter when she is afraid or sad. And I once heard Elizabeth Gilbert say something to the effect of "Being with God should be like relaxing in the presence of someone who is very fond of you" and I though, oh, oh, oh. Yes. That.
I love knowing more about my friend Noha. It is daily work for me to examine my own life and my habits and my belief systems. Books and smart friends help with that. Thank you Jane and Noha. 🙏❤️Long live Bilbo!!
Such worthy daily work, Dee! I'm glad you enjoyed the interview! And, yes, long live Bilbo!! ❤️
Aawww thank you so much, Dee! And yes, long live re-examining our habits and beliefs, and long live Bilbo, the bunniest bunny that ever bunnied!
☺️🐰
So happy to see Noha here!! Her writing touches the deepest fabrics of my soul. I also recognize all that she says about the city I live in: Montreal. If ever you want to come for a visit Noha, I will invite you to the best choco-framboise cake, promise! Better than premier moisson :)
I was thinking about how you two lovely souls live in the same city!! I'm glad you enjoyed the interview, Imola!
Imola is still in Montreal and I just live vicariously through her experiences heheheh. Although Ottawa is growing up and has some cool stuff now too.
BETTER than premier moisson!! I am intrigued, Imola! Wish I was in town more often heheheh... but seriously, it would be so lovely to meet you and to connect over delicious food and wonderful conversation.
"As a child, my mother tells me that I would end up in tears if I felt that a situation was unfair, and not just when I was on the bad end of a situation."
The same! As a child, and still today.
Noha, it was wonderful to learn more about you. Jane, thank you for this series.
Ooooh, that was so beautiful! I'm not surprised you're the same, John! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Oh John, still today for sure. Now I don't cry so much but I feel it deep deep deep within me. Thank you so much for reading.
Thanks for getting me to notice that justice still drives my work today. Kindness, I have gratefully learned, but justice has always been there.
Kindness is a wonderful thing to learn, and I'm glad that justice has always been there. In some ways, I see Kindness as the very personal version of Justice.
I love that.
"I want to be known, and by that, I don’t mean famous or well-known, but rather, that my rituals and traditions are not othered or treated as alien." SO. GOOD!!!
I loved that, too! Went straight to the heart! Glad you enjoyed the interview, Megan!
Awww Megan, thank you! I mean that in my bones so to know it stood out makes me feel seen. Maybe we’re getting closer to that point
Really loved this, thanks!
Thank you!
I'm so glad, Tola!
Noha!! I’m just discovering you here and you give wonderful reading recommendations. Thank you.
I am Persian American. I used to have a copy of my father’s Quran. What English translation would you recommend? I’m curious about the culture of kindness too. Thank you, Jane, for this!
Hi! So glad to meet you. My go to recommendation for Quran translations is The Clear Quran by dr Mustafa Khattab. Written in relatively plain English so much easier than older translations that were written by not native English speakers and so are very intense and sometimes harder to follow
Good morning! Thank you very much. I’m a seeker not a practicing Muslim. I’m curious to connect to my Persian roots. I’m trying to learn some Farsi too. Not easy. Merci, Noha Joon. Merci.
I asked Noha the same question and my copy of The Clear Quran arrived a few days ago! I'm excited to start reading it.
Ooooo….. wonderful, Jane! Did you get the English with Arabic translation? Just curious. I’m excited too.
Did your parents ever speak Farsi to you when you were little? I was spoken to in Arabic and can speak it with relative fluency and I still find it hard, so I can definitely relate here. The English will help, I hope!
The Arabic and Farsi also use the same alphabet, which is always disorienting when I try to read an Arabic sign if we’re visiting my in laws in Toronto where there’s a huge Persian population, and then the sign is actually in Farsi heheheh…
I wish! My Mom was not Persian. Only my Dad. So I didn’t learn Farsi. I’d love to learn some Arabic too. I studied mostly French from grade school through college. I’m learning Spanish too on my own.
I’m sure the English translation will help. :)
lol. Funny. Lost in translation.
It’s so impressive that you’re trying to learn and get in touch with your roots now though. I studied French through grade school and high school too! Arabic is a beautiful language but also quite complex, which can be intimidating. I’m glad my parents kept pushing me when I was super disinterested as a kid.
Thank you. I’m happy for you that you learned Arabic. Good for your parents. I love languages! Have you heard of Chai and Conversation? https://www.chaiandconversation.com/lessons
So glad you enjoyed it!
The idea of scream-singing 90's music makes kayaking seem more enjoyable :) I love that Noha doesn't know whether it's the sad music or the absence of her sisters that makes her cry ... I'm often overcome with that same sense of nostalgia, and question whether it's specific people I'm actually missing, or just that youthful exuberance. (I've loved The Great Gatsby since high school, but I swear it gets more relatable with every passing year)
Your comment made me laugh out loud, Emily! So true. And also true about nostalgic sadness without knowing the source. Glad you enjoyed the interview! 🌸
Jane and Noha, thank you for this wonderful interview!
Noha, it was great to hear about the amazing books you're reading. I've been meaning to pick up Jess's book and this is my reminder to do so. My favorite part of this piece was reading that you are getting closer to God after your Aunt shared her wise reminder! I agree with your Aunt that God is loving and good and will draw us closer if only we ask. I chuckled at the woo-woo mindset stuff because that's my language so I'm glad to hear it's working for you!
So glad you enjoyed it, Donna! And I second how wonderful Jess' book is! If you enjoy listening to books, Jess reads it.
Donna, Hi! Hope you've been well... Jess's book is sooooooooooo good. I really need some joy in my life these days and laughter is a great way to get it.
I'm glad the bit about my Aunt resonated - I think about it myself on a near daily basis. So grateful to her for that conversation and I recently told her that, and she was so surprised because to her it was just this normal exchange and to me it was life-changing. That in and of itself amazes me... Lol the woo woo stuff... I think I believe in a lot of woo woo but I put up that little disclaimer in case others don't. That's the conformist in me 😅
Isn’t that how it goes? What is just a few regular words can alter something deep within someone else. It’s a beautiful thing. ❤
It really is