:) Yay

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:) Yay
UmmZaid
04/21/01 at 20:56:42
Salaam 'Alaikum

I'm not here to brag, but I just am so thrilled I have to share the news.

I just found out that I won the Andalusia Prize for Short Fiction.  You may remember that the brother posted here a few months ago about this contest.  This is the first time I have ever won anything, or submitted anything, or entered a contest (aside from being a featured poet on the Muslim Poet site... which is run by my friend's husband, so... that was more like a safe way to tentatively get myself out there).  

My story is titled 'Making Maklooba.' Maklooba is a widely loved dish from Palestine.  It is chicken (or lamb), rice, and fried potatoes, cauliflower, and eggplant.  Maklooba means "upside down" in Arabic, and the name comes from the fact that the dish is layered in a pot and then turned upside down on a giant serving platters.  The best makloobas are the ones that hold the shape of the pot when it is pulled off.  (I don't even bother with mine, I just spoon it out in order to avoid the mishaps b/c I'm such a klutz).  

The story is about a Palestinian refugee and how she has dealt with the loss of family and land from 1948 till today.  In the story, she finds herself at a cross roads, and must choose whether or not she will be a prisoner to memories and grief or if she will allow her spirit to be freed.  She must also come to terms with people within the Palestinian society who exploit the deaths and sufferings of Palestinians, especially women, for their own political gains.  I tried to use literary devices and symbols common to Palestinian and Arabic literature, in order to pay my respects to the women who have struggled to hold their families and society together under the hardest circumstances for the past 43 yrs.  (Women who are underrepresented in modern Arabic literature)  It also tells the story of her oldest son, who deals with issues of diaspora, of escape, and of imagery, and stereotypes.

Alhamdulilah, I made dua' sooo hard for this!
Re: :) Yay
meraj
04/21/01 at 21:04:22
slm,

mashallah... congrats saraji :) perhaps you could share it with us if its ok with you? :)
Re: :) Yay
Mona
04/22/01 at 03:45:18
Assalamu alaikum,

Mabrook Saraji :)  Ma'loobeh is soo yummy. What a title, eh ? Post the story on your website so that we can have peek.

Wassalam
P.S. You do use a non-stick pot to make ma'loobeh, right?  :)
iashaAllah...
se7en
04/21/01 at 23:57:29
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah,

congratulations :)  Post your story in the shahada bookstore! It sounds really good, I'd love to read it :)
Re: :) Yay
Fatoosh
04/22/01 at 01:24:15
congrats :) can't wait to read it!
Re: :) Yay
bhaloo
04/22/01 at 01:25:09
slm

Congratulations.
Re: :) Yay
Arsalan
04/22/01 at 01:42:26
[slm]

Congratulations Saraji!  I'd love to read what you wrote.  Please post it in the Shahadah Bookstore.  Jazak Allahu Khairan.

Did anyone else from here participate?  
Re: :) Yay
Kathy
04/22/01 at 09:57:11
slm
HumdilAllah!
Re: :) Yay
BrKhalid
04/22/01 at 10:47:03
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-)

Masha Allah that’s wonderful!

Add me to the list of eager waiting readers ;-)
Re: :) Yay
BroHanif
04/22/01 at 16:58:53
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah

Nice one... may Allah put barakah in your work, and just like the others please can we have a read.

Salaam

Hanif
Re: :) Yay
se7en
04/22/01 at 17:06:30

[quote]Did anyone else from here participate?  [/quote]

I didn't.  good thing too, considering the competition :)
Re: :) Yay
Tarar
04/22/01 at 23:55:10
Asalaam O' alaikum

MashAllah and congratulation :)

wasalaam

Tarar
Re: :) Yay
haaris
04/25/01 at 11:09:48
Masha' Allah sister: many congratulations.
Re: :) Yay
UmmZaid
04/26/01 at 09:26:41
Salaam 'Alaikum

Well, thank you everyone.  I think it is really too long to post here, and actually, I am wary about posting things in online forums since some guy tried to plagarize me a few years ago (and told me he was going to do it too!  LOL)  Meraj knows my e-mail (if he remembers it)  I think if you e-mail me, I will send it to you.
Re: :) Yay
meraj
04/26/01 at 18:37:53
slm,

*cough* your address is in your profile*cough* :)
Re: :) Yay
UmmZaid
04/27/01 at 21:43:36

[quote]slm,

*cough* your address is in your profile*cough* :)[/quote]

Dude, I'm supposed to know this?  I made the profile and never looked back... LOL


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