As-salamu ‘alaykum, beloveds, we hope that you are well and feeling Allah’s proximity and presence during this holiday season.
Help Send Maryam & Isa to Jerusalem
Alhamdulillah, Maryam Hand and Isa Konecki have heard the call to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem this winter, insha’allah. Hajj isn’t possible for them at this time, so this feels like the next best thing, insha’allah. Maryam has been longing to go to Jerusalem since Sidi invited her 20 years ago.
How You Can Help
Maryam and Isa need to raise $9,000 to make this trip and they are selling Maryam’s hand-made heirloom prayer rugs to raise the money. The minimum price for a rug is $500.
The rugs are in natural colors and are made of 100% wool that Maryam has hand washed, carded, spun, and woven herself from local Vermont sheep and the sheep at the Farm of Peace. While engaging in all acts of this artistry, Maryam is in a prayerful state. She is doing dhikr aloud or in her heart, or playing Qur’an in the background or reciting it herself, Mashallah, beautiful!
Learn More About the Process of Making Woolen Rugs
Maryam has been working on this project for the past four years. The Sufi Artists Cafe, a blog on this website (suficommunities.org) has a wonderful blog post showcasing the process of making a woolen prayer rug from start to finish. In this post you can also read about Maryam’s journey working with wool. She has an amazing powerpoint presentation there, as well.
Testimonial
“Al hamdu’illah, my beloved sister, your exquisitely beautiful prayer rug has arrived. The quality of Maryam is very alive in her, an overflowing of Allah’s holiness, love and beauty. She graces the mosque – she is a prayer – a holy place of prostration, a place of thanksgiving and joy. Thank you!!” – a beloved community member
How to Purchase a Rug
To purchase one of Maryam’s dhikr-infused, hand-made woolen prayer rugs, contact her at suficafe@suficommunities.org. Thank you and may Allah bless you.
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