How a woman in Gaza surprised her husband on their 5th anniversary

Most of the time, you expect to hear sad stories and tragedy from Gaza, but not this time.


BY ASMAA ELKHALDI


Today’s story from Gaza lets the world know what loyalty and halal love look like.

I’m a person who believes that everything in life should be done and lived with love and passion.  In spite of all hardships and challenges Gazans encounter in their daily life, there is still a space where you can share love, and show gratitude for your partner.

And this what basically Samah Shamali, a Palestinian poet and photographer, has done.

Samah Shamali and Mahmoud Abu Hamda in their selfie
Samah Shamali and Mahmoud Abu Hamda in their selfie

She set a huge picture of her husband, Mahmoud Abu Hamada — a talented Palestinian landscape-photographer — on an enormous local advertising board on a busy street in Gaza. It was a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

لمَ لا و رأيتُكَ حالي
و رسمتُكَ أجمل آمالي
ونقشتُ معانيك في بالي
و سكنتَ حنايا الروح ..
لمَ لا و سقيتَ غلالي
وفككت بفنكَ أغلالي
و بعثتَ الروح بأوصالي
فركبتُ سفينة نوح <3

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شكراً للطيب الأصيل Yaser Murtaja ?

Posted by Samah Shamali on Tuesday, October 11, 2016

In spite of all hardships and challenges Gazans encounter in their daily life, there is still a space where you can share love, and show gratitude for your partner.

Samah picked one of Mahmoud’s pictures that he loved best, and had it posted with some words from her own writing, which say: “Time stops for a moment, and a bigger passion for nature flows in you; so, let the light sing.”

Samah Shamali, and Mahmoud Abu Hamda stand in front of the board of her husband.
Samah Shamali, and Mahmoud Abu Hamda stand in front of the board of her husband.

She bought a flower bouquet, stood in front of the board and called him to go there, not mentioning anything about the surprise.

His reaction was beyond beautiful; he was speechless! His eyes show how happy and overwhelmed he was. He shyly hugged her and couldn’t say anything, because words failed to express his feelings.

Watching such a video just put a smile on my face — let it inspire you and make your day, too. Take in the small joys, in spite of all the stress of life, hold your true love firmly, and live the moment of now.


This story by Asmaa Elkhaldi originally appeared on Muslim Girl. A version of the article appears on The Turban Times with permission.

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