Saying goodbye with the painting of “a blood teardrop” for the first husband and “a candle that illuminates the darkness of the blockade” for the second husband.
How many goodbyes are very difficult for a person, especially if it is with the most loved ones. And it is even more painful if the goodbye had to be with someone who had been joining us in the struggle all this time. However, what happened to Omayya Joha was even bitterer than that. She lost a husband, As-Shaheed Romi
Saad and later she had to lose her second husband, As-Shaheed Wail Uqailan.
But the parting with the two men whom she loved very much did not shake off the defiance from this great Palestinian woman which proved the firmness of her spirit and the perseverance in enduring the trials from the Almighty.
Life Companion and Jihad
The pen seemed to be unable to illustrate the personality of this Palestinian woman with all the patience and struggles that she had. She had been left by two most beloved souls in her life.
The visit made by yours truly to her residence on the second day of Wail Uqailan’s demise was originally meant for offering a prayer as an act condolence. However, yours truly was very amazed at this figure who seemed to be as strong as the mountain of Palestine. She greeted all the visitors to her house with a friendly smile. Then, she began to tell the story about her husband who at the same time was also a friend, Wail Uqailan, to all those present.
She said, "Wail was a great man. In the sense that I had never found him complaining, even though the sickness that he suffered was extreme, especially the gastric which he had suffered for some months. He always hid it from me. He always showed his strength in front of me. He lived his life in a normal way. A person would not notice any abnormalities. In the past, he had often departed for jihad and was never absent. Joha paused for while as she tried to withhold her tears, but they apparently spilled out somehow."
She continued, "I have seen Wail cried. He was a rare male in this society. He was strong and authoritative, always liked wherever he was." Joha remembered once when Wail cried i.e. when the Zionist forces killed his sibling, Wail Muhammad Abdul Qadir Uqailan. When he carried hisjanaza, that was when Wail cried. Wail had also cried once when he was on his bed, when he remembered his friends who had been martyred. Often times, he wished to die as a shuhada, not on his bed.
The Promise Of May
Joha was brought to halt for a moment. She had to receive the arrival of a number of guests, and she looked strong as she expressed praises and thanks to Allah SWT for what had happened to her.
She said, “It’s as if I am reminded of the promise of May, when Romi Saad died shaheed in that month in year 2003, at the age of 28. From him, I was blessed with a daughter named Nur, who was only 9 months old. It so happens that Wail also died shaheed on the 3rd of May 2009, at the age of 32. I really hoped that I’d be blessed with a child from Wail, but apparently Allah has not willed it.
“Wail and Romi were two best friends, in fact they were like two brothers who were always together, ate together, slept together, as well as conducting jihad together. The two of them fought under the resistance front of Izzuddin Al-Qossam Brigade.”
Some Attempts Ended in Failure
Then, she turned her face as if scanning the people who were with her, and she drew a smile on her face. She continued her story, “I lived together with Wail for four years. Those were the most beautiful days of my life. We mutually respect each other. He always helped me in finding ideas for my paintings, especially the paintings for my first husband, Romi Saad. My paint brush was as if representing the sufferings of the people. In the past, Romi suggested that I included a drawing of a key into my artworks, as a symbol of the returns of the Palestinian rights. The same thing was asserted by Wail. I felt that there were not so much differences between Romi and Wail. They were always equal in terms of ideas and selection of titles. I am thankful to Allah Ta'ala for the abundance of grace for me to be always able to endure and remaine strong in facing all these trials which would cause anybody’s heart to break. But alhamdulillah, I managed to bear all the pains. I am back to the original habit of stroking my brush on the canvas in order to depict the struggles, resistance, as well as the blockades.”
Joha then narrated the incident on the martyrdom of Wail, “A month earlier, Wail suffered a stomach rupture which had caused him to be treated in the Al-Shifa hospital, for an operation to be performed immediately. However, as a result of the blockade by the Zionist on Gaza and the absence of equipments for a surgical operation, he was referred to be treated outside Gaza. Unfortunately, the dream to get a medical treatment abroad collapsed in front of the Rafah gate. With various excuses, Wail was not allowed to exit Gaza. There had been some mediators from the Arab countries who could send Wail out of the country in order for him to obtain medical treatments. But I was too late in applying for the entry visa that my husband finally passed away before I could settle all the requirements. My husband lied in the hospital for a month, struggling to fight against his illness until Allah finally took his soul away.”
About Wail’s Illness
"Wail’s close companions or even my dear ones did not know about Wail’s illness, except through my article entitled, “When Men Cry”. In that article, I related how much my sick husband had suffered. “Hold my hand tightly”, he said and his tears flowed down his cheeks. During my life with Wail, I had never seen him cry before that, except on two occasions. First, when his younger brother Muhammad Abdul Qodir was martyred and second when he mentioned the names of those who had been martyred in Gaza during the Zionist war. He had said, “I long very much to fight in the frontline guard like before”. I replied, 'No doubt, you will return, Darling! You will fight against the enemies with your weapons. And you will meet Allah after living a long life with the best deeds, insha Allah. I never want to marry except to a mujahid fie sablillah,' I expressed. In a slow voice he asked, “What will you paint tomorrow?” 'I will paint the news about the return of the dialogue and reconciliation negotiators from Cairo.' He did not say anything. He held my hand and shut his eyes, and he felt asleep."
Cries For Wail and Romi
On the third day since Romi Saad’s martyrdom, her first husband, Joha painted a picture which was most awaited by many people. She painted the picture of her husband Romi inside her eye that sheds a teardrop in the form of blood. The teardrop flows and developed into a heart shape. Meanwhile, on the seventh day since the martyrdom of Wail, she painted a picture of herself walking, while carrying a paint brush as a weapon. On her right hand was a candle which writes out Wail’s name and illuminates the darkness of the blockade with love lights. (asy)
Life Companion and Jihad
The pen seemed to be unable to illustrate the personality of this Palestinian woman with all the patience and struggles that she had. She had been left by two most beloved souls in her life.
The visit made by yours truly to her residence on the second day of Wail Uqailan’s demise was originally meant for offering a prayer as an act condolence. However, yours truly was very amazed at this figure who seemed to be as strong as the mountain of Palestine. She greeted all the visitors to her house with a friendly smile. Then, she began to tell the story about her husband who at the same time was also a friend, Wail Uqailan, to all those present.
She said, "Wail was a great man. In the sense that I had never found him complaining, even though the sickness that he suffered was extreme, especially the gastric which he had suffered for some months. He always hid it from me. He always showed his strength in front of me. He lived his life in a normal way. A person would not notice any abnormalities. In the past, he had often departed for jihad and was never absent. Joha paused for while as she tried to withhold her tears, but they apparently spilled out somehow."
She continued, "I have seen Wail cried. He was a rare male in this society. He was strong and authoritative, always liked wherever he was." Joha remembered once when Wail cried i.e. when the Zionist forces killed his sibling, Wail Muhammad Abdul Qadir Uqailan. When he carried hisjanaza, that was when Wail cried. Wail had also cried once when he was on his bed, when he remembered his friends who had been martyred. Often times, he wished to die as a shuhada, not on his bed.
The Promise Of May
Joha was brought to halt for a moment. She had to receive the arrival of a number of guests, and she looked strong as she expressed praises and thanks to Allah SWT for what had happened to her.
She said, “It’s as if I am reminded of the promise of May, when Romi Saad died shaheed in that month in year 2003, at the age of 28. From him, I was blessed with a daughter named Nur, who was only 9 months old. It so happens that Wail also died shaheed on the 3rd of May 2009, at the age of 32. I really hoped that I’d be blessed with a child from Wail, but apparently Allah has not willed it.
“Wail and Romi were two best friends, in fact they were like two brothers who were always together, ate together, slept together, as well as conducting jihad together. The two of them fought under the resistance front of Izzuddin Al-Qossam Brigade.”
Some Attempts Ended in Failure
Then, she turned her face as if scanning the people who were with her, and she drew a smile on her face. She continued her story, “I lived together with Wail for four years. Those were the most beautiful days of my life. We mutually respect each other. He always helped me in finding ideas for my paintings, especially the paintings for my first husband, Romi Saad. My paint brush was as if representing the sufferings of the people. In the past, Romi suggested that I included a drawing of a key into my artworks, as a symbol of the returns of the Palestinian rights. The same thing was asserted by Wail. I felt that there were not so much differences between Romi and Wail. They were always equal in terms of ideas and selection of titles. I am thankful to Allah Ta'ala for the abundance of grace for me to be always able to endure and remaine strong in facing all these trials which would cause anybody’s heart to break. But alhamdulillah, I managed to bear all the pains. I am back to the original habit of stroking my brush on the canvas in order to depict the struggles, resistance, as well as the blockades.”
Joha then narrated the incident on the martyrdom of Wail, “A month earlier, Wail suffered a stomach rupture which had caused him to be treated in the Al-Shifa hospital, for an operation to be performed immediately. However, as a result of the blockade by the Zionist on Gaza and the absence of equipments for a surgical operation, he was referred to be treated outside Gaza. Unfortunately, the dream to get a medical treatment abroad collapsed in front of the Rafah gate. With various excuses, Wail was not allowed to exit Gaza. There had been some mediators from the Arab countries who could send Wail out of the country in order for him to obtain medical treatments. But I was too late in applying for the entry visa that my husband finally passed away before I could settle all the requirements. My husband lied in the hospital for a month, struggling to fight against his illness until Allah finally took his soul away.”
About Wail’s Illness
"Wail’s close companions or even my dear ones did not know about Wail’s illness, except through my article entitled, “When Men Cry”. In that article, I related how much my sick husband had suffered. “Hold my hand tightly”, he said and his tears flowed down his cheeks. During my life with Wail, I had never seen him cry before that, except on two occasions. First, when his younger brother Muhammad Abdul Qodir was martyred and second when he mentioned the names of those who had been martyred in Gaza during the Zionist war. He had said, “I long very much to fight in the frontline guard like before”. I replied, 'No doubt, you will return, Darling! You will fight against the enemies with your weapons. And you will meet Allah after living a long life with the best deeds, insha Allah. I never want to marry except to a mujahid fie sablillah,' I expressed. In a slow voice he asked, “What will you paint tomorrow?” 'I will paint the news about the return of the dialogue and reconciliation negotiators from Cairo.' He did not say anything. He held my hand and shut his eyes, and he felt asleep."
Cries For Wail and Romi
On the third day since Romi Saad’s martyrdom, her first husband, Joha painted a picture which was most awaited by many people. She painted the picture of her husband Romi inside her eye that sheds a teardrop in the form of blood. The teardrop flows and developed into a heart shape. Meanwhile, on the seventh day since the martyrdom of Wail, she painted a picture of herself walking, while carrying a paint brush as a weapon. On her right hand was a candle which writes out Wail’s name and illuminates the darkness of the blockade with love lights. (asy)
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Note: Ommaya Joha is arguably the most well-known female Caricaturist in the Arab world. She is a Palestinian from Gaza, who works for Al-Quds newspaper. She is also the first woman caricaturist in the Arab World. Her works illustrate the daily suffering of the Palestinians, their dreams, hopes and aspirations, and their unyielding will to resist the Israeli occupation.