A JOURNEY OF INTELLECT, EMOTION, AND UNDERSTANDING
From birth in Damascus, to despair in Seville, to dilemma in New York, Randa Hamwi embarks on a courageous journey of emotion and thoughtful deliberation, tapping the pulse of the Arab nation as she travels through time and space in flowing Arabic prose and poetry. After stages of innocence, bereavement, and turmoil that verges on despair, the Arab Heart stops at the crossroads to take its bearings, acknowledging shortcomings and reassessing itself, gaining new strength and finding support in friends- before it strides towards Hope. Blending earlier composition into the new, Randa rewrites -in beautiful Arabic- much of what she had produced in English and published in Dubai, Washington D.C., New York State, and Damascus, as well as what was posted on her website.
However, in putting this book together, she undertakes a journey of understanding unlike any other she had ventured upon. While all her previous works spoke in English to the western reader, here she speaks in Arabic to an audience who identifies this heartbeat as its own, recognizes the need for change, and appreciates the work done on behalf of the Arab cause by its descendants abroad, as well as by dedicated seekers of justice from American, European, Christian, and Jewish backgrounds. Furthermore, knowing that she speaks to those who are most affected by the many crises facing the Muslim world today, the author demonstrates -through painstakingly researched articles- how understanding the meaning of Qur’anic words can reinstate original intent and help correct significant misinterpretations and practices.
It is this book which earned Randa Hamwi her place among Arab poets and authors, and gave her the courage to present later research in Arabic.
THE BOOK COVER
The cover design is highly symbolic, representative of historic incidents and discussions in the book. The flowing background motif is taken from a mural adorning the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, its green and gold hues showcasing the Deir Yassin Memorial of New York State in the foreground, adorned by a plaque bearing Randa’s haiku.
The back-cover also has the mural back-drop, with highlighted book reviews in the center and a misty image of the Giralda, the Minaret of Seville, at the top.
