Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s Gift

A name that, most just cannot pronounce. But how beautiful and strong it sounds when others say it. A name and a person that, though unknown to myself and others, has come to mean so much. There’s an Arabic translation for “Sakinah” meaning God inspired, peace of mind, tranquility. Sure seems to fit her in one way as she’s lead a lot of people, myself included, to pray to Him by whatever Name we call him, for her safety and well being. But as to the “peace of mind and tranquility” that’s got me kind of stumped as in her short life span, she doesn’t appear to have had much of either of them and now a lot of people, like myself, through being educated by her, have lost theirs. Why? Sakineh blew the horror and tyranny of Iran’s Regime wide open for the world to see.

Yet on reflection, maybe that “God inspired” part of the translation does fit Sakineh like a soft, silk glove. Most of us believe we are here on earth for a reason. Sakineh’s purpose, destiny, or whatever name you want to call it, may be to inspire the rest of us to stop living in our own little cocoons and wake up to what’s going on in Iran and the rest of the world. No matter what you believe, there’s absolutely no doubt that she is doing just that. How she’s been able to survive long enough to do it is a matter of awe and inspiration to most with all the terrors she has been put through on a daily basis for years and years. How many strong would not have survived? Yet, she does. How? Why? Makes a person wonder.

“I want to live.” We’ve all heard that Sakineh said that. Is that what’s giving her the power and strength to survive or is it something deeper than that? The author thinks so. There’s not too many people that do want to die, yet do from various diseases, wounds, accidents, etc so it therefore makes it unlikely it’s just that. Could it be a mother’s love for her children? Maybe. Maybe not. The stress, uncertainty and worry about her children has been well publicized. There’s no doubt about it, she and her children love each other profoundly, enough so that some mothers would be envious of Sakineh. However, if you look deeper into that, another question gets raised. Would she really be fighting so hard to live, knowing her children were in so much danger because of their ongoing fight to save her life or is there that elusive unknown in her that’s keeping her alive, whether she likes it or not? Let’s be honest here, would she not almost welcome death as a way to escape the putrid life that is now hers? She DEFINITELY wants no harm to come to the children that mean the world to her. Sakineh’s love for her children is tremendous and it is the author’s opinion that she would gladly die for them to keep them alive and well. In the beginning, if she had of just died, her children probably would have been out of harm’s way and yet she lives. The question bears repeating again….Why?