Osama's Jihad Quotes

“We think and believe that we are exceptional. We have created so many stories around how exceptional humans are. We were created by the hands of the divine, and the universe is our gift. We believe that it was all created to serve us, but the reality of the matter is, we are not exceptional except for our ability to kill beauty and destroy. We are not as fast as the gazelle or a cheetah; we can't fly like birds; we don't have fur to protect us in the cold; we don't have natural strength to lift heavy objects like a gorilla or an elephant. We created fables to explain our presence, even scientific ones that we can't prove. It is all unproven theories, on all sides. We are not exceptional; we are only exceptional when we work together and in sync with nature like every other creature.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“He always had a song to dictate to me. He did simple things, which meant the world to me.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“Baba instilled in us a strong sense of community, and he wanted us to always give to those who didn't have. "You don't give the money to the church, mosque, government, or anyone else for that matter; you give it to the needy yourself. Don't always count on the middle man. The money you are spending in God's name is the money that benefits those in need.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“I knew there was a point in my life where I couldn't go to Baba for much; I had to hide a lot from him, and it wasn't because he wouldn't have listened. He lost my trust somewhere along the line because I didn't think he would be able to handle my life, because it was so different from his own. I want you to know both the good and bad; I want you to see me as your fellow human, and not a God. I want you to see me as your friend one day and to not fear approaching me.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“I will share with you the stories of the family, my own personal stories, and those of how you became a part of our lives. I plan to share with you openly and without censorship. I plan to share stories that most fathers - especially those of conservative roots - wouldn't share willingly. Your gedo always said, "When your son gets older, treat him like a brother.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“You are my only prize; the kids are a bonus.' Baba had a way of reassuring Mama of how much she meant to him. Their love story inspired all of us; they exemplified everything that was beautiful about marriage. They worked together as a team, they complemented one another. The sacrifices were many, but they never kept count.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“And the most important thing I wish for you to know is this: Love is the soul of life. I would say it is the fuel of life, but fuel runs out, and love doesn't.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“Horses' eyes are covered with blinders to keep them unaware of their surroundings and focused on the race or pulling a wagon. Horses without blinders are horses who can be themselves. I want Adam to be himself, without any blinders, which only means I must continue telling him the story.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“I will openly admit it: I was Baba's boy, but Mama is the human I aspire to be.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“Love shapes who you are in many ways. Its presence or absence in our youth impacts our adulthood, which impacts our future generations; the cycle has to be restarted somewhere.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“...there is a long list of unspoken rules in Egyptian households, and the main rule is: The house is the woman's kingdom; it is her realm. It wasn't done in a sexist way. It was understood that women were safer and freer at home, and if a household was full of women, the men excused themselves and found their way to the nearest coffee shop.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“No,' Nora said, almost in a whisper. 'It's because -' she looked carefully for the words - 'you didn't stare at me. I saw you blush, and you immediately lowered your eyes. And I should have been embarrassed, ashamed... but I, I just felt safe, and I stood there unafraid.' She closed her eyes, taking in all the feelings of gratitude she had for that moment. 'That's when I knew I could trust you in a way that I didn't know was possible.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“The love Nora and I shared was certainly grand. We built our own fantasy worlds. We would sometimes role-play. At times, she was the captive and I was the rescuer who traveled the world and swam the seven seas to save her. Other times, she was the nurse who attended to my needs as I recovered from a deadly unknown disease, which was miraculously cured by love and a soft kiss from her luscious lips.

We shared everything with each other. We found happiness, we found comfort, we found security, and we found love. Together, we would let our imaginations soar beyond the heavens. We imagined what our wedding would look like, and the songs we would dance to. We named our future kids.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“I really want to treat Adam like I would a brother or a best friend. I don't want to just say powerful proverbs because they sound good.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“Yet I had no desire to touch her; I had no desire to be anywhere near her. I wasn't aroused by her nakedness. Her seductive ways—her sugar-coated words—left me cold.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad

“I can give him a sugar-coated version of life where I am always the hero. People comply with those versions of stories. Or I can tell him the truth.”
― Hani Selim, Osama's Jihad