Mahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who was regarded as Palestine’s national poet. In 1988, Darwish wrote the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which was the formal declaration for the creation of a State of Palestine. Darwish won numerous awards for his works.

Born: March 13, 1941, Al-Birwa
Died: August 9, 2008 (67 years), Houston, TX

Darwish’s poem – “I am from here” – is just as relevant today as it was when he first wrote it in 1990. More than a poet, Mahmoud Darwish is a symbol of how our art resists being erased and reclaims our collective voice.

At Edmonton Islamic Academy, we are etching stories of modern-day resistance into the fabric of our school—our books, courtyards, and hallways—to raise generations of Muslims who won’t just face the challenges of our times but will lead the way in solving them for the future.

For us, being Muslim goes beyond academic achievement. It’s about living proudly, with adab and akhlaq, to make the world better. Every act—big or small—is an act of resistance that roots us in our faith.

When a parent chooses a school that values faith and manners as much as academics, it’s resistance.
When a student pauses volleyball to pray Asr, it’s resistance.
When we smile, laugh, and celebrate our traditions, it’s resistance.

We honor a legacy of leaders who built the first mosque, started a school in a basement, introduced Arabic to Edmonton Public Schools and built spaces for our faith to flourish. Now, we invite you to help us seed and keep nurturing that role.

Join us. Together, we’ll make our mark and exist to resist.