VOTER: TO BE or NOT TO BE? (Part 1)
Intro: I have had a weird experience this year during Voter ID Card Registration. It is a looong story, and I wished to share it somewhere. I thought of writing for any newspaper, but couldn't dare to do so with my amateur hand. And this blog being my loyal friend for the last few years, I thought it was the best place to share.
Being too long a story to cover in one episode, I thought to divide it into a few. I am still in the process of finishing it. So it's going to take some time to come in full. So if there is any reader out there, thanks for reading, and being patient :).
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Being a first time voter, my enthusiasm was at peak for the voter registration this time. The feeling was really special when I first heard that this time there is going to be Voter ID Card with photo! “Excited” and “thrilled”, I would say, as the dictionary in my brain can’t find a better word to describe my feeling, I had been enthusiastically waiting for my day to come.
But my family decided to register in our village home, and so my long awaited chance was taking longer than expected. But in the meantime my friends already had experienced enough to share their stories with me. To my greatest dismay, it was not as happy as I thought.
Some commented they were not allowed to take picture with hijab, while others complained about being forced to show ears. It was time my feelings changed dramatically and the words now I thought most suitable were “shocked” and “astonished”! Thinking some of my friends might be exaggerating, I asked others, but the story was nevertheless, the same everywhere.
More surprising to me was the way I thought people agreed to it. But I realized they were forced to. Some did protest, but in vain. Some didn’t have the guts to but disliked it from the heart.
I was in a dilemma- what would I do. Though it is taking late, my chance was about to come…
Then one day, as I stepped out from university, there came a girl with hijab, and a notebook and a pen in her hands. To my surprise, she was speaking MY mind out!!
She was asking me whether I heard about this Voter ID card situation where women are being forced to show ears, and whether I agreed to it. I said NO in a loud voice and spoke out my mind. She described how she and other members of her “group” protested about it, and how their senior members went to meet the Election Commissioner, who then asked them to bring the proof that general people ARE REALLY against it.
So this was their attempt to prove it- they asked us to sign, and I didn’t hesitate for a moment to sign.
Later that week, newspapers reported their submission of petition to the EC-with more than 100 thousand signatures from females all over Bangladesh- who come from various walks of life. The newspapers also reported that the EC accepted their demand- that WOMEN COULD TAKE PICTURES WITH THEIR HIJAB ON- NO NEED TO SHOW THEIR EARS.
This was just a few days after the EC published a notice saying women and men are allowed to take pictures with hijab and cap- but in that case they need to show their ears!!!
I never heard anything as bizarre as this, and was feeling ashamed about the level of knowledge our Honorable EC’s possess. If they DO show their ears – then HOW ARE THEY FOLLOWING HIJAB!?Labels: expression of myself, thoughts
I just came across this wonderful article by a new revert, and so couldn't help sharing this here. However, I can't copy and paste, so I am just giving the link. It's there on the title, and I am giving it
here again.
This gender issue seems to be a hot topic among Non Muslims, and also among some "feminists" all over the world. The new Muslima has answered them right away.
Labels: thoughts
Yvonne Ridley's superb articles are all a "must-read". Here is another master piece by her. Just as I came through it, I thought it MUST be shared here.
Feminism, Islam and Women’s RightsYVONNE RIDLEY on 28 March, 2008 03:24:00
I HAVE been a feminist for as long as I can remember and have always stood up for women's rights.
But as soon as you mention feminism it has certain men raising their eyes heavenwards and creates an 'us and them' division.
Actually this irrational male fear of feminism is pretty much universal and crosses nationalities, skin colour, cultures and religions, so we can't blame the usual suspects.
Sadly, the Western feminist movement of the 70s neglected the needs of Muslim women and failed to address cultural differences.
The net effect excluded non-Western women or forced Muslim sisters to compromise their beliefs to fit in with a lifestyle at odds with Islam.
There are so many misconceptions about feminism but I would suggest that false male superiority is more evident in the Christian Church than in Islam.
For instance, the Rev Pat Robertson, a man who has the ear of the President of the United States, is horrified at the thought of empowered women.
He has his own TV station with a following of millions and is one of the most powerful figures in America's Bible Belt. He said: “Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”
The term feminism was first used in France in the 1880s by writer Hubertine Auclert, to criticise male domination. She was merely trying to highlight the fact that the women's rights and emancipation which had been promised by the French Revolutionaries had not materialised.
Ever since then the term feminism has inspired many movements and continues to do so today.
There are those who believe that Islamic Feminism is a contradiction in terms.
I would humbly suggest that Islamic feminism, has nothing to do with those poor, confused sisters like Irshad Manji, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Amina Wudood – who talk endlessly of Islam’s need to modernize.
I would say to them if you want to go off and start your own movement, just do it. The Islam you talk about never has and never will exist. There’s no compulsion in religion … just don’t let the door whack you on the way out!
They are as deluded as those backward brothers who simply do not see an equal when they look at a sister.
Strive as they might to treat all women as equals, they simply can not shake off their mentality or culture.
I did not embrace Islam to become a second class citizen as anyone who tries to treat me as a lesser being will discover.
Islamic Feminism derives its understanding and mandate from the Holy Qur'an, which offers a blueprint for the rights and justice of women, as well as the men.
The Qur’an states quite clearly women are equal in spirituality and worth and education.
Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) clearly revered and adored women for their strengths and their weakness.
But he insisted that Paradise was under the feet of the mothers and told us that the most important person in the home is the mother – the mother – the mother.
The first revert to Islam was a woman, the first martyr to Islam was a woman and the guardianship of the first ever copy of the Qur’an in book form was entrusted to a sister. Sisters fought alongside the Prophet (pbuh) and their Companions on the battle field as well as tending the wounded, promoting dawah work and even sacrificing and offering their children as scholars and martyrs of the future.
Muslim women continued to take part in jihad over the centuries ... in Iraq, for instance, they fought alongside their men during the 1920s against the British Army.
History, I can reveal, is repeating itself once more in Iraq as women actively take up arms against the illegal occupiers.
As a feminist I was aghast at the rights bestowed on Muslim women 1400 years ago – these are rights which have only come into the gift of Western women in the last century. Inheritance, home ownership, business and trading was inconceivable 100 years ago for our sisters in the West.
It took until 1928 for all adult women in the UK were finally able to vote.
As a point of interest in the Muslim world Kenyan, Palestinian, Iraqi and Pakistani women became eligible to vote in the mid to late 40s followed a decade later by their sisters in Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius, Malaysia and Algeria.
Swiss and Portuguese women - remember this are part of Europe - had to wait until the 70s for the privilege.
Margot Badran from Georgetown University, who specialises in women and gender in Muslim societies, says Islamic feminism is, in many ways, far more radical than secular feminism.
I'm not sure if we are more radical, but as I stated before, we have the perfect mandate for equality in the pages of our Holy Qur’an … the word of Allah (swt) and there isn’t a Muslim man alive who would be wreckless enough to challenge the word of God.
Consider the ayaat affirming mutuality of responsibilities and equality as stated in sura nine, verse 71 of the Qur'an which says that "The believers, male and female, are protectors of one another."
The Holy Qur’an maps out a perfect blue print for feminism and this has not gone unnoticed by Western women like myself who started reading the Qur’an and were amazed by the contents.
That is why, I believe, more women in the West today are choosing Islam above any other faith. Everything that the feminist of the 70s strived for is embraced in Islam.
I believe that Islamic feminism will soon become a global phenomenon and is neither a produce of the East or the West … it was created by women for women – sisters across the planet.
Some believe there is a "clash" between "secular feminism" and "religious feminism" but again this is largely the concept produced by mischief makers, after all the thought of solidarity among women terrifies some men.
This solidarity was never more evident when student Vida Samadzai was crowned Miss Afghanistan and later paraded around at a beauty pageant in a bikini.
Organisers hailed her emergence as a victory for women's liberation ... a silly statement which received universal condemnation from feminists of all faiths and no faiths.
Islamic feminism advocates women's rights, gender equality, and social justice but now we need to get the message through to the media that Muslim women are not silent, oppressed creatures.
Journalists need to be abl to separate the difference between male-dominated cultures and Islamic practice. Forced marriages, honour killings and little or no education for women is simply not Islamic.
Sadly, Islamic feminism is subverted by patriarchal influences and practices in the Muslim world.
But I would remind these men of the farewell address made by the Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) which has deep relevance to the sisterhood. He said: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white (person) has no superiority over a black (person) nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action."
For instane, there is not a single woman who will go into the Hellfire simply because she is a woman. Women, like men, will be judged on their piety and not their wealth, power, good looks or position in society.
There is also nothing in the Holy Qur’an to say women must be servile to men, cook the dinner, wash his clothes or wait on him. Marriage is a partnership and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made that extremely clear in his last sermon.
Critics of Islam are quick to mention subjugation of Women’s rights and Freedom of Speech as Islamic Law’s main failures. They would do well to remember that 1400 years ago the Holy Qur’an established that women could gain separation from their spouses - English Law realised this in 1857 and other western societies followed later.
Yvonne Ridley is a British renowned journalist, captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan, while on assignment with the London’s Sunday Express in 2001. She subsequently converted to Islam and now works for the Iranian-based 24-hour English language news channel Press TV, where she fronts her own London-based current affairs show, The Agenda. She was a regular contributor and columnist of defunct Muslims Weekly-New York, the parent newspaper of DailyMuslims.com.
She continues her weekly column for DailyMuslims.com. Labels: feminism, thoughts
Have you ever experienced the loss of someone too close? What about the clown of the house? I have one and I know what it means to have a toddler in the house. It brings the joy, the happiness and many many beautiful moments each day to our house. Every thing it does, every gesture, every word- we feel like recording for good.
Then again, what if.... what if.... such a toddler is killed in its cradle.... not by any disease, but a missile... what was the sin of this innocent toddler that it was killed??
OH YES, it was born in a Muslim Family!!
I just came through this heart-breaking article, and I couldn't stop my tears. Not that they are too cheap, but I just couldn't help them. I couldn't, check if you can-
Killed in CradleBy Ola AttallahMohamed was killed in an Israeli raid in Gaza. The mother put him kindly in his cradle. The father bent over to kiss the chubby cheek of the five-month toddler. "Come on! Grow up sweat heart," whispered the father Naser tenderly in the ears of Mohammad. "Our baby will grow up, play hide and seek and marry the prettiest of the girls."
"We will always love you and get you the best of clothes and toys," added his wife Eman as they kept looking at the sleeping angel.With his innocent look and broad smile, Mohammad came to this life after
five long years of patience and impotency endured by his parents. They wanted nothing but a baby who brings joy to a life growing mundane and gives purpose to it under a paralyzing Israeli punishment and a crippling blockade. Mohammad will not grow up; he will not smile any longer neither will he play hide and seek. "The bastards killed him," shouted tearful Naser.
Mohammad was killed Wednesday, February 27, in one of the deadly Israeli missile attacks on Gaza."I ran like crazy to Mohammad's cradle. He was motionless," the bereaved father recalled the heart-wrenching scene.Naser rushed his bleeding baby to the hospital in the immediate vicinity but it was too late."He was already dead. The Israelis killed this helpless innocent toddler," said Naser with a tinge of bitterness in his voice.
All TargetedIn killing a toddler, Naser says Israel is targeting all Palestinians.
"Why on earth did they kill our joy?" cried Naser."Why did they deprive me of the love of my life? Why did they kill him?"
At least 32 Palestinians, a third of whom were children, were killed in two days of unabated Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. Four children, aged eight, nine, 11 and 12, were killed Thursday, February 28, in an Israeli raid as they played football in the northern town of Jabaliya. Another 12-year-old boy died of wounds sustained in a Gaza raid the previous day.The chief of Israel's internal security service (Shin Bet), Yuval Diskin, drew fire last month after considering children and civilians killed in indiscriminate Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the past two years as "terrorists."At Mohammad's cradle, the mother was still in a state of shock that she could not speak.
The grandmother was sitting nearby kissing a mobile photo Naser took of Mohammad minutes before his passing away."God damn this world as it stands idly while Israel kills a toddler?" Umm Naser fumed."
What if Mohammad was Israeli not Palestinian?"
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Why is this world so cruel? Don't we have anything to do to save these inhumane actions? Why do we always have to be victim, while they go away unnoticed, untrialed.
I have nothing to tell this berieved family, but just to quote from the Qur'an:
"
Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant then Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded.That is the supreme success."- (Surah Tauba, Ayah 111)
Rejoice, dear family of Muhammad, rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. What can be a success more supreme than this??
And I sit here, blogging, with teary eyes and a heart filled with envy for you. How successful trade you have accomplished!!!
Labels: thoughts
Those who remember me from my posts in 2005 may remember my extra affection for the book "Don't Be Sad". It's there in my favorite books list. Today, after long, I found an article which seemed interesting. As I was reading, I was feeling this sounded familiar. And yeap, it does, indeed. Only when I finished did I get to see it is taken from that book!
Seemed interesting to me (for the second time), check how it might be helpful to you. Link is enclosed with the title.
Do not expect gratitude from anyoneIndeed, Allah is the All-AppreciativeAlmighty Allah has created His servants so that they may worship and remember Him, and He has provided sustenance for them so that they may be grateful to Him. Nevertheless, many have worshipped other than Him, and the majority of people are thankful not to Him, but to others. Indeed, the characteristic of ingratitude is widespread among human beings. So, do not be dismayed when you find that others forget your favors or disregard your kind acts. Some people might even despise you and make you an enemy for no other reason than that you have shown them kindness.
Almighty Allah says:
(
And they could not find any cause to bear a grudge, except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His Bounty.] (ِAt-Tawbah 9:74)
From among the ever-repeating pages of history is a story of a father and his son: The father raised his son, fed him, clothed him, and taught him; he would stay up nights so that his son could sleep, stay hungry so that his son could eat, and toil so that his son could feel comfort. And when the son became older and stronger, he rewarded his father with disobedience, disrespect, and contempt.
So, be at peace if you are requited with ungratefulness for the good you have done. Rejoice in your knowledge that you will be rewarded from the One Who has unlimited treasures at His disposal. This is not to say that you should refrain from performing acts of kindness toward others; the point is that you should be mentally prepared for ingratitude.
Perform acts of charity seeking solely Allah's pleasure, because with this attitude you will assuredly be successful. The ungrateful person cannot really harm you. Praise Allah that that person is the transgressor and that you are the obedient servant. Also, remember that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives.
Allah, the Most–High, says:
[
We feed you seeking Allah's Countenance only. We wish for neither reward nor thanks from you.] (Al-Insan 76:9)
Many people are shocked at the nature of ingratitude in others, as though they had never come across this verse and others like it, such as:
[
And when harm touches a person, he invokes Us [Allah], lying down on his side or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on his way as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him.] (Yunus 10:12)
Hence, do not be in a state of agitation if you give someone a pen as a gift and he or she uses it to satirize you, or if you give someone a walking stick to lean upon and he strikes you with it. As pointed out earlier, most human beings are ungrateful to their Lord, so what kind of treatment should you and I expect?
Labels: thoughts
temporary blogging, temporary life
It's always happened with me. I just get into something with all the enthusiasm one can think of, and just then, I disappear- feeling absolutely out of interest.
It has always been the same with all my hobbies. I lost my interest in stamp collection after having around a thousand! And who would say about those fights with my siblings- ? We (the younger three) were always involved in finding out new and newer ways to come in possession of the stamps on each mail that comes in.
One day my elder brother donated to me all of his collection. And soon after, we, the two others also quit....
After that, or maybe simultaneously with that, it was reading. Maybe it still is there somewhere, but I often lose my concentration when I start with reading something.
Then, once upon a time it was blogging. I didn't feel bored to blog about almost everything that had happened, and yet, that also went off in a few months. Then again I went on coming and going for the last two years. It all started with this blog. And now, I only feel like paying a visit every few months or so, to see if it is still there.
My loyal blog page won't go, even if its eccentric writer is off for a year long vacation- and that happens often. WHat if the writer goes on the eternal vacation? Have I thought of that yet?
Maybe that's why I have concentrated on writing again- (i mean today, don't know for how long i wil continue) - so that at least something remains behind as a memory even if this eccentric human is no more.
Though those frequent exams that used to keep me back from writing are now over, that opened up a new "stream of exams" (totally different type ones, with no syllabus or no proper schedule and trust me, these are more tough). In reply to someone who had said "Life's trials never end, they keep coming, one after another", I remember replying, "No, they don't come one after another, they keep multiplying exponentially, they come 2 after one, then 4, then 8 and so on.."
Experiencing exactly the same in my practical life now...
Now it seems those exams were much better.You cud have easily passed even without studying that many hours a day. Noone even bothered to check whether it is studying that I am actually doing, with my doors closed and a"don't disturb" labeled on :D. And the uni life is always going to be missed. Though we always had many problems that were never sorted out, the bond with the friends is something never to be forgotten. How I still have huge laughs thinking about those silly days. Even a month ago I was there, and now I feel it is all too far away- unreachable.
Now, with so many things to work with, I feel like blogging, which was nowhere in the list. Well, I would be wrong if I say nowhere in the list. I actually made a new list and kept everything possible by me there.... :D (so you shouldn't be questioning about what percentage of it is accomplished)
Well, I must not be ungrateful. I still had the chance to spend some great days visiting my everdearest village in the weekends. And yeah, the weekends were never there in my uni days. Now at least I m getting 2 days of free time, when I can get back to my uni (i m not yet done with it anyways), or friends from any part of my life, or even childhood (i.e. village visit means going back to childhood for me- will explain that later). What more, last week I made it to as far as dream destination Cox's Bazar.
I must not miss to mention, we actually survived an accident on our way there, eyewitnessed a fire incident just behind our hotel, and to add to it, on our way back, we witnessed from as close as across the road a severe accident that had killed at least 20!!
How many times I need to express my gratitude and how many times I actually do/did is a big question now..
What was it that I really intended to write? Well i think there was no particular goal so I would just continue writing randomly.
I can hear someone/some people playing a popular cinema song "Ammajan ammajan" somewhere around in a loud speaker. That was not supposed to be anything important. But why I m writing it here is that the actor who acted with this song just recently passed away. And that too, all of a sudden, with no long/chronic disease or so as we usually expect a person to go through before death. We still have his deeds (cinemas he acted in, songs he did lipsing with, etc etc) but that person is no more there in this world! Did he ever think of this day when he was doing all these? Are these going to act as any savior in the trials he is facing over there?
Did I mention about that fire in a garments factory just a little further in our alley? We suddenly heard the siren of the fire brigade vehicles, and rushed to the balcony, from where we could see the smoke. Though we managed to take some pics (thought only smokes and audience can be visible there) I am yet to be informed with details about the casualty, if any....
Ahh, how less time it takes for one to transfer this address.
It is soooo temporary a place and yet we work, earn, save, struggle, strive, collect, possess, etc... and sometimes even without minding to compromise with ethics...just for this life so unloyal.
I never had thought of writing on this topic, when I suddenly started thinking just now-what about that day on our way to Cox's Bazar-had the accident been a little more severe, all of us could have been crushed into pieces - AT ONCE!
What about that fire that was blazing just behind our hotel. Had the focal point been a kilometer towards the west, we all could have been either burnt or trampled over!
What about those people in the bus. We got to know, like many others rushing towards Cox's Bazar on that holiday for picnic, this was also a picnic bus carrying some factory staff.I can easily guess they had a loud music on, with all of the attendees in their greatest look, just a second before the accident. But alas! The bus got suddenly banged into an electricity connector pillar (what do u call those??), and it broke into the bus, electrifying it wholly!! Those who wanted to go out got electrified themselves, bringing an end to all the fun and laughter-in a matter of milli seconds! What a strange and brutal way to embrace the eternal destination!
What if I were in that place?? I wonder where would I have been placed now! IT'S SO FREAKY TO EVEN THINK!!
Starting with nothing at all in mind, I ended up with some freaky thoughts that always are there in the background, but hardly ever comes into limelight! It's not rare that I come up with these eccentric thoughts and transfer some of these to others. But that's about it. How much of these thoughts are implemented in my daily life is the million dollar question at the moment.
I better concentrate on that now, and free you from your disturbed state for the meantime.
Thanks for the time (if anyone has really read this out there!!)!
Labels: thoughts
Eccentric Human's Eccentric Thoughts on New Year
Assalamu Alaikum WRT WBK.
Its the first of January and the new year.I opened my mailbox to see it flooding with new year wishes. samething happened to the inbox in my cell fone. Like others, u wud be expecting me to say Happy New Year now, but that's not what i m writing this for. Its just that on this day of new year my eccentric mind has got blocked with some eccentric thoughts and i was just thinking if i cud block your minds as well.
I know its new year, and many of us have wasted lotsa money and time wishing others 'happy new year', but i want to know if this new year is 'HAPPY' at all. maybe it is, for me, it really is. cos what don't i have? a closet full of 'good' clothings, 2 drawers full of'normal' clothes, a rack full of shoes, .. a loving family to love and take good care of, a full bunch of friends to roam around and share all bits and pieces of my colorful life with, and to eat- don't ask me- few days back we had Eid, and I am not finished yet with the feast..... And what don't i have...hmm... i will tell u later.. have to think abt that.
Now lemme tell u abt this sister of mine, who had more than what i do, who used to study like me, who had a loving family, good food , good clothings, and everything to live happily......... but, suddenly, just because she is an Iraqi/Afghan/Chechen Muslima, she had to lose everything.. she still is more beautiful and brilliant than me, but she has lost everything else-friends, family, home, love, education.... dreams! i guess her luck was worse than me.... now she has no home, no food, no family.... IS IT A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO HER?????
Its winter here now, and i brought out 3 jumpers,don't know when to wear those though.. and each night I sleep so cosily, its a hard task to get up in the shivering cold and pray the fazr prayers.. and after the prayers i feel like going back to that cosy bed for another sleep..when i m sleeping, i see good dreams, but never do i think of those people, those who lived always in the footpath-who don't have a single cotton dress to cover themselves from the shivering cold.. who spend their nights outside in the fog.. who never can think of affording a jumper to wear... those people might have been covering themselves with the last piece of torn cloth they have, while some of my brothers and sisters were dancing beside them, celebrating 31st night. Do they know it's 'HAPPY NEW YEAR'??
Mayb u didn't forget to thank your friend who gave u a tiny new year gift- but did u remember to thank Allah who has kept u living till this new year??(actually His gifts are so common and great in number that we take it as granted, and never remember to think what wud have happened without those)
Lets think abt those people who lost everything in the recent SIDR or the months-long flood that had prevailed in our country.. Thousands were left alone without any shelter, any home, any food. Though the government is assuring and re-assuring that none has died from lack of food-we know the reality is totally different. Many are still struggling to recover.... IS IT A HAPPY NEWYEAR TO THEM???
Did we remember to thank Allah for not including me among those unlucky people? did we ever think what big mercy He has done to us? where wud we have been if we were among those death people?Let's just close our eyes for a minute and think... (damn, i can't dare to do that , not for even a second).. but that IS an eternal truth.. That IS our last address..the dark grave..where we ALL will have to go one day. can we think abt that?? well, i can't..
So lets cum back to new year... well, who knows, Allah forbid, mayb this new year will take us to that address..is it time for us to celebrate new year? still, when we don't know what is going to happen to us in the coming year...mayb u r saying, we r celebrating cos we are still living, and have overcome the obstacle of the last year... u remain with ur ideas..
Did u lose any of ur relatives last year?mayb not anyone close to u, but u may have lost someone a far-relative to u, what are their close relatives thinking.. ?? many lost their mothers, fathers.. or anyone close,. are they celebrating a 'HAPPY NEW YEAR'?let's imagine ourselves in their positions.......................teet.. my imagination software is not working- i haveto stop imagining.ok, now the year has gone, and it is never gonna comeback..
lemme think abt the past year,, how many good deeds did i do?? (i think i can count with my hands) how many Ayahs did i memorize, how many nights did ispend in zikr of The Almighty, did i ever bother torecite the Quran with its meanings and try to activate upon it? how many Islamic books did i read, how many islamic programs did i attend? If i start writing the answers, it won't cover up a page, ask these questions to urself.. is it same to u? on the contrary,what if i ask, how many nights did i spend watching movies? how many movies did i watch (or shud i ask how many didnt i watch, to make the list small??) how many hours did i spend watching 'bogus' dance programs or music programs? how many songs did i memorize (is it more or less than the number of Ayahs of the Quran?) how many concerts did i take part in?how many new friends did i make in the net.. how many hours did i spend chatting worthless subjects like 'weather' with them? i don't think i can finish counting... pls forgive me. give me a minute to stop and start thinking.. these hours will never come back, i will never get that 2007 that went away. i will never get back those wonderful times i have spent with my friends and family, never ever again.. and the time i have wasted.. there is no use rather than to regret for it.. even if i repent, that time will not be mine again.. Do I feel like celebrating a 'HAPPY NEW YEAR?' .. for me, the answer is no, think the answer for urself.
just imagine, what if u were in that place of your iraqi/Afghan/Chechen sister, or ur poor cold-stricken brother, or ur brother who lost everything in the devastating SIDR.. put your feet in their shoes.. what wud be ur new year plans??? wud it be 'to live' or to'suicide'??or celebrate????
the new year that has come, do i know what is gonnahappen to me this year? the muslim (terrorist) world is under threat of the HUGE Superpower.. what if ur country is the next target?? what if an earthquake hits and half of the world gets under the ground.. ... think for urself.. i can't type anymore..had i been among those who died in SIDR,would i go to hell or heaven?? did i ever have to think that in my busy days?? think, and just imagine what wud happen if u were not allowed to add anymore good deeds to ur bag- wud it be enuff to take u to heaven?? if not, what wud u do.. can u think??
well, i m trying to, but my mind is getting blocked.
Now that another new year has come to our lives and weare still living by the Grace of Allah to think and decide.. what should we do this new year?? isn't it time for us to start doing the accounting? if we don't have enuff good deeds to balance our sins, thanks toAllah that we are still living.. but this might be our last chance-let's not forget to utilize the best of it!!
If this writing was able to touch your hearts and make u move, don't start thanking me, go thank the Almighty..all praise be to Him. and pray for the muslims.. sothat they all can realize what they shud do on this day of new year, include me in your prayers.. so that i don't just stop here, transferring my thoughts(whichi m good at).and that i can start activating as well (which i m worst at).May Allah help us all realize, and grant us the right path! Ameen!
And for those who came home late after celebrating 31st night, and are thinking i have wasted ur time by with this loooong and boooring post, .. its up to u to decide.. when u won't be able to go to heaven just for the lack of a few good deeds,( i pray we all can make it to heaven), don't blame me on that day. and if u r thinking , "ok , i agree with u, but i can't miss the new year party my friend is holding today", - i don't have anything to say.. except-"enjoy!-life is short and meant to enjoy, but when it will end, don't regret!" its not end yet..
one more fact to add.. well, mayb ur thinking i m a great thinktank, or so and so, but actually i just have these eccentric thoughts sometimes (so i post them up in my blog).. but i m really a very bad person.. so please pray for me, so that i can activate whatever good i m thinking..
and for those who are still thinking u shud celebrate new year, do u celebrate the 1st of Muharram?? or didn't u even know there is such a day?well there is ,and that is our new year. thanx for spending (is it completely a waste?) ur valuable time, reading this.
"WE CAN ONLY SEE WITH OPEN EYES,
WE CAN ONLY HEAR WITH OPEN EARS,
WE CAN ONLY THINK WITH OPEN MINDS"
MAY ALLAH OPEN THE MINDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE ON THIS DAY.
AMEEN.
(don't mind the spelling mistakes. I had written this as a mail on New Year 2005 and sent as a mail to my contacts-didn't know how else to express as I wasn't a blogger then. This year the same thought came back to me- so I did slight modifications and published again here-couldn't get the time to correct all those brief words)
Labels: thoughts
Points to Ponder
I have made a personal collection of "points to Ponder" from various old editions of Reader's Digest and as I can't think of posting anything new, I decided to post this-who knows, It may come in use to any of my readers(if any, lolzz).
1.Happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes u happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.
Dale Carnegie
2.Knowledge is not simply another commodity. It is never used up- it increases by diffusion and grows by dispersion!!
3.The great enemy of creativity is fear. Creativity has a lot to do with willingness to take risks!
4.The best preparation for work is not thinking about work, talking about work, or studying for work- IT IS WORK!!
5.Our only intangible goods are stored in our minds and hearts, when we don’t have them, no other treasure on earth can compensate for their absence!
6.Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.
7.If anything genuinely fiery does emerge, it is never the result of waiting, but of 20 or 30 years of effort, of resolute toil and exhausting will. “Supernatural” strength and performance are achieved by very natural ways and means.
8.To walk on the right path one has not to hear the sermons, but to see the living examples of cardinal virtues.....Syed Sulayman Nadwi (this line is taken from a book I once read by him)
9.Its not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours…Joyce Maynard
10.I endeavor to be wise when I cannot be merry, easy when I cannot be glad, content with what cannot be mended and patient when there be no redress… Elizabeth Montagu
11.Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you… H Jackson Brown
How was it?? I didn't bother to write the author's name in all cases. Pls don't mind.
Labels: thoughts
21 Rules of Life
Hello, all. I wanted to share something I found in a forward mail that sounded interesting. It says about 21 rules that may help us lead a good life-
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationship with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
And,most important of all,
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.
did u notice i didn't add no. 1?
it was-
1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery!!
But I am at a disagreement with it. cos, how would i know that i m marrying the right person before I get married to him??? is there any test? pls suggest, anyone!
Labels: LIFE and LIVING, thoughts
Weak willpower? NEVER
I have been suffering alot in the last few days from something I can name as "lack of spirituality and willingness"
I hav an assignment due day after tomorrow- a very big one, but yet I still didnt feel the inspiration to even sit for it!
I haven't opened the Quran in I dont know how many days...... DAMN!! (record i guess)
I havent joined an Islamic discussion in more than 3 weeks!
All I do is just offer my regular prayers.. with I dunno how little attentiveness...
One good thing is I loaded my mp3 with Quran and listened to it..
And I am planning to hav a boost up of Imaan and spirituality in Ramadan..
But I don't know how..
in the mean time i came through this
article in
www.islamonline.netAnd I think i got half of what i needed..
still pondering for the rest half ... inshaAllah not far I guess.
A must read for those feeling like me!
Labels: thoughts
life is not so smooth
Hibernating...
I dont know why i feel so bored to blog..
well, i dont feel that bored to read a blog.. today i was reading
astomeye 's blog, where i got a great inspiration for life..
asholei amader jibonta onek picchil.. we hav to wake up each time we fall.
dont feel like writing anymore..
ANd going to take a long break in Ramadan.. insha Allah this Ramadan is going to bring a new dimension in my life.. Plz pray that it does so.
Labels: LIFE and LIVING, thoughts
Look before you leap
Assalamu Alaikum All,
Life is going on Alhamdulillah fine- with events going on and off
Today I started writing keeping in mind a very renowned event that took place recently in World Sports.
I am sure none of you are unaware about that bull header of Zidane in WC finals.
The consequence was that he lost alot many things-final honor that he deserved, maybe the WC Championship also.. (after all, he did contribute in Italy's win)...
Every one knows about this more than me..
The reason I am writing this is to share a big lesson that I took from this event..
And that is that good old proverb- "Look before you leap"
I think I should tell myself this proverb a hundred times first.. cos it often happens with me that I take a decision and regret it and undo it again.. Some events are such that they can never be undone.. in that case regret is all I can do..when will I ever get out from this indecisive and unstable state of mind, Allah knows
I know what I need to do-be careful, but why do I forget this when I do something?!
I think I better stop doing anything or taking any decision myself..
May Allah help me..
Well, exams going on.. so no more blogging
Allah hafiz
and yeah, don't forget to pray for me, readers..
Labels: thoughts
You are never alone
Sometimes,
when the world's not on your side,
you find no where to run to,
You find no place to hide.
You gaze..
at the stars in the sky,
and the mountains so high,
through the tears in your eyes
Looking for a reason,
to replace what is gone
Just remember remember,
You are never alone
Just reach into your heart
and Allah is always there
Through sorrow and through grief,
through happiness and peace,
Just reach into your heart and Allah is always there..
So now
As you long for your past
Prepare for your future
But knowing nothing's gonna last
You see,
This world is but a road
A straight and narrow path
to our final abode
So travel well, O Muslim
And Paradise will be your Home
And always remember
That you are never alone!
Just reach into your heart
And Allah is always there
You are never alone!!
source :www.b4death.com
Labels: thoughts
TIME
time
by
pink floydTicking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter
Never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to nought
Or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way
The time is gone
The song is over
Thought I'd something more to say
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells
(copied from
bodda's blog)
ps. reminded me of Surah Asr-
"By the Time, surely Mankind is in great loss, except for those who believe, and do good deeds, and advise one another on Truth and advise one another on Patience".
Imam Shafi (RA) said, This Surah (Asr) is enough for people to remain on Hidayah, if they had acted upon it.
May Allah save us all from wasting time in vain.. Ameen
Labels: thoughts
