Sunday Surkhi--Yeh Lahore hay

Yeh Lahore hay What you see here are the familiar faces (to me of course) having undergone the "metamorphosis" over the period of 50 years. The beard growth of many is a later addition to all except one which is original, the one in the center, the largest white one (Khalid saheb mashallah hafizon key gharanay say ta'alluq rakhtay hain aur eye-specialist hain) We had the pleasure of just a couple of hours to say hello to each other. I t was enjoyable and we had some old times together. However we would have liked to be in those buildings where we studied and attended the classes, where we dreamed of being "great doctors and teachers of medicine". Of course these are my personal treasures, I hope my friends wont mind me sharing with you. In main say her aik kay saath aik lambee kahani wabistah hogi to bus sirf Khalid saheb ka naam likhnay per iktifa kiya hay. Hamari class kay 110 main say 22 Allah ko piyaray huway aur Khalid saheb kay saath hum sub nay dua-e-maghfirat ki un subkay liyay kih Allah unhain Jannat main Jagah ata fermayay. "Khak main kiya sooratain hongi kih pinhan ho gayeen"

Jum'ah Journal--Brain Plasticity

Plasticity, in medicine, means ability to redevelope structure and function. Most tissues in the body have ability to redevelope such as Liver or Kidney. This is not "scar formation" which is just replacement with fibrous tisse.
Not long ago we were taught that brain cells have no plasticity. Once you lose the cell that's the end of it. About 40 years ago some hopes started with experiments suggesting return of function and based on new cells. By now it is well-established that new brain cells can regenerate under circumstances of stimulation and mant experimantal and clinical examples have accumulated. The last decade of 20th century, some of you will remember, was called "the decade of the Brain" and all the advances in the brain research were documented regarding this.
A large number of conditions will benefit with such programs as Merzenich's brain firness programs etc. and future holds much more exciting things for us.
This is my personal interest and I have tried to re-orientate my brain without much success on my own (Did not work hard, must admit) to hear and interpret the electronic sounds through my Cochlear Implant system. I am going to embark upon a professional program now to see how much I imrove. (Just being a neurologist does not empower me enough to educate myself--well at my age perhaps-- again a feeling that can change as now we know otherwise)
(The Brain that changes itself--- by Norman Doidge MD Viking 2007)
The note of the great teacher of medicine (Osler) may haveto be changed!!!!!

"Common sense nerve fibers are seldom medullated before forty--they are never seen with a microscope before twenty" (Dr. William Osler, 1849-1910)

Neuro exam

In my neurologic examination I have to use a name and address given to the patient and ask him to remember that for five minutes when I check his memory. (how much he recalls)
So I gave my old address and the name of Richard Greenberg.
Mr. Greenberg was a patient of Myasthenia Gravis during my residency who died in a crisis situation and I was very upset and disturbed by that loss. Somehow you cannot save all the patients you want to save as a physician. (In this case there were more effective therapeutic interventions that became available later, alas too late for Mr. Greenberg.)
Well, many of the physicians also check orientation and alertness of the patient as part of general physical examination (Those of you who are physicians know what I am talking about).
Remember those days of:
"She loves you, yeah yeah yeah" and
"I want to hold your hand"
Beatles were known and loved all over the world.
I used to ask patients (I was in England then)
"Give me the first names of the beatles" and sure enough if the patient was alert would come right out " John, Paul, George and Ringo". The diagnosis of confusion was sure if that did not happen.
You all know neuro exam is funny anyhow. Just ask a person who has undergone neuro exam from a doctor who wanted to make sure about the "BABINSKI'S SIGN" (Scratching the sole with a pointed object from outer side of heel and foot to the ball of the big toe in an inverted "L" shape.)

Missed Sunday__Lonely fight

Ali has shown improvement with temp. falling to normal.
He asked me what else can I tell him, I asked him what did I say last time
He remembered correctly (Listening with somewhat sleepy eyes, but) evidently listeneing very attentively to what I say. This has always been usual with him. "Tell me uncle something to remember" And I end up scratching my head to come up with something.
So I had told him, baitay this illness and lying in bed away from all the hullabalu of the life with attractions and distractions, is a lonely fight with the disease.
You are the only warrior in this battle. It is one on one fight.
Others who come to help you they ask you how are you and pray for you and they wish you well etc. etc. and the doctors and nurses come and give you medicines and words of comfort and in fact try to make you comfortable in bed etc. etc.
But YOU fight the illness yourself and you have to gather all your inner strength of spiritual and psychological and physical powers to put them to work for you. Nobody can do that BUT you.
I told him I went through an illness in my younger days being in bed for about three months or so. I remember missing all the fun that others were able to enjoy by just going out and seeing their friends, classmates and relatives. I missed doing things that I used to do to have fun. My brother brought books, novels for me to read, of which I still remember the one that I enjoyed most "The hound of the Baskervilles" and others like "saint" series.
I was not as comfortable reading English novels then but these "mysteries" captured my attention very easily. (I was more comfortable reading Urdu.)
I remembered my "loneliness" and so I told him dont feel lonely but try to get your inner spiritual strength based on Iman and your personal connection with your Creator. That will help your recovery insh-Allah
Ali still needs lots of prayers folks.

Jum'ah Journal--In--sha-Allah

Surah Al-Kahf the 18th sura has, "And never say of anything, I will do it tomorrow without adding, " if Allah wills" (Aya 23-4) Al-Qur'an
Most or all of you who know this sura and the background when God , The Almighty "instructed" the prophet , PBUH for missing to say "in- sha-Allah" about the story of "the people of Cave", and do not need to be reminded for it. However that may not be the only reason why the Muslims use this "phrase" so commonly in their everyday conversation, in addition to, a host of other similar phrases, like bismillah, al-hamdulillah and Yerhamukumullah etc.
so what is so special about it?
A certain Michael Slackman writes in New York Times,
"In Egypt, God's will rules conversation"
He says whether Muslim or non-Muslim they all say in Shaa-Allah with what ever they talk about. (and he is not wrong) What bothered me were statements like
"In sha Allah has become the linguistic eqivalent of head-scarf on women and prayer bump, the spot where worshipers press their foreheads into the ground during prayers, on men"
The ignorance of the writer (Slack man is his real name, please dont take offence if I wrote separately) is too obvious. Maybe he has not seen women placing their foreheads (not pressing) or wearing a "mehrab" (as we Muslims commonly call it). The writer does not realize this is not necessarily indicative of "religiousness" of the person and if the Christians (in Egypt or any other Muslim lands) say in--sha-Allah, they are not imitating Muslims they too use the words with their faith as I have heard from so many Christians here in USA "God-willing" and I remember my Christian Egyptian Colleage always reminded me when I said In shallah to add "T'Aala" and I would say In sha-Allah-u T'Aala.
So why is that a newsworthy item or a surprise for the writer when we as Muslims have been saying that for more than 1400 years (and have not just picked up recently) and why, I presume the writer to be Christian (or Jew, whatever), should he write concernedly? Looking at the Old and new Testaments, I counted God's Will mentioned no less than 18 times (English translations from original Aramaic and Hebrew Scriptures)
and all Christians religious or not religious know the "Lord's Prayer "God's Will be done on earth as in Heaven....) my own way of saying for emphasizing God's Will.
This writer thinks this is "rising tide of religion" and "Observance, if not necessarily piety, is on the rise, as Islam becomes, for many, the cornerstone of identity"
Cornerstone of Identity of a Muslim? and Mr. Slackman recognises well and quotes himself that these phrases are used by Christians just as much.
May I suggest to Mr. Slackman to visit other Muslim countries also so that he becomes comfortable about the use of such language and not feel "threatened" from the rise of Islam
unnecessarily.
Well, I wish I could write in the local newspaper where this "column appeared, but I am not
a good writer. Maybe my children may like to write as they have done before.

Brown or something like that.

My friend, "Zindagi ki diary" sometimes inspires me.
She was popular with everybody in the hospital and I could see why!!
She always wore an infectious smile on her face. She was in fact "thirty something" and was very regular in my outpatients. A youngman younger in age than her would roll her wheelchair to bring her (was an attractive fellow). It was nothing un-usual that I was also'kind' to her (everybody else was).
She had two very disabling diseases that had left her unable to walk and unable to see and in addition had borderline-normal kidney function.
At that age every woman's wish to become a mother is strong and I noticed the relationship of the youngman with her till one day they told me they are getting married. I was very happy and continued to look after her as before in my O.P. (outpatient).
One day she was admitted in the hospital under my care, as she was very sick. I worked very hard for her and she had developed complications of both diseases which were devastating to say the least. I had my pulmonary and cardiac colleagues helping me to control those deadly complications and the way she tolerated her fever and all, showed her stoic and courageous personality and on top of that she maintained her smiling attitude throughout except when fever was high. She had already won my (and everybody else's) heart including all the nurses who looked after her.
Later, with God's Grace she did get better and was followed in my O.P. as before. When her kidney function (that had suffered more during this hospitalization of six+ weeks) showed some improvement I talked with her about whether she wants to have a child. Needless to say that pregnancy would be a dangerous undertaking for her so both she and her husband agreed to take the risk.
If ever I have wished any of my patient in my life to have a baby that was the one.
She concieved and I told her to consult the best Ob-Gyn person in town but she lost the baby in the first trimester. I still encouraged them not to be despondent. (She was still smiling, mind you). One day she told me about her pregnancy and I was happy. Next, after some time she brought her baby and gave me the baby's picture.
I treasure that picture very much (along with other memorablia of my days of medical practice)
Her name was some color, like "brown or something like that" I would not give you the real color for obvious reasons.

What is real Doctoring

Current medical world is all caught up in specialization and sub-specialization. Somehwere in the specialist is located a doctor who may not be as obtrusive as he aught to be. Many a times the physician's attention is drawn and held in the ancillary details of lab work and X-rays, CT and MRI scans etc. at the expence of 'ignoring' the patient. (I am not saying that these studies are not important, they are and they have a place)
A doctor should always be keeping the patient in view and his/her health which is the doctor's real concern. Recently I read with horror detail of a "case" (not mentioning the patient or the doctor) where some very important clinical detail was ignored (patient's complaint) and specialist surgery was undertaken with results that turned out to be disasterous. The hospital, the administration, the specialty surgeries, the nurses etc. all were placed under scrutiny.
Doctors are, after all human beings and certainly can make mistakes, but ignoring such complaints that are taught in all medical schools with emphasis, is unpardonable. These type of mistakes should not happen at all. "Listening to the patient" is the most important part of making a diagnosis, of treating and of developing rapport with the patient which is more important in doctor-patient relationship than performing an appendectomy. Listening to the patient is more important than ordering and looking at the Xray or MRI scan. A specialist is a "doctor" first and specialist after. This profession demands the utmost care in the physicians day to day activities and the responsibility is indeed heavy for each physician. That is his/her ethical and moral duty regardless of the fact that he/she follows a particular religion or not or even if, an atheist. In the hurried life of the physician of today there must be a' time' reserved for 'listening to the patient'.

Sunday Surkhi-fathers day

Well, I was in Kentuky this morning and in my friend's place happened to listen to Pakistani channel news
Surprised to hear, " All over the world 'fathers day' being celebrated"
When I lived in Pakistan or England, never heard of Fathers or mothers days, but I guess they have become more common as US culture has really taken over the world.
Here are some fathers thoughts for today
I miss you my son those times I spent trying to play with you inspite of being tired so that you feel happy. I miss your bright eyes when you would learn some new skill or even just a new word adding to your rapidly increasing vocabulary. I miss your expectant and eager looks when I would explain something even if it was just how to make a paper boat. I miss........... and then I wished and prayed for the best in your scholastic acheivements and college and University achievements.
then I wish you the best in your accomplishments of your "life-partner" and and then yourself becoming a father.
Even though you are a father I still wish you the best and pray for you the same from Almighty
O my daughter, I miss your little fingers and hands that held me for support. I miss you your smile and hug for the old man. and yes I miss your eagerness of learning and miss your quiet playing with the dolls in a corner of our house. I miss your tender thoughts on festival occasions and miss your full enagagement in helping out your little friends. And then I miss your happiness on the success you so deservedly obtained after hardwork in your school and college. I miss your development of maturity in your thoughts with cross discussions with us all, (parents and siblings)
And then now I wish you the best in your life with your life partner and the new child/ren.
I pray for you always and O my children you are all in my thoughts today and I am as proud of you as much I can be, wishing you all the best.
I take your leave with the famous prayer for you all that was the 'thoughts and prayer' of Ibrahim (PBUH)
"O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular prayer and also among my offsprings, O our Lord! and accept thou my prayer. O our Lord! cover us with Thy forgiveness, me, my parents and all believers on the Day that reckoning will be established." (S. Ibrahim 14th, Aya 40-41)

Jum'ah Journal-- early quote

A well-known saying of the prophet PBUH is: "Innamal-'amaalo binniyaat"
All actions (will be judged ) by the intentions (with which they are performed).
I was talking about the Muslim Wedding. A small experience of a Jewish wedding for you.
I was to wait for the performance of Islamic sermon for the Muslim boy and the Jewish girl because in the jewish ceremonies the first was like this:
The groom and the bride stand before the Rabbi and "declare their intention" to enter into the wedlock.
I thought that was very interesting and then I started my khutba where I mentioned about this similarity (with Jewish custom) of all Islamic acts of worship (including getting married) must have an intention (albiet in the heart or sometimes say in it words (like we do for salat and fasting).
Intention is most apparant in the fasting for obvious reasons.
We dont usually realise the importance of all the instructions we have and the guidance we have been given through Muhammad PBUH, the greatest teacher, by the most merciful God. Yes we would be lost without it. How can we thank Him enough

Sunday Surkhi-late

Sometimes one gets busy for no special reason but sometimes for very good reason.
I am late for the later here.
Daughter of a very good friend of mine was getting married. I reminded her father that I had attended his graduation of college degree.
I was asked to give a nasiha (advice) in one sentence, so I told the groom
"Listen to your wife and lookafter her"
Hearing is different from listening as you might already know. Understanding the proposed meanings of the words spoken sometimes can be very different from those intended by the speaker. The real purpose of listening is to recieve the message being conveyed by the speaker in its pure form. Mis-inderstandings are the basis of many disputes, quarrels, rows, altercations etc. and I have seen disasterous results in some families. In Muslim 'wedding ceremonies" some sermon is a must (Khutba) which includes that part of aya from sura 33rd".... and always say a word directed to the right"
In"Bridge" (a game of cards) there is a position called "Vulnerable" and it is very interesting that simple words can acquire so many different 'meanings' depending upon the state you are in or on the type of relationship you have with the speaker. That is whatI call vulnerability. This is not what sometimes you take the sentence "out of context" where there is "different meaning"
Therefore listening and understanding is of paramount value in a spousal relationship.
Having said that, I am reminded of the fact that the same is true in other family relationships also. So, please be careful with your words that you listen and those that you utter. May God bless you with happiness.

Jum'ah Journal--Second mother

My wife was expecting and I needed an experienced lady who could be of help for the new baby etc. so we found Mary. (her real name BTW and hope she will forgive me as she is such a forgiving lady always.)
Not knowing how she will do in handling the baby we could not 'trust' her although we had by the time our first baby was born were aware of her clean habits and meticulous care she would take in doing everything and was religiously punctual and totally dependable. So when Nancy and Nasim visited us she told (compaliningly) Nancy "these two doctors dont let me do anything with the baby and I am dying to hold that baby so much, can you tell them something please?"
Then we decided to entrust Our firstborn with her and she was soooo good that, in my wife's words, "I'll trust Mary more than I can trust you (father of the baby)"--- that is in case of baby handling etc.. Of course she became the second mother for my children.
It would be impossible for me to tell you about how remarkably she spent ten years with us when we had to move out of that town. We still miss her. My children respect her and love her like their own mother. We like to visit her every now and again. She is a diamond hidden in the mud. Needless to say we never found another "Mary" but that I knew very well we wont ever. How can there be another one like her.
She looked after us the way nobody can. From her meager wages, she would still give in charity. She would never speak ill of others. Hassan told her with the typical childhood confidence and the reassuring tone, "Mary why dont you become a Muslim you will go to Paradise".
You see, Mary is a good Christian and this is equal to a" good Muslim" in the moral and upright behaviors.
Mary, my hats off to you.
Mary, I can never thank you enough from the bottom of my heart and will always pray for you.

Haram-prohibited

"Common sense nerve fibers are never seldom medullated before forty--they are never seen with a microscope before twenty" (Dr. William Osler, 1849-1910)

Our brother wanted to practice real Islam so when he wanted to use his credit card he called up KSA to make sure doing that would be OK for a Muslim.
"No no it is haram"
He talked to his bank and wanted to return the card so he asked KSA just to make sure about keeping money in the bank.
"No, no, no, it is haram"
Now he went to his employers to pay him cash because he does not have any bank.
They told him they can only give out checks. No way he can use checks so he called KSA
" Brother you cant work there coma back to KSA."
I remember the discussion in the Ulama circle during the time when money changed from coins to paper notes under the British Raj whether Sharia would allow this paper money to be used by Muslims. (If it was up to KSA they would have declared it haram)

Sunday Surkhi-Islam and dancing

I am sorry some of the readers of these lines may dislike it but I must say something. Please dont scold me, just call me ignorant. Today's CNN posted "Imam Barri" of R'Pindi-Islamabad area in the news. The title was suggesting, "Islamic religious festival of dancing for five days" (asking for figiveness by dancing as much as possible, we are told). When I lived in Pakistan ("44 to '61) I was not given to Imams and dergahs and khanqahs. I may have visited Maila chiraghan during my Lahore stay (for fun only) and only thing I visited for some times was"Data's derbar" (Syed Ali Hijweri's Khanqah) for dua, the last time was so many years ago I dont remember what dua was it that I wanted from Allah SWT for myself. No, I am not "wahabi" and have strong ideas against his(Muhammad Ibn Wahab) teachings. I grew up in a home of simple Islam even though my father was a 'graduate' of ( yr. 1900) Deoband. He had never sat down with children to discuss or teach "Islam", for whatever reason (he rarely had time for these things). So I never developed an understanding of Pir-Murid or Sufi type of Islam. O! I did visit several khanqahs and sat with knees folded in the company of some pirs, showing my respect, never asked any question etc. and never learnt anything. I thought of such "pirs" are "future occupants" of some khanqah or dergah shareef. Of course I had heard all kinds of stories about Imam Barri's "festival". Most Muslims of India and Pakistan and Bangla Desh know of Ajmer shareef (I wonder why people dont call it Lahore shareef) and I have no idea who he was and what he taught. I do have some knowledge about "Hijweri" and have read one of his books (Kashf-ul-Mahjoob), but know nothing about Imam Barri. In fact listening to the "N'arah" of Imam Barri I always thought it was some kind of local Mailah(festival?) and never gave "religious" meaning to it. The other dance I know of is that of "the whirling Darwish", about which you may know more but again I never gave it any more thought than of many persons who I have seen in my childhood in my village life going into "wajd" on hearing some great "n'at or n'atia qawwali" and I was confused about the real reason of "wajd" whether it was "hubb-e-Rasool" (SAWS) or the drum beat. (The Imam Barri dance festival is of course associated with that famous punjabi dhol). I am evidently not fond of dancing, even if "religious" and I am quite sure that I have never come across 'dancing' as part of religious ritual in Islam, though many other religions in the world have promoted it. In Islam, Salat and Hajj are "physical" but hardly call it 'dance' even the "ramal" of circumambulation, and rushing between "malain akhdharain". You have already guessed from my writing that I am somewhat skeptical and totally ignorant of these aspects of Islamic culture (I dont know what else to call it so forgive me, but I cant call it part of Islamic religion). Alhamdulillah I am a simple Muslim.