Jum'ah Journal-Urdu and Qur'an-el-Hakeem

Some times the words of Qur'an have similar meanings and some times different from what we use them in Urdu. I will make an interesting example of similar meanings (Basically my note is for non-Arabic speaking Urdu speaking Muslims):
In the last rukoo'a of Sura al-Ahzab (33rd) "We indeed OFFER the trust to the......." That is the translation of "inna 'aradnaa 'alassamawat...." The word --'Aradnaa-- is used in Urdu when writing an application which is called " 'ardee" or 'arzee" (Ain ray zwad and yay)--that is a 'subject' writing to a superior whereas in Quran the Superior is "offering" to inferior. The opposite of presenting or offering or showing is taking away from or avoiding or shunning which is used in Qur'an by placing alif before the a'arada like: "Therefore SHUN those who turn away from ...." (Sura Najm aya 29) --"Fa- a'arid amman tawalla...."
Actually Urdu speaking persons have so much more in Qur'an they can understand by paying attention to the words which they are actually familiar but may think they are not. "I'araaz" is a word used in Urdu in the same meaning as in Qur'anic Arabic as in the example I have given above of Sura Najm. It just makes reciting Qur'an so much more meaningful.

Jum'ah Journal

This is not so much about Islam but more a personal note.
Sometimes some of your relative may have married "outside" meaning non-Pakistani or Indian while living and making life here and although it may not necessarily be embarrassing "the relative" tends to become aloof or isolated (from family or IndoPak society--to a certain extent). Life here is so busy, who cares, that is neither the one who is "lost" nor the one who is not. May be there is embarrassment in marrying non-Muslim, whatever, but no doubt it has been frequently observed and I'm sure you all have that experience). There are many causes, reasons and ifs and buts associated but in the long run a relative is a relative a brother or sister or cousin whatever.
I have personally felt it is "unnecessary" but that may be because I married "within" As time passes and things change life undergoes many types of metamorphoses and thoughts and feelings undergo such alterations too.
The plethora of communication channels that has been introduced through the computer like email, twitter, flixter, facebook netlog etc. etc.(and I keep getting new sources daily) has opened up several possibilities previously considered impossible (I wonder how PI or 007 s of today would approach these things).
So I had a surprise this Friday, through facebook, or rather somebody found me after several years, seeing my facebook appearance. I was beginning to be critical fearful and almost getting to be "anti-facebook" and now...... well I have to think. Such pleasant surprises do not come daily anyway. Some sadness is always mixed, as it was more than 4 yrs ago when my sister died and I kept wondering about her only son when he would contact me (he did not have direct contact or had lost it) as I am located within the US (so is he). So I ended up telling him the sad news.

Live and Let Die

I chanced upon the above caption from BMJ of last week (British Medical Journal)
--I do n ot read BMJ any more now--
First the essentials as I gather from the report (Very briefly)
A certain, Kerrie Wooltorton enters a hospital alert and having swallowed "antifreeze" (in lethal amounts) and also produces a valid document (legally binding) to refuse life-saving treatment (Why was she brought to the Hospital and by whom?).
The doctors watched her die, could not do anything (legally prevented) to save her. Sad indeed.
This was her NINTH time she had ingested the stuff, so her plan was perfect to kill herself as she had been saved the previous eight times.
Investigations, etc. etc.
Leaving aside the legal matters I wish to make a few statements.
For a Muslim patient it is Haram to refuse life saving treatment when it is known and likely to save the life, just like it is Haram to commit suicide.
A Muslim patient can refuse treatment if it is not proven or if it involves forbidden-haram- things (or ask for alternative unforbidden - halal medications/methods)
Once the patient is in the hospital the physicians are obliged to treat the patient except for the fact that patient has the freedom to refuse any treatment, the doctors may advise the patient as strongly as they can (they are free to advise).
Even if there is a valid documentation like
"Living Will" or "Advanced Directive"
The patient, if alert and can talk can, Change his/her mind and ask to be treated, will require signatures for that (properly witnessed). The problem of Ms. Wooltorton however was complicated by her mental illness which can be as exacting for the physicians as it is for the patient.
As before I would urge all my Muslim readers to look into signing an advanced directive or living will when living here in US or in the West.

Sunday Surkhi- Waziristan/Taliban

So, who is fighting who in Pakisan.
I can blame the goverment to declare war on Waziristan and blame Waziristan if they support killing Pakistani innocent Muslims.
It is totally unrewarding to blame "forieg elements" like India and America to have produced the scare of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and UBL , Baitullah Mahsood, or whatever.
These are a terrorist group of Men who masquerade as Muslims/Taliban or whatever label they choose for themselves, openly flouting the teachings of Islam and are bent upon destroying Pakistan, playing in the hands of enemies of Pakistan. The previous gesture the Zardari Govt. made of "compromising" with this terrorist group was a strengthless venture with disasterous results. Now if an all out attack is planned, which is itself a disaster but it will be bigger disaster if it is not fully effective and half hearted, feeble/timid. Because it will be not only ineffective but also counterproductive. I wish the Zardari Government had made no such declaration. May Allah guide us all and May Allah help Pakistan.
Like my friend said
Is gher ko aag lag gayee gher kay charagh say.

Jum’ah Jurnal- Nobel Peace Prize

All day long there has been talk about this surprise for President Obama who was himself surprised. It is all understandable. The impromptu Republican leader bellows like only he can on TV, it is a joke. They all say what has Obama accomplished and fail to see his total approach, his vision his ability to turn tides in favor of America while the whole world was booing Bush just a year ago.

  No doubt he has laid down such policies that will augur well for the future world and will be seeing results long after he is passed the office. Iran is talking directly and has revealed second installation to the world, Korea is talking and declared no-Bomb, Qadzafi has visited US Iraq is turning towards peacefulness and I feel sure Afghanistan and Pakistan will turn that way in the near future. I only wish that real Taliban with peaceful approach rather than the “apparent Taliban with a gun in the hand” will be successful, on the table  rather than on the battlefield.

Listening to everybody about his/her take on this Nobel prize is like a Rorschach’s inkblot, telling more about the commentator’s personality rather than Obama’s prize.

The Hippies and Mazars

If you look at the praise and glorification of the hippie movement (Like Beatniks of California) you may find lot of good things like, anti war (remember anti nuclear sign, in fact one of my consultant physicians I worked with in England used to call it "ban-the-bomb test") or anti-Vietnam war, good music etc. Then there was freedom of so many regular and traditional things like dress, manners, keeping the hair properly groomed (Mind you, I grew up during "grease" times) some good and some not so good. I remember some medical students (in Traditional England) coming in the wards scruffy looking (and smelling that way too) during those days of "She loves you yeah yeah yeah". I had to remind one young lady "that when using Ophthalmoscope you have to be very close to a patient, please tidy up your hair".
But then there was over- stretching that good to "free-love", free mind, free drugs (and let the police also do it so they dont catch you.) and free everything.
Music and anti-war elements elevated the movement to a level of "philosophy" and "cultural revolution" (instead of devaluation); I learnt several new words, like psychedelic colors, P. music, P. fashion etc. and sure I saw Wimbledon players and world class cricket players donning colorful clothing instead of the traditional white.
Then, of course the "Woodstock" experience was like a Hajj for them (forgive me for comparison) I was new in America at the Woodstock festival but later learnt more about it that the opening with a blessing, was performed by a Yogi, "Swami Satchetananda" (For some reason that yogi dressing and marijuana became popularized in the West and you saw all people visiting India)
"Data Ganj Bakhsh" in Lahore (A mazar of a soofi saint--for non-Lahorians) had given me all that philosophy long time ago so for me there was nothing new in the philosophy or teaching of "relaxation", of "love not war" slogans etc. I have been familiar of that "movement" that has, to my amazement, gone "un-noticed" by the world around. Most "mazars" are centers of the bhang and charas (Marijuana) lovers who have carried on that "teaching" and enjoying for centuries I guess. I am amazed that nobody ever visited "mazars". They missed the real origins of this "philosophy"of hippies or beatniks or whatever name you may call it.
But the things I always considered of low morality, are being praised, use of drugs, young men and women sleeping together without any relationship and mating like animals, and for three days with filth, mud, and aweful human smell. (Woodstock)The hippie movement. (Some of you may recall the 40th anniversary back in August '09)
They call it PEACE. The mind alteration drug effects are called mind-expanding experience. There is no study of illegitimate children born (Called love children that is what reminds me of that aya of Qur'an--Zayyana lahum-ush-shaitaano 'amalahum--Satan made their deeds look nicer for them) out of Woodstock festival but there is mention of Abortion rights of women being recognized and "women had their say" finally but divorce rates doubled etc. from this "sexual revolution". The effects are still present among the young ones, for the media hailed the Woodstock experience as "good for cultural freedom" A new America was born from Woodstock.

Sunday Surkhi--سنڈے سرخی

اچھا ھے اگر ساتھ رھے پاسبان عقل
لیکن کبھی کبھی اسے تنہھا بھی چھوڑدے
بجاءے اردو کے بلاگ میں لکھنے کے اردو یھیں لکھ رہا ہوں کبھی کبھی سرخی اردو میں لکھوں تو کیا خیال ھے آپکا؟
اس میں کوئ شک نھیں کہ پاکستان میں ماشا اللہ بہت ترقی ہو رھی ھے اور عورت وزیر اعظم کے درجہ تک پہںچ گئ مگر عام عورت کا حال کچھ بھی بہتر نہیں ہوئا
جیسا کہ تین چار روز پہلے کی
خبر سے ظاھر ھے جب برھنہ عورتوں کا جلوس نکالا گیاوہ عورتیں بد چلن اور بری سہی لیکن اس طرح کا تماشا بنانا تو اپنی ھی صورت کو بگاڑنے کے مترادف ھےاورسوال یہ ہے کہ کیا یہ طریقہ ان کو سدھارنے کے واسطے کارآمد ثابت ھو سکتا ہے؟ حقیقت یہ ہے کہ اس پیشہ کو کوئ قانون اور کوئ حربہ آج تک ختم نہیں کر سکا۔ وجہ؟ مرد کی بے راہ روی ہے نہ کہ عورت کی۔ ممکن ہے آپ مجھ سے اتفاق نہ کریں مگر مجھے تو یہی لگتا ھے کسی شھر کسی ملک کہیں بھی جایِں اس پیشہ والی عورت مل جائے گی
بھت دکھ ہوا پڑھ کر