Sunday Surkhi-Cleaning the Government in Pakistan

One surkhi reads:
 "The Anti-corruption department is more corrupt than the rest of the Government"
   Can you beat that?
  For so long now I have been hearing,
 The President has immunity against any criminal allegations/crimes.
 Well, that was precisely the reason for Mr. Zardari to seek the highest/top job in Pakistan and he got it uncontested.
 NRO may have been beneficial or convenient way of trying to erase all the sins on the part of all the high officials including of course the president, but it clearly indicates the weakness of the judiciary and it is like the president of USA using the UNO.
 All I see is mockery of law and order everywhere
 If you try to "clean" the Government, the government will clean you out. That is the way things started when ZA Bhutto took over, (May Allah forgive his sins and missdoings) and, his successors have kept up his traditions


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Jum'ah journal-Disasters; Nature vs God's wrath

 I remember when northern Pakistan was hit by severe earthquake that some preachers raised their voices
 "Allah is punishing the Pakistanis"
 So did some tele-evangalists here for the Haiti disaster. The same spirit affects these preachers.
 I am not saying they are totally wrong but the disasters happen from God's will. However the question of "punishment" remains open as it is not always for punishment that disasters affect the humanity. Let us say that all Tsunamis, earthquakes floods etc and man-made disasters like wars and killing with destruction of cities after cities for greed and producing huge refugee misery are not God's "punishments" but from other reasons known only to the All-Knowing Almighty
  That does not mean that such disasters, 'natural' or man-made, should not teach us a lesson for they always do and we as human beings are always forgetful.  The II WW with huge destruction/desolation of European countries and mega problems of refugees coupled with cold/snowy weathers taught a 'lesson' to them and they sat down to review "The league of Nations" and 'promised' never to get so destructive. "We will prevent wars" and a charter of UNITED NATIONS was carried out. Yet we saw destruction of Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan all on flimsy reasons; wars were declared with obvious cheating, the purpose was the same as that of Changez Khan or Alexander the Great. Halakoo Khan and Bush-Cheyney duo. Results were much desolation extirpation and human misery that these countries are going to take a century or more to recover anything.
 So did we learn anything from horrible war-machines?

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Medical Science in Osler's view

He is reported to have said many pearls'' during his life. My friend Zindagi Ki diary placed a quote of his teacher some ten days ago that inspired me, to write this one
"Gentlemen, if you want a profession in which everything is certain, you had better give up medicine"

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Jum'ah Journal-, Was Jesus a Muslim?

   First a brief look at the non-Muslim influence on Islam.
During the life of the prophet PBUH the principles of Islam were put into operation and were tested fully for 30 years after his death during the khilafat-e-rashida. That is the best governance the humanity has ever experienced. These four persons (AbuBakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali) may God be pleased with them were educated and trained by him, so nothing could tarnish their clear vision, but as vast lands were brought under the newly born Islamic empire, a vast variety of peoples got introduced to Islam and its principles. Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and other followers of pagan religions who saw the truth of Islam and accepted it but they all did not necessarily 'vomited out' everything they had before for 'swallowing' pure Islam.
Many of them perhaps continued their pre-Islamic thought process and indeed the Greek and Zoroastrian as well as Hindu philosophies found their way into the new Islamic lands That started off the 'discussion' process or "kalam" which led many Muslims into beliefs that were not in the true spirit of Islam especially for the unwary Muslims. This verse sort of is a reminder for such "converts"?
"O ye who believe! Enter into Is;lam wholeheartedly and follow not the footsteps of the Evil one...."S,II, Aya 208. It has also been interpreted to means 'enter into the "whole of Islam"', i.e. give up all preIslamic things and accept this new "way of life" in toto.
   The 'infection' of Aristotalian and Platonian philosophies had its effect on the Muslim 'intelletuals' of those days and times, with sometimes disasterous results (Just recall the question of "Qur'an is created" concept during Mamoon-ur-rashid's time) and sometimes less obtrusive consequences but more subtle and more permanent results.

Hans Kung, a scholar of theology and philosophy has a very clever way of describing these "changes" in the Islamic political theological and cultural sphere, calling them "paradigms" (Islam, past present and future, a worth reading book)
 
 However it is indeed a pleasant surprise to see a Christian Scholar of today saying
"JESUS WAS A MUSLIM"
  Yes and he gave us his concept of Tawheed, (No! not three-in-one type) that Muslims and Christians have the same mission today to work together to establish Justice and Equality on earth, which was the mission of Jesus Christ PBUH as he traced his (meaningful) life events. (Like "It is He who has sent down His apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that he may proclaim it over all religions, even though the pagans may detest it."--Vrse 9 sura 61)
 His studies led him (Dr. Robert F. Shedinger) to write a book with a provocative title
 "Was Jesus a Muslim?"
It was refreshing to listen to his lecture in our Islamic center


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Sunday Surkhi--Haiti 'quake and Poverty

The combination of Poverty and a natural disater of this magnitude is bad for the country, any country for that matter. We had the experience in Pakistan not too long ago and still people are trying to cope with the aftermath and then IDP (Internally displaced personel,-- 'refugees' in their own home) has been increased due to other political, military and other indigent Pakistani problems. So it is easy for me to estimate how the people in Haitie are suffering and will continue to suffer long after all the immediate 'helping hands' of other more fortunate countries have receded/withdrawn or the dollar rains have dried out. These "rains" would be soaked up by those who have power and the poor will continue to suffer. That is the real tragedy of the 'third world' countries. All the aids are routed to those who need less and those who need more get less. You might think that Man gets more vicious when hungry  and needy but I think it is the other way round. When he has plenty he is more vicious callous and selfish. Will he ever learn?

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Jum'ah Journal--'Inside Qur'an'

There was a two hour program on this subject and this is the second time I happen to see it (This time on National Geog. Channel)but only a part of it, each time.
I was amazed that a young non-Muslim "Qur'an or Arabic Scholar" said, to my chagrin, that Muslims arranged the "harakat" wrongly thus changing (Tahreef?) the real Qur'an or its meanings.
It all goes back to some documents that were found when an old building in Yemen was destroyed. They were considered 'very valuable'(comparing to the dead sea scrolls, which is NOT a true comparison as you will see below) and they were old pages of the Qur'an without harakat (Zdamma, kasara etc.). No comment was made about the real words which were preserved (in the final shape and form) during the time of Uthman RA and those copies are real originals (three of them still available and preserved) which declared standard and authentic which was about 40 years or so before the Yemeni articles were written probably about the time when Hijaj Bin Yusuf developed these Harakat.
They mentioned "foriegn words" or borrowed words of Arabic of Qur'an. We already are familiar of the Syriac Armaic influence on the language of Qur'an and we are familiar how the person (The Prophet PBUH) and his companions understood the meanings and significance and pronunciation of these words. They are the ones who know that language which was spoken at that time ans that is the one that is preserved visually as well as (More authentic) aurally. The art of reproducing the same sounds as close to the sounds produced by Muhammad PBUH has been preserved diligently and methodically by Muslims since that time and has been continuously 'handed down' with meticulous care to this day and will continue in that fashion till the end of times as promised by the Author Himself Allah SWT
انّا نحن نزّلناالذکر و انّا لہٰ لحافظون
"We sent down this 'memorization' and We are its guardians."
And these so called 'Qur'an specialists' of today tell us we are wrong. Now remember that seven different variations of these harakat are considered "allowed"
like we say maalik or malik-i yaumiddeen both being correct
I am only touching upon the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more about Qur'an and its pronunciation and seven different ways (approved by the author Allah SWT when the prophet PBUH asked for these variations during his life time and Jibreel AS brought the answer to the prophet SAWS, thus 'standardizing'it long before the Yemeni papers were written).
Let not less-knowledgeable Muslims be misguided by such claims. I am at the same time respectful of many real scholars of Qur'an who are non-Muslims and would gladly accept their true criticisms without shaking my own Eeman about the holy book, Qur'an-el-Majeed.
One example was given by the 'specialist' which I do not remember exactly in words but he was saying that meaning of one was very different from the other. Two important things to remember 1.
This specialist is talking from linguistic point of view looking at it centuries later from his acquired knowledge and is saying that those people who understood the pronunciations and meanings at that time were not listening correctly.
2. The significance of and meaning of words can change during the passage of times but the meanings of Qur'anic words have NOT changed nor the words nor their pronunciation.
Let me give you one example.
If I was to say today, "When I came to USA I was gay"
Sure enough 30-4o years ago it would mean I was happy, and no one will raise an eyebrow but in today's understanding!!!!--You are going to laugh at me if I say these words. "No you cant be, you must be joking ." and you are right.
I have no claims at being a linguistic or Qur'an scholar. I am only a student of Qur'an like you but even I can see these 'misguiding' findings of so called 'scientists'. I know that youngsters of today consider everything on the internet and on TV much more authentic than the statements or writings of "older men' (they dont know anything, they are not in touch with modern advancements)

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SUnday Surkhi- Masjid and Minar

I know this is old news and not this Sunday's, but I have noted no comments since it first hit the news Ban of building Minarets on Swiss Masajid There was stone throwing, paint throwing and such attempts on 14 masajid in Switzerland. Admittedly no life was lost. There is a suggestion among the Muslim countries to continue to protest against this ruling all over the Muslim world. That is scary because it can start violence. I am not against nonviolent protest, it is legitimate and should be promoted. Then there is news of church arson in Indonasia, presumably on the name of Allah ( I am not quite sure what it was) The reasons given for banning minarets in Switzerland are very flimsy and unconvincing. Reportedly around 400,000 Muslims live there. I see no restriction on church buildings in any county including Muslim countries. I thought French are the only stupid ones

Jum'ah Journal--Musa/Moses

There is some mention of the prophet Moses PBUH in 38 of the total 114 surahs of Qur'an. The whole story of his life is really examplary not only for the prophet Muhammad PBUH but also for us along with how his followers behaved and how we as Muslims are behaving with the teachings of God and prophet PBUH. But without giving the references of the verses I wish to share with you two occasions of the story which Qur'an tells in a vivid and effective manner.
One, where God first declares near the "burning Tree" "I am Allah" and Moses is captivated by the "voice" and as the conversation developes God asks:
"O! Musa, what is it you have in your hand?" Of course God knows but the question alerts the prophet, gives him relaxation and gives time to answer, so he answers, "This is my staff........" goes on to describe how and for what he uses it .
The other is when Musa PBUH is confronted with the expert magicians and challenges them Surrounded by the crowds and the Fir'own is sitting , all watching and when he throws down his staff which turns into a "serpent or dragon" swallowing all the things of the magicians who by then know full well this is no magic.
But pause here to reflect. There must be a hush all around from astonishment at the scene. Fir'own must have felt "defeated" and then he speaks up
He must be your teacher and you have all planned it, I will punish you....etc.
But the king does nothing to Musa PBUH and actually from the beginning the King did not have the guts to arrest Musa PBUH. There is that awe of the personality of the prophet Musa PBUH.
Of course there is so much more in his life and may be you have seen Hollywood version of this story also (Both Charlton Heston and Burt Lancaster have done well)

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Anisa----Imani

Father's and mother's preferences make the name of my beloved poti (who I called Anisa)
as Iman and Aya, so the result is two names. Me, just a grandfather--(who cares for his suggestion of name) but strictly speaking this girl is one who has given me, the grandfather the most happiness by just being born safely and timely although her mother had to go through a lot of difficulties but "all is well that ends well".
My darling Anisa Aya Iman or whatever other beautiful names are given to you I wish to express my love here and pray for you baitee. No doubt you have opened your eyes in this world with a lot of happiness in your family, everybody has wanted you but especaily myself. I know each grand child has that distinction of bringing happiness to grandparents, but this is sooooo special and so precious for me. I am unsuccessfully trying to find words which can express my feelings faithfully. You will not know how much change, radical and good you have brought with you just as before you your brother did and you will no doubt meet a number of cousins/uncles aunts etc.
I pray to the Almighty to give you more happiness than what I have felt with your birth. You have graced my family with Iman and here I agree with your naming; May HE give you the real Iman making you what in Persian we call "Ism ba musamma", May He make you an Aya from Himself for this world to learn from you about Him, and you pass it on to others around you and into the next generations.May Allah give you strength and forbearance for difficulties you will encounter in your life. Face them with Iman baitee

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Sunday Surkhi-Old 2009

My new year/old year thoughts (No I am not a philosopher)   

    Years come and go and we continue as if nothing is going to happen to us, but in fact lots of changes occur what in the Quranic language/lesson is called "within your self and in the surroundings (Aafaaq)" Make some promises for the new yr. (and forget them after a few days/months) Man remains unchanged in habits. So now I dont make any promises in the new yr. Emails/FB/Twitters?Netlog etc. etc. bring in new horizons in our lives and provide wanted and lot of unwanted/ unasked for info like in those chain-letters. Lot of jokes and things like that, are my sources of joy these days I cant run away from the fact that I have grown older and that feeling is a mixed one each year felt not only in the new year when I end up thinking more of the OLD Yr. but also on my birthday. Mostly I end up thanking the Lord who has given me this life and the joys and sorrows with it to be my lot and have so much to be grateful to the Almighty.

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Jum'ah Journal--Wisdom of the Creator

In sura Shoora (42nd) aya 49 and 50 " Allah's is the kingdom of heavens and the earth; HE creates what HE pleases;HE grants to whom HE pleases daughters and grants to whom HE pleases sons. Or HE makes them of both sorts male and female; and HE makes whom HE pleases barren; Surely HE is the knowing, the powerful" 

    I have pointed out His wisdom and being the cause of the causes (Musabba-al-asbaab) in the story of Kakkaji last year. My friends and acquaintances stories One: The couple had to go through lot of difficulties to get one child (Fertility clinic etc.) Allah gave them one girl. In the neonatal period poor thing developed hemorrhage in the brain, neurosurgery etc. recovered but got some damage done. You may call it some mental and physical disabilities. The couple are devoted to the child's life. Have spent as much as they could to rehabilitate her (spent some months in an European country) ,she is walking and talking. Allah creates extraordinary love in these couples/parents--for the sake of the child Allah wanted to be born. Second: Not unusual here you hear about the "child" killing the parent/parents. You have such news every so often but a Sister of (I know the family) 

one such mother who was killed by her son, after so many years still cant get over it and I wonder how all this has happened? Was the mother at fault or not capable enough or should God have not allowed such son to be born (May Allah forgive me for saying so, not thinking I can make better judgement) but surely here we see how and why God makes things like you see in the quoted verses above. HE only is the one who has the knowledge for what is to be born and why?

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