HM Chiraghuddin Marhum - 3

 We shall go over his Political life  in this section and spend some time reflecting in the completely retired life before his death in the village Kotla.
    Most of the young Muslims who got Islamic teachings in Deoband mastered the art of speaking at the turn of the (20th) century as the most important thing for all Indians was to see their country free from the British empire. Indian National Congress was the first political party established (1885) which attracted most of the intelligentsia of India. Education amongst the Muslims was not common Madrissa Deoband induced many Muslim young men for joining such freedom movements. Mahmood-ulHassan and Hakim Ajmal Khan were well known Muslim leaders so their students, many of them were fired up with the enthusiasm. I suspect therefore that Mianji became interested and joined the movements (Indian National Congress) and must have developed the oratory power from that school, partly because it was the need of that day.  Muslim League was established in 1910 when Congress had already gotten established (from 1885).  Mianji also joined, at the national level, Jameeat-ul-Ulama-e-Hind. He must have worked hard to reach popularity giving him the position of provincial chairmanship of these national bodies. He belonged to that group of Ulama who supported Congress and he took part in all those local and general elections of these  parties. I remember slogans on the walls in Saugor written for he had at one time "yellow box" for voters, "Place your vote in the yellow box" (Peeli paitey main vote dalo) I am looking at and describing after four decades of his work. He had been jailed by the British Raj many times during his days of powerful speeches against the English and followed all the methods and philosophy of Gandhi. I am told one time Gandhi visited Saugor and my older brother (Bahijan Meraj) as a child had the priviledge of riding on Mr. Gandhi's shoulders, a gesture of friendliness toward the leader, "maulvi saheb". Since most of his previous adventures of fighting against the British must be similar. I shall describe the one I remember from my own experience.
   I was about 9 years old. Aug. 1942 Gandhi started the famous "quit India" movement against the British. Gandhi had several non-violent methods of "agitation" (This word was used by Mianji, I clearly remember, some English words he must have picked up in his  endeavors. He also knew Arabic but he was fluent in Urdu, Persian  and Hindi languages) Any way the whole India was in "agitation" (unsuccessful)   and one of the rallies that took place in our home town where Maulavi Saheb spoke as a leader of Congress party was witnessed by me which I vividly remember for obvious reasons.
 Jamia Masjid is in a central location and there was a large ground on its side where many buses and other motor vehicles traveling to and from the city would stand (kind of a makeshift bus stand  and in 2006  there was still some ground present during my visit) I could not see the stage because I could not even get to the Masjid so I was unable to see him or hear him. Crowds were gathered for his speech and he was known for fiery speeches eloquent, knowledgeable in Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and quoting other leaders freely he was able to excite the crowd's anger against the British. So after midday when many persons from the crowd attacked the Post office (government office) and put fire to it, brought down the lamp posts and wires, the main crowd was familiar with the results. The speaker will be arrested (the police Officer was well-known Sikh who we all considered our friend). He was there but the group of people had Maulavi saheb in the center of their circle so that no police could approach him. That continued till the evening. I had gotten home had my dinner and went to sleep when my mother woke us (all children)up. The police and Army came and our street was closed. Army announced curfew after 10 pm. Father was home and had already packed ready for the arrest. We were saying 'goodbye' to Mianji. Sure enough at 11 PM they knocked at our door.
 Next day appeared just usual for us but we kept hearing news which jail he was taken to etc. but a few months later he was brought to Saugor for court appearance and the judge was to announce the punishment after the hearing. They allowed the family to meet with him (for a couple of hours) outside the courts under a tree, I remember because it felt like picnic for me, outing with family, good food etc. He was given 2 years of jail. I did not read papers so I got to know his whereabouts from others who kept a track of what city he  went to. The movement continued unabated. I may remind you all that he being a "political Leader" the treatment in the jail was different according to the British law. They were well looked after and he being a physician always obliged the jailer and other officials so his respect while in the jail was only increased because after all they were Indians and all wanted to get rid of the British. In the society also our home suffering without father for two years had only increased his respect higher.
 He was sometime in Umraowti jail and some time in PachmaRi jail. (I have an article he wrote on Iqbal in this jail which is the only written thing from him, other than a book he had handwritten about Nabz or pulse) He was given meat well prepared by the jailers and their workers for the favorite prisoner, Maulavi Saheb. It was 1943 we were looking for his release from Jail. How did the family fare without him and the regular income. For some time Buddhoo Mian would run the clinic filling up his prescriptions from the dispensary so some income continued which as time passed it gradually decreased. I measure the financial strain from my breakfast. We were used to Paratha and Tea. At first the ghee started decreasing in the parathas; then it reduced to nil eventually and four five times a week meat reduced to vegetables and daal. We lived with these difficulties until he would be released. Ammanji (my mother) had the philosophy that she did not want her girls to be married in Perdesh (Lived for years in Central India but never felt it 'home'). So for that reason she had a two story house built in Kotla (ArabAli Khan) sometime in 1933 my birth year so we could have a house on return. My older sisters were getting of that age so migration was planned as soon as Mianji got out of Jail about 1943 Aug/September. He was greeted by crowds on release and garlanded "Maulavi Saheb Zindabad" before he got home. Jan or Feb 1944 the whole family transferred to Panjab by train (took 2and 1/2 days by train) and I traveled after finishing my 6th class exams in May '44. Maulavi Saheb became increasingly disappointed by many Congressmen's behavior and by 1945 he resigned from Congress on the basis that the principles of Congress are being trampled by some and 'Maha Sabha' element (BJP of today) was increasing as the partition of India got closer and his secretary Dr. Shukla replaced him as chairman. Shukla  was the first premier of Maddh pradesh after Partition. He did offer Maulavi saheb a position, out of respect, in his cabinet but Mianji refused as he was planning to leave Central India permanently. He did not Join Muslim league but basically retired from Politics and by 1948 retired from practice of medicine too. He traveled on 26th July 1947 to Panjab and that was the last safe train after which most trains traveling from  Indian side to Pakistan side were looted and Muslims massacred. On 14th of August he held a small gathering in the village Kotla and spoke to the villagers what that day meant (I had prepared the Pakistani flag myself) and what was Pakistan and that now Hindus and Sikhs living here are to be given your protection as you are the rulers the British are gone. Indian Government locked up our house until Mianji went back to Saugor, paid some money to the Government of India and took over the house where his sister (My Phoophijan) lived afterward until she died and then the house was donated to the local Jamia Masjid. Mianji  came back from India for the last time (1948) along with Kakkaji and was arrested in Kotla by "Azad Kashmir Forces"  as somebody complained that he was a past Congressman and now may be spying for India. He was taken by third day to Mirpur when he was presented to the Officer in charge and they realized their mistake and he was released as he told them that Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan (personal seceretary of Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan) knew him personally and  would vouch for him, if you call. That was his last 'arrest 'and he passed the rest of his life seeing patients without charge sitting in the sitting room of our village home. Many persons interested in politics would come to chat with him of whom I remember two. One was a young man from Murarian who became Highcourt Judge later and the other was the retired headmaster from Ladian the father of  Major Aziz Bhatti Shahid.  His skills as hakim were quickly realized by the surrounding villages so he was kept busy by patients who came to see the "siana" and that was my father's practice/life until his death with a stroke on 31st July 1957, just before my final results of MBBS were out, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. During the two weeks before death Phoophijan and Shakir were able to come from India on his burial in Kotla ArbAli Khan. (There are other 'Kotlas" with different names, so I write full name here)


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HM Chiraguddin Marhum-2

   Leaving home at early ages for those youngsters who would not lend a hand to their fathers (at least in Panjab villages) for cultivation or farming, was not unusual. Mianji left, however, for education for Lahore with two anna piece (eight paisa) in his pocket. He spent his youth quite unknown to anybody pursuing his love of life the education of his choice. How he supported himself where did he sleep, eat etc. we have no information, except that somewhere in Anarkali such youngsters had some kind of lodgings. This daunting undertaking carried out by Mianji alone and neither I nor any of my older siblings ever heard from him mentioning anything about that period of his life, no suggestion how he passed his time and how he studied, what difficulties he faced, nothing. We are only told that, after schooling in Lahore he proceeded to Tibbia College Dehli graduating at the end of 19th century and then to Deoband madrasa graduating from that institution he had "Dastaar bandi"celebration in the year 1900, the green silk turban on a 'kullah'.
     By that time his father had married locally and settled in Saugor (CP) as the mother of Mianji had died back in Sahontra earlier and father decided not to go back to Panjab. There being no attraction in that small village Mianji decided to settle with his father in Saugor, starting his own clinic (Matab). He had learned great things from the two institutions he attended and all I see here is that he turned the 'family hobby' of using folk medicines (herbalist?) for villagers into a solid profession of medicine (Hakim) and more professional Islamic teachings (Imam masjid and teaching Qur'an etc.) being the family tradition he changed to 'hobby' if you will. Among his teachers in Dehli was the famous Hakim Ajmal Khan who was also known in national political circle and in Deoband Madrasa was the famed leader and Muhaddith Maulana MahmudulHasan, (Aseer-e-Malta) a political leader who infused the same spirit of independence and study of Qur'an into all his students and Mianji perhaps was more impressed because of the name resemblance with his own father.
 He started medical practice in 1901, It did not take him long to get established as a medical man with some political attachments like many educated young men of those days would do for the freedom of India. Muslims had been suppressed by the British more than Hindus but as is known about Maulana Mahmudul Hasan who was arrested by the British for "treason" and jailed and eventually banished (Kala Pani) to Malta giving him the name of "Aseer-e-Malta". He was freed from jail sent back to India due to poor health dying in 1920. MahmooduHassan, Mianji's father died in plague that broke out in 1905 leaving him all by himself with the step mother and her daughter (My Phuphijan). These were days of struggle for him so he waited till later for marriage with his cousin, older daughter of his uncle Hafiz Nizam Din. Unfortunately for both this did not work out and after one child's birth (Bhaijan Siraj) they divorced. It is known that both were equally 'hot-tempered'. A few years later how-ever, the second daughter of Hafiz Nizam Din (My mother, Fazal Begum) became his wife moving from Panjab down to Saugor This was probably about 1915 or 16. I cannot say how it came about that one daughter is divorced by a man and you offer the second daughter to him except that his younger uncle (Yaseen) played a significant part in this reconciliation. Although all the brothers of these two sisters boycotted him although they still had great respect for their well-educated cousin.
  By this time Mianji (We, all his children called him by that name, so that word to me carries the awe and respect of a great father) was well established as hakim, was involved in the  city and national politics, a hardworking man of strict principles he was eventually elected to be chairman of local municipal committee. In public he was known more as Maulavi Saheb and less often as Hakeem Saheb. As we have seen the first phase of his life was short in Sahontra and second one spent as a student collecting diplomas of Hikmat and Maulaviat.. Now we are in the third phase in which he spent most of his life in Saugor city. We shall talk about his personal life, along with his professional one and then take up political life separately.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE:
   After the second marriage his life became well arranged as his wife although only educated at home was an intelligent and expert in house management freeing Mianji for his outside pursuits completely. Between 1919 and 1941 10 children were born but one was lost before birth, so I had 6 sisters and two brothers, in addition to the oldest brother Siraj. Oldest sister Sakina and brother Meraj were born in Sahontra and the rest of all of us (Shakeela, Jameela, Zubaida, Wahaj, Minhaj, Zarina and Amina) in Saugor. We had one family photograph taken in 1940 which was before the birth of my last sister Amina. The step-sister of Mianji, our phoophi Aamna got married about the same time or just before Mianji's marriage. Our Phoopha was a wealthy man owner of lot of land around a small village about three miles from Saugor Our Phoophi had only one girl born just before the birth of Sakina, my oldest sister. We as children all grew up in Saugor city educated there until my older sisters got to a marriageable age. Our mother after coming to Saugor quickly picked up the language and cultural habits and ways and manners of central India. She being the wife of a popular leader (Maulavi Saheb) had to maintain a certain standard of living but not that of rich people. She was always teaching us to be "poor at heart" so Mianji was well-to-do or wealthy but not 'filthy rich'.
     Dress of Mianji  : (As you read on you will realize why I am describing this) By the time I was able to understand I saw him dressed in Shalwar and Kurta (Collerless shirt)  and being follower of Gandhian Philosophy he would not use any foreign things at all. So he would only wear white Khaddar (Khadi), most of the time the cloth was from the thread weaved by my mother; we always had "charkha" at home even in India although Charkha is more common in villages of Panjab. The head wear for men was a must in our culture (Remember the tall cap of Mirza Ghalib?) at that time and more respectable persons would wear turban woven around a "cap" called kullah (See its significance in the Urdu verse from Iqbal I wrote before my writing)  The silk was called "Kosa" locally produced and colored green. This turban would have two parts 'Shimla'. (I am writing for the younger generation who only wear such a thing on their wedding day and may not be familiar with all the significance.) The long part hangs down by the side and may be 24 to 30 inches long. The shorter one in the middle of the turban's cap stays by the side of kullah, may be about 2 to 3 inches long. Now the younger people know it to be standing up with a lot of stiffness induced by the starch and that was also used in those days but it was considered "dandy" or indicative of richness/haughtiness though sometimes also seen in highly placed respectable people (Raja Ghazanfer Ali Khan--Such high shimla is better referred to as Turra). For going out he always wore a coat cotton or wool depending on the weather. The shoes only one kind- Gurgabi somewhat similar to today's Golf shoes, all locally made.
     I remember his routine of a day. After Fajr prayer and breakfast he would get ready and would go to the large front room (his matab or clinic) divided into a dispensary and waiting room with chatai (a palm-mat) and a dhurri (dari) on its floor, one chair and a bench. He himself would be seated on a carpet/rug with a  round pillow (gaow takia) set against the house wall and  a "chawki" (a small desk-like structure, with short legs,)  in front of him on which were placed papers and inkpot and pen for him to write prescriptions.  He will see patients till midday and then come back in the house. The door would always be locked when he sits down with family for lunch. No interruption was allowed.  After a short siesta (longer during summer) he would go back to see patients until about 4 pm and would then come back put on his coat and turban a walking stick and would go to the local Municipal Offices finishing the work come back relax and after supper and Isha prayers would go to bed. Lunch and dinner times were family times and unless some guests have been invited he would not allow any visitors to interrupt his 'family time'. He was strict in his principals and would not change them for even "big shots" visitors.
   He was a very keen herbalist and always relied upon his own judgement for the correctness of herbs. That was the clue to the successful results of his 'treatment' Most of the concoctions and such complex medications were prepared by his capable compounder,  Imamuddin otherwise known as "Buddhoo" in our house. There was separate bigger "choolha" (fireplace) for that purpose. I was more interested in the preparations of such 'medicines' like Sherbat Gurhal or M'ajoons (these were sweet). His work ethics and relations with patients and the community in general are worthwhile legacies that myself and my two older brothers carry with us in our professional lives. He had developed tremor in later years of life but the componder could read his prescriptions without any trouble. In fact he had become a sort of Hakim on his own after having worked for years under Hakim Saheb. He is the one who continued that clinic during the absence of Hakim Saheb and even after we all moved back to Panjab. His 'students' would sit on one side to learn from him the art of practice of 'hikmat'
  Many things were stored in the house, grain (wheat), wood (for burning) and water supply in earthenware pitchers in one corner called " Gharonchi".  From his many grateful patients we would get milk supply from some farmers, other presents from grateful Hindu families. So we as children had 'plenty'. He himself was against movies and dramas, never saw one but he allowed his family occasionally for instructive type of movies. As a little boy I remember seeing with family including my mother and sisters, "Khandan" and "Sikander-e-Azam".
 Next I wish to take up his political life. Please click here to continue the story.



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HM Chiraghuddin Marhum-1

 حدیث دل کسی درویش بے کلیم سے پوچھ                          ھ                         
                    خدا کرے تجھے تیرے  مقام سے آ گا ہ  
      برہنہ سر ہے تو عزم بلند پیدا کر 
یہاں فقط سرشاہیں کے واسطے ھے کلاہ
 علّامہ اقبال رح
  I am not translating this but it has its message

 The ancestors of H (Hakim) M (Maulavi) Chiragh-uddin 
(Short name will be "Mianji" as we, his children called him)
          In the population of northern Punjab there are a lot of Kashmiri families ('people from Kashmir'). They may have such family or 'surnames as Bhatt or Butt or Khwaja or Mir or Dars etc. but not all of them maintained such family names as we know about Mianji's elders had not chosen any, so they were called just "Kashmiris". Some did take up such names as Butt or Mir or Dar through matrimonial or other connections into such "kashmiri" families.
   Background historical synopsis.   Although there were Muslim converts present, at least from the 12th century onward, but majority of non-Muslim residents in Kashmir (about 85%) accepted Islam around late fifteenth century under Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin who was a pious Muslim and promulgated Islam by peaceful means and worked for uplift of the subjects. When the Mughals took over in the 17th century only some improvement (Like Gardens or water enclosures and water fountains) was added to the beautiful landscape of Kashmir but the cultural and economic life of Muslims or minorities (mostly Hindus) remained poor and undeveloped. Ahmad Shah Durrani, the brute Afghan ruler was invited to Kashmir (1752) because the Mughal power had started declining resulting in too much hardship for the poor Kashmiris. Afghan rule, however, turned out to be no better. In fact it caused much more misery with increased taxes and no educational institutions or other support for cultural uplift.
    Why leave home? Considering above along with other factors such as economic constraints, must have been the reasons for Khair Din and Fazal Din, the two brothers to leave the beautiful valley in 1760 or thereabout. Their first priority was Islamic education (They were still very young my guess-"preteen") so they enrolled themselves in the teaching institution in Sialkote ,a well-known city in those days for Islamic and other teachings. After graduation they decided not to go back to Kashmir for reasons best known to them and settled in the Panjab. Khair Din went to Amritsar and Fazal Din got married and settled in a small village called Sahontra -- (Punjabi-wise-سھونترہ  and Urduwise- سہونترہ  in pronunciation), hardly 3-4 miles from the southern border of Kashmir
  We have no further information about Khair Din what happened to him and no information how and why Fazal Din found this small unknown village attractive enough to call his home. He was young and educated good looking promising fellow so it is not difficult to see that some father gave the hand of his daughter (named "Rasoolan") to him. Life here was pretty static and unchallenging.  He started educating the local people and must have brought books from Sialkote on leaving. There were no teaching institutions of any kind in the village or anywhere nearby. So the education of children was at home from generation to generation.
    His grandson  Saheb Din continued the same family tradition and here a hobby was added to these "persons of wisdom" (Siany- سیانے)-  Living was very simple as they had acquired small pieces of land for cultivation of whatever they fancied. Non-Muslims in these small villages made up 10 to 15 % only. Saheb Din therefore was a man regarded with respect and a local leader who everybody would consult for everything. Some change started now. He had three sons, the oldest was Nizam Din who was the first one to perform Hifz of complete Qur'an and became a regular Imam and teacher of Qur'an in the nearby village of Sidwal (Sidwal Kalan) just about a hundred or so yards from Sahontra. Next was Mahmud-ul-Hassan (Not "Din")though he was commonly known as "Allah Loke" and the youngest was Yaseen (again not "Din") who stayed in Sahontra making his earnings from the land and is reported to be Hafiz also. Allah Loke, the father of Mianji, however was of a more adventurous disposition.
    Most Kashmiris are said to indulge in cloth weaving or selling etc. Mahmudul Hassan would sell cloth but not from his home. Instead he would travel from place to place and he traveled far off places in this undertaking. So when Mianji was born in the village he did not see his father often. Other elders were unable to provide enough intellectual challenge for this bright kid. They instead tolerated lot of his mischiefs spoiling him, as he was the only boy in the family and there were no other children. Children of his Uncle were in Sidwal, though not very far but not in Sahontra either.
  So if you see these conditions of childhood of this kid, there being no school, no teacher nothing nearby to occupy his mind or provide a modicum of satisfaction to his urge for learning, it is not difficult to understand that he took the same step as that of his great grandfather--he left his home while very young probably no more than 6 or 8 years of age. this brings us to the first phase of his life to an end. We shall continue second phase next. Please click here to continue.

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Jum'ah Journal-Seven 'F's for Successful marriage

 I learned from a wise friend hoping he will forgive me for not asking his permission
1.Faith
2.Forgiving
 3.Forgetting
4.Forbearance
 5.Flexibility
 6.Friendship
7. Friendly attitude with family members (both spouses)

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Jum'ah Journal--Life is short

 Isbah wife of my nephew, Mansoor (Son of Bhaijan Meraj marhoom) went into coma after a couple of vomits and never made any recovery. A shocked  family mourning today.
Inna Lillah-e-wa inna ilaihi rajeoon
  May Allah forgive her sins and award her al-Jannah-Aameen


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Sunday Surkhi- 18th of December and Xmas

Exactly fifty years ago today--
 Yes, an important day of my life. This was the first day of my work in the West.-- Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton England where I started my first job as junior house surgeon. There were two surgical teams and two wards one female and one male The male ward's name was Aldridge and female's name ---I cant remember now.
  First day was my team's intake- (all surgical emergencies to be admitted to our care)- my boss Mr. Richardson, a tall typical Englishman rather showy type who was considered (as he told me one day) a vascular surgeon. Had long fingers and fond of such quips like:
 "Ahmad, we had summer last year on a Wednesday"
 He was a pleasure to work with. My immediate superior called 'Registrar' was an Australian chap,   He was of my size but a good energetic surgeon. In England anybody who has passed Fellowship examination of RC Surgeons turns into Mr. again from Dr. Because when the Royal College of surgeons was established traditionally the Barbers were the ones who did surgery, so they were called Misters and not Doctors. The College continued the tradition.
 If you remember that in India/Pakistan the Khatna ( Circumcision) of male Muslim child is/was performed by Barbers (experienced in that procedure)= haha what a legacy for surgeons but back to Christmas celebrations.
Like here in US there was "Christmas-mania" all over the place by the time I got into the residential rooms of the hospital so that when I started work all the wards had already been 'decorated' for Christmas. Each ward had a 'theme' for decoration. Male surgical ward was "Circus" so there were all kinds of Circus pictures and big plaques of circus kind of things like a man standing bending an iron bar or a lion or elephant etc. They called it "Aldridge Circus" and I saw signs in the hospital pointing to "Aldridge Circus" that way. Of course, this was all very unusual and new to me. I did not know how Christmas is celebrated and that was my first experience. Even Mr. Green told me-- Ahmad, "they become crazy on Christmas".
 I remember I had four surgical emergencies admitted that day all (probably) acute urinary retention (Prostate enlargements) and I learned from my Registrar a "non-touch" technique aseptic introduction of (soft) catheter for emptying the urinary bladder. Somehow I do not remember much about the female ward. On the second floor, right on top of Male surgical was the male medical ward and their theme of decoration was Robinhood. The house surgeon whose job I took over started in the male medical, and so I know more about male medical, also because my ultimate interest was medicine. I remember attending a case presentation by the medical consultant of that ward- a case of Temporal Arteritis- and I remember I was very impressed by his teaching.

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Jum'ah Journal-advancing age

"When you are on the decline and Death is advancing, what then?
The inevitable meeting has accelerated its approach" Ali RA
 "Say, The Death from which ye flee will truly overtake you; then ye will be sent back to the knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the things that ye did." Sura Jum'ah, Aya 8.

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All American Muslim

 I have not had the pleasure of watching that show yet. Lowe's has been fooled by some people.
 The Ilsamophobic organization, I am surprised, has taken such methods to continue their jihad against Muslims, American or others. Strictly speaking there is nothing new about people being against Muslims or Islam. It started as soon as the prophet SAWS opened up the message. The circumstances and political atmosphere of the world has generated the current spirited activity against Muslims helped greatly by 9/11 and is expected to continue in USA, I do not know for how long in one form or the other.
 Some comments stated, "There is no such thing as all american muslism"
   The term seems to hurt these people but I think it is time to promote this term more widely. Some plans regarding that should be started by us. May be some of my readers will have better ideas about that. . I will add my own way when I can think up some practical way.


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Sunday Surkhi- Beginning Muslim New Year

  I know today is NOT New Year's day for Muslims but actually 8th of the first month, Muharram-ul-Haram.
 Some body remarked, (Long time ago I heard) while others have jubilations (and lot of drinking) and parties to greet the new year Muslims' new year begins with weeping mourning etc. (Probably meant as a joke)
   The prophet SAWS had asked Muslims to fast for 9th as well as 10th days of Muharram. These are voluntary fasts, not obligatory. That has nothing to do with "maatam" or observing the martyrdom.
 'Weeping and crying' as Maatam (in these 10 days) was added by Muslims who do that for observing Imam Hussain RA's martyrdom on the 10th day. Although only Shia community does that kind of maatam and other Muslims do not, it does not mean that other Muslims do not feel and condemn the appalling attitudes of the Muslims of that time who had the guts to cut down the beloved grandson of the prophet SAWS. It is so difficult to imagine such things could be actually happening in the Muslim community, but there is no doubt it did happen. Even earlier his father Ali RA, the very first male to accept Islam, the first cousin and husband of the prophet's most favorite,youngest daughter, was cut down while in Sajda by a "Khariji". What is most amazing is the man killed Ali RA considering him to be Kaafir, unbeliever, The very person who had the authority and knowledge to teach the Islamic law even from the earliest days and was consulted and held in that regard by the earlier Khalifas of the prophet SAWS.
Just imagine those early Muslims considering that anybody who commits a major sin (I am not discussing details but Ali RA was categorized in such group by those Muslims) becomes a non-Muslim and as such punishable by death immediately. The khariji concept, what a twisted logic?. But you know what 'tradition' seems to have 'survived' through fourteen centuries. We, the ordinary Muslims, are still suffering. It seems we need to make Maatam every day for the whole year for that kind of thinking among Muslims.


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Jum'ah Journal--Holiday concept.

 You may feel surprized on my suggestion but it is true in Pakistan Jum'ah has been tried as holiday of the week when I was not in Pakistan.
 Muslims hold this day 'holy', Jews hold Saturday 'holy' and Christians consider Sunday; although Christians 'think' that God 'worked' for making earth and heavens in six days. Then rested on seventh (Sunday) I do not know whether they think God needed rest so we should also rest but the concept is different from others
 Should there be a holiday, one or two days in a week?
 I do not know. May be there should be because we as human beings do need rest from work sometimes
 Other than schools where it was sooooo very much needed by us students that there is no need to consider 'restful day' at all. The Mulims are told in no uncertain terms first to go to prayers when Azan is called on Friday and stop your work. Then after the prayer back to your work although the first part is considered as 'command' but the after salat going back to work is not interpreted as order but as suggestion (Convenient) If that was also considered a command then the poor Muslims will not be having any holiday. As simple as that. So this interpretation of going back to work as suggestion rather than command has helped us out for holiday on Fridays which some Muslims countries do observe.
 What has been common in the West is one full day (Sunday) and one half day (Saturday) will be 'holiday' from work That keeps Jews and Christians both happy. For Jews actually Sabbath begins on Friday after sunset.
Real work however suffers.
 Holiday mood actually kicks in from Friday midday Half day on Sat. is not for all and Sunday full day is not questioned. The real mood for work starts sometimes after midday Monday as the Monday morning is 'lazy'
 Having worked in hospitals and having seen emergencies, I always pray to God
 "Make me sick, if You have to, on a Tuesday when I can get full attention from doctors and Nurses"

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi--NATO and Pakistan

 This is a huge loss for Pakistan such forceful attack has to be calculated and NOT, as touted by NATO allies, mistake. Again, as ALWAYS expected, they say (just like the Israel says about Gaza), Pakistan fired first.
 The fact is there was no loss to NATO even if somebody might have fired from Pakistan side. The fact is that 28 Pakistani soldiers are dead. This cannot be forgiven by saying "sorry" because the force used was so much and for so long a time that it leaves no doubt about the deliberateness of this condemnable action. This is NOT an accident.
I think this is an excellent opportunity for Pakistan to re-orientate relations with not just NATO but USA. I think Pakistan needs to dictate clear terms, that the help that was offered by Pakistan Army MUST stop now. The NATO and USA must deal with the remaining Afghan problem on their own. No better opportunity will ever come their way. This is it.

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal--Celebrations in USA

 Every country/civilization have their own days of celebration What should Muslims celebrate in USA?
 Well to begin with the prophet PBUH allowed the Muslims to celebrate the two Eids in Madina Munawwara, in preference to the Pagan celebrations of those times. So is that it for Muslims today?
Some strict Muslims will say yes that is all and Muslims should not celebrate 'Pagan', or preferably speaking non-Muslim customs even if they are not necessarily religious like "Thanksgiving". Every holiday season there is that question discussed in Masajid and Islamic centers where all the rules are re-iterated why the Muslims should not join in celebrations because "they worship other God/Gods etc." so joining them means you commit 'shirk'
 Yet I clearly remember one Muslim leader in New York wanted to put up crescent and star to join the celebration of Christmas where there were Christmas emblems as well as Jewish Menorah. If you recall the crescent and star was vandalized. He said we as Muslims have as much if not more right to celebrate prophet Jesus's birthday than Christians.
On the whole I tend to agree with the Islamic concept that we do not 'celebrate' human beings but we do celebrate 'events' or happenings. that is as far as the 'religious celebrations' are concerned. However the holidays with no religious connection and/or related to a country's cultural aspects need not be given the same negative attitude by Muslims.
 The problems are usually encountered on the greatest celebration of the West, that is Christmas. the Muslims have to hide themselves to some place to avoid answering "Merry Christmas" greetings. Some may take an attitude of saying "Season's Greetings" to their Christian friends instead of saying Merry Christmas. Others have some other excuses made for not responding but on the whole it is really very awkward to live in a Christian country and not offer bonuses or presents to your Christian employees on such occasions (I am only mentioning some of the problems). I have personally lived offering such greetings and Christmas presents to  hospital wards, colleagues, nurses etc. and so technically speaking I have committed 'shirk' so many times but my employees and colleagues knowing that I was Muslim and did not celebrate Christmas still offered me presents and how many could I get excused from?
 Some of the things have been aginst my own convictions like
 "we should not call non-Muslims as brother" or 'sister' I had difficulty subscribing to such suggestions for I had grown up and always believed in Sa'adi Shirazi's teachings:
بنی آدم اعضائ یک دیگر اند
کہ در آفرینش زیک جوہر اند
چو عضوے بدرد آورد روزگار
دگر عضوہا را نماند قرار
(Children of Adam are like limbs of each other. For they are all born out of single 'essence'. When one limb gets pain, all others become restless)


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Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving to all
 This has been quiet one Children having their own get-togethers so parents are not much priority any more. I wonder if they still consider this as their home or the ones they have acquired for their spouses and kids. Maybe we did not 'celebrate' thanksgiving with the required American Zeal with them when they were growing up, we cant complain now. It is too late. We wish them happiness nevertheless. I am not writing this on FB which they follow more often and rarely visit my blogs, so it is safe, they wont know the 'complaint'. I will however send email thanksgiving wish


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi--Pakistan&Bangladesh

 There is news about Bangla Desh asking Pakistan Government an apology.
 Seems OK but the actions taken by the then Pakistan Government were aginst the rebellious elements in East Pakistan that were wanting to separate from their mother country so the action by itself was not wrong as there was no Bangladesh at that time.
 The atrocities that the Military committed however are a different matter. These were crimes against humanity and totally UN-ISLAMIC and need to be condemned openly which the proposed "apology" does not cover. These actions were committed by Muslims against their Muslim brothers and sisters and they need to be assessed and recognized, because this was too much brutality and over the needed force required for suppression of "mutiny' if you will. I feel that condemnation is more important than apology. I do not wish to go into what our Bangla brothers did wrong
because that is now pointless to talk about. It needs to be recognized that 'Brotherly relations' between the two 'brother' countries are already overdue

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal-Shariah in America?

I guess many more better qualified writers have done justice to that subject but I continue to have this complaint because some people (Non-Muslism) never fail to surprise me by writing that Muslims are up for introducing Sharia Law in USA.
 Are you kidding?
There is NO Muslim country currently where Sharia Law is promulgated and there has not been for centuries.
 O yes may be some present day Muslim countries make claims they have sharia but THEY ARE TELLING LIES. I do not know which one but some"stoning" for  some woman for Adultery was touted as example but that is just the point, some selected sharia-recommended punishment in one or other selected case does not mean that law is functioning there. No.
 Now why or how any Muslim can think of Sharia in a non-Muslim country is beyond me. Muslims are at best trying to make themselves understood and accepted here and no matter how much some people say Obama is a Muslim he is NOT and has no intentions to be as far as I can see. Even if a Muslim does in some unforeseeable future becomes president of USA I doubt he would know much about Sharia Law. I do not claim myself that I know enough and I would like to challenge any scholars here who may claim to know enough to promulgate that law here, whereas they could never be able to do it in any Muslim country even Taliban-operated one.
 Now that is off my chest

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi- Piyara Zayd

 I had started my blogs with birth of Musa (5 yrs ago) and now Ayesha my piyari baitee gave us the Eid tuhfa of Zayd. He was supposed to be born on 14or 16th November, but he started making his move on Arafat day and I got suspicious. (he had already been named Zayd) I think this lad was anxious to see what is all the hullabloo about Eid-al-Ad-ha so he decided to join us on Eid day  (November 6 )  He did not care that his nana and nani had to hurry and to drive to Maryland (from Raleigh) just after salat-el-Eid to welcome him; he was quiet and composed, not bothered about all the difficulty he had put the older folks like us in .
 It was so nice to see him though. He made everybody double happy on this Eid day--our Eidoo baita. May God make him a good person a good Muslim, a good son, a good brother. Surkhi is of course not new by now however it is worth reporting to all of you.

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal-Unique day

  Yes, whether you see it from right or left, in British way or American way etc. today the month and the year and the day is the same. Every year such a day has been coming last year it came on the last day of my 76th year.
 BUT this is also Veterans Day.
 I never knew its meaning un til I started working in the VA hospital.
My hat-tip to the Veterans.

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Jum'ah Journal- Principle of Sacrifice

 Day after tomorrow (Sunday when I may not find time for my usual "Surkhi") all over the Muslim world animals will be sacrificed and plenty of meat will be available for all those poor who cannot afford meat much. Is that all what sacrifice means though?
 God clearly says:
 "It is not their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches him............." (S Al-Hajj Aya 37)
So what is being given to us as a lesson? piety which briefly means staying away from the prohibited and doing what is pleasing to god.
 A prominent Urdu poet said it nicely
دل کسی کا ہاتھ مین لے حج اکبر جان لے
 Literally meaning take someone's heart in your hand that would be equal to Great Pilgrimage. It can be interpreted as helping some in who is poor, giving a helping hand to a needy person, spending time giving company with some one lonely, sacrificing one's time for the benefit of another less fortunate. Sacrificing one's ego and forgiving a person who may have done wrong to you. That is real sacrifice-that of 'self'Of course there are more meanings to 'sacrifice' that for example I have not even mentioned sacrificing the most beloved thing in your life (Like Prophet Ibrahim did of his only son, what is being 'commemorated'.)

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Sunday Surkhi-Ahmedis/Mirzaies

 I sometimes look at Dawn news. Most news are dis-heartening. This one was refreshing, a news about prejudice against Ahmedies deplored, mostly by young writers.

 My own take.
 I prefer to call them Mirzaies because strictly speaking we, the ordinary Muslims are better suited for that name-Ahmadi. I believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmed was schizophrenic or too much of knowledge of Islam got to him. His teachings initially showed he  had correct understanding but within 10 years period he claimed himself to be a prophet on his own accord. He had followers all along and many continued with him and thus a 'religion' was born which was initially a sect of Muslims "Ahmediyya movement in Islam" and by the time in September 1977 they were declared minority (thrown out of the pail of Islam) the hatred that had appeared over the previous 3-4 decades including some bloody clashes (and I was in Lahore at that time), increased.  Fighting was started by Mirzaies from the railway station of Rabwah (which ,BTWwas clearly a mistake of the new Pakistan Government in 1947).
 I personally have had no respect for the Mirziae sect or religion but I am not against the Mirzaies who I do  NOT consider  Anti-Pakistan. They had established themselves well in Pakistan from the times of Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan and have been loyal citizens of Pakistan. They deserve the same respect as is given to other non-Muslim citizens if not better. Although they are not considered Muslims now but the Muslims need to approach them like they did before that legislation or even better. I know they made mistakes but such things like expelling a student from a teaching institution because of being Mirzaie is ridiculous and deplorable. I believe that the Government should take action against such activity to restore the full rights of these citizens. The Ulama need to do the same and invite these people to mutual understanding rather than continuing polarization which does not serve any purpose. Many of such Mirzaiees believe in Prophethood of Muhammad (SAWS) as the last prophet. The prejudice against the Mirzaies needs to come to rest and bond of mutual cooperation needs to be developed


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I Doc, Mairajunnabi and Wahi

 I wrote some aspects on these two subjects when discussing Sura Najm (My blog of November 2008)

 Here I'll concern myself with some hearsay, misinterpretation or exaggeration that took hold in the non-Muslim perception. I shall quote just the one instance which prompted this blog. Dostoevski's epilepsy is well-known and studied by neurologists. What was picked up by the non-Muslim writers (mostly non-neurologists) is his clever description of his aura that he sometimes felt"supreme exaltation of emotional subjectivity"-- he goes on to say that "probably it was such an instant that the epileptic Mahomet was speaking when he  said that he had visited all the dwelling places of Allah within a shorter time than it took for his pitcher full of water to empty itself" (Alajouanine, T. Dostoevski's epilepsy, Brain 86: 209-218, 1963). Any Muslim familiar with the details of Mairaj-un-Nabi can see the fallacy and imagination of the poorly and deceptively informed non-physician (some may concede this to an epileptic's 'first-hand' knowledge of the disease). He was not the only one with 'prejudiced' opinion, but the surprise for me was when a more educated professor of neurology made a 'differential diagnosis of the "spells of Muhammad,the prophet of Islam, as recently as 1976 (Freemon,F.R., in 'EPILEPSIA' 17: 423-427). This professor gathered information from the Western writers and therefore could not see the truth at all. Prejudice against the epileptics has existed from the times of Bible as I can tell (Mathew 17:14 goes like "Lord, do have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and is in a terrible state. he is always falling into fire or into the water. I did bring him to the disciples, but they could not cure him."). There is more to it than just what I am writing but my point here is that in the past epileptics have been considered "possessed, hysterics, malencholic, suffering with 'falling-sickness' etc. etc. and so the prejudiced Western writers delighted in this label without any proof and so did this professor although writing  wearing the cloak of a Neurologist and imparting an air of  "authenticity" by publishing it in the journal named Epilepsia' leaving out all other Neurology Journals.
  Actually I am quoting from my own article that I had published in the journal of Islamic Medical Association (Vol14, pages23-26, 1982), but now to make some observations on the epilepsy and the aura.
'Ecstacy' as aura I personally did not observe in my 30 years experience, there may have been one patient about which I cannot remember much. It is rare but not unknown. Crying-weeping or being sad is more often seen and one patient I studied I remember he would incessantly continue weeping during attack (I recorded continuous epileptic discharge on EEG during his weeping episode) and would not remember it after the attack. I was intrigued because I did not recognize he was in attack when I first saw him in the ER. He was crying and saying something to which I did not pay much attention until after admiting him. There are all kinds of auras known to neurologists, but trying to "explain away" the episodes of Wahi or Nuzool-e-wahi one meets with several difficulties as one might expect.
 If you or others read prof. Freeman's article (quoted above) and are interested, I will be happy to discuss further but for the moment my points are more directed to that Dostoevski problem only.

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iDoc PVS,PVS-like conditions and Muslims

 Enough was written about Persistent or Permanent Vegetative State when Terry Schiavo was in that condition and national News broke out with the case. Briefly I shall place before you other names/terms that physicians/Neurological physicians use for patients who have suffered irepairable neurological dmage resulting in a state in which:
The patient is unable make any or minimal movements which may not be purposeful; paralyzed in all four limbs. Heart and lung function preserved without assistive devices and sleep-wake cycle.
 He/she may be alert, that is eyes may be open but may not respond to verbal stimuli or may appear to respond minimally
He/she may not have ability to eat or drink or take care of the self-hygiene
 This condition may be temporary or permanent depending on the extent and type of brain damage. Common name used is PVS (Well-defined by and accepted by American Neurologic Association and Americal Academy of Neurology).  I have already stated the other name of Brain death is "Irreversible Coma "Some other names for conditions similar to PVS are
 Akinetic Mutism,
Coma Vigilante
Severe Abulia
Appalic Syndrome
Locked-in Syndrome.
    Each condition must be examined in its own perspective by the physician trained in Neurological sciences to make a definite diagnosis and prognosis explained.
      Islamic understanding for PVS is associated with full care (Palliative care) of the patient including maintenance of nutrition and hydration. The question of how long this should be maintained is very difficult and several factors are involved singly or in combination.(This is not necessarily a comprehensive statement covering all situations)
   The patient in this state is unable to discharge any duties of life required of a Muslim and should have a "No Code" label in the hospital. Beyond that a clear statement cannot be made, for instance of the N/G tube or Gastrostomy  or other invasive procedures be considered in the "extraordinary means of life maintenace" or given a separate consideration. If long time has elapsed (many months, a year or more) and recovery is considered hopeless and depending on the location (Hospital, hospice or home) etc. development of complications such as lung or urinary infection, the treatment options need to be discussed by/with the family and appropriate action taken. Islamic teachings have given us two options to choose from:
     Treat with full effort with all means available when recovery is possible/expected
     Leave the patient/disease to take its normal course without treatment when there is no hope.
 The Muslim family has the responsibility to take appropriate actions and decisions should be made after with consultation with Knowledgeable Muslim Physician and Knowledgeable Islamic Scholar (Telephone consultations may not be appropriate). Continuing extraordinary life-support measures on a presumption of a 'miracle' or because somebody said their loved one came out of coma after so many days or weeks or months, is un-Islamic. I understand there is a lot available on the internet which may be confusing and misguiding instead of guiding and helping because each case has its own conditions for consideration.
(Allah knows best)
 
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Brain Death and Muslims

 Ever since first heart Transplant was carried out,in 1967 the question of recognition of brain death surfaced with urgency not only in the scientific and clinical circles but also amongst the lawyers, states, clergy and society in general. Since then Brain death has been recognized as the death of an individual and medically criteria have been established and accepted all over the world. My writing here is specifically for the Muslim Families and Muslim physicians
 Islamic position is that brain death is accepted as death in Shariah, the Ulama signing a document in mid-september 1986 in Amman Jordan. The statement is similar to official position of Islamic Medical asssociation of North America published in their Journal (Vol.29; 1997, Page99)
 It reads:
"A person will be considered dead when one or both conditions given below are met
    1.A physician has determined after standard examination that a person's cardiopulmonary function has come to a permanent stop.
    2. A specialist physician has determined after standard examination that the function of brain including the brainstem has come to a permanent stop even if some organs of the body continue to show some activity (by artificial means)."
  Muslims living in the West are likely to be confronted with a situation (God forbid) where brain death will be diagnosed on one of their loved one and they will have to accept it as most hospitals in most  states will enforce discontinuing the use of artificial means of maintaining life. It therefore behoves on all of us to understand this from Islamic standpoint. The Qur'an states "It is Allah that takes the souls at death and those that die not (He Takes) during their sleep. Those on whom He has passed the decree of death He keeps back (from returning to life) but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed....." (Sura 39, Verse 42)
 And also, "Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave; the term being fixed as by writing........." Sura 3, verse 145.
   Islamically therefore we can say that every living person must die and there is a time fixed, known to Allah and that the soul separates from the body permanently, at the time of death. Physicians do not know exactly where the soul resides in the body. Physicians make the diagnosis of death traditionally when they find heart and lungs have stopped functioning. When lungs and heart functioning is carried out with artificial menas that is  the time when 'brain death' is considered for diagnosing death. In this situation the heart may be functioning with important medications being given and lungs may be functioning because the automatic machines are pumping the lungs and the kidneys may be forming urine etc. these functions can be maintained with machines for prolonged periods, from many hours to many days or weeks. The physicians make a decision of starting and maintaining these life-sustaining equipments function depending upon the cause and disease of the person that resulted in that state. This 'death' is called 'Irreversible coma" in clinical terms and is very different from other comas or coma-like conditions. Only the physicians know these types of comas. It is stated without hesitation that no patient has ever recovered from irreversible coma diagnosed with accuracy. Those cited examples in the media were NOT CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED who recovered. Also the question of Persistent Vegetative State is very different and should not be confused with irreversible coma.
 It must be stated then clearly that physicians decide to continue because they have hope of tiding over this suspended function requiring automatic machines to sustain 'life'. That hope is dependent upon the condition which may or may not be treatable and may or may not be reversible. For example:
 If there has been brain injury (Trauma or loss of oxygen supply to brain for a critical time for whatever reason) which does not result in brain death the physicians will maintain the machines until the brain recovers or dies.
 Coming back to Islamic understanding of body-soul connection, all the functions of the body including the brain function are present with the connection of the body and soul and all functions of the body stop when soul has left he body permanently. So how do we tell the soul has departed-- by the functions of the body. Now all the functions of the body depend on continuous supply of aerated blood which depends on adequate function of heart and lungs If the heart and lung functions are artificially maintained, we would be forced to depend on brain function ( to diagnose death) as it is the brain that runs all the functions of the body including the heart and lungs even though heart and lungs have some limited ability to function for a few seconds to minutes without brain connection. That is not because we feel that the soul resides in the brain but soul commands the function of all organs including the brain, and the brain commands on all the rest of the organs.
  It is thus we as Muslims come to understand the process of death. The Ulama had their sharia supported methods of coming to that statement  of Brain Death the details of which are not known to me but I came to know the results of their meeting/s  that were held in 1976 or so) I as a physician and as a neurologist accept the Brain Death as the death of a person.
 I have tried to simplify as much as I could but I would be very happy to answer any questions by anybody physicians or non-physicians. I have been involved in very emotionally draining situations for some families on such occasions and would like to advise the Muslim physicians to understand and be able to answer the doubts and question of families under such situations, May Allah keep us from such situations by His Grace. I humbly suggest that neither the physicians should make statements to the families concerned without knowledge nor the family members should take the statements of non -physicians during their difficult time.
Also the physician should make clear statements so that the family does not get confusion or doubts.

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Fifty Years ago today

 It was a foggy morning and I arrived at the Karachi Airport (old one) and boarded the PIA plane a  Boing-727 jet. I do not remember seat number (I have a bad habit of remembering funny things). When we reached London by this PIA flight it was around 4pm and beautiful sunny afternoon. By the time I reached Saeed 's hospital  (Chasefarm) in Essex it was 8-9 pm. A week later I wrote down my experience of this very first  (commercial) flight of my life and so it is easy to recall and write now how I felt on that day. It feels like 50 years have just passed in a year or so. Little did I know I'll end up in USA and will not return to Pakistan for living. Please see FB and Twitter  also


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Jum'ah Journal- Drama similar to OJS

 I could easily predict that Dr. Murray will be prosecuted in the end when Michael Jackson died.
 August 16 , 1977, right here in NC Mr. Elvis Presley was visiting when he died at a young age (42).
 So his doctor went through the same thing. It is a "professional hazard" to be 'doctoring' such celebrity
 I would hate to be a doctor for such celebrities, who live on drugs and their lives are consumed with their 'art'. I cannot figure out whether he was really negligent or just did not have enough know-how of how to look after such patients. I would never trust a patient like that with so many drugs lying around him within easy reach. But Dr. Murray's private life has added more spice to the drama than the death of M.J. by itself could do. Wow. He sure is a busy man. I can understand why he demanded 5 million to be doctoring M.J.
 Now the drama is going on reminding me of OJ Simpson's TV drama. When will it end



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Jum'ah Journal-The world

 Word of advice:
 "The world is like a serpent
 soft to touch but with poison inside.
 The ignorant heedless one reaches for it, while the intelligent one is wary of it"

(Ali AR form Nahjul-balagha)

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Sunday Surkhi- Religious freedom?

 Even though praying in the mosque is inside and spill-over to the street on a day like Friday is nothing unusual yet it is said:
That lot of Muslims praying in a street is hurtful to the non-Muslims in France
 wow: 
  It means that all Christians praying in the Church in Pakistan hurt Muslims?
 What a freedom philosophy. And yet if you write derogatory remarks about Islam, Quran, or Muhammad PBUH, that is freedom!!! of press.
ہم آہ بھی کرتے ہیں تو ہو جاتے ہیں بدنام
وہ قتل بھی کرتے ہیں تو چرچا نہیں ہوتا


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Jum'ah Journal- Friend

 The world is a transitory abode, not a permanent one. The people in it are of two sorts: One who sells his soul and ruins it; the other who ransoms his soul and frees it.
A friend is not a true friend
 UNLESS
he protects his brother in three situations
1. In his misfortune
2. in his absence
 and 3. at his death
  (From Nahjul-Balgha by Ali RA)

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Sunday Surkhi-nine one one

  I was on my daily rounds as usual (start at about 8 am.) !0 years ago
 Somebody told me about what was going on on TV. There it was, I saw a burning tower in New york and the second one being hit by a plane. At first it appeared like some disaster movie scene and I was not horrifid until I realized it was for the real.
 Then by lunch time it was allover and all kind of things developing all over USA. Lunch time we all assembled in conference room (all the hospital staff) A female Pastor made a prayer which touched me close and I had tears flowing down on my cheeks. She was praying to was God, beseeching His help in tolerating what was happening and helping us against the enemy (or something like that, so much like Muslim prayer).
 Nine one one that is now more often referred to as nine eleven was a well-known number in USA for emergency and whoever thought out the day for this "emergency' has to be thoroughly American which I know Osama was not and I do not know any of the 19 names who was so American. Somebody else must have suggested that date.
 The last but not the least about 11th September is that in Pakistan we have been observing that date solemnly as we lost our Quid-e-Azam M.A. Jinnah, the father of our nation, the person who brought Pakistan into existence.. There are more things about this month but 11th has been undoubtedly more special


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Sunday Surkhi- No AC

 Due to certain unavoidable circumstances we have had no AC and the Sun has shown its shining heat fully for us. Nights have been a bit of relief.
 Now coming from Pakistan this should be no big deal for me but I tell you I have found myself crancky and lazy. Have no inclination to do anything and just trying to keep my fluid balance appropriate which is not that simple either because we are not used to drinking regular water here.
 So when this afternoon AC was restarted and I felt so good I had to write this note. In Pakistan you are expecting heat and no electricity so you have to manage somehow but it is not easy there either with frequent 'load-shedding', a term we were not familiar until about 30 years ago. Now it is a routine in Pakistan but then everything carries a load-shedding principle (not excluding the intelligence of some of the politicians.)
 Thank God we are not in Pakistan but those of my dear ones who are there deserve my sympathies and I pray for them. I realize that much more acutely. May you have a safe and enjoyable summer


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Jum'ah Journal-

 Blessed is one
Who is humble regarding himself
Whose livelihood is good
Whose inner thought are virtuous
Whose character is good
Who spends (for the poor and needy) the surplus from his wealth
Who removes superfluity from his speech
Who keeps his evil away from people
Who is sufficed by normalcy and not involved in arbitrary invention
(From Ali Ibn Abi Taalib RA)

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Myself updated in Saugor

 Well, This is updated picture from my past first one is my blog face and this is the second one three years later than the first one about 1937.
 There was a regular photographer lived in our area who did all these marvelous things I put one family picture on FB
 Most people who were familiar with this picture are not alive any more except one, my older sis,

 May be from time to time I can keep you all posted how I grew up. Photographs are a very good way of reminiscing your past sort of re-living the moments. I was  3 and a 1/2 years old and I do not remember how and when this picture was taken. On my left was sitting my younger brother who was may be a year or less in age, Minhajuddin



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Jum'ah Journal- Ahmadis/Mirzais friends

 Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mahmood-ul-Hassan whom I discovered through, well of course Google
 Was the first surgeon who diagnosed my Hemorrhoids about 1953 or thereabout. He was posted in Lahore and so was my brother who was his Junior house surgeon in 1948 Dr. Mahmood went on to become a surgeon with FRCS and was surgeon general of Pakistan Army as Lt. General when he retired So I knew him as I had seen him when he was house surgeon for Prof, Riaz Qadeer.
 Those days Ahmadis used to get  any high posts as is the case here. He was however a soft-spoken and kind gentleman and I respected him
 The other friend of my brother who was chief of Army medical corps was Gen. Nasir. I have some good memories of my early days in Lahore with my older brother as I lived with him in the "house surgeon Quarters" of Mayo Hospital, where I too lived when I became a house physician a few years later.

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Winehouse

 I must admit I did not know her until I saw Hassan's note about her death. Then, of course all the usual news etc. of young death drugs alcohol addiction illness and the end.
 So everybody saying how tragic such a young talented girl......
 The name is coincidental? perhaps
 Others say the same things that it is nothing new and they start counting how many others at young age have gone the  same route. There is a long never-ending list. Some of them that come to my mind, include
Michael Jackson
Elvis Presley
 Marilyn Monroe (Apparant Suicide)
 and also
 Meena Kumari (Alcoholic Cirrhosis)
  Sa'adat H Minto (Alcoholic Cirrhosis)

 I have been wondering about this strange but predictable association of talent/Artist and addiction since my childhood. I read psychology psychiatry and medicine and still at a loss to figure out why these personalities resist treatment approaches and why they never seem to have a real friend who can save them. 


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi- Hanging 8 yr. Old Boy

  They say that the boy' father, a police officer in Afghanistan refused to let them (Militants--whoever they are but evidently Muslims) use police vehicle. So they abducted his son only 8 yr. old and hanged him.
 Again and again I come across such news that make me wonder how could any human being be so callous and commit such heinous act as to kill a completely innocent child. How sinful, how ugly. Do they believe in a life hereafter? Do they believe in God? Do they understand they have to die one day? Do they have any religion?


Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Jum'ah Journal-Late

GEMS from Ali RA
   " Love your friend with some reserve, for he might become inimical to you some day.
     Despise your enemy with some reserve, for he might become your friend some day"

Please visit my Urdu blog at http://saugoreebsc.blogspot.com/ and my Hindi blog at http://wahajuana.blogspot.com/

Sunday Surkhi-

She wore a pink T-shirt and jeans.
 Well, Casey Anthony was freed from Jail at 10 mts past 12 midnight in the company of her now famous attorney Mr. Baez, out to face a chanting crowd "Baby-Killer".
 She was hurried into a station-wagon and disappeared.
 A book, if she agrees to get 1 million dollars
 That is just for a start.
 in Urdu they say
بدنام ہوںگے تو کیا نام نہ ہوگا
  That sure tops even the Obama's 4 trillion ceiling


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Jum'ah Journal-Islam spreading still

        I got info about a young British Actress became a Muslim.
 There was a statement that many British girls are accepting Islam. Most of them indicate that they were not getting all the answers to their questions and Islam-Qur'an answered. They mostly indicate the condition of the Muslims is poor, meaning that they do not understand the spirit of Islam. There is truth in that.


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Loss of days- ISNA

Made a program to attend ISNA conference in Chicago so left on Friday and came back Tuesday.
 Tired , very tired
 Grandchildren and my niece was there also so one more grandchild and we had fun
ISNA bazar is visited for books and such things these days but I remember long time ago MSA had these traditions and we would get 'Islamic things' in the bazar. Now of course there is a whole lot of things and very nice (and expensive) things available there from jewelry to rugs and curios etc. Food used to be good but now it is terrible. and is more expensive than ever. Those things are not attractive any more anyway for us but younger people swarm the bazar as before.
Since I cannot hear anything I hesitated even meeting friends whom I did meet but could not make any conversation-felt terrible  and somewhat depressed.




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Sunday Surkhi

 I am in a hurry
 Going for Aqiqa for a very good friend's
 But I was intrigued (This morning news) as always by the show they are putting on in NYC
Now they can get "married"
 I fail to understand why so much fuss is made on this subject and is continued. I do notice the "mood" and a 'smile" on the faces of the reporters, almost laughing (at?) May be "gay" means different to different people at different times and I have not grasped the full extent of modernization
 But I have been an ardent student of biology since  1948. Have been familiar with animal and human behavior especially regarding preservation of species. Nobody can therefore convince me this to be "normal behavior"

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Late Jum'ah Journal

 There is so much to do some Fridays.
 We had aWalima ceremoney to attaend which was fun.
 The important thing however was that it was held in a hall called Hill Alumni Center at UNC
 When reached for parking so many memories suddenly swelled up in our minds. I realized that this is a very familiar place just infront of a familiar residence hall where Ayesha and Jugnoo had lived when they were students and we used to bring them here and leave them off during those days
Then and now, now children coming here getting educated. Bothe the groom and bride belong to this UNC ChapelHill. In fact their cake was shaped as the symbolic UNC arch or whatever you call it


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Sunday Surkhi- Father's Day

This is an image of a poor photograph taken 2006 when I was visiting this site in Saugor (India)

Fathers day; reminding me of my father with whom I used to go this mosque some seventy years ago for our Jum'ah prayers.
This is now a beautiful masjid mashallah. Now I see my grandson (piyara pota) goes with his father to the masjid for Jum'ah. (That is here in NOVA) He will carry the same kind of feelings when he grows up as I do at this time. May Allah bless my father and forgive his sins and make his grave cool and wide and award him Jannah-Ameen

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Jum'ah Journal--Muslim wife of NonMuslim husband

 I guess it it should be no surprise for the Americanized and Westernized women to claim marriage with people of the book, after all why not. Muslim men can marry Christian and Jewish women why cant the Muslim women marry Christian or Jewish men?
  Yes you guessed it, I am referring to the Muslim wife Huma Abedin who carrying the first child of Mr. Anthony Weiner (they were married last July)
 No this has nothing to do with his extramarital sexual activities which is now the business of Huma and her future child. I am quoting for us all to see the guidance of Muslims which should come from that "kalam-Allah"
   "Do not marry unbelieving (Idolator) women until they believe.................Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe........"   (Sura Baqara, Aya 221)
  Here there is clear wording that the Mulim men as well as women cannot marry Mushriks-nonblievers or idolators.
Next,  from Sura AlMaeda  Aya #6
"This day are all things good and pure (tayyibaat) made lawful unto you. The food of the people of the book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them (lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the people of the book, revealed before time, when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues.........."
   I have highlited the important aspects from the wording in the holy book
 Here there is allowance being given to the Muslim men to marry women from the people of the book (Considered only the Christians and Jews) even if they do not be come Muslim
 It appears that Qur'an has made no mention that Muslim women can also marry Christian or Jewish men and therefore the understanding is that Muslim women can not be allowed to marry Christian or Jewish men unless after they accept Islam.
 Question is that Mrs. Anthony Weiner, that is Huma Abedin, is mentioned as a "Muslim wife", how did that happen?
 Is she a Muslim still or has adopted Christianity? If she has done so I have no further comments she must have done the right thing according to her own understanding and I have no business telling her, you cant do that. She is free from Islamic law.
 But if she still claims to be Muslim, I must question that. This is not an option you can play with as a Muslim. If you do not pray Namaz or do not recite Qur'an or do not pay Zakat or do not fast in the month of Ramadan, it is understandable, may be you have a reason but getting into marriage with a Christian/Jewish man is a "prohibited" thing ( not just alcohol or pigmeat but a lifelong relationship). Can a Muslim woman take such liberties , saying that Qur'an has not placed an outright prohibition for a Muslim woman to marry a Christian/Jewish man? May be it can be considered. I dont know
I feel sure the marriage must have taken place in the Church but did any "Muslim Chaplin" officiated the wedding ceremony also? I wonder



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Sunday Surkhi

 Wait let me get the photograph and then I will write about Issa birthday
 The "All-Star" fellow is cutting the cake for his birthday which is actually today 13th June
 Mashallah
 He along with his cousin and younger sis had good time with parents and friends and of course grandparents


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Amrita pritam's most well-known nazm

 Read it (the panjabi) on my Urdu blog but here is English translation which of course cannot have the same effect as the original Panjabi
 " I say to Waris Shah today, speak up from your grave and add  a new page to your book of love
   Once a daughter of Panjab wept and you wrote a long saga; today thousands weep calling you Waris Shah
   Arise O! friend of the afflicted, arise and see the state of Panjab; Corpses strewn on the fields and the Chenab flowing with blood.
   Somebody filled the five rivers with poison and this same water now irrigates our soil
 Where is lost the flute which sounded the songs of love; And the brothers of Ranjha have forgotten to play it 
   Poison Issues from each particle of this rich soil; with half foot (baalisht) of red and foot of poison from each
   Blood has rained on the soil, graves are oozing with blood; The princesses of love cry out their hearts in the graveyard
Today all have become "Kaidoos" ( a classic Villain) thieves of beauty and love; Where today can we find another (like) Waris Shah."
 Some words are so special like "friend of the afflicted" actual word 'Dardia" is much more than friend, it may be more like the Urdu "hamdard" which also cannot be any more than "sympathizer" Dardia includes the person who actually feels the pain of the 'afflicted and does something for its relief.  Then bringing in all those references of Waris Shah himself like chenab and Ranjha etc. So totally Panjabi culture

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A new meaning of MGM

 Shocking news in California (That state is far advanced in peculiar practices-like first Gay church)
 People (Christians only) are collecting signatures to ban circumcision of babies saying it is
Male Genital Mutilation (MGM)
 Wow. They are stating without any medical knowledge that it is "serious damage" to the baby. We grew up in medical schools where the teaching is exactly ooposite,
NOT circumcising is harmful
 Frankly I was not aware of what Balanposthitis means or look like (really ugly) until I left Pakistan. Also I was so surprised to see an almost blue and swollen phallus of a man admitted for something else and he had no complaint about that. What it turned out (as I had never seen it before) was just tight end of foreskin that had been left retracted resulting in that appearance. Shocking appearance to me. Anyway yes I have performed "medical circumcisions" when it is advised due to frequent infections of prepuce and phallus. I learnt this way to always make sure the uncircumcised male organs were not left retracted after my examination of the patient.
 I am surprised that Jews are not making this campaign as "antisemitic"
It is interesting to see that people here consider this Jewish "Tradition" and not consider it as much Muslim
 I am still amazed at what is so "bad" about circumcision that makes it so "horrible" as to start a campaign against it.

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Dr. Death meets death

 When writing my Jum'ah Journal I had not gotten the news of Dr. Kevorkian's death but as it happened he died on Friday 3rd of June.
 He made his name for  assisting suicides and actually  helping patients push over to the 'other side'. Controvertial as it has been and I did not agree with his method of providing comfort to patients but he in this way "killed" over 130 patients in his life, I am told.The one good effect of his campaign for suicide or assisted suicide has been that
We have become greatly focussed on the end of life issues of comfort and pain free lives of our patients.


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Sunday Surkhi--Memorial day

 Tomorrow there will be parades all over the country. Memorial day presumably for those who died in wars.
 Wars are considered as legitimate licences for killing fellow human beings
 (the way I see it-Not that there are no genuine reasons for wars or for killing fellow humans)
There are movies that I have watched every year during this week, like 'Patton' or 'McArther' or other big names Many other names in the human history are recalled for winning big in wars and many of those wars were started by "war-mongers' who were known as kings and emperors. Many wars were just meant for increasing the areas governed by the kings and no other reason and we called it lack of civilization. Have the world become more civilized?
 The way I have watched the end of previous  and the beginning of the present century I find that there is change now.
When a country attacks another country to occupy the call it"the country is being given freedom"
May be this should be a memorial for the "human civilization"

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Jum'ah Journal

 "Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet, 
Women and sons, 
Heaped up hoards of gold and silver
 Horses branded (for blood &excellence)
And (wealth of) Cattle and
Well-tilled land.
Such are the possessions of this world's life But in the nearness to God is the best of the goals (to return to)"
                                                                    (Sura Al-e Imran verse 14.)
  Well in today's world make some equivalent changes for understanding--For gold and silver -- Bank balances
For Horses---Expensive autos and personal planes
 for cattle and land---Big mansions in specific cities and countries
 for women and sons, just delete sons and write WOMEN in capital letters.
 I wrote women in the end but the real sequence as the Creator himself has remarked, it is to be given the top place. When big aristocrats and bankers with lot of money and possessions and people with POWER, (Both with and without the enormous musculature) the only thing left is women women and women. Man's history is full of that. Would anybody turn to the advice and admonition of God?

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Jum'ah Ournal- Qiyamat Aa gayi?

  I know I am late but I was wondering whether we shall see this day to the end.
 I did not see the whole movie but only a part of it. Jack Benny (The man who remained 39 for 40 years)
"There is a 'chief' (consider God) who is reported by his assistants that one of the planets has gone rotten so the chief decides to destroy it. He is told it is called earth. He is recommended a 'angel' who is a known gentleman with music interests especially such instruments that require blowing. So the chief gives him instructions how to blow it but when he blows it it sounds musical and not the destroying sound that it  is supposed to emit. Chief tells him (Jack Benny) it will only do that sound if you blow it
at exactly 12 midnight on a particular day.
 So he takes his instrument and just before the midnight time on that day he goes on top of the building to blow it and finds a woman sitting there and crying her eyes out.
 What is the matter, He asks
 My beloved does not want to marry me.
 Dont worry, stop crying and in a couple of minutes you wont need that. She ignores his advice but  then his further advice gives her a tip
 She wants to jump from the building
 he went over to help her and got in trouble
 To cut the story short.
 Well you can tell what happened.
 He joined a group of many other "failed angels"
And so the earth goes on.....
 They do not make such hilarious movies any more

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Sunday Surkhi-The late Mr. Holbrooke

 Kristof's article appeared in NY times that Mr. Holbrooke knew Afghanistan will be like Vietnam and suggested to clearly sit down on the table for solving the problems in the area and included Pak-India Kashmir problem also.
 I saw more than 50 "comments" and the most remarkable thing I saw was Indians writing about how wrong Holbrooke and Kristoff are about Pakistan. The writers showed a complete lack of  ethical sense and were showing'anger' at suggestions for treating Pakistan as a soverign country. One of them went as far as suggesting that let the Afghan and Pashtoons take areas on Pakistan side of Durand line and break up Pakistan into Sind Panjab Belochistan (Finish Pakistan completely) and Azad Kashmir be given back to India because India is a multicultural secular country (no mention of Hinduvta) and the Kashmir  become whole as a part of India.
 Wow.
 In contrast to these Hindu sounding names I read three Muslim sounding names also commenting but none of them made such outrageous remarks and in fact no mention of Indopak differences about Kashmir.
 And then they say we Muslims/Pakistanis are religious zealots and fundamentalists and what not. Such anti Muslim 'rants' still exist in India, the real reason for Muslims to have a separate land.


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Jum'ah Journal--Health & Wealth

 "It is not appropriate for a mortal to be confident of two qualities:
 Health and Wealth.
One whom you saw healthy one moment is suddenly taken ill, and one whom you saw rich one moment, is suddenly bankrupt."
 (ALI -RA)


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Obama got Osama

   Or did he?
 It remains the question. Why was his body immediately thrown into the sea?
 Why are we not seeing any pictures of that dead body about which the man who shot him should be hailed as the hero.
 As everybody says that these questions will remain un-answered.  I believe that the man died long time ago. I remember he was said to have been admitted in a Dubai hospital on 6th September 2001, for renal dialysis. How could he live in caves? Well knowing he had so much money he could have renal dialysis equipment with him after all he did have a physician with him all the time dubbed as his assistant.
What ever the truth I am happy that the myth has ended and reasons to wrap-up the war against terror have a beginning. Also US economy being in shambles it seems prudent to bring this all to a stop before we end up, if we already are not there, like USSR.
 Now you may ask why not try find the truth?
 To tell you the truth I gave up on this pursuit long time ago. I never believe the media and the news they tell us which is mostly to entertain us rather than inform us. So, I feel 'entertained' by the news of Osama, may Allah forgive his sins and now we can say that officially, there will be so many opinions written about this now for the next few years to come.    
Then why are the Americans considering Pakistanis did not help them but helped Osama!
 If the Pakistanis did not track what American elite force were able to accomplish--a surgical operation--- neat and so to say without Pakistanis knowing anything just next door to their major army training camp, (A'int they dumb and totally incapable?) then there should be no surprise that they did not know about Osama he was living there. It would be actually surprising if they did know it,

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