Eeman Bil Ghaib...

In the recent past I had a discussion on couple of occasions regarding "Blind Faith" in religion so thought to put some here. The common concept of Blind Faith is that there is not much 'thinking' aspect involved when it comes to following teachings of Islam. Obey just whatever has been told to you. Do not think becasue it will create doubts in your mind and you'll stray away from the path of Lord!


Blind faith does not mean a mullah telling you that whatever I tell you is correct, whatever has been done previously is for all times to come - so do not think cuz that will lead you to the path of satan! Quran is very different on "blind faith" (eeman bil ghaib).

27:73 - And they who, when reminded of the communications of their Lord, do not fall down thereat deaf and blind.

Clearly in contrast to what maulvis preach right? Quran does not say that blindly follow whatever is told to you... Observe the signs.. then decide for urself e.g. whether there should be an entity like God (or whatever is being told to you).

24:43 - Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? - then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail...

36:34 - And We have placed therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We have caused springs of water to gush forth therein.
36:35 - That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands made it not. Will they not, then, give thanks?

3:190 - Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding

You come to the conclusion that there is God by observing signs. You think, ponder and then decide. Not blindly say that there is God.

2:02 - This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah
2:03 - Who believe in the Unseen...

'Punjab ki Gandum'

Country is passing through another wheat crisis. Our brethern Pakistani muslims as usual have indulged in hoarding practices creating a shortage, raising the prices and piling up the misery of their fellow Pakistani muslim brethern. God bless them.

Do you know - I have been a smuggler! literally! It was the reign of Amir ul Momineen Nawaz Sharif (second term) when wheat crisis was at its peak. Inter provincial movement of wheat was banned because it was "punjab ki gandum". I do not know about the other provinces but in NWFP it was a toal crisis. Wheat was expensive than gold. I used to cross Hasan Abdal (in Punjab) while enroute from my either destinations that lay in NWFP. I used to buy a bag of flour, put it in cars trunk and literally keep away from customs checkposts to avoid being caught! That was insane! People were suffering from non-availability of wheat and the idiots had banned the availability of wheat in other provinces.

My friend narrated an incident in which he was coming to a city in NWFP. When they reached the border town of Punjab and Frontier, the cops at check post had gotten hold of 2 teens who were carrying wheat in plastic shopping bags for their family (not more than 5 kg each). The guys at check post thrashed them for being 'smugglers' and threw the wheat on road so they wont be able to take it past the border.

Can you imagine the sickness of such parochial people? I was a smuggler in my own country! I was denied wheat by my own country men! What a country!

I wonder why the electricty produced by NWFP is called by punjab to be pakistan's electricity. Tax revenue generated by Sindh (Karachi) is said to be due the ports in Karachi and they are pakistans ports. But when it comes to wheat... its always 'punjab ki gandum'? (reference to various statements attributed to CM punjab where he mentioned 'punjab ki gandum')

Defensive Day

6th September is celebrated in Pakistan as the Defence Day. The day when 'supposedly' we won a war against Indians. Earlier there used to be a holiday when I was in school so I kind of a.. remembered Defence Day! Today a friend of mine told me its Defence Day today thats why national songs on FM! I did not even remember that it was 6th September!

I know. We should rememeber the sacrifices others made for us. 14th August is just a holiday for me. There was a very nice statement attributed to Fifi Haroon in a newspaper when she organized National Day celebrations in London.. which went something like .. Nationalism is not a pill that you administer to people. It has to be felt. And I truly agree with it. Although I dont know how jumping on songs will make me do this to me :p So whats the solutions for nuts like me?!

Another aspect that needs mentioning. It is agreed that September 65 war was an 'effect' to kashmir 'casue'. It was a brainchild of Army to send mujahideen into Kashmir and put Indian Army on the defensive. Rememebr Kargil? Just like that. I read somewhere that Air Marshal (retd) Noor Khan strongly objected to it. (I wish we have more Noor Khans in this country. God he has so much integrity. I have never heard of anything bad associated with him). Perhaps these 'adventures' of Pakistan army have made me lose appeal for such days. But why should I deny the sacrifices that people made for me and my country men? Why did colonel Sher Khan sacrifice his life for me on Kashmir mountains? He did for some reason.. thats nationalism.

Hello, Hello! Testing Faith!

Yesterday a friend of mine told me that a certain mouse had ruined her suit. She also told me that a cloth cover of Quran was also ruined by the same specie. She asked me "Why did mouse do that?" I told her, acting very logically, that you cant expect mouse to differentiate between sacred and profane! He had to eat something! She asked "Why did not God protect the Quran cover? HE could have given the mouse another cloth to ruin!". And I had that look where... you know.. you dont know what to say :p

Now this may sound trivial or childish point but this is a question that does bother! A very long time ago I had read in an urdu newspaper (you can only find these things in urdu newspapers) that a muslim and a christian were making claims that 'their' lord is the true lord (in fact both have the same lord but its a different issue). Since they both worked in a factory so they decided that will put their (Reader's warning: verbally described scenes that may be disturbing!) hand in machines! and whosoever's lord is true.. he'll be saved! Damn! They both had their hands.... you get the idea I guess.

Another story that I jsut cant erase from my mind is that of a 'hafiza' who was gang raped in a remote village in our motherland. How could God let this happen to a person who had memorized His book?

I don't know. Honestly I do not. Perhaps this is how 'events' are supposed to unfold? I guess its easy to pass comments since it did not happen to me.