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Can You Touch The Quran When Unclean?

There is this very common notion that one should not touch the Quran when one is unclean. Unclean in general terms would mean not being in the state of ablution or more specifically in case of women, if they are menstruating.

Is it really the case? Lets first start from the verse that actually informs us so.

Quran 56:79 - (the book) Which  none shall touch but those who are clean:

As always, one should check the context of the verses. 

56:75 - I call to witness the setting of the Stars
56:76 - And that is indeed a mighty oath if ye but knew
56:77 - That this is indeed a qur'an Most Honourable, 
56:78 - In Book well-guarded, 
56:79 - Which none shall touch but those who are clean: 
56:80 - A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. 

A cursory reading would show that a macro perspective is being discussed in which the God (as is the case with this Chapter), is narrating His favours and trying to impress upon the readers to understand the greatness of Quran. It does not show that muslims are not allowed to touch Quran when impure. Compare this to specific instructions of God in case of offering prayers.

4:43 - O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,- nor in a state of ceremonial impurity (Except when travelling on the road), until after washing your whole body. If ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands. For Allah doth blot out sins and forgive again and again. 

So one can see that when God says that only clean can touch Quran, it means that those who have pure heart and thoughts can understand it. Its the impurity of hearts and minds that is the subject and not otherwise. Suppose that I am wrong and indeed the verse is talking of being in a state of cleanliness when touching Quran, the following should follow:

If you can not touch the Quran then you can not utter the wording of Quran. Quran is not about being paper and ink right? the words in it matter. Since you cannot utter words of Quran, this means you can not recite Quran when unclean. This follows that since you can not recite Quran, so the name of the entity who sent it, should also be not taken because you are unclean. 

Does this makes any sense? Of course not. 

You take the name of God in any state. You can not help it. When you can take the name of entity who sent this Quran and Who mentions Himself all over in it, why cant you recite it? If you can recite it then why cant you hold or touch it? Remember what I said? Its not about paper and ink that matters most.

So do not be the one restricting yourself (and others) in touching or reciting the Quran when no where God intends to or said so. 


Peace


Related Post
- Menstruation and Religious Duties

Saleem Shahzad is Dead

Investigative reporter Saleem Shahzad, station chief of Hong Kong based Asia Times, was found dead yesterday. He was kidnapped on the 29th of May. He reported on issues of Islamic jihad, Al Qaeda, militancy in Pakistan and links within the military apparatus with militants. He last published this article at Asia Times. 


This is dedicated to his bravery. May we be blessed with a peaceful country.

Burqa and Bikini

The two represent the farthest possible political/ cultural inclinations of societies of this planet called Earth. The opponents and proponents of both these clothing wear are suspicious like hell of each other. Both suspect that the other is against their 'identity' and of what they stand for. Religious beliefs, culture superiority, political ideologies are thrashed out in discussions - each trying to score over the another. Beneath all the facade of arguments and ideologues - is an entity called woman.


One thing is for sure - burqa now represents 'oppression' of womenfolk. Muslims and Islam as a religion in particular are criticized for it. Arguments for 'enslavement' are common. Muslim women are trained to 'not think', they just are not aware that burqa/ pardah is a form of oppression. If pardah is abhorrent.. burqa (all enveloping one) is evil. French know that. They even banned it. Some 2000 women in France that don burqa have no clue what torment of a life theirs is. They are being forced to wear burqa. They should have the choice to wear what they want to wear and should not be bound by any religious injunction.


Sound arguments I must say.


But then I get to see this.

This file photo shows a group of women golf caddies at the Tangcheng golf course in Shanghai's Pudong district. China's golf officials are urging players to show their "beautiful side" -- by wearing brightly coloured shirts and skirts -- to boost the sport's profile and marketing potential, the China Daily said.

(Source: Yahoo! News of 28th May 2011)

And a news like this.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has introduced a new dress code, which comes into effect from May 1 and requires all female players to wear skirts or dresses in Grand Prix tournaments and above "to ensure attractive presentation of badminton" (Link)

Which makes me wonder... what the hell is going on? The dress code in Badminton was introduced to raise the 'profile of the game', I discussed it in my post Badminton's Conundrum. The Chines women caddies are being told to wear bright skirts and to show their 'beautiful side' (whatever that is) to boost the sports profile and marketing potential.


If you talk about burqa and religion, the argument is that women are being told to do so because it is good. Here, they are being told to wear skirts for a some other reason. The thing is that women are being told in either case. (yes I know Islam 'enforces' it because women are slaves. thank you). Still. 


Does anybody care to let women know what they want? Yes I know its a stupid question because no one knows what women want but lets just ask it anyways. How is the extreme right different from the extreme left? Both 'advise' women to do something which would be beneficial for them. The guys of badminton believe women can even earn more in this world whereas muslims (who go for burqa) believe women can earn more in afterlife.


What should be banned? The Burqa, Skirt or the mentality of telling others what to do? Seems like everyone knows what is better for women except women themselves.

PostMan's Conclusion on Female Drivers

They just cant reverse.


PostMan's Musings on 'PostMan's Conclusion on Female Drivers'


The number of men who can't reverse is the same as the number of women that can reverse.

Osama and Pakistan

Osama Bin Laden has left the building. Well, taken away to be precise, from the building known as 'Waziristan Mansion', smack-dab adjacent to the premier training institute of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul. Well, if you are a Pakistani and appear red faced, there is reason for it. Pakistan has been humiliated.


Humiliated by the US - who produced Osama after a 10 year man hunt, in the most secure and scenic of Pakistani cities - Abbottabad (my parental hometown by the way. I have been taking dips in Ilyasi Mosque waters adjacent to PMA when I was a kid). Flabbergasted is an understatement. What the Americans did with Mister Osama Bin Laden afterwards (water boarded err thrown in sea) was a plain hogwash. Buried in sea according to Islamic traditions?! Ridiculous. They should have produced his body for the whole world to see and then should have done the needful. They could have captured him alive, since he was unarmed, but the Navy Seals did not choose to and hence the conclusion.



Was the guy who got killed really Osama? Did the Americans kill him before and now just enacted a drama? Did they place his dead body in Abbottabad? Why are they not showing his pictures? Why they buried him in sea? Good questions. Not enough material for answers. Unfortunately, all these questions are being asked by Pakistanis alone. The rest of the world thinks we are plain thugs. Notwithstanding the fact that around 30,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives due to terrorism, 2000 soldiers have died, economy has been ruined and that world still asks us to do more. Their blood is valued more of course. And that sucks.


The reason it sucks further is because of another entity in this scene - our military establishment. Well you can be forgiven if you think that our intelligence guys switch off the lights of their rooms and sleep at 9 p.m. Well it appears, indeed they do so because nobody knew that Americans came in from Afghanistan, got their man and then left just as easily. The only person who knew something was wrong in Abbottabad was a techy from Lahore who was twittering the event around 1 a.m. Certainly could not have been a local from Abbottabad... they retire to bed around 9 too.


Pakistanis can not just believe that Americans came, did what they did and our guys did not even know. The usual 'W' questions of What, When, Where and How are followed by 'What the Hell?' Sure the Americans pulled a nice one on Pakistanis - 'ingress of US helicopters into Pakistani airspace was not detected, because they (the US) know the location of our radars and have terrain maps. They can make permutations to avoid our radars by flying low and using the mountains'. Its just like in school when your buddies pull the chair from under you when you are about to sit on it an thus fall down and then every body has a laugh. Only in this case its not funny.  Pakistanis just did not assume that the chair would be pulled away from their underside by the Americans. Well they did. And it hurts.


Then there is the question of whether ISI was protecting Osama Bin Laden or was just not aware of him. I would go for the latter and I have some evidence too. Just look at Pakistanis. The humiliated looks - army and civilian.  This is what happens if 'Osama is found in your backyard'! Who would want that?! Pakistan will not harbour Al-Qaeda. It can give protection to Taliban - note the fact that only certain factions of Taliban and not the whole lot because they kick army's posterior even within Pakistan. In fact Pakistan has been instrumental in capturing Al-Qaeda cadres. All the chicken in that Guantanamo farm were provided by Pakistan - and the generals pocketed US$s as bounty money as conceded by Pervez Musharraf in his book 'In The Line of Fire'. Can somebody now check how much amount was provided and where did it go?


Pervez Hoodbhoy wants us to believe that Pakistanis had hid Osama Bin Laden because 'Bin Laden was the ‘Golden Goose’ that the army had kept under its watch but which, to its chagrin, has now been stolen from under its nose.' Really? We kept him just to get bounty money? US$ 25 million? What will this amount of money get us? Its peanuts for heavens sakes. The military gets a billion $s annually from US. $25 million? Ne. Did the civillian leadership get the money? Well, the Americans are bit stingy in this regard. They not only pay the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), the cost of war being run on their behalf by Pakistan Army in the tribal areas, late but also the civilian aid package, under the Kerry Lugar Bill, is not properly fulfilled. They have released only US$ 350 million since 2009 and always trumpet '1.5 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY AID' . In CAPS too. What good was Osama for Pakistan anyways? If Pakistanis wanted a favour, was not President Obama's election year the best opportunity? Or Pakistan Army wanted to keep Osama so that Americans don't leave this place and they keep receiving aid? Trust me, even army wants the US out of this place because then they can focus their attention on India again and take troops out of tribal belt. So Osama was of no use to Pakistan.


Then you have to consider the incompetence of our intelligence network. Apart from not detecting US Choppers, which were there for couple of hours in Pakistan, we could not detect OBL who was living there for 5 years! and that too in Abbottabad! Good Lord! Agreed that ISI may have shared the data with CIA regarding that compound, the CIA guys built up on that data and got hold of Osama. They got successful on this one - they were a failure when US was attacked on their own soil and Twin Towers were taken down. Kinda like same for ISI. Not that the humiliation would go away any time soon. The common joke in Pakistan is that Pakistani radars are for sale, though they cant detect enemy aircraft, at least they will show satellite channels.


Then there is this discussion in some areas of the world that a similar kind of attack can be launched by another country on Pakistan to take out a particular target. Pakistan seems to be the obvious victim, what nobody is thinking about and everyone should take a leaf out of Pakistani humiliation is that any country with advanced technology can get in your territory and take her Osama Bin Laden out. Remember, every country has a certain Osama that the other country wants. So protect your rear before thinking of going in someone else's territory. Further, when you are sleeping with a Super Power, remember to use protection. 'CIA did not share the data with us' just does not cut it. You should have your eyes and ears open.


Anyways... farewell Mr. Osama. Thanks to you we were screwed when you were alive and now we are screwed as you are dead. May Lord provide our military rulers some sight to forget about 'strategic depth' as it appears more like'extended posterior' which seeks unnecessary attention and spanking. May Lord also give some sense to our political leaders who keep placing the begging bowl in front of USA for more aid - and humiliation. And may The Lord grant us Pakistanis the courage to pick good politicians in elections. Nothing seems to be in the offing.


Good night and good luck. 

Badminton's Conundrum

The profile of badminton as a game is inversely proportional to the length of the skirt the woman player is wearing.


Badminton’s new clothing regulation, part of an overall campaign to raise the profile of women in the sport, will be implemented from June 1.
(Link)

PostMan's Law of Your Child's Timing

On a holiday, your child will wake up earlier than usual.

PostMan's Suspicion on 'Art of War'

I think everyone got it wrong about the most famous of military treatise, 'Art of War'. It was supposed to be about marriage.

PostMan's Law of Relationships

You will develop relationship with a thing(s) non-living.

PostMan's Adage

A video is worth a thousand pictures.

Plain Savages - Us

Horrible!

Afghan protesters angered by the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an obscure US pastor killed up to 20 people including seven UN staff members and security guards, beheading two foreigners, when they overran a compound in a normally peaceful northern city on Friday in the worst ever attack on the UN in Afghanistan. (Link)

What on earth is wrong with us? Although it happened in Afghanistan but I am using 'us' because Pakistan and Afghanistan are kind of a same when it comes to sectarian hatred, illiteracy and clergy control.


Here is what most probably would have happened. The clergy would have told people that Quran was burnt by the pastor, everyone in the US is supportive of this act, they all hate Islam and want to destroy Islam as a religion so revenge has to be taken. Simple minded people would have been enraged, add some more spice of inflammatory speech and voila! We have 20 innocent people dead.


People who died belonged to the United Nations who are 'infidels' doing the positive work for Afghanistan. They do not care what faith Afghanis have but rather work their for humanitarian concerns. Yes you can argue that hell lot of money is paid to them but wold you go and work in Afghanistan even if given so much money? Think again.


No body would have told these protesters that notwithstanding the fact that Quran burning was a terrible incident, this act was totally isolated, has no common acceptance in US society and nobody condones it there. Nobody amongst the protesters would have been told that showing anguish at this act was reasonable but attacking the UN compound was not advisable and killing innocent people not an act to be done. Killing those who are there to help you more so horrendous.


Pakistani and Afghani society resembles each other a lot. In fact you will not be able to tell the difference if you were to visit the areas bordering Eastern Afghanistan and Western Pakistan. Taliban are famous for ruthless killings in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their counterparts, the Northern Alliance, in Afghanistan have an enviable dreadful human rights record. Though they may be the killing machines, the ordinary folks of both Pakistan and Afghanistan show a good deal of 'barbarism' when it comes to killing fellow human beings - if not supporting the person than the cause is supported. Remember Salman Taseer? 


He too was killed because he supported a christian woman accused of blasphemy and called Blasphemy Laws as called Black Laws. People hailed the killer Qadri as a hero as if he was a defender of Islam. He too was indoctrinated by clergy that Salman Taseer had insulted the prophet. Before his death, rallies were taken out and all sorts of inflammatory tactics were employed to incite people. And it did work.


I can see the same situation there in Afghanistan in this respect. I would have, perhaps, included illiteracy as one of the reasons in these cases but many well educated people in Pakistan supported Taseer's murder too. Anti Americanism did play a major role and religious incitement made it into a moving entity. Remember, there have been many protests on civilian deaths by US led NATO forces but no situation like this occurred. This time, religious aspect was involved too and it culminated in a terrible situation.


What is needed is an 'aware' society, educated yes but more importantly a society that is less reactive and more thoughtful in its act. The crowd that killed these people were no different, or perhaps more evil, than the pastor who burnt Quran. Both are condemnable acts. Humans are, I guess, no different when it comes to reasons for killing one another.


Related Posts


- Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
- 'I Hate You'

HEC To Be Devolved

'Chairman of the Implementation Commission of the 18th Amendment Raza Rabbani on Tuesday said that the federal cabinet has given approval for devolving five more ministries, including the Higher Education Commission (HEC), to provinces. '

Tribune Link


I agree that education should be devolved to the provinces but the tone adopted by Mr. Rabbani is totally negative and counter productive. Questions like “We are going to end the financial ‘chaudhrahat’ (monopoly) of the HEC” and “Who is Attaur-Rehman?” show as if HEC was the target rather than devolution of power. Yes I agree that education is a province's domain but Mr. Rabbani should be at least considerate of the state of higher education in Pakistan and adopt a reasonable tone. Was he holding a gun in hand too while making these statements?


HEC should stay! More efforts should be placed on making things transparent in HEC rather than disbanding it. Its the only higher education forum that addresses the concerns. Provinces should be more focussed on providing best primary and secondary level education.

The Fair Skin Dilemma

All those who criticize skin fairness creams, and advertisements promoting them, as racist, are themselves fair skinned. The rest are using whatever means possible to be fair skinned.

PostMan's Law of Pakistani Fast Lanes

A Pakistani driver moving at an avergae speed of 40 kph in the fast lane, will not move aside.

Pakistani Car Number Plates

Submissions are welcome.

Earthquake in Karachi

At the time of earthquake, instead of fearing God, one is fearing the quality of the construction material used in your abode.

:|

For All Those Who Are Cheering the Death

Celebrating Governor Taseer's Death? distributed sweets? sent congratulatory SMS? Praised Mard e Haq Qadri? Now mourn with me.

You and I both have lost the moral standing on condemning the deaths due to drone attacks in our country.

How?

Their arguments of killing for a reason are now just like yours.

Rest in peace common sense. 

Other Related Post

- Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid

We are a very sick people as a nation.

Rest in peace Governor Salman Taseer. I do not know what kind of a person you were and I do not care because it was between you and God but I do know that you have been wronged.

Did you hear that Maulana sahib of Jamiat e Ulama e Pakistan (JUP) Sahibzada something said that no lover of the Prophet would be upset on the Governor's death? He said that people are distributing sweets! From the people who actually are distributing sweets to the people who say that no one should go to offer his funeral prayers... to the FaceBook pages where the killer is being hailed as a hero... to the commentators who say that US and West will grieve over this murder but will not say a word regarding death of muslims all over the world... I say what amazing utterances. We Pakistanis are unbelievable.

Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer was murdered by his own security guard on the grounds that he called the Blasphemy Laws as Black Laws. Salman Taseer was in the center of controversy when he supported Ms. Aasia Masih, a christian woman who was sentenced to death by a lower court under Blasphemy Law. Amazingly, till date, no one is clear what actually happened that resulted in case being lodged with Police under Blasphemy Law. The abuse of this law is so much that people settle scores with others under this law as recently happened when a medical representative accused a hindu doctor of disrespecting Prophet Muhammad when the doctor threw his visiting card in dustbin. The medical representative's name was Muhammad! Imagine the ridiculousness.

Then there is certain element of religious-political parties who seem to know no bounds when it comes to exploiting the issue. They were in fore-front of condemning Salman Taseer for siding with the accused christian woman. Imagine the insanity that had started with this case when an imam of a very famous mosque of Peshawar called for the head of this woman! Another guy in Punjab had set a reward of Rs. 2 million for anyone killing Salman Taseer!

After Salman Taseer pleaded for Ms. Aasias' case, the religious forces joined hands in raising hue and cry all over Pakistan because according to them the Governor had abused the Prophet!  He never did as he said this law was exploited and thus termed it Black Law. Last night, Mr. Farid Paracha of Jamaat e Islami was parroting a commonly given argument that repealing the Blasphemy Law would create anarchy and lives would not be safe. He was saying this even though the Law had not been repealed (Govt. had even given assurances) and a muslim still lost his life! not to mention the fact that he was a Governor what to talk of ordinary low-life minorites!

Blasphemy Laws were a man made product - a creation of a military dictator who used the name of Islam and ruled for 9 years on this country. The abuse of this law is rampant and no sane person can argue that the system provides for a fair chance to the accused. They have got nothing to do with the sanctity of esteemed religious personalities but a tool for settling scores. These people cannot accept changes in the constitution  as done by Pervaiz Musharraf because he was a military dictator but would readily agree with Blasphemy and Hadood Laws that were too introduced by a miltary dictator but under the guise of Islam. 

We are living in a very different Pakistan that is totally against the freedom of expression when it comes to religion. Even muslims are not safe in this country where people are fretting over religious minorities. We are a nation divided on ethnic and sectarian basis and love to hate each other. The society is mullah-driven where they can do anything but cannot be questioned because the they are the custodians of faith! No wonder Taliban find enough succor in this society of ours.

To refer again to that JUP guy who said every Prophet lover would not mourn this death, I say I do mourn his death even though I am a Prophet lover! My Prophet was not like that! He had faced extreme abuse and all of his family had to face exile but he overtook Mecca without a fight! He prayed for the people of Taa'if when he had stones hurled at him for preaching.

Frankly I am next in line as I have been criticizing the Blasphemy Law all along. I hope that his ghastly murder will put in focus the extreme negative consequences of abuse of this law in which not just minorities but even muslims themselves are not safe. Take a stand my dear Pakistanis and condemn this as much as you can for any hope of a sane Pakistan in the future.


God really help us. But I guess He wont spend His time on losers.

Related Post
- For All Those Who Are Celebrating Death
- Prophet Muhammad Vs Ghazi Ilam Din

PostMan's Law of Airport Terminal Exits

Visitors will somehow manage to block the exit path for arriving passengers at airport terminals.

-

PostMan's Law of Driving Confidence

You do believe that you can manage a cell phone while driving.

Who is Afraid of Dr. Salam?

Masood Hasan

It would seem just about most of us are! Fourteen years after his death in Oxford, Dr Salam rests in a modest graveyard near the Chenab river in Punjab, his grave disfigured on the orders of a lowly magistrate who had the word "Muslim" gouged out of his tombstone. The royal orders were happily complied with. The town of Rabwah, of course, is already "christened" Chenab Nagar. Maybe they should extend the farce further and call all those who inhabit this perpetually-threatened place, "Chenabis." A magistrate can "do the needful," as the Babus say.

I had the great honour of being within handshaking distance of this unique man – so modest and self-effacing, as all genuinely great men are. This was at a function years ago, convened almost secretly at one of Lahore's hotels. PTV, God bless them, had pulled out of the coverage at the last minute, which led a bemused Dr Salam to quip, "Why is PTV so afraid of me?" And in 1996, when his body arrived in Lahore, there was a farcical cat-and-mouse pantomime, with the government playing hot and cold. Bureaucratic hurdles were placed in the otherwise ordinary business of transporting his body from the airport to the Ahmadi place of worship in Garhi Shahu and then to Rabwah – sorry, Chenab Nagar. In the end, largely due to the efforts of dozens of volunteers and ordinary folks, mostly from the "A" sect, the ceremony was conducted without any major hiccup. Today, even this would seem highly unlikely. A bloodbath would be very much on the cards. Perhaps the Ahmadis should address themselves just as "A," since the mere mention of their name sends the faithful into paroxysms. In a few years a law can be passed and the "A" quietly erase as well.

In 1979, the proverbial spanner got entangled in the works. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the world's highest award in physics would be awarded to three scientists "for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles." One of these was Dr Abdus Salam. He would go on to become one of the most important theoretical physicists of his day, contribute to a landmark and crucial theory in physics, the Grand Unified Theory, and be celebrated around the world as a great scientist and human being. Except, of course, in his motherland, Pakistan.
 
When the Nobel Prize was announced, the government of India was the first to "claim him" and invited him to India with all protocol. Pakistan only reacted when our high commissioner in London intimated Islamabad of the Delhi invitation. Zia-ul-Haq's top brains went into a huddle. Damn if you do and damn if you don't. The British too had started claiming Dr Salam as their own! Realising that it was rather unlikely that Pakistan would ever produce another Nobel Laureate in a billion years, Islamabad cleared its throat and feebly accepted that said scientist was indeed one of their own. How it must have galled that demonic one-eyed monster to accept this, but the Nobel Prize is not quite "Bolan Awards," so the very bitter pill was swallowed, with resultant nausea.

When Dr Salam strode out in Oslo, Norway, he looked spectacular. Splendid in his traditional Pakistani gear, his turban high and flowing and his eyes, as always sparkling. History was being made. Just a handful really relished the moment, knowing that this would not happen again. Just a handful really relished the moment, knowing that this would not happen again. Pakistan fidgeted and turned, cringing at the situation at hand. The bias and discrimination against the new Nobel Prize-winner continued. 

We couldn't quite claim him, and we couldn't quite give up on him. Dr Salam had received at least 42 honorary doctorates bestowed upon him by universities across the globe. Five from India alone. Here, somehow the Quaid-e-Azam University and the Punjab University finally decided to award him honorary doctorates, but there was so much noise made by moderates like the Jamaat-e-Islami that the functions were hastily shifted to other venues and quickly dispensed with. To its eternal shame, Lahore's Government College University (GCU), Salam's own, did not even invite him!

Whereas nation after nation fussed over Dr Salam and leaders like Prime Minister Indira Gandhi literally sat at his feet, here he was treated with contempt and indifference. He was welcomed as a state guest and received by heads of states at airports. In Pakistan this "honour" was left to faceless secretaries and other file-pushers. The "leaders" were too scared to be seen welcoming him. 

Salam had earlier left Pakistan because his research work was not appreciated. It was actually frowned upon by the administrators at Government College. At the age of 31, he was already a professor at Imperial College London, and while he remained the chief scientific adviser to the president of Pakistan from 1961 to 1974 and somehow managed to set up PINSTECH and SUPARCO, his considerable plans faced innumerable hurdles and he was thwarted wherever possible. It was with the IAEA's support and Italy's generous help that Dr Salam established the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) at Trieste where countless Pakistani scientists received personal guidance from him. This is well known. 

He spared no effort to promote Pakistan and the scientific advancement of this part of the world. Even after his death, his spirit guides the many young scientists who arrive in Trieste. How ironical that this "heretic" should have found inspiration and guidance from the Holy Quran, of all the thousands of books he must have read starting as a boy in a village of the poor, squatting on the bare earth and going on to the great learning centres of this planet? How ironic that, through all that Pakistan did to him, he remained steadfast to this country and its people? How odd that this great man's life was built on the highest standards and principles that could never be compromised? Today, the world's biggest particle physics laboratory, CERN, conducts the largest experiment in the history of mankind at the Large Hadron Collider in search of fundamental answers to the creation of the universe. The Higgs Boson, predicted and worked on by Dr Salam, is at the centre of this research and deeply rooted in his unflinching faith in the miracle of the Holy Quran.

What was this country able to give to this great man? A solitary Nishan-e-Imtiaz? Abdul Qadeer Khan has two. and perhaps a few others! Even the notorious fixer, Sharifuddin Pirzada, has one – maybe more. And yes – the media accused Dr Salam of selling our nuclear secrets!. We issued a solitary stamp in Dr Salam's "honour," but so did the African country of Benin. The ICTP in Trieste is named in his memory. Not so the National Centre of Physics in Islamabad. In fact, except for the Department of Mathematics at GCU, there is no landmark, no institute, no building, no department or university in this country named after the greatest scientist this country has ever produced. 

It has been 31 years since he became our first and only Nobel laureate, and nearly 14 years since his death. The doctrinal differences over faith seem to have far more importance to this country than anything else. We will name no airport, or a road, or build a monument, an institution, initiate a scholarship – no, we will barely tolerate who he was. We are blinded by our bigotry and hatred. Will we seek forgiveness for how we treated one of the great, if not the greatest, sons of Pakistan? No, we won't. Many Pakistanis will continue to deny this unique man, and therein lies our shame, except we have none. We lost it many years ago.

Is Adoption Allowed In Islam?

Frankly, I was startled by this statement that Islam does not allow adoption. This is so strange, why would Islam do that? Such a novel act of taking in a human being in your folds, caring and protecting him/ her and then raising them to be the productive members of the society - at least in intention if not in reality. Does Islam totally prohibit that? does it place restrictions on it? What is really going on, I asked myself and then set about making myself understand it.

The verse that deals with 'prohibition' of adoption is as follows.

33:4 - Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body: nor has He made your wives whom ye divorce by Zihar your mothers: nor has He made your adopted sons your sons. Such is (only) your (manner of) speech by your mouths. But Allah tells (you) the Truth, and He shows the (right) Way.

33:5 - Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah. But if ye know not their father's (names, call them) your Brothers in faith, or your maulas. But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

Mere reading of these verses does not suggest that adoption is not allowed. Quran is alluding to a certain issue. For example, when it says  'nor has He made your wives whom ye divorce by Zihar your mothers', it is alluding to a custom wherein the husband who wanted his wife divorced equated her to 'being like his mother' - meaning she is no more treated his wife.

Something similar is being mentioned with regards to adopted children but it is not clear. Lets explore some more. The next verse mentions that the adopted children should be called by their father's name. Still, no explicit prohibition on adoption but one can see that the name of father is being given importance. But what for? Whats in a name?

When Quran talks about adopted children, it talks in terms of Orphans^*1 because that is most likely scenario to occur. Couple of things to discuss here. First is the notion that since adoption is not allowed so it follows that the adopted child will not be able to inherit. This is not the case if we are to read Quran.

4:7 -  From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large,-a determinate share.

4:8 -  But if at the time of division other relatives, or orphans or poor, are present, feed them out of the (property), and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

So orphans can have a share in inheritance as well and if you mention it in the form of a will - even better, because Quran stresses importance of having a will to decide inheritance matters. ^*2

You can argue that the verse is simply stating orphans and not adopted children. I will not refute your assertion but at least it shows you can give your inheritance to anyone - no restriction on 'adopted children'. Of course Quran focuses a lot on justice and being compassionate.

That was on side of the coin. How about if the adopted child had some property? Could it be that Quran is talking of this? Lets read further.

2:220 -  ... They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren; but Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good. And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties: He is indeed Exalted in Power, Wise."

17:34 - Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

4:2 - To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is indeed a great sin.

4:5 - To those weak of understanding Make not over your property, which Allah hath made a means of support for you, but feed and clothe them therewith, and speak to them words of kindness and justice.

When Quran discusses orphans as adopted children, it focuses more on protection of their rights. One has to be extremely careful in dealing with orphans properties because according to Allah that is one grave mistake.

4:10 - Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bodies: They will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire!

So one can see that when Quran talks about adopted children 'not really being your children', it states in terms of not eating up their property and preserving their rights. The issues of adopted children not being part of inheritance, as you have seen, is not the context of Quranic verse - and you can give them share of inheritance. So adoption is totally allowed in Islam but it impresses upon you to maintain their lineage so as to not encroach upon their rights - hence the name of their fathers as reference. I am open to discussion.

Peace.


*1 - Quran also talks of adopted child in another scenario wherein it allows marriage to divorced wife of adopted son. (Quran 33:37)

*2 - 2:180 - It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leave any goods that he make a bequest to parents and next of kin, according to reasonable usage; this is due from the Allah-fearing.

Drivers First Commandment

Know the limits of thy brakes.

Four Weddings (of a muslim) and a Funeral (of common sense)

(During a discussion)

X: More than one marriage is allowed for man. It is our belief as a muslim.

I: Not for fun brother.

X: some times first wife is not beautiful so man has to do 2nd marriage in order to keep himself away from adultery.

I: That was really a very sick reason my brother :)

X: It is allowed in Islam for 2nd marriage or further. I don't say that if wife is not beautiful then husband has right to misbehave with her. Wife is wife, husband is bound to give him full rights which includes care and love also.

But be realistic, sometime man is not satisfy with her ugly wife and this thing also effects the relation between them. So 2nd marriage is the solution in that case, for first wife also.

I: why do you relate it to sexual lust only? If she is not pretty so the husband follows the course of adultery?! how brilliant. When Quran teaches you to abstain from sex.. why cant you do that?

X: Man should be away from adultery but marriage is the right way for this purpose. In Islam 4 marriages are allowed.

I: Suppose a man marries 4 ladies.. what is the guarantee that this will not happen? 'some times .. wife is not beautiful so man has to do ... marriage in order to keep himself away from adultery.'?

X: Islam is actually best guidance for man. Man should take advantage of support from Islam in order to refrain from adultery.

I: so why cant you refrain from adultery while being with the first wife? Is not Islam the best guidance for man in one wife's case?

X: In Islam four wives are allowed!

I: hehe! ok :)

Related Posts

- Polygamy in Islam - The Quranic Perspective

A Conversation

Disclaimer:

The following is a conversation between two believers. If you are not one of them or think that muslims and people of certain are plain nuts.. please visit this site instead of wasting your time reading my post.

Peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------

X: So do u think the prophets had to believe in themselves being prophets to be muslims?

I: I think the question should be this “So do u think the prophets had to believe in themselves being prophets”

X: & then the answer would be?

I: i think they had this intoxicated feeling through which they could not find a away to escape. And they must have been too afraid to ‘let down’ their followers.

X: By the way I was serious!

I: I am not kidding!

Sometimes I think being a prophet was the worst job! I swear! Think of what it entails! Let me give you an example. One fine day, you are told to marry your adopted sons wife. How does that sound? easy eh?

X: My initial question remains unanswered! I am not talking about job complications nutcase!

I: That is why I answered the first question... it would have been totally difficult to deal with it. They cant escape the feeling that something unusual but in reality is happening to them, cant get away from it, cant run away from it. So kind of intoxicated feeling. ‘what the hell am I supposed to do now’ feeling. It must not have been about self belief.. I am totally sure of that.

X: So they just got stuck with the deal?!! Yani whether I believe im a prophet or not I have to go through this!?

I: I totally think so :) You think its a dream.. no it IS a dream and out pops Gabriel! ‘No my son this aint a dream!’

Now what the hell?! You are being told to ditch everything your ancestors have been told and you know you don't do drugs! That is trouble!

X: So … there isn’t a yes or no answer!! :p

I: It lies somewhere in between :) Definitely not ‘Self Belief’! cuz self belief cant make you marry your adopted sons wife!

X: Not self belief… but at some time u have to believe that u are the chosen one, the torch bearer… how else would u bring urself to marry ur adopted son’s wife

I: By being forced to! Torch Bearer makes you very conservative.

X: how

I: Every act you do must be in ‘accordance’ to the higher goals of social acceptability. Example of a torch bearer is pharoh, who has to maintain all the traits of royalty and continue to rule people. Torch bearer is your religious scholar.. no matter how pervert he is. He has to show that he is very religious. Prophet ‘discards’ everything. More like a cult.

Btw, people use Schizophrenia as the reason for the prophets :)

X: Yea… that’s when they’re being polite! :p

Why a State Matters

Karachi saw Abdullah Shah Ghazi's mausoleum being bombed by suicide bombers yesterday. I a regular follower of that route and I know how crowded it is even on normal weekdays forget about Thursday which enjoys significance amongst shrine-attendees (because its day before Friday, the sacred day of muslims). The suicide bombers not only hit a shrine, they also hit the most popular place karachiites love to visit - that too in the most posh of localities. Karachiites being shocked is an understatement.

Before that, it was Daata Darbar where suicide bombers struck in Lahore - a source of 'shirk' as the attackers would say so it had to be dealt with. Rehman Baba shrine near Peshawar has been bombed twice. Allied to this is the issue of murder of notable scholars. Just recently, Dr. Mohammad Farooq, vice chancellor of Swat University, who openly opposed suicide bombings and terrorism carried out in the name of Islam, was killed in Mardan. Before that we had Mufti Sarfaraz Naeemi, a very popular religious scholar in Lahore whose academy was hit by suicide bombers and he was killed. He too openly condemned militaristic acts carried out in the name of Islam and especially had a distaste for suicide bombings.

Behind all these acts, lurches a philosophy of 'Prevention of Vice', apart from the modus operandi for the implementation. Some people say that 'evil has to be stopped by hand'. Unfortunately, this is what happens when individuals or entities take this responsibility upon themselves to prevent vice and promote virtue. According to opinion, visits to shrines and placing offering are unislamic and this have to be stopped. Attacks on shrines are exactly for this purpose. The scholars were killed not because of any vice but having ideas that may lead to acts that perhaps hinder the 'good causes'; like jihad. What would Dr. Mohammad Farooq know about jihad, who has written 5 books on it, as compared to good old medressah produced talib who perhaps does not even know any other thing than rote learning of Quran?

Taliban attacked various shrines in Swat. For them, person of opposing sect is also not tolerable. Pir Safiullah, a barelvi, the opponent of Taliban, his grave was dug up, his head chopped and his body was hung by the pole. Taliban go with the same argument - stop the evil and impose their version of Islam as only they are the custodians.

Lal Mosque brigade thought the same - stop the vice as they were mandated to check it in society. They do not understand that taking law in their own hands is not productive for the society. Take for example the case of 2 brothers that were lynched in Sialkot. People took them for robbers and hung their bodies on poles after killing them. The whole nation was shocked. Why? because people are not supposed to take law into their own hands.

People of a society, collectively, assign the responsibility of governance and dispensation of justice to Govt, The State. They abide to be governed by Laws and Constitution. Why? because this is how order is maintained in a chaotic environment. No doubt there are weaknesses in a system and that is why people choose their elected representatives to bring the change.

But choosing the path of Lal Mosque brigade, the Taliban - by enforcing change, and a change that favors their own opinion, is downright oppressive and extremely dangerous.That is why the entity called State gains more importance wherein people live according to agreed upon code of conduct. That is why, it is even more important, that no rule or law be made that somehow infringes upon the rights of people based upon, if not any other criteria, then religious beliefs of majority people. Am I calling for a secular constitution?! Is it 'Damn You' I hear?! Shit.

The point is - that we pakistanis live under a constitution in which it is stated that we are an 'Islamic Republic'! We are not infidels for heavens sake. This has to be told and reminded to people like Taliban, Lal Mosque types, right wingers and ordinary people alike! No body should try to take law in their own hands. The Objectives Resolution in 1973 Constitution of Pakistan states that all authority and sovereignty belongs to God, that He has delegated this authority to the Pakistani state through elected representatives, that people will according to Islamic teachings, minorities will be given their rights and everyone will enjoy the universal fundamental rights. Why would anyone rebel against it?!

Try to improve upon the system ladies and gentlemen... not fight it.

Peace.

Data Privacy in Pakistan

Check the following image.



This is a call information of a customer subscribed to one of the leading cellular services of this country. It contains information regarding customer name, the phone number, all the numbers that the customer dialed, when and for how long. I have edited the information of course.

Now. How did I hack into the Mobilink database and got meself all the confidential data? How many people did I connive with to release this information (which could be yours too)? In fact I got this from the local bread-maker (tandoor wala) who had to give me something to wrap the bread in. Well I was not surprized as earlier, once, I got a central bank inspection report of a financial institution from a paan-wala. He had made small paper bags of it.

Startling? Appears so. Your complete calling record is in open - anyone who wants to exploit something - sellers selling you their ware, some nut case compiling a whole CD of contact numbers and then selling it! social engineers and perhaps terrorists? I get all sorts of items for purchase as spam by sms on my cell phone: travel agents, tuition, medicine, plots and homes etc - even get offers to buy the CD that has all sorts of contact numbers to be used for spamming for Rs.1,000 only. So your number, and all the 'genuine' contacts on this piece of paper have a market of their own and people are willing to pay for it.

Why we Pakistanis are so aloof of information privacy? Well frankly our tele-marketing environment is very nascent in Pakistan. We had, and still have, the good old Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) , the state owned telecommunication company to provide us with the voice services. They still send the customer bill printed on paper, not in envelope, for the view of everyone that is interested in knowing about you. Yes private companies are careful but they will show lax controls in other areas. For example how did a whole bunch of documents related to customer calls lands in restaurants which is a mere 4 months old. We have had instances where call center's representatives 'shared' data with each other and you'd be receiving call from someone who wanted you to subscribe to the latest credit card offering of a financial institution. You might think where the hell did this guy/ gal get my number? The answer lies somewhere in the wrapper that you are holding while munching on the popcorns in it.

Some serious attitude change is required by the Pakistanis. God Help.

Beavis &Ijaz Butt

“I hate words.”
“Words suck.”
“If I wanted to read, I’d go to school.”

(with due apologies to Butthead)


Related Posts

- 'No Balls'
- This Aint Cricket
- Pakistani Cricket & Erectile Dysfunction
- PostMan's First Law of Pakistani Cricket Motion

No Balls

Q: What does it take to be a Pakistani Cricketer?
A: No Balls.

It has been reported that People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked the three Pakistani cricketers currently embroiled in Spot Fixing scandal to represent them in an advertisement that advises cat and dog neutering. According to them

“No-balls may be a bad thing in cricket, but for dogs and cats, ‘no balls’ are a lifesaver,”

“Countless other animals, including many in Pakistan, struggle to survive on the streets — starving and being hit by vehicles and abused by cruel people.

“‘Fixing’ dogs and cats by having them spayed or neutered is the key to ending this suffering.”

(Link)

I totally support this move. I further suggest that the International Cricket Council (ICC), the games governing body, should also make a neutering advertisement for cricketers that are involved in Match or Sport Fixing and these three should be the ones in the first of the planned series of advertisements - after being given the treatment of course. That should do good.

Related Post
- This Aint Cricket
- Pakistani Cricket & Erectile Dysfunction
- PostMan's First Law of Pakistani Cricket Motion
- Beavis & Ijaz Butt

Will Mother Teresa Go To Heaven?

Put this question to a muslim then see the reaction. The answer most probably will range from the straight-in-your-face 'No she will not, she was a christian', to 'well she did good deeds but only monotheists will go to heaven.' or to the considerate 'she will go to heaven for her good deeds but after expiating herself.'

Now put the same question to the muslim with he himself being the subject: 'Will you go to heaven?' Whatever the answer - how does he know what will happen to him? How can anyone know what will happen to the other person regarding matters of faith?

Problem with muslims is (and not just muslims) that when they analyze people in term of faith, they tend to downgrade the other. How? Consider the case of Ahmadis. They are the 'scumbags' of this earth for most of the muslims - and why? because they believe in a different person as Prophet. Two things come to my mind. 1) How does another persons faith affect my own faith? and 2) How on earth a certain faith can describe the character of another person? Apparently, every mullah should be an angel. Really? I do not think so.

I know God is very clear in Quran - and Books before it that only thing unpardonable is polytheism. But this is my belief since I am the follower of that Book. This in no way should translate in to downgrading of others peoples belief or being judgmental about their character. As to the question whether muslims will enter heaven - God has answered in Quran that this is not the prerogative of muslims only.

Quran 2:62 -Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Anyone can go to heaven provided they believe in God, do good deeds and know that they will be held accountable for their acts. Yes I know it still is restrictive in nature but that is what I am supposed to believe in. I will explain myself later on this point.

If you would think that only muslims will go to heaven and that would be the end of story - forget it. Muslims today consist of various sects - the umbrella at the top being divided between Shias and Sunnis. Then there are various sub-sects within them and each considers itself the only inheritors of paradise.

So Angeline Jolie, by todays standards, cannot go to heaven for all her brilliant humanitarian deeds because she is not a muslim. Even if she were a muslim, she had to be a syed, shia or sunni (depending on what your belief is) to be entitled for heaven. Tough luck Jolie!

My argument - why fret with who is going to heaven or not when there is no clear distinction between humans regarding matters of faith and certainly when HE says He will judge ultimately? My God, after all, is a creation of my own beliefs. What if there is no Judgment Day and we all get screwed?

So what message do we muslims get from the Quran on this issue? Interestingly Quran informs muslims (and which is the 'moral' of my post) to 'maintain' their opinion of faith and let the matter be decided by God Himself on the day of judgment.

42:15 - Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as thou art commanded, nor follow thou their vain desires; but say: "I believe in the Book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) Final Goal.

109:06 - For you is your religion, and for me is mine.

PostMan's Law of First Interactions

The person will sound very different than what you had imagined the first time you get to hear him/ her.

This Aint Cricket

Well its a case of cow-dung hitting the fan. Only in this case, one realizes that the instance has happened before couple of times and you have been in the same room all along.

Pakistanis are again in the news regarding Match Fixing allegations. Although, to be more specific, these allegations relate to Spot Fixing rather than Match Fixing but still they ultimately lead to match fixing. I lost my interest in cricket way back in 90s when Wasims and Salim Maliks of this world were accused to various things. It was a mix platter perhaps. Wasim's weird acts on fields like Banglore Quarter final. The damning judicial probe in which our 'stars' did not cooperate at all. The judge in the match fixing probe wrote that things were murkier as Wasim only got the benefit of the doubt because Ata ur Rehman changed his testimony. Some of the cricketers were fined. Perhaps it was Ijaz Ahmad, a lobster with weird human like movements who somehow always managed to get his leg before the wicket. Perhaps the loss to Bangladesh in 1999 World Cup nailed it for me.

Anyways. The pathetic performance in cricket field was stunningly acted out according to the script laid out by a certain Mr. Mazhar Majeed. To be fair, these are just allegations and nothing has been proved yet as investigations are still continuing but you never know. Had the investigation been in Pakistan then you would certainly know that nothing would happen. The report will be hidden somewhere, if there are bans and fines then they will be lowered/ removed for the greater good of Pakistani cricket. And that is where the real problem lies.

Various reasons have been put forward as to why Pakistanis 'would' indulge in match fixing. First one being that Pakistani cricketers are not educated. They have not been instilled with the morals and values of a dignified character. I beg to differ. Check our country from top to bottom - and I will not talk of President here. Our educated elite is the most corrupt whether they are generals, judges, politicians, journalists - all educated supposed to be instilled with all the good qualities - still involved in corruption. So education ranks low when it comes to finding the blame.

You can blame the society. Sure. But saying that since everyone is corrupt so what if the players did this? Saying 'this was just a case of spot-fixing, not match fixing! they did not give away the match! It was just 3 balls and had no impact whatsoever on the result of the match!' It is a down right stupid argument. Saying 'even Mark Waugh and Shane Warne did it' does not make it kosher an act! That was wrong. This is wrong. Sure our young cricketers do not have a role model but that does not mean that a negative role model be followed! If three no balls can be allowed then next time its the whole god damn match that will be on offer.

In this context it is said that our cricketers are paid low by the Board. Well give me a break! they earn too much compared to other sport players, they are even better than professionals working in banks! I do agree that 'black money' in cricket is huge. The betting syndicates in India and Pakistan are very active and have loads and loads of money at their disposal. And cricketers are in the target list.

Then there is thing called conspiracy and we Pakistanis just love it. The conspiracy says that Pakistani cricketers (bowlers) were targeted because they were performing really well. Honestly, this is the case of not focusing on why the cow-dung hit the fan but whether the cow-dung was thrown at the fan to slow it down. Ridiculous!

The Pakistan Cricket Board is in shambles led by a person who does not even know where he himself is going. The guy did not send Younis Khan on this England tour because he had a personal tiff with him. Amazing. The management who should have kept a check on players activities was no where.

For me, No Accountability is the only factor that results in the mess that Pakistani cricket finds itself in. Had we been fair to ourselves after the judicial commission report then many cricket
personalities should have been given the necessary treatment. After the debacle in Australia recently, the investigative report should have been released, why the fines and bans imposed should have been detailed. Why the fines and bans were removed should be explained! This is just a joke. And honestly the joke is on us - poor Pakistani fans.

And this sucks more. Why do I believe we will be taken once more for a ride.

Related Posts

- 'No Balls'
- Pakistani Cricket & Erectile Dysfunction
- PostMan's First Law of Pakistani Cricket Motion
- Beavis & Ijaz Butt

PostMan's Law of Lifts - II

As soon as you lift your finger to press the close button of the lift's door (if it feels like its taking time to close), the door will close by itself.

Pakistan - To Do List

Being a member of ArmChair Analysts Party, I am drawing up a To-Do list of what to do with Pakistan in case I become a Prime Minister. I know its a tough thinking assignment but being a drawing room armchair analyst for quite some years now, I have become adept in it. Of course I being of the group that only talks and does nothing in reality to help change the situation in my country, for this 14th August Independence Day, I am offering here my Top-10 To-Do List for Pakistan.

Please feel free to come up with your own Top-10 or Top-15, (Top 5?) if you like, of things to do to Pakistan if you were made the Prime Minister. I am 'thinking' (as usual) that perhaps this may result in ideas that can perhaps be read by someone who can do something to change the situation - perhaps a least bit. Or any good idea that can be picked up by someone to be implemented. Or a list that we can draw up and perhaps (ludicrously) make part of political parties manifesto - assure them that we will vote for them. Some moron is going to win so the wish list could be made a part of every party's manifesto.

The list could be anything that comes to your mind. They can be very practical to totally ridiculous. Ridiculous has a lot of creativity I believe. What I would prefer is a wish list that is with a certain practical implementation of it. So here is my To-Do list.

1 - Disband the Moonsighting committee. Observe the first of ramadan with Saudia to clean up the domestic mess. Trust me its a mess. I am from Peshawar and I live in Karachi so every year I get to taste the best of 'mayhem' in this country. I have witnessed situation in which half of my family was observing fast and half celebrating Eid! Why waste time on such issues?

2 - Rename part of Arabian Sea as Pakistan Sea. I agree with Ardsher Cowasjee.. why not?

3 - Make ISI accountable for their deeds. If they are so good, they should be applauded - if not - made to pay. They can be made to speak through elected representatives, kinda like congressional hearings in US. I know they get a lot of bad PR, let them give a voice too eh?

4 - Make a centralized coordination centre of information sharing for all the intelligence agencies to prevent terrorism attacks. What I have seen is that information of impending terrorist attack is already there but was not shared with all in time thus preventing the loss of innocent lives and loss of capable administrators in form of Police officers or elected representatives.

5 - Make a truly independent authority in Karachi to bring to book the culprits that have created mayhem in the city. We seriously need that in Karachi as lot of innocent blood has been spilled.

6 - Introduce uniform education curriculum all over the country. Yes its a provincial subject but force the provinces to do so. Every Pakistani child needs to have a good education and that requires a good uniform curriculum. Every public and private school should be made to follow it - including medressahs. They can offer 'other' subjects if they wish to but there should be standard minimum for all.

7 - Make Competition Commission of Pakistan a truly independent authority. That should make a lot of cartels wet their pants. This would ensure that Courts do not have to take the suo-moto course which is not right in my opinion. The findings of Competition Commission can be be presented in court and let they decide what the final verdict is.

8 - Ensure that every classified information is declassified after a certain time period. We need to know a lot of what has happened in the past. This should make assignment of responsibility possible and things could come to fore as to why something happened.

9 - Remove the Blasphemy and Hudood Laws from the law books of Pakistan. Remove the condition of 'muslim only' head of state. The Blasphemy Laws are only used to exploit the minorities - there is nothing sacred to them. Regarding 'muslim only' head of State condition, I believe its totally discriminatory since every 'Pakistani' has the right to serve the nation regardless of the faith. I would be better off with a capable 'infidel' ahmadi than a dumb-ass mullah.

10 - Make mandatory on big corporates for establishment of water filtration plants by assigning them districts of Pakistan and make them accountable through elected representatives and media. Clean water should be accessible to all pakistanis and this may lead to reduction in lots of diseases.

So whats your list?

To My Friend

*salute*

if there is any definition, characteristic of an entity called friend... thats her.

PostMan's Law of Child Instinct

The moment you set yourself for meal, your child needs to go to the washroom.

Horrendous

I just received an email forwarding that contained pictures of burnt, charred dead bodies of passengers of flight AirBlue that crashed in Islamabad hills.

What the fuck is wrong with us?

PostMan's Self Analysis

A Man is chained to his prejudices.

Headline of the Day

'Butt open to suggestions' ... (link)

Thank God I know its a caste/ clan.

PostMan's Restaurant Law

The food at the other person's table looks really nice.

Poker - A Game of Chance or Skill?

Some very nice articles in the Economist on gambling. Here is one on whether Poker is a game of chance or skill.

'Most experienced players insist that success at poker is not about luck. David Sklansky, author of “The Theory of Poker” writes that “expert players do not rely on luck. They are at war with luck. They use their skills to minimise luck as much as possible.” In poker, as in life, luck can happen to anyone; it is evenly distributed. Skilled players know how to take advantage of it when it happens to them, and get out of the way when it is someone else’s turn.'

This is not a theoretical point; it is at the heart of a dispute about poker’s future in America, the country of its birth and its largest single market. UIGEA (the enforcement mechanisms of which have only just come into effect, even though the act was passed in 2006) bans financial institutions from transferring funds for bets in which “opportunity to win is predominantly subject to chance.” Poker has been judged to fall into that category'

A 2009 study carried out by Cigital, a software consultancy, analysed 103m hands of one of the main varieties of poker, Texas Hold ’em, played at Pokerstars.com, and found that over 75% of them were decided before a showdown. They thus depended far more on the players’ betting decisions than on the cards dealt. The Poker Players’ Alliance, a million-strong group of aficionados, argued in the South Carolina Supreme Court that “the structure and rules allow sufficient room for a player’s exercise of skill to overcome the chance element in the game.”

Yet perhaps the clearest argument in favour of poker being skill- rather than chance-dependent comes from Mr Sklansky, and it has to do with losing rather than winning. Imagine trying intentionally to lose at a game of pure chance, like roulette or baccarat. It would be impossible. At the beginning of a deal or a roll you have to bet on something. You can no more deliberately play badly than you can deliberately play well. The same is not true for poker, which offers multiple opportunities to make sure you lose.

-Link-

PostMan's Uncertainty Principle

Never criticize another man's belief or faith unless you are absolutely sure about your own.


PostMan's Fact on Uncertainty Principle

No one is sure.



Update on 19th July 2010

'No one is sure - apart from bigots and suicide bombers.'

Countering Hatred

A good one. We have to defeat the monster of hatred if we are to survive in this world.

Egyptian veil martyr commemorated in Germany

DRESDEN, Germany: A plaque commemorating a pregnant heads carved Egyptian woman whose murder in a German court shocked the Muslim world was unveiled on Thursday in Dresden, in the east of the country.
...
During a trial in July last year, 28-year-old Alex Wiens plunged an 18-centimetre kitchen knife at least 16 times into Sherbini, three-months pregnant at the time with her second child. Her son, Mustafa, three years old at the time, watched her bleed to death in the courtroom. Sherbini’s husband, Egyptian geneticist Elwy Okaz, rushed to her aid but was also stabbed repeatedly and then shot in the leg by a police officer who was unsure who was the attacker.

The Russian-born Wiens was acting out of revenge after she had pressed charges against him for calling her a “terrorist”, “Islamist” and “whore” during a dispute over a playground swing.

.. (Link)