Turn It Back By 20 Years...

"If the soldiers are not returned we will turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years."

- Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz told Israeli Channel 10.

No one can doubt that claim. And it is visible now in Lebanon. The monstrosity with which Israel is killing civillians and destroying Lebanon is there for all to see. And hats off to the international community for doing nothing!

There comes a meek voice of Kofi Annan telling Israel to stop - but its meek so that Her Highness Israel does not hear. She won't listen either. Uncle sam is there to protect her. House representatives fully supported Israel for her "self defence". So did the Senate. European will not interfere. OIC is impotent. No help around for the beleagured Lebanese people.

God be with you.

Breaking the chains...

Its official. Women held as prisoners all over Pakistan under Hudood Ordinance will be released today (10th July 2006). See My Post

Around 1300 female prisoners other than ones involved in crimes of murder and terrorism will be released. This is a huge sigh of relief for all women who were charged under the Hudood Ordinance. The new law has been promulgated by President Musharraf couple of days ago.

Hudood Ordinance is a legacy of dark days of military dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq. In order to cement his rule he came up with this law totally defying islamic injunctions, humanism and in the end made us a laughing stock in front of the whole world. Not to mention the great set back that was received to the image of Islam.

Efforts to do away with these laws were on since 80's but gathered steam now as electronic media is almost independent and allows for debates on topics like these which were considered totally sacrosanct. Muslim mind always blacks out in terms of thinking when "islam" is attached to something and Hudood Laws were no different. Told to be "straight from God" although they were man made.

So nice first step in humanism and towards a just-society.

Democracy or Theocracy?

"Democracy or Theocracy - Whats your take?" asks Reuters for their poll. Apparently.. there is a huge difference between the two. Democracy means the Rule of People. What they want and what they desire that is manifested in the form of legislation. Theocracy on the other hand is "an imposed" legislation so to speak. It is not representative of peoples wishes and desires but rather has been imposed on them from outside - God or priestly order lets say.

But is it really so? take the case of Pakistan. 90% of the population is muslim. We have a parliament that does the legislative acts. Since parliament consists of representatives of the people so acts undertaken by them are supposedly manifestation of people wishes. Democracy as one says it. Now if pakistanis want to be governed by rules specified in Quran by Allah... and parliament decides to legislate accordingly.. aren't we exercising a democratic right? Or does democracy mean something else? like.. any order BUT from religion?

Is Reuters asking the right question? I don't think so.

Say It With Ease...

You see them around you a lot. On streets, traffic crossings, sitting outside shops and in bazars.. they are everywhere... I am talking about beggars.

I was going home in a bus and popped in two "religious students" .. Talibs to be more precise. Cant write Taliban because now it has become a cuss word of sorts! I don't know whether I should call them beggars.. but the end was the same. That their medressah (school) was having some water problem and the students their could not say their prayers because they could not perform ablution. They brought in God, Prophet Muhammad, every other person who could be brought in to make people dish out money. And people did.

Honestly.. I think people of my country are too good. Religion too has played its role. Helping out the poor and the needy is considered virtuous and if any person can be helped that somehow directly is attached to religion (Imam of mosque or students) then more the good. This is supposed to make God take a lenient view of the person who gave the money.

I absolutely don't have any issues with that. What I am concerned with is that people are being exploited. God knows who is a deserving person but the trend and pattern one sees. makes you think otherwise. Just the other day.. two religious students hopped in to the bus and asked for money.. this time the reason was that there was nothing for dinner for the students in the mosque. They gathered the money, blessed them from Gods side and out they went... simple.

People gave money with all their sincerity because they are God fearing. What the hell were those students doing? I should not be making sweeping statement because maybe they had a genuine problem. I, myself, make an assurance that whoever is receiving the money.. is a deserving one.

May Allah be the judge of hearts and intentions.

A Wedding and A Funeral

Writing after quite sometime now...

On 9th April.. my father died. I was away in another city. This is really the time when I loathed myself for not being there with my family. Cursed myself. What good am I if I am not present when my family needed me the most?

I lost my father and my friend. Not many fathers are their childrens friends. Mine was. You know like a true text book father? He was like that. Had all the characteristics of being of very good father and a brilliant person. Not a single person on his funeral said that he had done anything bad to them. Everyone praised him. What else do you want when you leave such kind of legacy?

On 29th April I got married. Dates were set by my father so we decided to go ahead with them and honour my father's wishes.

A friend leaves and a friend arives.

P.S: I was wearing the same dress when I got engaged and when my father died.

Apostasy

Here we go again. An Afghan muslim converted to christianity. As usual.. all hell broke loose. Death Fatwas galore. Hell hath no fury like a berserk muslim :p

Frankly.. I was not robbed of my possessions (jewels included) when I heard that a person has converted to another religious faith. But all the hullabaloo regarding conversion.. must be something in it. Well in fact there is...

Muslims believe that according to Sharia (Muslim Law derived from Quran and acts of Prophet Muhammad) whoever converts to another religious faith from Islam... has to be killed. Good Lord have mercy. They say that Prophet Muhammad cited the above mentioned prescription for converts.

Being a muslim, I have some "issues" as usual.

1. Islam (religion) is of God and humans are supposed to follow it.
2. Only God decides what is good and what is right.
3. Humans have no right to interpret/ explain/ issue fatwas etc
4. Even the Prophet was told to follow what was revealed to him (Quran) and not to come up with his own additions (Quran.69:44-48)

So why not convert to other religion? the person will go to hell and not heaven? only muslims allowed to enter heaven? (read my previous post of November 2005 on this).

Secondly. Judgement Day is to be presided over by His majesty and He will be asking questions regarding faith and deeds. I can understand humans dealing with deeds of other humans in this world because standards are set of what is right and what is wrong but when it comes to faith.. how can one be so sure about himself that he decides fates of other people on it? Is he correct and others wrong? Let the faith question be dealt by God..

There is a verse in Quran which states this beautifully. It says..

[2:256] Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things

Death by Kite

Kite flying is a passion in Pakistan. People of every age indulge in this activity. The festival of 'Basant' is celebrated every year especially in Lahore to celebrate arrival of spring. The sky is full of kites and colors. Absolutely wonderful.

I am not from Lahore, am from a city in North West but I remember making kites, the twine and flying! Unfortunately, this activity has taken a bloody form. The twine used to make kites fly, has become a death tool. Kite flying in Pakistan is not merely kite flying per se - its a duel between kite flyers to cut each other twines by making or coating the twines with ground powdered glass, chemical and now horribly.. using metal wire.

I remember that accidents only occurred when children fell off from roof tops flying or capturing kites or had accidents on roads. This could have resulted in unfortunate death also. But now the situation is altogether different. The twine is so lethal now that it simply slits the throats and necks! Metal twine falls on electricity cables resulting in electrocution and power failures. The death rate has climbed so much that Supreme Court had to ban kite flying all over Pakistan.

This activity is totally taking a negative spectrum. I really wish it otherwise. Some how this sport has to continue albeit without the deaths. Metal wires and chemical wires should be banned altogether. It should be promoted as organized sport played in parks so that twines remain confined to that area. This way everyone will be safe and enjoy what kite-flying is all about - Fun!

No Ports or Nukes for Muslims

"if you want to run seaports or obtain nuclear weapons for self-defence, you had better change your name to O’Reilly, Schwartz or Patel and stop turning to Makkah in your prayers."

- By Eric S. Margolis

Could not have said it better. This article by Eric S. Margolis is the actual representation of muslim sentiment.

Article in The News

America and Britain keep giving sermons to the Muslim world that they lack democracy (which they support by installing puppet regimes or military dictators), that their religion has problems which instigate violence (religion has got nothing to do with it and further... US has been terrorising the world since cold war) , that their brand of democracy is the best in the world and a perfect recipie for Muslim countries (hell with their respective culture and traditions).

A port deal by UAE was blocked by President Bush on the mere pretext that they were Arabs and Muslims! what more proof can there be about islamophobia. Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in United States by sheikhs but creating a hysteria out of a port deal.. only islamophobia can can produce such hype.

US bombed the hell out of Iraq on the pretext that they had Weapons of Mass destruction (which they had none. Old infrastructure was provided by US to fight against Iran! hypocricy galore!)Todays mess in Iraq is total responsibility of US. Terror has increased manifolds because of acts of US. Now US is after Iran (not that I am a fan of Ahmaddin Najad, the Iranian President) Israel can have as many nukes as it can have but NO! no muslim country can have it! Nucleur Proliferation crap treaty... give it to India but not to Pakistan...

What extent this hypocricy...

The Blog Ban Gaffe

I cant access blogs hosted on blogspot from my place. How Lovely. My friend also cannot access blogs. Strange! As it turns out.. no one in Pakistan can access blogs on this particular host! Brilliant!

It becomes clear then.. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the governing body, has directed all ISPs to ban access to websites/ blogs that lead them to the blasphemous caricatures of Prophet.

One website was against President Musharraf! outta here dude! you are banned! sucker! :p

How stupid is PTA? you think that users can be stopped from accessing these websites by blocking IPs?! wake up! get real! and handle with care :p

God did this....

In an interview with a leading english daily newspaper, Qazi Husain Ahmad, the leader of Jamat e Islami, the right wing religious party has stated that whatever happened in Lahore and Peshawar due to rioting due to publishing of blasphemous cartoons.. was the will of God. He made the comment to a question that whether the rioters were justified in burning cars, motorcycles, vandalizing property, ransacking everything.

Yeah! tell this to the poor guy who had his motorbike burnt and Qazi sahib you'll have a boot somewhere! Qazi sahib let me quote something as well...

[42:40] And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, help and defend themselves
[42:41] The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto. but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong
[42:42] The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous
[42:43] But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs

Uh oh Qazi sahib. Problem here. God is telling us to show patience and not be aggressors. Although He does what He knows best, He is also advising us something. After all...

[42:30] Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because on the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness

So do good deeds and get your reward! Simple

[19:76] GOD augments the guidance of those who choose to be guided. For the good deeds are eternally rewarded by your Lord, and bring far better
returns.

May I ask what did people of Pakistan had done wrong that such measures were taken against them? did they publish the cartoons? why ruin your own country and have fellow human beings killed for no reason?

[7:199] You shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant.

But do you really care?

Cartoon Controversy Aftermath

On 14th Feb, protesting crowd burnt 70 motorcycles, 10 cars, 4 ambulances, a fire brigade, buildings, offices. Two people died.

What the hell is wrong with us? Is this the image of "Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace"? People are being killed and property being damaged in the name of Prophet? How on earth can one do that in the name of Prophet?

Publishing derogatory cartoon was offensive. Burning cars and vandalizing is repulsive. Do we have sense? If this were a conspiracy.. I suppose the object was achieved when we showed how uncivilized we muslims are. All the moral high ground that we had gained has been lost by these stupid acts.

Awful.

Cartoon Controversy

"Are Muslims justified in staging worldwide protests over cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad? "

Asks the West. I want to ask this. How many times have you seen Muslims ridiculing Jesus or Moses? any cartoons published by any muslim? in last century? in history?

see... we Muslims are very particular when it comes to respecting the Prophets. We believe that they had been given a status worthy enough of being respected by us. I understand that the muslim reaction of burning cars and building is not justified but the arguments coming out from the West are atrocious to say the least. One commentator I heard on CNN was saying that since they (majority of muslims) are poor and uneducated, they dont have anything to do so they are doing such act. ?? You (west) don't get it do you?

Spill a word against jews and you are branded anti-semitic. In Germany, law actually prohibits you to cast doubts on holocaust. Every society has its taboos that have to be looked in to when making opinion about them. And when Muslims cry foul, they are told that they are irrational people who cannot take criticism. How awful can you get?

If the west wants to criticise what goes on in the Muslim world, please do so (now don't get me started over west's corruption in maintaining puppet governments in muslims countries). We dont mind criticism but at least show some respect for the people that we respect. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to misbehave or offend people. Journalism with responsibility is what is required. grow up! and stop telling us that you are always right and we are wrong!

Insecure Islam

I received this forwarding that had the title "New Quran by America". The mail stated that there was a Quran-clone in circulation that was purported to be alternative to Quran. So all Muslims were being advised to take "precautionary measures" and forward this to as many muslims as possible so that they dont fall into this trap.

What a crap? We Muslims, I believe, can digest humongous amount of trash! The so called Al-Furqan is kind of Arabic version of Bible and has teachings of it. Its not "new Quran" designed by the Americans to mislead muslims! and Even if someone has combined teachings of both religions... so what?! Islam is under attack?!

We muslims believe that the whole world is conspiring 24/7 to do harm to us. What is with this insecure mentality of ours. Can we really honestly save Islam? We cant even save ourselves! Forget the whole world.. we are perfectly capable of ruining ourselves! from botched democracies to incompetent leadership.. Muslim world is replete with absolute crap. If someone reads it in being tricked as Quran.. God help him. He/ She has to be really numb-skulled to do that.

We don't educate ourselves, we don't enlighten ourselves. This "Whole-World-After-Us" scenario is really bad for muslims. I really think we have to ameliorate ourselves.

Hajj Tragedy

Another sad year for Muslims all around the globe as tragedy has hit the Hajj resulting in precious loss of life. A hotel collapsed in Mecca taking 70 lives and then stampede took the lives of around 360 pilgrims. In the recent past, various unfortunate incidents have resulted in human casualties. Although the administration has taken some very good steps to mitigate these incidents, one aspect has been overlooked. In the Quran we come to know that Hajj can be observed in sacred months (Sura 2, verse 197).

[2:197] Hajj shall be observed in the specified months...

Now there is a difference of opinion on which months are sacred but there is no difference on the month of Zil Hajj (12th month of Islamic Calender) and Muharram (1st Month). Currently Hajj is undertaken on the 9th and 10th of Zil Hajj. If we follow God's advice then the whole month of Zil Hajj can be taken to perform Hajj instead of just two days. Some people argue that only the first 10 days are considered to be sacred to perform Hajj; in which case ten days can be allotted for the performance of Hajj, greatly lowering the burden on the Hajj administration. This will also result in mitigation of occurrences of human deaths due to accidents.

Also Check

- Eid - Is Animal Sacrifice Obligatory?

Grand Ma

My grand mother passed away last week. All I could think of was about my mother! how would she be taking it. When my paternal grand parents died - I was a bit young so could not associate that much. Ones heart squeezes, literally, when a dear one departs from this world. Perhaps I cannot fathom what my mother is feeling... anyways.. love ya mom :)

Why cant there be a non-muslim Pakistani Head of State?

Pakistani constitution bars non muslims from assuming the role of Head of State and of Republic. The reason being that majority of Pakistani's are muslims (around 97%) so they should have a muslim head of state.

Although it seems logical but it would be even 'more logical' if there were no restrictions on minorities to assume this role constitutionally. Its their right being the citizen of this country. Would a minority head of state be a risk to Islam? give me a break...

What would you have.. a very good administrator (minority representative) or not-so-good-administrator (very pious muslim)? It is totally hypothetical but this is a scenario. That’s why I believe separating religion from politics is a very good thing. Now we cannot have an exceptionally talented (lets say) minority representative as head of state because he should be a muslim.

Some people might argue that even USA would not allow a Muslim President (just as having an African American president is difficult) so why should Pakistan do that? Correct. But the Constitution of USA does not bar the minorities from taking the charge of President. Its not that "you have to have a minority head of state" as its often difficult (minorities are by definition minorities) but at least there should be no bar constitutionally. Every citizen of a country should have this right.

Are you cursed?

The October 8th 2005 earthquake in Pakistan was an unfathomable disaster. More than 73,000 precious lives were lost. But amongst all this gloom and doom - a bright ray of hope and life emerged. Pakistani nation rose up to the occasion in helping their brethren in distress. International community too supported wholheartedly.

Amongst all this was a debate that "why" earthquake occured. From the scientific - movement of the tectonic plates; to the metaphysical - God did it to them. What is really unfortunate is the fact that people actually say that earthquake occured due to the acts of people living there. That they were off the track of religion, were performing bad deeds and thus Allah punished them. I find this totally absurd.

Does it mean that the place where earthquake occured - people therein were corrupt, infidels, performed the worst possible acts? Is it a simple case of saints vs sinners? Does it mean that the rest of Pakistan which was not affected by earthquake; have angels residing. Am I good and they bad? this is the worst possible way of putting things.

The earthquake was and is a very strong test. Test for humans whether they come forward and help others in distress, do they open their hearts for them, do they help the affectees in every possible manner. Or whether they just sit and pass judgments on behalf of God certifying who is good and who is bad. Show humanity please.

[2:155]We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money,lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.

I dont like it when people say it like that. So I disregard it.

Good that You are White

Unfortunate. There is this general trend in Pakistan where wheatish/ brownish skin color that we have is generally considered NOT OK as compared to having a fair/ white skin color which is GOOD. I guess part of this relates to the colonial legacy that we have had as the British ruled the subcontinent for some good 200 years. So we consider white skinned people as more bright, intelligent and above all worthy of being shown respect.

Take any advertisement of a skin cream product in Pakistan and it will mostly talk in terms of "It will make you gora(white)". A very famous singer of Pakistan had actually these lyrics in his song "I had a dream last night in which I saw my (future) wife.. she was as black as my fate".

Is it a curse that one is born with a darker complexion? why do we make (almost 90% of Pakistanis feel that they are somehow inferior to the rest? why should anyone around the globe be considered inferior in this respect? Perhaps I'll do the same thing when its my turn?

It hurts me. So I don't like it.

Laws relating to Rape in Pakistan

Horrible. To say the least. The prevailing law was promulgated by a military dictator in 1979, called Hudood Ordinance, to appease the clergy in Pakistan and consolidate his position and rule. He said simply.. if you want Islam.. vote for me! and thats what happened in the referendum! easy :)

This law is totally discriminatory against women. Any woman who is raped - has to prove that she was raped! that requires testimony of 4 Men! and if she cannot.. then she'll be tried for Adultery! how lovely!

Islam mentions 4 witnesses in the verse

[24:4] And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;

Enlighten me. Where does it mention rape? where does it say that a raped woman has to produce four witnesses? What context does this verse has? The result of this falsely derived/ wrongly thought verse is that women find no justice at all. First the raped woman has to face the wrath of society, she has to come up with four witnesses who saw her being raped! then she runs the risk of being tried for adultery if she cannot. Worst, numerous cases have been reported that Police raped these women when they came to report!

This law has to be repealed. Clergy have manipulated the whole scene and anyone objecting to it is termed infidel! told that they are violating Quranic principles! which certainly is not the case. Thus all the effort of repealing this heinous law are sent crashing.

I hate this.

Check These Posts As Well

Rape and Adultery Differentiated

Islam & Women Protection Bill

Can one show a person dying or being slaughtered on TV?

This makes me really sick. Pakistani news channels (2 of them have done this) have been found guilty of this charge. Recently Pakistan was hit by a severe earthquake that resulted in thousands of deaths. There was a lot of criticism on government that they were not doing enough in providing relief to the affectees. A private news channel did something that really shocked me. A reporter and cameraman headed to a remote part of affected area and told the story of family who was hit by earthquake. They actually showed a woman dying on camera! All in an effort to show that "See! we told ya! government is lying! it says it cant reach the affected areas because its difficult but we did it!" (my statement) I cant possibly term them as humans. Could they have not taken a medical team to that area and perhaps could have saved that woman's life? were they obsessed so much with maligning the government that they forgot they had a more "human duty" to do?

Another TV was covering Al-Qaida and the operation that Pakistan Army is undertaking in the country's tribal belt alongside borders of Afghanistan. The reporter showed a video in which an afghan spy was being shown slaughtered to death. No viewer discretion advised.

Is this kind of material allowed to be aired on TV? Do we have to see such things to "really" believe whats going on? was it not possible that those grizzly scenes may not be shown?

I abhor this. So makes me sick.