Lion | Senile Delusions...

Trip To Syria: The Lioness’s Den

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Continued from Trip To Syria: Flying Away.

**************

We reached the hotel in Muhalla-e-Zainabia on the outskirts of Damascus. Imagine waking up from a deep sleep and then having to carry sixteen heavy suitcases to the hotel building. And it doesn’t stop at that. The room was on the third floor. Thank God for the elevators!

We were told to come down for tea. What ‘down’ turned out to be was ‘down – 1′ i.e. the basement. It was divided into parts. Ours had plastic seats and tables set up for around thirty people. The tea was served and IT WAS PATHETIC! My cook makes better tea.

Khair, not to be unfair to the Maulana Sahab cooking for us there, I think it was the tea’s fault.

We were told that the Haram was to close at eight-thirty.

I came back up and went to sleep. Woke up around six-thirty and got busy in getting ready. That usually consists of emptying myself (in this case, all the Etihad food and specially the Octopus) and taking a bath. Left at seven-thirty with my uncles.

The hotel was five minutes from the Haram and my taya (father’s elder brother) led the way through the crowded streets of Muhalla-e-Zainabia. We entered through one of the small side gates and came upon a small opening with people sitting. The place was extremely crowded. Crossing another gate, we came into the main courtyard.

The burial chamber sits in the middle, surrounded by a circular courtyard and then again by a circular building that houses administration offices and other rooms. Two tall minarets stand in the courtyard on both sides of the main entrance. The huge gold brick dome sits on top of the large burial chamber, marking the resting place of the eldest daughter of Haider, the lion of Allah. The place emits an aura of authority and fearlessness, all the while maintaining a charming elegance and attraction for millions of devotees.

Welcome to Syria, the place where the Captives of Karbala (A.S.) were brought tied up in chains, bare-footed, bare-headed, being stoned from all sides, in a state of helplessness that does not find it’s counterpart in the realms of documented and undocumented history. This was the place where Yazeed (La’natullah) ruled and the people were hardcore enemies of the Ahle Bayt (A.S.). Where the mention of Ali (A.S.) was met with curses and abuses.

Who could have thought that the stronghold of Bani Umayyah (La’natullah), the capital of Muawiyah (La’natullah) and Yazeed (La’natullah), would fall to Lady Zainab (S.A.) in such a way that nothing would remain of their kingdom and they would become the focal point of all curses and abuses themselves? That their followers would become a minority and the country would come under the rule of people who would hail Ali (A.S.), not as a Caliph, nor an Imam, not even one of the most astounding creations of God, BUT GOD HIMSELF!

And the daughter of this God “sleeps” near Damascus. Welcome to the Lioness’s Den!

I went with my phupa (father’s sister’s husband) towards the burial chamber and stopped outside the door. An Arab with whom my phuppa had become acquainted helped us read the Ziarat of Lady Zainab (S.A.) that hung beside the door. Then we went in. I will not describe what I saw inside. You will see for yourselves in later posts!

My taya had told us that it would be impossible to reach the Zareeh (gold and silver cage above the grave) in the middle of the chamber on the first go due to the usually huge crowd but we did not find one of such size. The reason being that this was the first year when all barriers to Karbala had been lifted and most Zaireen (visitors) had gone there. The gathering in Karbala on Arbaeen this year was 20 million strong as compared to only 1.7 million for Hajj!

Result: we got to the Zareeh easily.

After praying and paying our respects, we came outside and offered the Ziarat prayers. I left my phuppa with the Arab and returned to the hotel, cursing myself for not taking my camera with me.

NOTE: I have uploaded some pictures of the tour to my Facebook account and will upload the rest with each related post. You can see them there if you want.

14.04.2009 Ali(A.S.), Amazing, Captives of Karbala(A.S.), Enemies of the Ahle Bayt (A.S.), Me, Religious, World 18 Comments

Teer Toota, Sher Aaya…Bhaingay Ke Saath

Monday, March 16th, 2009

In the last few days, we saw enough chaos throughout Pakistan (at least on Geo TV) to believe that the end of the PPP government was near. The bald lion with hair implants and no balls, was leading the long march towards the capital to crap on the Constipation Constitution Avenue, and ultimately on the country. The government set up many hurdles from Karachi to Islamabad and all over the country to try to keep the capital city clean (it’s far easier than the sanitary work required after any long march).

But the marchers were not to be stopped. The laxative of “foreign exchange” imported from India, and that locally manufactured in Raiwind, was forcing them to keep going. One guy had it so bad that he took his pants off on the way and Express News made live coverage of the incident, breaking the record “We Report First” streak of Geo News.

Since it began, the lawyers’ movement has been a cause of great instability in Pakistan. Yes you read that right, asshole! If it’s responsible for bringing democracy to Pakistan, Musharraf’s resignation, etc then it’s also responsible for the increase in terrorism, decline in economy, moral decline (see video above) and the Mumbai attacks. Okay, that’s outside Pakistan. How about the Marriott bombing?

Lawyers never questioning the motives of Nawaz Sharif in his stand for the independence of judiciary, when he is guilty of having it attacked in his last tenure as PM of Pakistan, makes me doubt the credibility of their own stand as well. Even the media forgot about it. So as I see it, all this support for Chauhdry comes from liars and hypocrites, and those fooled by them. As for Nawaz, we can all see that he’s using the lawyer’s movement to joyride into the PM house. Or the presidency. That is, if Zardari leaves. Speaking about Zardari, see this.

Throughout this comical episode, many promises were made.

Welcome back, Mr. Chauhdry, it’s time to stand up to your claims. So wipe that smile off your face and get to work. And get a toilet paper roll too because if you don’t live up to your talk, the real citizens of this country are coming to make you shit your pants.

16.03.2009 Pakistan, Political, Society 16 Comments

Why Imam Musa-e-Kazim (A.S.) was named “Musa”…

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

During the time of Prophet Musa (A.S.) [Moses], the practice of Magic was at its peak. Everyone is familiar with the atrocities committed by the Pharaoh of that time on his people, specially the followers of Musa (A.S.).

The Pharaoh called the greatest of magicians of that time to confront Musa (A.S.). Musa’s (A.S.) brother, Harun (A.S.), was also with him in the Pharaoh’s court. All magicians threw pieces of rope on the ground which turned into snakes and started crawling towards Musa (A.S.).

Musa (A.S.) was frightened by these snakes and stepped back but Allah sent his orders to throw his Asa (stick) on the ground. The Asa turned into a python and ate all the snakes.

On watching this, the Pharaoh ran into the women’s quarters screaming. All magicians threw themselves into prostration and pronounced their faith in Musa’s (A.S.) Allah.

**************

The Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) [Abraham] had been blessed by Allah with the Knowledge of the Stars. Wherever he went, he used to teach it to the people but in the end he would always say that these stars are not Gods but only His creation. A magician named Hari used to follow him everywhere. Silently, he accumulated all taught by Ibrahim (A.S.) and used it in enhancing his magic skills.

After becoming a great magician, Hari traveled to Egypt and taught magic to the people there. Later on, he moved to India and did the same there. He died in India.

**************

During the days of Imam Musa-e-Kazim (A.S.), Magic was again at it’s peak. Egypt and India were the centers of Magic at that time, with the people having conquered magic skills beyond thought.

Knowing this and with bad intentions in his mind, Harun Rashid (L.A.) called the greatest magicians from India to face Imam Musa-e-Kazim (A.S.). He arranged for a lavish dinner with two of Imam’s (A.S.) followers, the magicians and also had the imprisoned Imam (A.S.) invited.

Harun (L.A.) was seated on his throne with a huge carpet on the wall behind him. Embroidered into the carpet was a gigantic and magnificent lion. The dinner was set out. Imam (A.S.) motioned for his followers not to touch the rotis (breads) on the dastarkhwan (dinner cloth).

Ignoring Imam’s (A.S.) orders, one follower reached out to pick a roti. Harun (L.A.) at once motioned to his magicians, one of whom made the roti fly away from the follower. The follower reached out again and the magician repeated it. This happened a third time.

On seeing the humiliation faced by his follower, Imam (A.S.) beckoned to the lion on the carpet:

O Creature of Allah, come to life and swallow this magician!

At once, the lion came to life and jumped out of the carpet with a thunderous roar. Harun fainted with fear as did the rest of those present.

It is the nature of lions that they bite and chew their food. But this time, contrary to its nature and in accordance with the Imam’s (A.S.) orders, it swallowed the magician whole.

Imam (A.S.) ordered it to go back into the carpet and it obliged, becoming lifeless once again.

When Harun (L.A.) came back to his senses, he refused to look behind him at the carpet from fear of the lion. He meekly asked Imam (A.S.) to ask the lion to return his magician.

Imam replied:

“Had Prophet Musa’s (A.S.) Asa returned the snakes, I would have returned your magician!”

**************

After the martyrdom of Imam Ja’far-e-Sadiq (A.S.), the world was plunged again into the darkness of Magic. Therefore to fight the forces of Magic, another “Musa” was needed to negate its powers. But this time, Magic was more powerful.

So Allah sent the Pride of all Prophets, an Imam by the name of Musa, titled Kazim, to fight off this darkness and humiliate it. But fighting magic was the least of Imam’s (A.S.) worries. He had to rebuff the Pharoah of that time, Harun Rashid (L.A.), and establish the Supremacy of Allah, alongwith the rest of the teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and his Progeny (A.S.), while spending half of his life in prison.

03.08.2008 Amazing, General Knowledge, History, Jafar-e-Sadiq(A.S.), Muhammad(S.A.W.W.), Musa Kazim(A.S.), Religious 1 Comment