Hoping to be human someday!

Khuda Hafiz

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

By the time you read this post, I’ll be gone.

Hopefully my head’ll clear a little. Too much has happened in the past few days. I never realized they are so many in number and so brutal. I was in shock Monday night. Khair, he is okay and getting better. Everyone’s keeping a low profile. But my going is not it! :)

As a parting gift (if you take it as a gift), I’ll explain to you the reason behind “Ishq-e-Khuda”.

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WARNING!

RELIGIOUS CONTENT

(Jump to the end if you don’t wanna read)

How do you know there is a God? I mean, no one’s seen him. Then why be so sure?

Is there any testimony to rely on?

Yes.

There is!

Of those who testified before us, that there is a God.

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There are various kinds of testimony: by tongue, by actions, etc. But the greatest of all, is by life!

That’s why the term “Shahadat” for martyrs. But in today’s world, this term has become a joke. How the heck does one dying in a fire become a Shaheed?

In my eyes, there are only two who have testified openly that there is only one true Allah, with their lives, knowing well before their time that they would die, and how!

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In the battle of Ahzab (Khandaq), when Umar Ibne Abde Wud attacked the Rajul (مرد/Man) with his sword, it cut through his shield and landed on his head. Blood flowed and wet his beard. In the next attack, the Rajul cut off Kul-le-Kufr’s legs. After beheading him, he returned to the Propeht (S.A.W.W.).

The Prophet on seeing his injured head, broke into tears and cried, “O Ali! I woe the day when that wretched man will wet your beard with the blood from your head!”

For details about his martyrdom, see my page Ali (A.S.).

This is my hero, cousin of the Prophet, who testified with his martyrdom that there is one Allah worth dying for. He knew who would kill him and he woke his killer up for prayers. He could easily have avoided death by letting him sleep. But something made him die, for truth. That thing, was Ishq-e-Khuda!

End of story? No!

There’s another sacrifice. One that surpasses this one in all aspects!

This is the sacrifice of a man, of his children, brothers, friends and followers. And the sacrifice of his women’s veils.

The sacrifice that made him collect his nephew’s pieces.

That made him bear the death of his brave and fiery brother, the strength of his caravan.

That made him pull a spear from the chest of the young man who was his son, with the spear pulling out the heart eventually.

That made him see his infant son get slaughtered in his arms with an arrow.

That made him put his sword back in it’s sheath and be riddled with arrows from all sides, such that when he got off his horse, he was suspended in mid-air, raised by them.

That made him bow his head in Sajdah even though he knew his killer was going to mount him and behead him.

What led him to sacrifice? He knew where he would be killed. He knew when and how, and by whom. Yet he walked towards his death, and that of his loved ones. Why? What led to it?

Only one thing: Ishq-e-Khuda.

As Nadeem Sarwar puts it:

اے مرے ربِّ جہاں

اے مرے ربِّ جہاں

اِک عجب عشق ہوا

وہ سرِ کرب و بلا

تیرا عاشق ہے کھڑا

خون میں ڈوبا ہوا


دے چکا لختِ جگر

دے چکا نورِ نظر

دے چکا سارا وہ گھر

اور خنجر کے تلے

اُس کا سجدے میں ہے سر


نہ نماز ایسی نہ عاشق کا کلیجہ ایسا

نوکِ نیزا پہ بھی کرتا ہی رہا ذکر تیرا

This martyrdom surpassed that of the Rajul, and in the Rajul’s own words:

بولے علی، حسین  ہو  اب  بھی حواس  میں

ایسی تو جنگ ہم نہ لڑے بھوک و پیاس میں

I never found such Ishq-e-Khuda, or love for God, anywhere except for this family.

If you want more and have a taste for awesome Shairi, or are a devotee of the Ahle Bayt (A.S.), or Shia, do listen to these two Nauhas and let me know if you like them. My current favorites: Ya Ali Ya Husain and Noor-e-Sahar Pe Khat-te-Jali Hai Mera Husain.

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Sorry if you got bored by the post. Forgive me.

Forgive me too, if I’ve hurt you ever.

On condition of life, we’ll meet again. Take care of yourselves, have fun and Khuda Hafiz.

Ash-Shaam! Ash-Shaam! Ash-Shaam!

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

Minhaal, a sahabi of Ali ibnul Husain (Syed-e-Sajjad), came to him and asked him where he had faced the most hardships, during Karbala and it’s aftermath.

He replied “Ash-Shaam! Ash-Shaam! Ash-Shaam!” (Syria! Syria! Syria!)

Minhaal then asked him why he cried so much. After all, martyrdom was the destiny and inheritance of Aal-e-Muhammad (S.A.W.W.).

Syed-e-Sajjad then replied, “You have not done justice to us. Is it also our destiny that our mothers and sisters be paraded bare-headed through bazaars and streets, with crowds watching?”

This event is explained by Rehaan Aazmi and Nadeem Sarwar in the video below. Rehaan Aazmi has done a marvelous job of capturing Syed-e-Sajjad’s answer in verses.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

Allah Buhat Bara Hai!

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

سب نے یہی کہا ہے اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے
قرآن میں لکھا ہے اللّھ   بہت  بڑا ہے

ہر حد سے ماورا ہے اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

یہ مہر و ماہ و انجم، دریائوں میں  طلاطم
چلتی   ہوئی   ہوائیں ،   آواز   کا     ترنّم
خوش  رنگ  طائروں کا  پھیلا ہوا  طبسّم
ترتیب وار غنچے جیسے کہ رشکِ انجم

یہ کْن کا معجزہ ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

مٹی کے پیکروں میں تحریک   ڈالتا  ہے
سوئے فلک  زمیں سے تارے اچھالتا ہے
پاتال   سے  جواہر  وہ   ہی   نکالتا   ہے
پروردگار وہ  ہے  ،   دنیا  کو  پالتا   ہے

ہر حد سے ماورا ہے اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

کونین میں عیاں  ہے  یارب  جو  نور  تیرا
ہے تاب کس نظر میں ، دیکھے ظہور تیرا
تسبیح خواں  ہم  کیا ،  ہے  کوہِ طور  تیرا
جس  کو بہی مل گیا ہے  مولا شعور  تیرا

وہ مصطفٰی ہوا ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

تو   باکمال    جیسا  ،   ویسے    تیرے   پیمبر
سب تیرے مدح خواں ہیں، سب ہی تِرے ثناء گر
کیا   بادشاہ  و  قدسی   ،   کیا   مفلس  و  گداگر
ان   ساری   ہستیوں   میں   وہ   آمنہ   کا   دلبر

وہ بھی تو لب کشا ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

قوسین  کی  تھی منزل ،  حیران انبیاء  تھے
جبرئیل رک گئے تھے اِک  مرحلے پہ آکے
رستے   بنائے   تو  نے  پردے  ہٹا ہٹا  کے
معراج  پر  محمد  پہنچے  تِری  رضا  سے

اِک شور گونجتا ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

اللّھ   کی  بڑائی  یوں  تو  سبھی  نے  کی  ہے
لیکن   جو   کربلا   کی   تاریخ     بولتی    ہے
نوکِ سناں  سے رب  کی  توثیق  ہو چکی  ہے
تکبیر   زیرِ خنجر    شبّیر    نے    کہی     ہے

مظلوم کی سدا ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

کس  نے  کیا  ہے  سجدہ   خنجر  تلے جہاں   میں؟
کانٹے پڑے   ہوئے تھے جب  پیاس  سے زباں  میں
جب   آگ   لگ  رہی  تھی   زہرا کے گلستاں   میں
چھپ  چھپ کے چاند تارے روتے تھے آسماں میں

مولا نے تب کہا ہے، اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

کیا      نفسِ  مطمئنہ      سجّاد     نے     تھا     پایا
اِک اِک ستم  پہ جس  نے سجدے  میں  سر  جھکایا
طوقِ گراں   پہں   کر   شکوہ   نہ    لب   پہ    لایا
کنبے   کو   اپنے   لیکر   تا   شام   تھا    جو    آیا

ہر گام پر کہا ہے’ اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

سینے پہ برچھی کھا کے اکبر نے یہ صدا دی
یہ  آخری   ہے  منزل  خوشنودیءِ  خدا   کی
خاکِ شفا   بنا   دی   کرب و بلا   کی    مٹی
بولے   ریحان و سرور    تاریخِ کربلا    بھی

مولا نے سچ کہا ہے’ اللّھ بہت بڑا ہے

Selected verses from Nadeem Sarwar’s “Allah Buhat Bara Hai”.

Written by Rehan Aazmi.

Should I Tick The World Off?

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

I’ve been facing a dilemma. I want to ask some questions but I’m apprehensive w.r.t. the consequences.

I’ve decided to cancel the third Zakir Naik post about Karbala and the Quraan when I saw the comments in my first Zakir Naik post [I still might do one on Yazeed(L.A.) and another on Muawiyah(L.A.)]. People do not understand the Quraan and still act like they were the ones it was revealed to. No offense, but our “Ummah” is immature to the core.

They refuse to question their beliefs, ignoring that the only thing capable of making them learn more is the question “Why?”

One of my elders, Syed Fayyaz Haider Zaidi, said to me:

“The beliefs of your parents are not religion!”

And when I pondered over it, I realized how true it was. You should too. I’ve questioned my beliefs before, and am happy to say that each “Why?” strengthens my faith in Allah and his Prophet (S.A.W.W.). Their have been times when I was baffled beyond measure but when I thought about those things I realized how great Allah was. I now stand proud of my God!

Some of these things, I’ve shared with you. Most, I haven’t. I don’t think people can take the burden and not go crazy. And when they go crazy, I become the heretic.

I must say, I didn’t think on my own. I was helped all along. Allah made me lucky that I was born at the right time to receive that help. By whom, some of you know. Some do not. But I don’t think anyone is interested, so I’m not naming that helper.

My concept of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) differs greatly from that of people I meet. To such an extent that I fear being declared a heretic by others. Because no one tries to understand how great he truly is! People are hell bent on declaring him a common man with mistakes, using the same Quraan that they do not understand, under the slogan “Quraan kaafi hai!”

Well it’s not, for your information. (There is a better answer but it’s not good for people with bloated egos and pea-sized brains who refuse to think. So just keep in mind the hadees: “I’m leaving behind with you two things…“)

This also brings me back to my dilemma. Should I pose those questions here or not? Should I be brave and not give a crap what the world thinks?

I’m currently neither in the emotional state nor the mood to bear the burden of long and stupid comments but there is a part of me that wants to tick the world off. To say things that no one wants to believe but are actually true.

I remember my old office, listening to Nauhas in Muharram with my Sunni colleagues. They had respect for the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) family and for that I respected them a lot. They actually used to ask me to put on certain Nauhas that they liked and I had sort of become a “Nauha Jockey”. But good times don’t last long, do they?

Today, I see people interested in the Gaza crisis, bashing Israel and all, yet they get thorns in their tongues when it comes to the massacre of the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) own family. They can’t bear the mention of what happened then. Well let me tell you something: the Gaza massacre is nothing compared to the Yazeedi brutality (read Muslim brutality) of that time. Read and think about Karbala, if not from a Muslim’s point of view then do it as a human. Otherwise all this cry over Gaza is sheer hypocrisy, nothing else. What’s happening in Gaza is happening to the whole population. Imagine if it all happened to just one family.

Done that?

Welcome to Karbala, 61 AH!

Back to my dilemma, should I transfer some of the burden to your brain? Are you ready for it? It won’t be easy, trust me on this and it will require a lot of thinking, and research if you want to investigate.

Hmmm?

And do remember that behind every smile, there are a thousand secret sorrows! ;)

(Man, I’m getting good at philosophy. Maybe I should quit trying to be a software engineer and become a philosopher or writer? Am I good enough?)

Anyone in the mood to listen to Nadeem Sarwar’s “Kya Muhammad Ka Pyara Nahin Hoon?” vintage version?

P.S. Sorry if this post disturbed you. Following posts may go several steps ahead.

Kya Muhammad Ka Pyara Nahin Hoon?

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

I’m pretty busy nowadays and the next Zakir Naik post may take some time, so here’s something for you guys to listen to. It’s a Nauha by Ali Shanawar and Ali Jee, sons of prominent Nauha-khwan Syed Nadeem Raza Sarwar, titled

Mujh Pe Kyoon Band Kartay Ho Pani, Kya Muhammad Ka Pyara Nahin Hoon?

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

All the women in my family have had a crush on Ali Jee (the younger one) for a year now. :D