I Missed it for sometime !!!

This time Papa did not come to station to see me off. It may sound like a bollywood line but surely a person becomes weak because of his children, no matter how strong he is.

When you grew up and started bearing responsibility of your parents, you might have never failed in performing your duties well, but sometimes you miss those gestures which your parents wait, but never ask for. They want you to sit beside them and talk like friends, they want you to get them feel how much they mean to you, they want to be felt proud of you by introducing you to their friends,.... & they want you to embrace them…… and yes they want it badly. We grew up listening that oldies and children are alike but it’s partly true. A child runs and wraps hands around you whenever he feels like but a parent does not. They wait for us to come. But we, getting them to doctors, asking them whether they took the medicine or not, stopping them not to eat sweets… sometimes forget that they need something more than just care. I know, we children don’t do this knowingly but sometimes we’re so occupied with their responsibilities that we miss those moments. But believe me those moments are equally important.

When they call you to meet someone and you feel like 'come on, not again Papa', that time you feel a bit uncomfortable getting formal with that person but have you ever thought what your parents feel when they hear others praising you. The level of satisfaction they achieved when someone tells them, “great! Your efforts paid off”.

I realized all these things, and many more which I ran out of words to express, only that day when he held me, hugged me and patted my back. Then I saw his eyes which hold back his emotions ready to burst. I saw his trembling lips which could just replied in 'Hmm' when I said salam and turned back. Then I realized that I forgot doing what I used to, since I wore their responsibilities.

I shared my thoughts not to be praised for or to hurt someone but to help others realize what I realized. And of course all praises are for Allah, Who gave us parents as an opportunity for our salvation. He knows our hearts and He knows the best.

Got an ambivalent heart !!

Not sure how to make my feeling into words this time. Ofcourse, because the feelings I have today to share with you, need an open mind. Like an upside down glass, so when water pours in would stay but not like other side where does'nt matter how much gallon of water you pour, not a single drop will stay in. Thought a lot of time before hitting the keys but then I concluded that I'll share this. Those, who are really my friends, will be able to understand (though I dont ask them to agree if they dont want to) and those who wont understand, I dont care for them.

For last couple of weeks, I was very tensed because of the ayodhya verdict going to come. Though I had not anticipated any decision or about the consequences but all I was worried about the boost to communal hatred prevailed in our country. The hatred which I first saw in my childhood when Babri masjid was demolished by karsevaks. Those were fun days for me coz schools were closed due to curfew and we spent full day playing in our premises but I remember lines of tension on my parent's forehead and their sorrow for mosque demolition. Even a sound from far away used to make them looking through windows. Gone are the days but not the aftermath. Eversince, I always felt something wrong with few of our neighbours, especially the one closed to our house and I called him 'bhaiyya'. I did not get the reason 'why' untill I grew up enough to understand things.

Anyways, thursday I checked immedietly as verdict came out of court. I felt relieved that the decision wont trigger any communal violence and my family and friends are safe. I was worried about them coz they have nothing to do with decision and irrespetive of their religion, all they want is peace to be prevailed in India. So, in that sense, I was happy of the decision.

But my happiness is seriously outlined by the sadness and concern caused by the same verdict. Verdict where destruction of the supposed temple was condemned and becomes the justification for building a new one, the destruction of the mosque was not. On one side, just claim of temple demolition has been awarded but the truth of mosque demolition has been placed outside of the purview of the case. Just do a bit of research and one can easily find that there is no concrete evidence available which support the claim that either there was any temple built on the disputed site or Baber demolished the temple and built mosque over. Likewise, Its written in Ramayana that ayodhya was birthplace of Ram but where exactly, no. So, how some people so precisely claim the birthplace right under the dome of mosque.

If we talk about excavation report of ASI in 2003 based on court directives, not a single renowned historian or archeologist authenticate it. This aspect has been invoked and subsequently used to bolster the judgement, without being proper authenticacy. People also believe involvement of then ruling BJP led NDA government, of whom brainchild this movement was, in fabricating the ASI report but I'ld rather go for reasoning than speculations. The judgement was purely on the belief that disputed site was birth place of Ram... just on the belief. If there is atleast one evidence of such belief available, I am sure no muslim would have stand against mosque demolition, including me.

Its just a false propaganda of saffron group to polarize hindus and muslims, so that they can rule on us. Just imagine, if mosque would have been built on temple debris, how come it stood there for 500 years and nobody did claim it untill 1949 when some people put idols inside mosque. How could they claim so precisely about the birthplace of one deity whereas no religious or historic book has any record of it? Just think about it, whether its religious driven or political! If there is a sacred place or thing my forefathers used to maintain then that information would have passed from each generation to me. If there is a missing link then the only way I could know about it is through historic records. If I dont have each of them then definitely its my brainchild and nothing near to truth. This verdict has annulled the respect for history and seeks to replace history with religious faith.

The reason of my utmost concern is that this verdict has created a precedent in the court of law that land can be claimed by declaring it to be the birthplace of a divine or semi-divine being worshipped by a group that defines itself as a community. This verdict paved way for those fanatics who wants to divide India to rule India. Unfortunately, I found them succeeding when well educated and rational citizens fall prey to their evil desires. The divide and rule policy, which britishers left behind, still prevails in our country. Those were out siders but now its been used by our very insiders, our politicians.

Religious believes are to open our minds and enlighten our souls. It does not make us away from being rational. If we really believe in our religion, I am nobody to guide but we should read our history and follow what our religious books say not what any political party made up.

Finally, I want all my Hindu brothers and sisters to think about it. Time needs us to unite against those fanatics who never want us to be.

Regards,
Riyaz

(Beware, I wont allow any word of hatred against either community. If you have such things then this place is not for you, sorry.)

Ramadan : A brief introduction

Aslmalkm,

Hope you all are in good health and peace of mind.
First of all once again Ramadan mubarek to all of you as it started 11th of this month according to gregorian calendar and going to finish on next 10/11 depends on moon sighting.

Since ramadan started, I interacted with many people in my office and outside who got to know its Ramadan because I stopped having lunch. Lots of non-muslims know a bit about Ramadan whoever come close to a muslim in any walk of life. But their knowledge is limited to fasting and the actual message is not known to many that fasting is just a part of it, not the whole as such. This led me to write a brief introduction of what Ramadan is and all about.

Ramadan is one of the five pillers on which Islam stands. Practise of these five pillers are made obligatory to all muslims. First piller is 'Tauheed' i.e. to believe in oneness of Almighty Allah and the prophecy of Muhammad(pbuh). Second is 'Salat' i.e. to pray 5 times daily while facing Mecca. We call it 'Namaz' as well. Third is 'Sawm' or Ramadan which I'll take below. Fourth is 'Zakat' i.e. to give a portion of one's wealth in charity to poor and needy people, and fifth is 'Hajj' i.e. pilgrimage of the holy Kaaba in Mecca city.

As a month, Ramadan is 9th month of islamic calendar, called 'hijri' calendar which is lunar based. That is why the islamic festivals dont fall on the same dates as per gregorian calendar each year. Ramadan is the holiest month to the Muslims as first revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) happened in this month. Muslims believe rewards on good deeds are many folded in this month compare to rest of the year.

'Sawm' is Arabic word of 'fasting', which literally means "to refrain". It means not only refraining from food and drink but from evil actions, thoughts and words. That’s what I mentioned at the beginning. During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from lie, backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at inappropriate things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast. So, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. From dawn to dusk it’s obligatory to refrain from food, drink and getting physical with wife but those are permissible in rest part of the day. Fasting becomes obligatory when a follower reaches to the age of puberty and it’s not obligatory to the pregnant woman, children, mentally sick and conditionally to travelers.

In Quran, Allah says "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you can learn self restraint". (Quran 2:183)".

There are two things I’d like to point out from above verse; first Ramadan is the month to 'learn' self restraint. It means, it becomes obligatory to follow self restraint during Ramadan but the feelings and lessons learnt should stay throughout the year. The restraint and devotion is specially felt during Ramadan, but one must strive to make the feelings and attitudes stay in normal lives throughout the year. This is the true goal and test for Ramadan.

Second point is, fasting was not invented to Muslims but previous 'religion of the book'(Christianity and Judaism) as well. Jewish people also fast on Yum Kippur which falls on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishri. Not only Abrahamic religions, nearly all the world religions encourage their followers to fast in a way or another. But it’s only Islam which makes it obligatory to its followers.

Apart from spiritual benefits like one get closer to the Almighty and the right path, there are other social benefits which Ramadan brings. Few of them are, during day long fast; experiencing hunger and thirst, Muslim sympathizes with those in the world who have very little or nothing to eat. Ramadan promotes charity which develops feeling of generosity and good will toward others. Through self control a Muslim practices good manners, good speech and good habits. Through family and community gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in their own communities and throughout the world.

Fasting also has countless benefits in medical perspective. I won’t dwell into the detail of this but if one wants to read then this article precisely tells about the same.

Please don’t take it as preaching and take my apologies if anybody got offended because of my writing. Sharing with you is for my own sake so that I could benefit from these words as well. Also, I am not an experienced writer so probably would do mistakes in writing, in case please point it out. I wrote the brief introduction as per my knowledge which is limited and I seek guidance from experienced people on the same. And Allah knows the best.

May Allah accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and guide us all to the Straight Path. May Allah enable us to act more rather than just talking. May Allah bless us all during Ramadan, and throughout the year, with His forgiveness, mercy, and peace, and bring us all closer to Him and to each other.

Regards,
Riyaz

Iftar Party

Aslmalkm,
Hope you reading this in gud spirits and reaping the benefits of Ramadan.

Last sunday I had a great time with my friends here over Iftar party called by me at my house.
Even though I's the only one having fast but rest of all were so nice to keep the essence of Iftar.
They held their nerves till sunset :). Even the smell of mutton biryani and shami kebab could not break them.
We made mouth watering fruit cream and fried chana dal as well.

It was wonderful evening with laughs and talks around. Few of friends of friend's also came in. Though it was our first meeting but all left with new bonds of friendship. Few of my friends did not attend Iftar before, so it was new thing for them and they're a bit curious about the things I do during Ramadan. This encourage me to write a brief intro about Ramadan which gives its main perspective than just 'not eating from dawn to dusk'.

I'll try and post it soon inshaAllah.... keep in touch.

Have a gud time,
Riyaz

The Begining

Aslmalkm,

Many a times I come across or think about something which I want to share with everyone. Sometimes I want to share my experieces, my views, my believes etc etc. So, all those things drove me to create this blog where I can un-interruptly have dialogue with myself and the world around me.

For those who dont know what 'Hujra' means, its an arabic word for a place not formally part of house and having separate entrance/exit. Normally people have discussions and meetings there. It used to be important part of sufi culture where buzurg (intellectual) used to meet and dialogue with people. Being part of a family which has many buzurgane deen (islamic scholars/intellectuals), my childhood memories are full of such places. Naming does not mean I am putting myself in line with those exceptional people but yeah just taking essence of the word.

So, everyone seeing my blog is most welcome to put his/her thoughts and comments. Would be appreciated.
InshaAllah, I'll be keep posting in.

Wassalam,
Riyaz