baithak

siachen closer

2012-05-07T22:41:00.001-04:00

for those who lost their beloved ones, the suffering is inescapable and unending. the establishment could do some of the following to alleviate their pain.

- build a monument at giyari and list the names of all the soldiers and civilians that perished.

- fly in their next of kin to offer namaz. (ghaiban namaz e janaza.)

- offer scholarships to their school and college going kids

yeh ras'm e wafa nahiN hay

2012-04-16T22:37:00.003-04:00

sur jhookanay ki yeh aadat
ras'm e wafa nahiN hay
kuch ghairOn ki kuch apnOn ki
ghulami ka yeh virsa hay

our bowed heads are no signs
of obeisance or awe
centuries of slavery
by outsiders and by
our own has arched our necks

karachi march, 2012

2012-04-02T14:01:00.004-04:00

a b c ... z

stand aloof

imperial

impervious

when connected

they communicate

dreams

desires

doubts

***

today

in my city

province

country

a b c ... z

stifle

and kill

dreams

desires

doubts

north-south

2012-02-09T16:21:00.002-05:00

north-south

thanks to the zealots

who opposed

the creation

and the creator

pakistan = n. korea

india = s. korea

and the misery
abounds

the first

2011-12-31T19:25:00.000-05:00

just another overcast day

no work

some will google remedies

others will mop up wishes

numbers change, people remain

happy

miserable

apprehensive

just another overcast day

dry ducts

2011-11-29T15:25:00.000-05:00

in the shower

water cascades

out the window

it pours

sipping a steaming java

surfing far off lands

sufferings galore

tears abscond

Make this Eid ul Adha different: Spare the Animals

2011-11-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

Eid ul Adha is on or around the corner. I wish you all a safe, happy and fulfilling celebration with your family and friends.

All I ask is, please spare the poor goat or lamb or cow’s life. For those who want to sacrifice this writer instead, please scroll down and read Chapter 22, Verse 37 from the Holy Qur'an as translated by Marmaduke, Yusufali, Asad and Usmani: or pick your own copy and re-read it.

The Qur'an talks about your devotion, piety, God-consciousness and taqwa that reaches Him. The purpose of sacrifice is to understand the spirit of parting with what you hold dear (your wealth), it is not some muqabla against four-legged animals.

Please pause and think ... That, after all, is what religion should make us do rather than blindly following ritual.

According to the many organizations that will perform the sacrifice for you if you live abroad, the cost of one goat/sheep is US$ 160 in the US (that is more than one month's salary for a college educated Pakistani professional). The price in Pakistan is cheaper, but not by much. Only the well wheeled can afford it. The Poor cannot even budget for a kilo of meat a month.

Is there a better way to 'sacrifice' the 150-200 dollars or the Rs. 10,000 or more in the name of Allah that is useful to His bandas? A way that captures the spirit of sacrifice that qurbani entails and helps us meet our religious obligation as well as the social welfare and redistribution that is its deeper purpose?

The Qur'an reminds us that Allah looks at intent not the blood. Maybe we too should pay heed to the intent of qurbani?

The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 22, Verse 37.

The[22:37]
Their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him. Thus have We made them subject unto you that ye may magnify Allah that He hath guided you. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the good.Marmaduke

[22:37]
It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches God: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify God for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right. Abdullah Yusufali

[22:37]
[But bear in mind:] never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good Muhammad Asad

[22:37]
It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but what does reach Him is the taqwā (the sense of obedience) on your part. Thus He has made them (the animals) subjugated to you, so that you proclaim Allah’s glory for the guidance He gave you. And give good news to those who are good in their deeds. Mufti Muhammed Taqi Usmani

The meat from the sacrificial animal is intended to be divided into three parts: 1/3rd each for your self, family and friends, and for the needy and the poor. I would suggest we fore go our share, and give the whole amount to the poor including poor relations.

On my last visit I saw a lot of people drive up to a certain "hotel" (Pinglish for restaurant) and pay the owner X rupees to feed X number of hungry folks lined up outside. That is a noble idea. But would it not be better better to teach them to fish?

A manual sewing machine for a widow or unemployed poor woman? Tuition Fees or books for a poor student? Some money to ease the days for the unemployed people? A small monthly stipend to the poor that may bring a ray of hope in their lives and may perhaps deter them from abandoning their children to the fogs of terrorist factories?

We can think of many ways to make Him happy and spare the lamb. May Allah bless you and your family.

hasb e haal

2011-10-27T09:31:00.002-04:00

aye shOkh, arey O nadaaN
yeh tez dhaRkan yeh tapish
dard e qaum o millat nahiN
sub'h say kuch bukhaar nazla
hum aaghosh ho raha hay

Om Mani Padme Hum (draft 1)

2011-10-10T13:04:00.003-04:00

i want to write a story

a story

about the waves

twirling around my bare feet

om mani padme hum

the waves from the atlantic

and the caribbean sea

must have traveled

unhampered miles

to embrace the pink sand

at eluthera's lighthouse beach

their foam, froth and fret

and the crisis of their history

meet the lover

only to move on

AllahHooAllahHooAllahHoo

waves could teach those

stuck forever in timelines

these waves encounter

(in haste i typed uncunter)

nets, debris, boats, breakwaters

clouds that float to peaks

snow, water, rivers and back to ocean

love and desire undeterred

paani paani ker gaee mujh kO Qalander ki yeh baat

tu jhuka jub ghair kay aagayna munn tera na tann

(iqbal- dayar e ish'q)

om mani padme hum

hoo AllahHooAllahHoo

paani paani paani paani

strangers we remain

2011-10-01T10:53:00.001-04:00

in this

anomalous commute

strangers we're

after countless

hellos

exchanges

conversations

hugs

journeys

declarations

promises

shabistans*

and

strangers we remain

*noon meem rashid coinage.

place to spend one night.

untitled (draft)

2011-09-30T17:20:00.002-04:00

yes kiddo

go and have a cry over

better to have heartbreak

than ...

cold hearts are muscles

bereft of love euphoria

the throbber feels

only aches

to blocked arteries'

delight

that workoholic

knows no pleasures

of ectstatic touch

dreams of shangri la pastures

of idle companionship

committment to grow

old(er) in unison

after the drench, move on

to face other heart aches and

in vacant moments

smile at memories

__________________

postscript for flyonthewall

do you recall?

alwidah

laaj rakh lee

abr e rehmat nay

ashk e rawan ki

pani

2011-09-21T14:35:00.002-04:00

zindagi, maut jang, aur qehat

kis kis pani per rOaiNgay hum

is barafzaar maiN tou pani

pani hotay rehtay haiN hum

poessay: salamanca, ny and mrs salamanca

2011-09-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

leisurely drive south
gps co-pilot
and m (the) guiding angel

through the rolling meadows

small town usa

listening to iqbal bano sing faiz

hum daikhaIN gay

hum daikhaiN gay
hum daikhaiN gay
laazim hay kay hum daikhaiN gay
woh din jiska waada hay

a road sign said

salamanca 3 miles

and thoughts veered to

(unheralded)

noon meem rashid

khuda hash'r maiN hoga mera madadgar
kay maiN nay liyay haiN mrs. salamanca kay hONtON kay bOsay

may the lord on the day or eckoning be my redeemer
for i have planted kises on mrs salamca's lips

in the shed

farming equipment

in the meadows

cows

not worrying about any day

of reckoning

smalltown america

winding down

clean roads

disciplined driving

no outtages

of power or bulletmotions

far far from the frustrating

breaking news pattis

monotonous repititions

of he-said, they said

change the names

and still no one says anything

meaningful

more hills and vales

road sign declares

the highest point

east of Mississippi

(i thought mt. mitchell in nc

but signs come and go

who am i to futilely argue)

more farms and villages

one word world - serenity

far far from the frustrating fusion

of depravity, serenity

khuda hash'r maiN hoga mera madadgar
kay maiN gunahgaar
uroos al balad say hazarouN meel do'or
kya qabil nahin is sukoon ka

may the lord be my redeemer on the day of reckoning
this sinner
thousands of miles removed from
the city of lights
deserves not this peace

(and this alliteration)

hum mehkoomON kayy paaoooN talay
yeh dharti dhaR dhaR dhaRkay gi
aur ahl e karam kay sir ooper
jub bijli kaR kaR kaRkay gi

gar dil hay aapka paas dharaktay hua
tou laraz jai ga yeh paRh ker

your heart will miss a beat

if you can detect it, friend

and you will have no choice

but praise faiz

i will resume this

never-ending journey

to return home

and yet again leave

for places yonder

seeking that elusive peace

and hopefully

sharing my khalish

which 'discomfort' cannot encapsulate

daihlaiNgay ji daikhlaiNgay

will see, will see

eid mubarak

2011-08-31T11:22:00.002-04:00

while there is much to agonise and worry over all over the world

(particularly in karachi and sindh)

while there is still injustice and murders and kidnappings

while those left behind need more than prayers

while some work harder to rectify as others resort to tweets

let me create some time, to wish all of you a safe eid

a peaceful thoughtful eid. may you and your family

stay united and healthy

and

wish the same

for cities, regions, countries

amen

walking dead

2011-08-26T09:26:00.007-04:00

as if this mubahisa

between an ill prepared fauji and

a tunnel-visioned mufti was not enough

moizza's haunting batsignals

and cyril's assaying

alongwith ejaz's riposte to bob hatahaway

and marvi's rejoinders to zaid

cascaded mixed thoughts

and tazeen's day took the cake

maybe rafia is right

we're walking dead

Finally, a magazine for married men.

2011-07-05T04:40:00.000-04:00

link courtesy SR

sunta koee nahiN hay - reworked

2011-07-04T03:45:00.000-04:00

baataiN sub kertay haiN
sunta koee nahiN hay

beta/murd mera beemar hay
paisay nahiN haiN dawa kay

through the tinted windows

i looked away in the haze

kaam nahiN, paisa nahiN
paani nahiN, bijli nahiN
qanoon nahiN, ummeed nahiN

yeh sub baataiN sunta hooN
zaroor -majboori jo thehri

laikin maiN ik musafir hooN
des des kay dukh paRhta hooN
dekhta hooN aur soon laita hooN
aur safar jari rakhta hooN

shayad

bayhissy kay bojh talay
maiN bhee auroN ki maanind

bay hiss hooN... aap bhee

aur aapka, m'ra khuda bhee
shayad

sunta koee nahiN hay -draft i

2011-07-03T15:10:00.002-04:00

baat sub kehtay haiN
sunta koee nahiN hay

beta/murd m'ra beemar hay
dawa kay paisay nahiN haiN babu

maaf karo, Allah shifa dekha

kaam nahiN, paisa nahiN
paani nahiN, bijli nahiN
qanoon nahiN, ummeed nahiN

yeh sub baataiN sunta hooN
......................................zaroor
(majboori hay)
laikin maiN tou ik musafir hooN
des des kay dukh
srif soon laita hooN
aur aagay chala jata hooN

may bhee bayhis hooN
.................................aap bhee
aur aapka, m'ra khuda bhee
..........................shayad

exit strategy

2011-05-19T16:52:00.000-04:00

an exit strategy should be a forethought not an afterthought ~mahajirzaeh

gardening is

2011-05-17T19:20:00.002-04:00

gardening maybe therapeutic for the soul but can be painful for the back ~ mahajirzadeh

elections canada 2011

2011-05-03T13:54:00.002-04:00

harper has won his coveted majority - 167 seats with 40% votes

ndp surge propelled it to 102 seats and 31% of votes

liberals sank to 34 seats with 19% of votes

bloc got dessicated with 4 seats and 6% seats

***

michael ignatieff is stepping down

gilles duceppe resigned

***

canada is more polarized than ever

if this is the advent of two party system, then the writing is on the wall.

once left of centre liberals had been bleeding. there should be a fresh approach. they have to reinvent if they are to survive, and re occupy that left of centre position now occupied by the ndp.

lack of leadership, indeed listless leadership, an agenda that was not distinguishable from the conservatives, aside, the liberals should look at reinventing. perhaps joining with ndp. or the once natural governing party risks becoming a footnote in canadian politics.

harper has to consolidate his party base also. be less secretive and agenda driven. be more canadian and less american. he has four more years to do so.

vagina monologue from the land of the pure

2011-04-30T13:26:00.001-04:00

dear chief magistrate:*

have a feeling
you have no ears
nose
eyes
or heart

for the one
beneath whose feet
your prophet said lies heaven

vagina
for you
is lust
procreation
or sub clauses

your suo motos
are laughable
and agenda driven

your are one of them
effectively overlooking
not seeing
hearing
nor noticing
travesties in your domain
(soommun boookmun....)

am i bitter
no
traumatized?
no
driven?
yes

the world knows
my brother sodomized
the world knows
their deflection
the world knows
what the panchayat declared

the mixed sperms
in my vagina
played havoc

still do
in my mind

and

sitting in your ensconced chambers
wearing black
you ignore the turmoil
and highlight the sub clauses

this violated vagina
shall prick your conscience

correction
should prick your conscience

if

you had ears
my screams would echo
for ever

and when you lie down
nightmares of your daughter
suffering indecencies
will haunt you

this is my prayer
and curse

* am not addressing you o Allah. that'll be another time
____________________________

In fairness and for full disclosure: you should also read Mukhtaran Mai: the other side of the story by Bronwyn Curan

As the author of a 2006 book on the Mukhtaran Mai case and a former Islamabad-based Western female news correspondent, I must raise a voice of dissent amidst the shrill reaction to the Supreme Court’s acquittal of 13 of 14 men accused in Mukhtaran Mai’s case.

In 2005-2006, after many months painstakingly poring through every police statement, medical record, witness testimony, and cross-examination transcript in this case, coupled with multiple visits to Mirwala, Jatoi and Dera Ghazi Khan for extensive interviews with members of both sides of this case, I reached the same conclusion as the Supreme Court has in 2011. [for more click here]

ik aur tazabzoob / another existential dilemma

2011-04-30T12:28:00.003-04:00

ik aur tazabzoob

hum hain YahaaN
woh hay wahaaN
darmiaN ik khaleej
b'zaahir jo hay
na qaabil e ooboor
laikin daikhiyay
yeh cyber sitam zareefi
oos nay kaha hello
aur hum muskurah diyay

:)

another existential dilemma

distances unfathomable
seemingly unbridgeable
chalk it to cyber irony
at the hello
i smiled

:)

random disclosure

2011-04-28T12:17:00.000-04:00

maldives is
but a little boy
in uncaring hands

singin' the same songs

2011-04-27T01:57:00.001-04:00

Photograph by Rod March, U.S. Geological Survey

not only

in the middle of rab al khali

is the sun merciless, brainless

faithless

fiery fire makes the round
around weary necks
wrinkled foreheads

the dogs have stopped crying

runny nosed children do

but what do they know

of despaired despondency?

in mahogany lined rooms
or dhurried chambers

lethargic legends logicalize

dropping morsels of faith

sprinkled with restrained disdain
and scent of crisp notes
over the lands of
terminal tribulation

bit by bit
bite by bite

cascading chaos
over parched

hibernating misery

again

and you and i

will write and repeat
the same songs
faithfully, faithlessly

in mahogany lined rooms
or dhurried chambers...