Praying, the Malaysian way
“Baba, I want to offer prayers with you,” my daughter said to me one day. I treated the words quite casually and told her that she could join me. Nevertheless, I was amazed when she started reciting ‘Surah Fateha’ and a few other Quranic verses on the prayer mat. I lost my concentration and started listening to her. Tears came to my eyes and I was grateful to the Almighty. In Malaysia, my daughter had accompanied me to the masjid (mosque) a couple of times before. I used to join the jamat (congregation) as she ran around the spacious halls. As soon as ...
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A department in ruin, a history forgotten
Punjab’s department of archaeology, recently devolved from the federation under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, has had no operational legislation since April 8, 2011. As a result, no law to arrest any person caught scribbling, drawing or causing harm to a monument of historical importance exists. Similar is the case with the environment protection department. Field officers and inspectors issuing notices, sealing and fining owners of pollution-causing units, have reverted to Punjab Local Government Ordinance (PLGO) of 2001. The Antiquities Act 1975 and the Environment Pakistan Protection Act 1997 are both redundant. Officers of both departments have drafted legislation to replace ...
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Lessons for Ramazan
Ramazan is a month that is big on beginnings and ends. We anticipate the birth of a new moon and then we watch the glowing crescent orb slowly dissolve as the nights pass. After our final sip of water in the morning, begins a period of anticipation, waiting for the sun to kiss the horizon, thereby signaling the end of our fast. In this holy month of worship, patience, and curbing of all desires, I’m sure we’ve all spent a sizeable chunk of time hungrily reflecting. Here’s what I’ve come up with. Naturally, some reflections seemed revolutionary, while in the ...
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TV hypocrisy: Conveniently religious
The newfound piety of morning show hosts and other television anchors during Ramazan is annoying, to say the least. Why have female anchors started covering their heads in the ‘spirit of the holy month’? Considering that many of these hosts only gingerly place veils on their heads (probably to prevent their backcombed hairdos from getting ruined), this effort at modesty appears rather contrived. Also, why have singers and entertainers suddenly transformed into naat khwaans, who solemnly give spiritual advice and efficiently relay religious maxims? I fail to understand why Ramazan must precipitate such ostensible religiosity on Urdu television every year. The ...
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Fasting in America
Ever wonder what Ramazan is like in America, with 14-hour long fasts, and store-bought parathas? Here are the three things on my mind this Ramazan, and what I miss most about home: 1. Mothers From the first sehri of the first roza to the final iftaar before Eid, I see my mother everywhere. As a child, I always woke up to my mother’s soft nudge an hour before sunrise. I vividly remember avoiding the cold tiles of the kitchen floor by wearing bright, layered socks, with Mama shouting in the background, “put on your shoes, you’re going to get sick!” Mama embraced the schedule ...
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Blood in Ramazan: From Khyber to Karachi
Muslim worshippers of the Jamrud area of Kyber agency were brutally blown to death, during Friday prayers today, the 18th roza of Ramazan this year. The blast left over 50 people dead and numerous injured. This isn’t the first time a mosque has been attacked. Most of us remember how only a few years ago mosques were the target of sectarian attacks; in fact, there was a mosque attack in March this year. Ramzan is supposed to be a blessed month; but this year has been particularly ‘bloody’ for the people of Pakistan. In Karachi, over ...
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I’ve graduated! Now the hard part
What is the most glorious and magnificent moment in a student’s life? You know, had I not graduated, I might have come up with a different answer. However, since I have – hands down – it is Graduation Day! The day you finally get to bid farewell to, not only, the annoying crowd you have acquainted yourself with, but also the maddening worries, the sleepless nights, the tantrums that you promptly blamed on PMS, and little things of the like. You can safely bid farewell to worries and statements like: “Oh, good Lord! I failed that pathology test. What will my parents ...
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Guns n’ rozays
When my friend posted the line ‘guns and rozays’ as his status a couple of days ago I could not imagine how close to the truth it was going to be and how the phrase would be the only one appropriate to describe conditions after yesterday night’s shooting in Karachi. Last night my father was forced to return home before he reached the masjid. He did not pray tarawih. Why? Because of what a never ending sound of gunshots that rang out at the exact same time that my father and many others stepped out on the way to show God gratitude. Now, ...
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Rozas and results
The Cambridge International Examination results will be released this week – have you prayed for success? There are two very important things that you notice in Ramazan that actually have very little to do with the holy month itself. One: making fun of that kid who sacrificed a goat just before his O-Levels results wasn’t a very good idea, considering that you’re contemplating doing exactly the same thing before this Thursday (Cambridge International Examinations announces its results on Aug 11). Two: going through a list of prospective college tuition fees suddenly makes you wish that your father was the emir of some ...
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And now, a gas price increase
With ordinary Pakistanis already suffering from the burden of high food prices during Ramazan, high petrol prices, and a recent tariff increase in electricity, it must have come as a shock to many that the price of gas had now gone up as well. And it wasn’t by a minuscule amount but by the rather hefty proportion of 13.5 per cent. This is applicable on all domestic, commercial and industrial users. One wonders why all such rises and decisions have to be taken when the nation is celebrating a holy month and is set to gear up for the Eid ...
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