Book Review – “Reclaim your heart” by Yasmin Mogahed

         

           It is a collection of journal articles mostly based on author’s personal insights on breaking free from life’s shackles. It’s written in a very precise and easy to understand manner and I would recommend this great book for all ages. The accurate expression and simple details given from Qur'anic and Hadith references makes this piece of literature very explicit, methodical and heart touching. For some people during and after reading this book, the experience was so beautiful and profound that it can be easily said a life changing read, a source of enlightenment and awakening to the ultimate truth.

          The book is comprised of different and diverse themes such as recognizing worldly attachments and desires and how a person can find eternal peace of heart, mind and soul, through becoming the student of Qur'an and Sunnah and applying the knowledge and teachings in his or her practical life whether it be a family, spouse, children, work, social life, community and a country at large.

          Mogahed shares her knowledge and thoughts on liberating the soul from all materialistic attachments, and on how to enable greater connection with God, as He is the only source of strength and inspiration for us as human beings. She talks about human relationships, love, hardships, dreams and life challenges, relationship with God, feminism and women’s status, and the current state of the Muslim world at large.

          It is a great read; deeply concerned about the state of our heart, the most prized and valued possession of a Muslim and how to reclaim it and keep the heart free from materialistic objects, being mindful of forgetting about God and life hereafter. Mogahed talks about diverting our focus from worldly desires in this hyper-sexualized society to build strong faith and instead targeting our spiritual health. She stresses us human beings are excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of wealth and material possessions, rather than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.

          The author puts a great emphasis on human mind’s constant reflection on life and everything the world contains and our main object of observation should be based on critical thinking and reasoning as the Quran says it beautifully “…Rabanna ma khalaqta hatha batilan subhanak (our Lord you have not created all of this for nothing, subhanak.)…” (Qur’an, 3:191). Mogahed sums up the goal and purpose of an entire life of a Muslim and its direction in one verse: “Say, indeed, my prayer, my service of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Qur’an, 6:162)

         She ends the book in a beautiful collection of poems which again are specific towards Muslims and how we should live our lives according to the principles of Islam. “Die before your death”, “I prayed for peace today” and “Niche” is one of my favorites. She reminds human beings for the great rewards of what we endure in this life, its struggles, hardships and difficulties and this beautiful hope and light that soon we will meet our Creator. How this life is a test and has a ray of hope; for our final meeting is a fundamental truth. This specific Quranic verse says it all “O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it. (Qur’an, 84:6)

         It’s written in a beautiful prose style and the language is so consuming and touching and at times the words can initiate the tears from one's eyes. One cannot finish the book in one sitting as the passages need full reflection and thinking about one's situations in life and it purely softens one's heart. When the heart is soft and humbly crying in front of our Lord, that's when the change occurs and miracles happen.

I don't want to be a Slave!

         Hmm I am not sure. I can’t make a decision if I should get it or leave it for now. But when I see everyone have it, its tempting, its in style & fashion, and it’s an everyday need similar as clothes and shoes. Like fashion changes every six months, there is an update or new version of it in the technology market and everyone goes crazy. But then again something inside me is resisting. There is this tug of war going on inside me which is telling me to not buy it and at times feeding my temptation to go ahead and get one. Yes, I am talking about getting a cell phone and yes, people do get shocked when they hear this. I kind of feel embarrassed but still this embarrassment isn’t a huge pusher which would make me buy one.

    I can very well afford it (Alhumdullilah) and for me, its not the matter of getting a cell phone, the real problem lies in its many negative aspects and less positive/helpful outcomes. There were days when its moderate and proper usage made it a blessing , but with time, its becoming more of a curse on our society.

    In fact for me, I think it will be bad for my social and personal life. My friends laugh when I response to their endless questions and suggestions of getting a cell phone. They inquire why not? I reply “I am scared of cell phones” though I do own a laptop, then why not a cell phone!?! Because I don’t want to be a cell phone slave. Ignoring my family, friends, surroundings, nature, paying no attention to my lectures/studies, no time to read a good book, no pondering or reflecting on my day to day routine, doing things without thinking or REALLY observing and postponing a group study or group assignment, instead of having a discussion everyone in the group is busy with their cell phones. I can’t even tell what the other person was wearing, the color of his/her clothes, bag or shoes at the end of a conversation because I am so occupied with my texting.   
     We are supposed to have a con-ver-sation; where two or more people converse, exchange words and speak to/with each other. We are becoming isolated and forgetting the norms of a society.
    I feel so pissed off when I am talking to someone, giving my 100% attention but the other person is distracted and have no idea what the hell I am talking about and I feel like grab his/her cell phone and smack it into pieces. Personally I am a very good listener and demands the same from others which in return leaves me being irritated and annoyed. There was a time when listening and polite conversation was considered a virtue and good manners had a high value of one’s personality. Like I said, standards are being reversed.      
      There are good aspects of it too but bad ones are out-weighing the good ones. I have access to phone at home, university and work and in case of emergency, yes, it is a blessing. I don’t have a shady social life and I don’t stay outdoors unnecessarily. If I need to contact someone in an emergency situation, there are pay phones all over the city. For the sake of safety, it’s a bad excuse now a days just to get a cell phone and parents usually fall for such excuses. I think, for me, I would choose to be the victim (a mere chance)of an unsafe situation than to become a technology slave and loose all my ethics and moral values. People still survived in those days when cell phones never existed and people (like Me :D ) will survive in the future too.
        A death of A young man occurred here in a car crash while texting and driving and his parents started this awareness campaign titled "don't choose a text to be your last words" and pressuring the city to ban texting when behind the wheel. I hope the bill passes and it becomes a law.
     Thumbs-up to those who use it in moderation and are not its Slave. Thats how it should be, but how i see it around me, its not the way it should be. Its affecting people like me and i made an effort to voice my frustrations to its ill-users.  :D
         I read this quote on internet "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots"(This quote is not by A. Einstein). Technology lovers will hate me :D , but hey, i don't care. By the way, you'll bully me into buying one and at such times, i am not a good listener :P

"It takes a village to raise a child"

It was a beautiful warm and sunny day, after these long and cold winters. Most of the snow melted away and i was so glad at spring's arrival. I was just happy and observing my surroundings. I have this habit of reading (looking at) every single advertisement (billboards, hoardings, neon signs etc) on my way to school, work or if i am just outdoors. I think its normal to be observant lol and many people do that.

So, i am waiting for my bus at a bus-stop to go to work in my own thoughts while looking around and a bus stops, obviously with a display of advertisement. I looked at it and read "It takes a whole village to raise a child" with a picture of a really happy child, probably a (smiling) mother hugging him and a bunch of delighted people surrounding the child.. I happen to read this "quote" for the first time ever in my life and it just stuck to my mind. I am not a parent myself and it was hard for me to put the quote and the picture together. What would it mean? Why and  how the whole village? I came across the same ad the next day at a bus-stop, and  the next day and so on.

It got me thinking over time. I found a way to answer my own questions. I opened the book of my childhood memories and started finding the answers to my questions. I was mainly raised by my parents, spent some time with my grand-parents, with my immediate and extended family members. I had friends at school, so their families had an influence on me as well. I had teachers, actually most of my time was spent with them and had a huge influence on my upbringing, mental and physical development. My neighbors, their families and baby-sitters and bunch of other people (religious educators) who were involved in raising me besides my parents. So, technically i was part of a village, and everyone in that village had a share in raising me. I was attached to them and they were my family members. I was connected to my community through them and i know very well that as they were important and significant to me, i was very dear and special to them to some extent. My existence mattered to us all, to my small village of people. Everyone knew me growing up, and thats how "it takes a whole village to raise a child". I was due to them, and they were due to me. We were the links of a community that connected us to eachother like a chemical bonding.

After few days of this splendid "discovery", i was just too greatful to be part of this "village" and thank God i wasn't living alone on an island on my own (*Cast away*). I recognized my obligation that the kids i see everyday in my neighborhood are not just their parents/families responsibity, instead i have a little part in that child's growth, upbringing and well-being by representing and setting an ideal example of a citizenship.

Lets come to the final point and the "main" reason behind writing this blog. I was very positive towards life after finding the meaning of this quote. But after listening to endless drone attacks on Pakistan (by America)and other parts of the world and how communities and "villages" are being destroyed and the soul of humanity is murdered leaving behind wounded, handicapped and helpless children around, is not how modern human should fight terrorism. Instead, they themselves are inflicting terrorism on innocent people and just like that, it takes one bomb/attack to turn that smiling portrait of a "child in a village" into a massacre and widespread butchery. The light of that soul covered by scary darkness. Raising a scared and a helpless child is in itself a death of a community

My deepest prayers for those in agony.   

Man of Steel

Oh no, i won't be talking about the recently released hollywood movie 'Man of Steel'. Its just not worth my time and effort.
 A very sad and inhumane incident happened regarding the devastation of the residence of Quiad-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah in Ziarat, Balochistan. My heart cries out after such a disrespect of our Quiad. I just couldn't contain myself to not say a word or two to condemn this incident and express my gratitude and honor for a Man who set a foundation of our country on the World map. He was a Man of Steel and is a great inspiraion for me. I just love him for everything he was and he did for the muslims of subcontinent and his die-hard efforts, hard-word, determination and foresightedness for a separate muslim country. A country we have today, Pakistan, with all the choices and freedom of a motherland.
Sadly, due to certain external forces and intruders who are trying their best to divide Pakistan based on nationalist groups & separatists focusing on creating hatred and ethinic conflicts among us. In order to pursue power and instigate fear in the community, such horrific and shameful examples are set, and none other than getting aid from those external figures who don't want peace and unity among the people of Pakistan. Its time we should smarten' up and act accordingly, and that time is Now. Instead of cursing and blaming eachother, lets curse and fight those who create such malice and malevolence. Islam teaches brotherhood, lets have some heart to show it to our brothers and sisters of our faith. For heavens sake, lets not call ourselves Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch or Pathan for once. Lets not confuse culture, dress, language, skin color, way of life, religious affinity and geographical differences with our Muslim identity and "Khudara" to not be a threat to the safety of our dearest Pakistan. Lets savour Freedom, free our thoughts from the confinements of Satan and rise above and beyond nationalism.
Fortunately, there are people who do care with their heart and soul and they are contributiong tremendously for this cause. They are persistent to unveil those black sheeps and courageous enough to speak their minds.
Tahira Baloch from Bolan TV, is one such fearless person trying her best to make a significant difference in such dire circumstances in present Balochistan. I came across her Facebook page just randomly, i guess out of luck. Her expressive patriotism and love of Pakistan speaks so profoundly that it inspires me, not to mention various threats to her life. May you be protected and guided by Almighty.
Lastly, we do not want another Bangladesh or civil wars/threats among us. Its time to be wise and anti-racist at individual level.

How absurd? See the picture to be sure!

How absurd? Yeah thats what you would say, if a person with a right mind would see this picture ( I dare not call it a fashion mistake/outfit disaster for the poor guy).
I happen to come across this "fashion statement" a few days ago, and my reaction was a horrible shock with few hundred voltage. I can tell by the appearence, colors and the fabic that these outfits are designed for the purpose to be worn in a Henna/Wedding kind of a ceremony. The guys outfit is a real shocker and the main interest of my writing about it. I can spare the girls dress as it is well approprite and fitting to such ceremonies.
Just look at the flower anklets, skinny jeans (or i should call "tights" as of todays fashion, but girls wear tights as far as i am familiar), his colorful embroidered half-covering transparent veil (I am confused at the veil "ghounghat", i thought women used to do this, especially brides on their wedding day) and; well, i can spare him for shirt or "sherwani", as it seems a very right choice of outfit in this entire mess of fashion dilemma.
I am sure this bridal couture was held in Pakistan, and my utmost concern is what kind of clothing, fashion, and outfit designs are being propagated and introduced in pakistan's fashion and designer industry? What is wrong with the designers? I am sure people of Pakistan are way more talented and our culture is so much rich than to imitate and follow other culture's. I feel pity and somewhat enraged!
Pity in a sense, that we very well know the value and importance of properly covering ourselves, not just women, instead both sexes. I don't want to be the preacher here, preaching about what is said in Islam about allowable dress code and its limitations.
Enraged in a  sense, after knowing the rules and limitations of covering (hijab for both men and women) in Islam, such fashion is produced just for making money and fame. We are the culprits, the buyers, the encouragers of such stupidity. This is a "beautiful" exploitation, and the result is, by buying such insane materials, we end up with nothing, neither morally nor eternally! This is not a modest way to clothe ourselves.
Finally, all i wanna say is, be people of reason and sense, dress well and dress civilized!