Isle of Skye

Yesterday's Lesson I never went to a majlis yday but learned that the love of the Prophet's descendents is truly something that can only be inculcated by attending majalis and spending time with the lovers of the Ahlul Bayt. And by truly feeling it. An inspiration whispered to awaken you while you sleep heedlessly. You can't say something with verity such as you empathise or admire Hussain for his sacrificing everything while you don't even think before you wear a bright red shalwar kameez on the 1st of the month. Conflict I've also learnt that when you have conflict with someone, they reflect the bits about you which are negative and you wish to deny. So that means that I have become like my younger aunt and like my father in many ways. They are both my Shadows. Ce n'est pas le cas que l'un est meilleur que l'autre. They both would never see me again if they could make it so, they both would find it highly gratifying to kick me out of 'their' o...

Longing for this world brings about worry and sadness, doing without in this world brings ease to the heart and body. Prophet Muhammad (s) The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said : Surely, there exists in the hearts of the Mu'mineen, with respect to the martyrdom of Husain (A.S.), a heat that never subsides. Mustadrak al‑Wasail vol 10 pg. 318 For those unable to go for the ziarat of Imam Husain (A.S.) on the day of A'ashura, Imam Baqir (A.S.) mentions the manner of performing A'zadari as follows: He should mourn over Husain (A.S.), weep for him and instruct the members of the house to weep for him. He should establish the mourning ceremony in the house by exhibiting lamentations and grief over him; the people should meet one another in their homes and offer condolences and consolation to each other over the calamities which befell him. Kaamil al‑Ziyaraat pg. 175 Imam Sadiq (A.S.) said: He whose eyes shed tears for our blood which has been shed, or for our rights which have been us...

Might you be a good psychotherapist or counsellor? See how you respond to the statements below: • I find that people turn to me to talk about their problems • How people make sense of the world interests me • At times I find life difficult • I like to think about my life and explore different aspects of what makes me who I am • When I was younger people told me I was “too sensitive” • Relationships are important to me • I would like to work with other people to help them find meaning and acceptance and change in their lives • I like to talk about feelings • Sometimes I can sense the atmosphere in a room • I think having a stable sense of self is important • I am interested in other peoples’ lives – their stories, their thoughts, their feelings • I can keep going even when I find life painful • The idea of creatively exploring the unknown appeals to me • I can identify different types of feelings in myself and others These statements represent common thoughts, feelings and concerns of p...

The last time I had this type of a rush was at the zoo early this year. My heart just fluttered so fast when I found the first book. As though I had had a hit of chocolate liquor Book fair. Biggest in Karachi. I spent around Rs 2,000 on some otherwise elusive books. Although, in spite of my rigid checking, the last book I bought was slightly damaged. Snap. The funny thing is that I didn't even get round to going to Liberty Books and Sagar Books. It was 1 pm by then and there was a mad rush. But then, there's no point in buying so many books if I'm just going to haul them all the way back to London. Yes. There we go again. I can't help it. I'd just love to pack up and go back to London and have a happy, ordinary, stress-free life. Will that happen? Hell, no. My dad is there to ask "Is this friend worth it?" whether it's to do with buying them something or letting them stay at my house. "Do the washing up" "do the cooking" "do t...

Be brave and true to yourself. Put your heart into your work. Do these things with sincerity and you come nearer to being what you truly are: A singular expression of all existence — a genius, a creator, a redeemer, a healer, a teacher, a force for good in the world. Trust yourself — not your petty self, but that Self you touch in blissful solitude on quiet walks in the mountains, that Self you feel when you are at your highest best. Completely accept your current situation — the place and time you live in. Accept it and make something magnificent with it. There is no better time. There is nothing to wish for. Genius and wisdom arise when you see that the source of existence is in your heart and works through your hands. You are not a victim of life. You have a destiny, a part to play in this awesome universal battle between good and evil. Look at children. They trust their own impression. They haven't learned to calculate how many people oppose their purposes and so they don't...

I watch in pained silence as certain people take the same passionate path towards organised religion as I did 6 years ago and just hope that they reach a sense of balance soon. The pious thinking and talking gets to you after a while. Especially when you're forcing yourself to be the perfect specimen of belief when it's illusory. And almost completely alien to your being. Or rather, it is not you. It is who you've been told you should be. Blah blah. People never reach that level after years of worship or idolatry of one's culture. Trying to scale the heights till the very top, a reactionary position in an effort to rub away all the dirt and muck you've amassed from the past life you had, before you were reborn. For me, it was just the practicality of the matter. I soon felt embarrassed to wear the jilbab when it was never really part of who I was. I was ashamed of that embarrassment but had to allow myself to breathe and try out things, bit by bit. Focus goes a bit ...

'Legends of the Fall' and Shakespeare Tristan and Isolde are beautiful names. I'd love to have godchildren to name. Not Tristan and Isolde, I suppose. But I wish I could. MILBs (Men I'd like to boink) Jude Law (right now - he looks so nice with his 'original' hair colour in The Holiday) Clive Owen Ralph Fiennes (from The English Patient i.e. 15 years ago) Brad Pitt (in Legends of the Fall get up i.e. 15 years ago) The weather guy from BBC Weather Kevin Costner (from The Bodyguard; 20 years ago?) Matthew McFadyen (In my Father's Den) [more to be added]