People talk a lot about how we fail to empathize with those who suffer. Especially the quiet private types, the sensitive ones are the ones who suffer. The ones with mental disabilities suffer. But no one ever speaks about how it is to be on the other side. It is frustrating to be on both... Continue Reading →
The traveler’s suitcase.
There was a story I had heard long back. I don’t remember the details correctly anymore, but the gist of it was this: There was a doctor who was a specialist in some country. He studied and worked hard and got a good job. Probably became a consultant. He started earning a pretty good sum... Continue Reading →
I am the best, better than the rest.
Imagine you have two children. They play cricket every day outside with the neighborhood kids. Your first child is better equipped. You bought him the best, most expensive high quality bat. You invested time and money in his training for several years. You practiced with him yourself till he got very good. You showered him... Continue Reading →
Too difficult?
What I don’t get is when people say religion is too difficult. “There are too many rules.” People say that there is a long list of what is permissible and what is impermissible and they are afraid to step into this life as they cannot live such a difficult life. Why can I not relate?... Continue Reading →
Your Paradox.
Subtle and hidden, you barely see it, Silent as a breath, you barely hear it, Gentle as a feather, you barely feel it, Life seems to be a chaos, an unsolvable riddle. YET If you look with your eyes open its light is dazzling, If you hear with willing ears its thunder is consuming,... Continue Reading →
The Solution. (Part 3)
Being a mathematician that Lang was, he solved the issue. Lang made three lists. 1. Qualities of human: Compassion, love, mercy, forgiving nature, kindness, warmth, generosity, protecting the weak, defending the oppressed, seekers of knowledge and wisdom, truthfulness, peaceful. 2. Attributes of God: The Merciful, the Loving, the Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Generous, the Protector,... Continue Reading →
The search for the answer. (Part 2)
Lang then went through the whole Quran repeatedly and found out what it had to say about these three topics. Intellect: The Quran keeps emphasizing on the intellect of man, again and again. It urges man to reason, to think and reflect on the skies, the earth, life, his surroundings, himself even, to arrive to... Continue Reading →
The elephant in the room. The Question. (Part 1)
Did you ever in your life think, why did this happen to me? I was a good person, never did anything wrong to anyone, why do I suffer? Why did this person come into my life when they had to leave in the end? What was the point of all my loss, pain and suffering?... Continue Reading →
“in which they will remain…”
We all love the idea of forever. “... and they lived happily ever after” has always been the comforting happy ending to every story. I love the quranic version of forever. In this ayah of surah kahf there is a departure from the normal “ خالِدِينَ فِيهِ اَبَداً ” which is an ayah often repeated... Continue Reading →
The honest merchant.
“...Imam Mawlud holds that covetousness is the root cause of many iniquities, .... It also leads to insincere praise of others in order to derive some benefit from them. Most salespeople, for example, will say just about anything (lies and flattery) to sell their wares. For this reason the "honest merchant will be raised with... Continue Reading →
The unlettered pen 