The Meaning of Pakistan

Every man for himself and yet all of them working for the same end. Sounds good, realizable or not I would not know. It requires a bit awareness I would think which I see missing in this unique set of people. Maybe if we instill this awareness in some way then your idea of these new revolutionaries attaining the end might see the light of day. I only hope it does.

A well written article... I had the opportunity of publishing it before chowk in my Siqafat newsletter during my tenure as the Editor in Chief there ... ofcourse in November

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/%7Efaran/dare.htm

http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/

Dear Aisha!

What took you so long. I have been anxiously waiting for another piece of writing from you since the last artcle of yours. You are gifted with good writing and analystical skills. Whenever I see young, proud, and pragmatic Pakistanis like yourself it strengthens my beleif in a progressive, well-educated, and strong Pakistan. Please write more often on Chowk.

The following paragraph that you wrote is the manifest of the new Pakistan and the Ummah. Thanks for putting it so eloquently and logically.

``Truth and its various components like knowledge and expertise should be acknowledged and appreciated regardless of the source. That in my opinion is being a true Muslim. Any good book is Islamic, any activity enhancing a person’s nafs (soul) is Islamic, any language you learn that helps you communicate your purpose of life which is unique and positive (even if it isn’t
Arabic) is Islamic, any expression you choose to convey the message which is a means to an end (as long as innocent lives aren’t at stake) is Islamic, Any marketing for a cause that is modern outward looking and gives human beings a greater economic standing so they are in a position to think about their higher selves (within the constraints of morality), is Islamic.``

I may be wrong but I think the word `nafs` is not equivalent to word `soul`. I think it is only a part of soul (Rooh)that has temporal desires therefore, it is a necessary but a mediocre part of ourselves. The concept of `Khuddi`` however guides us how to raise ourselves above our `nafs` part.

It is just a matter of correct translation but I know what you you are trying to convey, and I agree.

Aishaji :

You have said something I believe in, too :

``We realize that there isn’t no one coming, and that we got to do it ourselves``.

Wish you the best,

-Arun Gupta

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Should one be honest when commenting on a sophomoric article filled with good intentions and a lot of lightweight hot air?

So who are those new reolutaries now.

May be I am away for too long from Pakistan.

Your thesis of presenting Jinnah as true Muslim makes me laugh.

You think that this is not sloganization. Which true Muslim drink and eat pork. Even a half Muslim Ghalib did not eat pork.

The mission of Jinnah is being applied in East Pakistan now Bangladesh, where they not only have an independent country for Muslims, but have equal rights for all citizens.

You are talking about the same Pakistan which was there in 1993 or some drastic change has happened. Did the army stopped ruling Pakistan. Are the people choosing their own leaders. Did the people start getting education.Is there water even for crops or drinking. Is there no load shedding. Did the police stopped taking Bhatta. Did the Govt. functionaries stopped taking bribes. Did the Govt. stopped doing selective ``Ehtesab``.

As far as newspaper reading is concerned, I see gloom all over.

Or may be if Jinnah can be a true Muslim than you might be getting some ``Ilham`` which is not yet in newspaper.

krashid #7,

What you say is true, but give this girl a break.

At least she`s bringing positivity into Pakistani thought.

Gloom doesn`t get you anywhere. You know better than that.

temporal

.... where are you ? this is one that really deserves the full fury of your wrath and anger ....

........ thank god i am not a critic - i wouldn`t know where to start .....

Every once in a while (actually, rarely) do I come across an article by a Pakistani on CHOWK that makes me proud. This is one of them.
Thanks for writing this Aisha Sarwari. We need
more people like you (especially women)to motivate others to awaken our community from its slumber.

Ras

Thoughts are OK, but the English... Pathetic.

---SN

Aisha writes:

``...Any good book is Islamic, any activity enhancing a person’s nafs (soul) is Islamic, any language you learn that helps you communicate your purpose of life which is unique and positive (even if it isn’t Arabic) is Islamic, any expression you choose to convey the message which is a means to an end (as long as innocent lives aren’t at stake) is Islamic...``

I must point out that this is a very creative and private definition of ``Islamic.`` Throughout Islam`s bloody history people professing the Islamic faith have found it necessary to do exactly the opposite: destroy those whose beliefs run counter to their own, notwithstanding the sanitized versions of `history` taught in Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Consider one example of current relevance: there are many among the devout Hindus who worship idols and derive great sustenance from that activity. They consider it ennobling and soul-enchancing. By Aisha`s yardstick this should count as ``Islamic.`` Yet no devout Muslim would consider it to be so. Indeed, the devout Muslim has nothing but contempt for the idol-worship activity. Aisha`s sentiments are noble. However, they cannot be part of Muslimiyat (is that a legit Urdu word?) unless there is a new, revised edition of the Qu`ran in press.

tantralogician

SAMEER JB

Where are you? We miss your sensible posts. Hope your mom is OK.

Regards.

Aishaji :

Since #7 krashid raised the issue, I need not keep silent. I felt that you were headed down a slippery slope when you used the term ``true Muslim``. The concentrated brainpower of mankind through the ages would be hard-pressed to answer that riddle. ``Allah knows best !`` it is said, but Muslims know better !

-Arun the Infidelator

(And something totally not relevant here but has to be mentioned on Chowk I am asked. With full consent of the other founding member of IBR, you have been mailed a formal invitation.Khoosh?)


hamidm #9

botherm:

...not today...it`s one of those mornings when I don`t find a target in focus... and am miffed at whoever drifts into my line of firing...I am miffed at you...how can a confessed merlot lover (as Jawahara is a witness - what is the plural of johar anyone? or is she named after that Lady`s lover....what`s his name?... Pinky`s Dad`s mentor?)...merlot?.. yeah....how could you switch to cheapies from Scotland...damn what happened to the believer’s pride...breaker of idols and ideals... not to mention taste and aroma....pittance sake...you insult Carlin...whatever happened to fine single malts?...are you broke or saving up for the trosseau....worry not they will look after themselves...and thank you too...your fine daughters... it is that woman I am worried about...

[Begun hamid:

Maaf kijiyae brehum hamid, sorry Begum Hamid:

Baad khairiyat kay ittelah hay kay...nahiN yaar itni gaRRhi Urdu itni sub`h sub`h nahiN boli ja sakhti hay....

...haaN tou hum souch rahay thay kay hum ko aap say kabhi kabhi (zoare kabhi kabhi per hay) buhat humdardi hoti hay...kyuN bhala? Hum aur aap , Allah ko beech maiN laaye baghair, kabhi milay nahiN, kahiN door ki bhee shinasaaee nahiN (zoare bhee per hay)...

..yaar yeh baat kahaN say shru ki thee? Aur kis nay? Aur kyuN?

...haaN yaad aagayaa...bhayee humara khayal hay kay aap buhat achchi MaaN aur Biwi haiN (two out of three ain’t bad hamidm ... you know that definition of a perfect woman that if given here would hurl fatwas from that cute asif’s brigade)...aray kahaN hay woh Shankar ka bachcha ... bolta kyuN nahin hay? Jawab bhee ghayab... khair dafa karo oos ko...tou bibi kya hi achcha hota kay aap achcha khana bhee banana seekh laiN?

Daikhiyay, yeh humari zehni leap hay...agar hum oochcal kar ghalti say talaab oo’boor karnay ki baja’aye beech keecheRR main gir ga’aye tou maaf kardiji’aye .... hum pehlay hee ailaan kar chukay haiN itni sub’h sub’h hum raat jaga kay baad hee souch sakhtay hain aur raat ko kya h’ua yeh batataty huaye thoRRi si shram si aati hay.. Khair woh alug qissa hay....

Tou naik bibi achcha khana banana seekh ja’aye.

Hum logouN per ihsaan hoga. Buhat ihsaan hoga.

Aap ko koi ilm nahin aapka na’kaarah aur naa’laiq shohar bhook aur kharab pakwaan ki boo ko zeh’n main sajaaye yahan jub aata hay tou baghair kisi tafreek-o-imtiaz kay apni resham maiN laptee jhaRRoo say her kus-o- na kus ko aisi maarta hay aur aisis sunata hay kay samajhnay walay tou samajhnay wala hum jaisay na-samajh bhee mehzooz huaye baghair nahin reh sakhtay.

Kabhi kabhi tou (zoare pehli kabhi per hay) humain bilkul aisa lagta hay kay jaisay din insaan kay liyay aaya hay na kay oss kay bur ak’s isi tarah humari is Chowk ki duniya kay ehmaq srif is liyay banay gaaye haiN kay hamid ki reshsmi chapat seh sakhaiN. Maantay haiN yeh andaaz-e-fikr zara kamzore sa hay .... warna humaiN yeh souchnay say koi kyuN roke sakhta tha kay astaghfirullah Woh humaray liyay banaya gaya hay hum Ooskay liyay nahin ....yaa aap hamid kay liyay aur hamid humaray liyay... Chaliyay is sanjeeda mas’alay ko hum kashmir kay baad hul karlain gay.....is may khassi paycheedigiyaaN haiN...laikin andaisha hay... yeh baad wali baat tou kisi na kisi tarah hum hull kar hee laiNgay .. laikin woh pehli wali baat ik ghambir mas’ala hay... jo shayad humaiN bhas’m na karday ik din...


Ummeed hay bacchay khairyat say hongay. (This despite or in spite of Hamid — check with Carlin and let me know – am not sure of the usage this early..)

Thank you for kindly listening to me. I am sure there was a purpose in all this. If I find it by the evening I will call you.

Yours (heck can’t say truly: how about well wisher.. NO, that would cause friction between the two of them... how about that standard GOP deal clincher...your most obedient servant...nah too archaic .. besides...faithfully... NO... if I use that I would hear not only from her but HER as well and her too...nah too messy....how about simply yours...nahin yaar ...banda appears liberal ... oh sorry urs ... pseudo-liberal.....but he may mind....so how about the neutral raaqim-ul-huroof... But you are keying in ....can you create keying-ul-huroof... perhaps....is there a grand baba of Urdu here...till then how about simply sincerely...but others brag you are insincere....aren’t you.... no those are unsubstantiated rumours by disgruntled friends...phir kya...just say ijazat and sign away...hmmmm....yeh theek hay.

ijazat,


temporal bin temporal bin temporal

(There was a paucity of first names in our village just like former Sec Gen’s Boutros Boutros Boutros’....)

___________________________________________________


Why did I bring on the wrath of the Sweet One still under the lihaaf, ignore the Sunday NYT, let the tea cool, and write this... there is a purpose to this .. there has to be...


[... where are you ? this is one that really deserves the full fury of your wrath and anger ....]

—I don’t know. Oh I am here in T.O. But the overwhelming significance and sincerity leads me to other furtive, fragile, and figurative questions. Who am I? Where am I? How many billion years old is Life? And why are we so unduly obsessed with 53/54 years or 1500 years?
We have our assigned three score and ten and then we are dust or Arthur ... I mean ash. And look at our temporal arrogance! In order to please notions handed down we forget to be insaans. Fate!

Now what was it you really wanted me to turn my attention to?

regards,

t


PS: Sameer, best wishes and prayers for you in these times.

Aisha in your article you went in to a lot of intricate definations. But I wouldnt go as far as saying that a fundametalist is something else and Muslim(all others) are something else. We shouldnt claim sovereignty over religion and cast out who ever we dont see fitting our model of believes. This is exactly the kind of behaviour that has gotten the so called fundamentalist in so much trouble. If we are to build a society with tolerance for every one as you suggested in your article then we shouldnt antagonize the fundamentalist as they have an equal right for the very reason that they exist in our society.

Every passing day we are forgetting that Pakistan is ethnically and religiuosly a diverse country. I see that this problem is more common in India. The pseudo liberals there are promoting the slogan that ``there is no Hindu there is no Muslim there is no Gujurati and there is no Sikh ever one is INDIAN``. What I would like to see in Pakistan is Acceptance for every one, ``YES there is Sindhi, YES there is Punajbi and so there are Sunnis and Shia`s, they all maybe or may not be DIFFERENT yet they have one Goal to make a better PAKISTAN``. I am glad that you touched on this theme in your article but also I will say this again we need to be tolerant of fundamentalist as well.