“Itni shiddat se tumhe paane ki koshish ki hai
Ki har zarre ne mujhe tumse milane ki saazish ki hai”
(I have tried with such extreme intensity to get you
that every atom has conspired to make me meet you)
“Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to saari qaaynaat tumhe usse milane ki koshish me lag jaati hai”
(It is said that if you desire something with all your heart, then the entire universe endeavours to get it for you)
Gosh, translations have a way of taking the entire romance out of a couplet!
Anyway, remember this dialogue by Shahrukh Khan in Om Shanti Om? There are other variations on the same theme. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is possibly one of the best stories on this. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne talks about the Power of Attraction. One could go on and on.
But is it really true? Does wishing for something with all your heart and soul, with all your intensity of desire, really make it happen for you?
We’ve read about amazing success stories which started from such dreams. I’m not talking about long ago, but recent ones – in our lifetime. Microsoft, Google, Apple, Virgin etc. And closer to home, there’s Infosys. (Read Sudha Moorthy’s “How I taught my Grandmother to read and other stories”). Then there’s Reliance!
Ahh, all of them are too big! It took geniuses, it took a few miracles, there was something else also, etc.etc....
Maybe true. Such stories do not happen to everyone.
But then, it could also have something to do with the dream that you have. Let me give the examples of two boys - one the son of a clerk who lost his job in the union strike in the 80s, and the other the son of a taxi driver. Both started off their lives in chawls in Nagpada (Google 'Nagpada' in case it sounds unfamiliar, and I'm sure you know what chawl means.)
Today, the first boy is a CA who is now working as a CFO at an MNC; and the other has his own successful contracting business, and who also runs and virtually single-handedly funds an orphanage for girls.
Which brings me to today's story. Of a boy who was also born and brought up in a chawl in that same area. In a 180 sq.ft. tenement with four toilets to be shared between 20 similar households. He lived in an area where most boys dropped out of school, and the better ones went on to pass their Std.10, and just a handful actually went on to complete their education. His mother was a municipal school teacher. And that allowed him and his two brothers to study for free, as the municipal corporation would pay their fees. He had to come 1st or 2nd in class, so that he would be eligible for scholarships that would help buy books, stationery and uniforms for the next year. Even with that, the brothers would have only only one set of uniform each for the entire school year.
One set of new clothes would come on Eid. And they had to be taken care of for the entire year. Imagine three growing boys starting off the year wearing loose shirts and trousers, which would be so tight-fitting a year later that the stitch had to be altered.
He participated in - and won - elocution competitions, debates, quizzes, but did not get through in athletics; maybe something to do with the diet - or lack of it!
He made a virtue of attending his school parties in school uniform when all classmates were in their best dresses.
When the time came to go to college, the issue was not of fees or books - he knew he would get the scholarship to take care of that - but of what he would wear! But he went through, with clothes borrowed from and shared with his uncle!
Immediately after college, he had to work since scholarships stopped after graduation, and there was not enough money to go in for higher education. His attempts to get into management were thwarted through a series of getting through CATs, GDs and failing in interviews. He did not know why then, but he possibly realizes now.
But amidst all this, he dared to dream!
Dreams which seem small now, but which were unachievable then!
Dreams of a large house ("with a kitchen as big as the house we are staying in, Ammi!"), of a car so that his parents would no longer have to wait for the bus or train in their old age, of enough money so that his wife and children would never lack what he, his mother and his brothers did.
And worked towards realising those dreams.
His mother pledged her Provident Fund, and along with his own savings through the period that he worked after graduation, he got through for post-graduation in Advertising and PR at IIMC, New Delhi. Upon reaching Delhi, he realised that the bank draft that he was carrying with him would take 15 days to encash, while the fees had to be paid in cash within 3 days!
And then, the dreams started coming true!
The universe conspired and endeavoured to get him what he wanted.
A friend of his mother had given him a letter to be delivered to her uncle in Delhi. He had never met this gentleman, they did not know each other, and a mixture of pride and embarrassment would not allow him to seek anyone's help. But somehow, when he went to deliver the letter, this gentleman realised something was amiss, found out the details, and not only paid his fees but also gave him some spare money to tide over till the draft was encashed and he could repay the loan.
That was the first instance!
From an advertising agency, he moved to a media house when it was considered infra dig to do so. Within 3 years, he got ESOPs, which partially helped fund his house!
That was the second instance!
When he tried his hand at a business and was swindled in it, he got a job in the Middle East, which not only helped him recover his losses, but also enabled him to perform Haj - a privilege that most Indian Muslims only keep dreaming about!
That was another!
If I write all the instances where the universe conspired to help this boy who just dared to dream and work towards it, it would take a book!
As my brother likes to say, "Dreams are a manifestation of your inner ambitions. They help you fix the aim / target / destination.....or the intent."
These dreams are the one that you dream in daylight!
So dare to dream - and then don't stop at that. Just go single-mindedly towards achieving your dreams, and the universe will endeavour to help you!
Anyway, what happened to that boy?
He now stays in a house which - as his wife says - is a dream house. The kitchen is not bigger than the tenement he grew up in, but his bathroom is definitely larger than the area that he and his wife used to euphemistically call their "bedroom". He drives a car that none but possibly the top 1% of urban India would drive.
Then, about a little more than a year ago, he stopped dreaming!
And...nothing changed for him.
Nothing at all!
There is no movement.
On the outside, he is reasonably successful, happy, "arrived" - as they say in Mumbai. But internally he realises that the past year could have been much better used. He could have gained much more - more knowledge, more work, more self-fulfillment!
He knows that the realisation has come in time. He's still young! He has started dreaming again - and working towards it.
This is not the 'Happies Endings' yet.
Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!
(Postscript: I wanted to start the New Year with a blog that will hopefully inspire people to dare to dream, think positive and work unwaveringly towards achieving their dreams. Written over 10 days, this post is a culmination of that. Even if it helps one person achieve his/her dreams, that excruciating catharsis that I underwent in penning this would be worth it.)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Marathi
We’ve been seeing this major ‘Marathi’ campaign over the past few weeks. Actually, the past few years, but it has intensified over the past few weeks.
I may disagree with the means, but I am in complete agreement with this theory of being able to speak Marathi. Absolutely right!
After all, I firmly believe that you should know the language of the state you live in. Every Keralite speaks Malayalam, every Bengali speaks Bangla, every Andhraite (at least till now) speaks Telugu and so on.
And yet, every time I converse with someone in Marathi, there is a sense of disbelief, bewilderment, amazement, wonder etc.
I am besieged with questions like “How can you speak Marathi so well?”, “Where did you learn to speak such good Marathi?” and the best one – “Aadnaav Kaay?”
This question – I believe – is unique to this part of the Deccan – Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Ahmednagar - “Aadnaav Kaay?” (What’s your surname?)
How does it make a difference? No one every asks a Abdul Rehman Pookutty his surname, no one asks a Akbar Patel or a Ghani Choudhury his surname, but come to our part of the world and speak Marathi, and sure enough, “Aadnaav Kaay?”
Konkani Muslims speak mainly in Konkani, and no one asks this question in Raigad or Satara, but come up North and speak Marathi, and it will crop up!
“Aadnaav Kaay?”
Why, oh why? Will someone explain? I mean, you want people to speak in Marathi, and then ask him for his surname if he does so.
I digress.
Let’s come back. There are two issues.
The first one is – Why can’t I speak Marathi? Just because my name is Khan? It would have been okay if it was Khanvilkar, but since it is Khan, it has to be accompanied by wonder and disbelief. Why?
And the second - “Aadnaav Kaay?” Why do we have to ask this question and bracket people? This is not a religious thing – it is about caste equations! And is it that important! Can’t people avoid this question? Not with me – just avoid it, okay?
I guess I’m only venting my spleen. And everywhere I go, this will continue. So, let’s grin and bear it.
Hey, I also speak Hindi, English and Urdu as well – probably better. Will someone get amazed at that too? :-)
I may disagree with the means, but I am in complete agreement with this theory of being able to speak Marathi. Absolutely right!
After all, I firmly believe that you should know the language of the state you live in. Every Keralite speaks Malayalam, every Bengali speaks Bangla, every Andhraite (at least till now) speaks Telugu and so on.
And yet, every time I converse with someone in Marathi, there is a sense of disbelief, bewilderment, amazement, wonder etc.
I am besieged with questions like “How can you speak Marathi so well?”, “Where did you learn to speak such good Marathi?” and the best one – “Aadnaav Kaay?”
This question – I believe – is unique to this part of the Deccan – Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Ahmednagar - “Aadnaav Kaay?” (What’s your surname?)
How does it make a difference? No one every asks a Abdul Rehman Pookutty his surname, no one asks a Akbar Patel or a Ghani Choudhury his surname, but come to our part of the world and speak Marathi, and sure enough, “Aadnaav Kaay?”
Konkani Muslims speak mainly in Konkani, and no one asks this question in Raigad or Satara, but come up North and speak Marathi, and it will crop up!
“Aadnaav Kaay?”
Why, oh why? Will someone explain? I mean, you want people to speak in Marathi, and then ask him for his surname if he does so.
I digress.
Let’s come back. There are two issues.
The first one is – Why can’t I speak Marathi? Just because my name is Khan? It would have been okay if it was Khanvilkar, but since it is Khan, it has to be accompanied by wonder and disbelief. Why?
And the second - “Aadnaav Kaay?” Why do we have to ask this question and bracket people? This is not a religious thing – it is about caste equations! And is it that important! Can’t people avoid this question? Not with me – just avoid it, okay?
I guess I’m only venting my spleen. And everywhere I go, this will continue. So, let’s grin and bear it.
Hey, I also speak Hindi, English and Urdu as well – probably better. Will someone get amazed at that too? :-)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Bees Saal Baad
What happens when people meet after 20 years? Wonderment (hey, is that you?), glimmers of recognition (I was thinking...), reminiscence (hey, where’s so-and-so?), fond old memories (remember the Alibag picnic?)....
And now imagine what would happen when not one or two, but more than 35 people meet after 20 years....
Which is what happened last Saturday (10 days ago) when our class of ’89 met for a reunion. Some of us were meeting each other after more than a few years, some us after a decade and some of us met each other for the first time since our graduation!
A couple of people had come in from other cities just to meet others for a couple of hours, and a few who are now abroad had sent in messages.
And the icing on the cake was some of our professors joining in – some of whom have retired and came especially for the function.
It was overwhelming, to say the least! When asked to introduce themselves, one could see some people choking on their words, some holding back tears that were threatening to brim over, there was a sense of elation in some, while others remembered all the joyous times we had spent together.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? Now when my rational mind remembers it, all the time we had spent all those years ago was not paradisiacal, but when we met after two decades, all we remembered were the good times we had spent together. It was as if the negative memories were wiped out from our minds, leading us to remember the utopian world that existed, as it were.
And now it is time to start reconnecting with people – to chat, pick up lost threads, make new connections with their spouses, sometimes even with them.
After all, twenty years IS a long time!
And now imagine what would happen when not one or two, but more than 35 people meet after 20 years....
Which is what happened last Saturday (10 days ago) when our class of ’89 met for a reunion. Some of us were meeting each other after more than a few years, some us after a decade and some of us met each other for the first time since our graduation!
A couple of people had come in from other cities just to meet others for a couple of hours, and a few who are now abroad had sent in messages.
And the icing on the cake was some of our professors joining in – some of whom have retired and came especially for the function.
It was overwhelming, to say the least! When asked to introduce themselves, one could see some people choking on their words, some holding back tears that were threatening to brim over, there was a sense of elation in some, while others remembered all the joyous times we had spent together.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? Now when my rational mind remembers it, all the time we had spent all those years ago was not paradisiacal, but when we met after two decades, all we remembered were the good times we had spent together. It was as if the negative memories were wiped out from our minds, leading us to remember the utopian world that existed, as it were.
And now it is time to start reconnecting with people – to chat, pick up lost threads, make new connections with their spouses, sometimes even with them.
After all, twenty years IS a long time!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Blood Donation Drive is over
The blood donation drive officially wound up on Dec 1 (There is still a camp being held at MegaMall, Andheri - today and tomorrow). There is more than enough blood now in the blood banks - as Mr. Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation informed me - and I am satisfied!
This entire exercise gave me a fair bit of interesting learnings. I'm just going to mention two of them.
If you're sincere about wanting to something, there will be enough people coming forward to help you. Remember the dialogue of SRK in Om Shanti Om when he receives the award? Something similar just happened, where Francis and Mohd. Gaus of our marketing team came up and handled all the logistics flawlessly, Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation (I didn't even know this gentleman till before this activity) organised all the blood banks without me even having to worrry about them, Dhrub (from our sales team) just went ahead, spoke to mall owners and organised camps there, Sumit handled the advertising...it was amazing to see this chemistry !
And thanks also to the teams from Future Group, Oberoi Mall, Mega Mall, K-Star, Kamala Mills, to the various blood banks and their volunteers, the railways....Thanks guys, each and every one of you!
The second learning - if you want to really do something like this which involves being pricked by a needle, no glamour and photo-ops; count on the middle and lower middle classes. These were the people who came forward and donated blood, and who got others to do so. With a few honourable exceptions (like the gentleman who came all the way from Kandivli to Goregaon - Mr. Jeswani, if I remember), upper class Mumbai does not care! We've seen it in the turnout during the two elections held recently, and we've seen it now during blood donation drive.
There was a lot of pompous self-grandeur - concerts, candle-light vigils - all events where they could get out of their air-conditioned cars, have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the haut monde, shed a few mls of glycerine and go back. But when it came to a de-glam event like donating blood, the emptiness was deafening! And you should have heard the reasons - from the ridiculous to the absurd!
Clear lesson - the next time I want to organise a blood donation drive, I shall first organise a sponsor, a lead actor / actress who will say that s/he is going to be there, ensure a few photo-ops and then start the drive.
So, there we are.
Till next time, folks...
This entire exercise gave me a fair bit of interesting learnings. I'm just going to mention two of them.
If you're sincere about wanting to something, there will be enough people coming forward to help you. Remember the dialogue of SRK in Om Shanti Om when he receives the award? Something similar just happened, where Francis and Mohd. Gaus of our marketing team came up and handled all the logistics flawlessly, Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation (I didn't even know this gentleman till before this activity) organised all the blood banks without me even having to worrry about them, Dhrub (from our sales team) just went ahead, spoke to mall owners and organised camps there, Sumit handled the advertising...it was amazing to see this chemistry !
And thanks also to the teams from Future Group, Oberoi Mall, Mega Mall, K-Star, Kamala Mills, to the various blood banks and their volunteers, the railways....Thanks guys, each and every one of you!
The second learning - if you want to really do something like this which involves being pricked by a needle, no glamour and photo-ops; count on the middle and lower middle classes. These were the people who came forward and donated blood, and who got others to do so. With a few honourable exceptions (like the gentleman who came all the way from Kandivli to Goregaon - Mr. Jeswani, if I remember), upper class Mumbai does not care! We've seen it in the turnout during the two elections held recently, and we've seen it now during blood donation drive.
There was a lot of pompous self-grandeur - concerts, candle-light vigils - all events where they could get out of their air-conditioned cars, have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the haut monde, shed a few mls of glycerine and go back. But when it came to a de-glam event like donating blood, the emptiness was deafening! And you should have heard the reasons - from the ridiculous to the absurd!
Clear lesson - the next time I want to organise a blood donation drive, I shall first organise a sponsor, a lead actor / actress who will say that s/he is going to be there, ensure a few photo-ops and then start the drive.
So, there we are.
Till next time, folks...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Homosexuality – Revolt against nature
This post has been written by Mudassar Khan, who had written this e-mail to me in September as a response to my post then.
Sorry Muddu, for not posting it earlier.
---
Allah SWT is the creator and the Lord of the whole universe. He gave existence to everyone and everything and He gave a natural system for His slaves. Whenever this natural system is broken, chaos set in.
Allah SWT has kept the natural system of sexual relations between men and women, which grant physical and mental solace and give material and spiritual pleasure. It also acts as the means of propagation of the human race. As a result of which the society remains at peace and happy.
On the other hand, men forming relationships with men and women with women is a serious crime, which is disliked by each and every religion and by every cultured person. These kind of relations harm the society, give rise to and spread fatal diseases like AIDS and destroy humanity as a whole.
Homosexuality is such a serious sin that it is a collection of all other types of immodesty. This is a revolt against nature. It is a sign of being away from the mercy of Allah SWT and invites the wrath and anger of Allah SWT.
the nation which was involved in this, the Ummah of Hadhrat Lut (Peace be upon him), was punished by Allah SWT in different ways. In the last part of the night, an angel gave such a shout that it destroyed them. A population of 4 million i.e. 40 lakhs was lifted up to the sky and thrown headlong. Then stones were rained on them which wiped them away from the slate of existence.
The Holy Quran mentions this incident in many places. The reason is that people should realize that if they are also involved in this sin, then the wrath of Allah SWT will destroy them as well. Allah SWT says:
And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! Surah A’araaf – (7:84)
It is given in Surah Ankabut:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
To highlight the disgusting and nasty nature of homosexuality, here in the Holy Quran, the word “Al-Faahisha has been used.” At another place, for adultery, the word “Faahishatun” has been used. The intended meaning is that adultery is one of the types of immodesty and indecency, but homosexuality is a collection and compendium of all types of immodesty. This disgusting act has been termed as “Al-Faahisha” 3 times in the Holy Quran:
We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? Surah A’araaf (7:80)
In Surah Naml:
We also sent Lut (as a messenger): behold, he said to his people "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? Surah Naml (27:54)
In Surah Ankaboot:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
This is such an act of immodesty, that all religions, cultures and cultured persons hold it to be so.
Apart from this Allah SWT has declared homosexuals to be those who break the rules of Allah SWT and Islam. Allah SWT says:
"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males. (165) "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" Surah Shuara (166)
And in Surah A’araaf:
"For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Surah A’araaf (7:81)
Among all the evils of the society and the kinds of immodesty, there is none worse than homosexuality. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given strict warnings about this act:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: May Allah SWT curse the person who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) had done. May Allah SWT curse that person. He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) repeated this thrice. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadith No: 2677)
There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul ‘Ummal:
Translation: The nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) was punished because of 10 bad practices. My Ummah will be involved in one more bad practice. They had homosexual relations between men and men and this Ummah will have homosexual relations between women and women. (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No: 13014)
There is Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah and Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: What I most fear about My Ummah is the act of the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him). (Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 8171)
Homosexuality – Takes one away from the Mercy of Allah SWT.
There is a Hadith in Al Mojam Kabeer and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: Hadhrat Jabir bin Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with them) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When the Dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic rule) are oppressed, then the enemies will rule. When adultery will become too much, then there will be too many prisoners and when those who do what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) did, then Allah SWT will remove His hand of Mercy from the creation. Then He will not care in which valley they are killed.
There is a Hadith in Mojam Ausat, Shu’abul Iman and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There are 4 persons whose days and nights are in the anger and wrath of Allah SWT. Among them is the man who has sexual relations with another man.
There is a Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi and Sahih Ibn Hibban:
Translation: Allah SWT does not even look at the person with mercy who has homosexual relations with men or women. (Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No: 4418)
There is a Hadith in moa Tabarani and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah SWT curses 7 from His creation from above the seven heavens and repeats His curse thrice on each one of them. Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed. (Mojam Ausat, Hadith No: 8734,Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 6, Pg No: 272)
Personal and social loss of homosexuality:
One among the wisdoms of keeping marriage as permissible is that the race of humans, which is the cream of all creation (Ashraful Makhlooqat) should not end. If human beings satisfy their sexual desires through some other way, then the mentioned benefit of the Shariah will not be gained. These kind of relationships may prove to be start of the end of the human race.
The sexual relations between men and women are not only for fulfilling the sexual desires, but children are sought through it. Satisfying sexual desires through homosexuality is to fall from the heights of humanity to the depths of the animals.
Imam (May Allah be well pleased with him) (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in the Tafseer of verse no: 81 of Surah A’araaf:
Translation: The wise Lord has granted extraordinary strength to the womb of the women to absorb the semen. When a man performs this act (in the natural way), then all the drops of semen are absorbed by the womb of the woman. But when a man does this with a man, then as the anus of the man is not granted this strength, some drops of semen still remain in the genital organ, because of which the organ swells and suffers from many diseases. These details can be known only through the science of medicine. (Tafseer Kabir, Surah A’araaf, verse no:81)
Giving legal status to homosexuality is to push humanity towards destruction. At this stage, when AIDS is already swallowing innocent people, providing legal status to homosexuality is to promote AIDS. Humanity is struck as to how the new generation will survive when men will marry men and women will marry women, that new generation, who is the future of the nation and the world. If the cover of legal status is granted to this revolt of nature, then new problems will be created in the society which will shake the very foundations of the society. Many sections of the society are supporting the decision of the government and are declaring it as modern culture, free thinking etc. When this is culture, we don’t even want to know what uncultured means.
It is the responsibility of each and every religion along with the government to curb these attempts to build a virtuous and harmonious society. We hope that the government will not accept this as per article 377.
Sorry Muddu, for not posting it earlier.
---
Allah SWT is the creator and the Lord of the whole universe. He gave existence to everyone and everything and He gave a natural system for His slaves. Whenever this natural system is broken, chaos set in.
Allah SWT has kept the natural system of sexual relations between men and women, which grant physical and mental solace and give material and spiritual pleasure. It also acts as the means of propagation of the human race. As a result of which the society remains at peace and happy.
On the other hand, men forming relationships with men and women with women is a serious crime, which is disliked by each and every religion and by every cultured person. These kind of relations harm the society, give rise to and spread fatal diseases like AIDS and destroy humanity as a whole.
Homosexuality is such a serious sin that it is a collection of all other types of immodesty. This is a revolt against nature. It is a sign of being away from the mercy of Allah SWT and invites the wrath and anger of Allah SWT.
the nation which was involved in this, the Ummah of Hadhrat Lut (Peace be upon him), was punished by Allah SWT in different ways. In the last part of the night, an angel gave such a shout that it destroyed them. A population of 4 million i.e. 40 lakhs was lifted up to the sky and thrown headlong. Then stones were rained on them which wiped them away from the slate of existence.
The Holy Quran mentions this incident in many places. The reason is that people should realize that if they are also involved in this sin, then the wrath of Allah SWT will destroy them as well. Allah SWT says:
And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! Surah A’araaf – (7:84)
It is given in Surah Ankabut:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
To highlight the disgusting and nasty nature of homosexuality, here in the Holy Quran, the word “Al-Faahisha has been used.” At another place, for adultery, the word “Faahishatun” has been used. The intended meaning is that adultery is one of the types of immodesty and indecency, but homosexuality is a collection and compendium of all types of immodesty. This disgusting act has been termed as “Al-Faahisha” 3 times in the Holy Quran:
We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? Surah A’araaf (7:80)
In Surah Naml:
We also sent Lut (as a messenger): behold, he said to his people "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? Surah Naml (27:54)
In Surah Ankaboot:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
This is such an act of immodesty, that all religions, cultures and cultured persons hold it to be so.
Apart from this Allah SWT has declared homosexuals to be those who break the rules of Allah SWT and Islam. Allah SWT says:
"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males. (165) "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" Surah Shuara (166)
And in Surah A’araaf:
"For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Surah A’araaf (7:81)
Among all the evils of the society and the kinds of immodesty, there is none worse than homosexuality. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given strict warnings about this act:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: May Allah SWT curse the person who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) had done. May Allah SWT curse that person. He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) repeated this thrice. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadith No: 2677)
There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul ‘Ummal:
Translation: The nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) was punished because of 10 bad practices. My Ummah will be involved in one more bad practice. They had homosexual relations between men and men and this Ummah will have homosexual relations between women and women. (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No: 13014)
There is Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah and Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: What I most fear about My Ummah is the act of the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him). (Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 8171)
Homosexuality – Takes one away from the Mercy of Allah SWT.
There is a Hadith in Al Mojam Kabeer and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: Hadhrat Jabir bin Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with them) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When the Dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic rule) are oppressed, then the enemies will rule. When adultery will become too much, then there will be too many prisoners and when those who do what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) did, then Allah SWT will remove His hand of Mercy from the creation. Then He will not care in which valley they are killed.
There is a Hadith in Mojam Ausat, Shu’abul Iman and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There are 4 persons whose days and nights are in the anger and wrath of Allah SWT. Among them is the man who has sexual relations with another man.
There is a Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi and Sahih Ibn Hibban:
Translation: Allah SWT does not even look at the person with mercy who has homosexual relations with men or women. (Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No: 4418)
There is a Hadith in moa Tabarani and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah SWT curses 7 from His creation from above the seven heavens and repeats His curse thrice on each one of them. Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed. (Mojam Ausat, Hadith No: 8734,Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 6, Pg No: 272)
Personal and social loss of homosexuality:
One among the wisdoms of keeping marriage as permissible is that the race of humans, which is the cream of all creation (Ashraful Makhlooqat) should not end. If human beings satisfy their sexual desires through some other way, then the mentioned benefit of the Shariah will not be gained. These kind of relationships may prove to be start of the end of the human race.
The sexual relations between men and women are not only for fulfilling the sexual desires, but children are sought through it. Satisfying sexual desires through homosexuality is to fall from the heights of humanity to the depths of the animals.
Imam (May Allah be well pleased with him) (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in the Tafseer of verse no: 81 of Surah A’araaf:
Translation: The wise Lord has granted extraordinary strength to the womb of the women to absorb the semen. When a man performs this act (in the natural way), then all the drops of semen are absorbed by the womb of the woman. But when a man does this with a man, then as the anus of the man is not granted this strength, some drops of semen still remain in the genital organ, because of which the organ swells and suffers from many diseases. These details can be known only through the science of medicine. (Tafseer Kabir, Surah A’araaf, verse no:81)
Giving legal status to homosexuality is to push humanity towards destruction. At this stage, when AIDS is already swallowing innocent people, providing legal status to homosexuality is to promote AIDS. Humanity is struck as to how the new generation will survive when men will marry men and women will marry women, that new generation, who is the future of the nation and the world. If the cover of legal status is granted to this revolt of nature, then new problems will be created in the society which will shake the very foundations of the society. Many sections of the society are supporting the decision of the government and are declaring it as modern culture, free thinking etc. When this is culture, we don’t even want to know what uncultured means.
It is the responsibility of each and every religion along with the government to curb these attempts to build a virtuous and harmonious society. We hope that the government will not accept this as per article 377.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Blood Donation drive starts today
Our blood donation drive starts today, with 5 locations across Mumbai. I'm hoping and praying it goes off well, and we get a lot of response from Mumbaikars.
I'm counting on all my readers to take action on this - either by coming over and donating blood, or at least by forwarding the message as much as possible to others who will do so.
The venues for the next 5 days are-
Nov 26: Big Bazaar - Malad (Near Station-West), Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Thane (Kapurbawadi Junction), Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 27: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 28: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 29: K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 30: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
Dec 1: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
More venues will be announced soon. Details will be available in DNA Mumbai (www.dnaindia.com)
Keeping my fingers crossed!
I'm counting on all my readers to take action on this - either by coming over and donating blood, or at least by forwarding the message as much as possible to others who will do so.
The venues for the next 5 days are-
Nov 26: Big Bazaar - Malad (Near Station-West), Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Thane (Kapurbawadi Junction), Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 27: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 28: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 29: K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 30: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
Dec 1: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
More venues will be announced soon. Details will be available in DNA Mumbai (www.dnaindia.com)
Keeping my fingers crossed!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Let’s give of what we can
One year to possibly the most horrendous attack on Mumbai! I wanted to do something, and also get people involved.
Not the usual candle light marches or the concerts etc., where people would come, join, leave and forget about it.
I wanted something more meaningful...where people would give something that would make them more involved, and hopefully therefore it would be a proper commemoration of the events of 26/11 and the people who gave their lives.
Hence, with the support of my organisation and a few like-minded people and organisations who are giving their time and space, we’re organising a blood donation drive in Mumbai. Comprising lots of blood donation camps across railway stations and malls, we intend to have this drive from Nov 26 for around a fortnight.
Coincidentally, while this drive was being organised, I read last week that Mumbai’s blood banks are nearly running dry, to the extent that surgeries are being postponed. And I thought – what an apt time to do this.
By the way, did you know that donation by one person does not mean that this blood will be given to only one person? One person’s donation will actually save maybe three or four lives – as the blood donated by us is separated into parts - usually red blood cells and plasma, since most recipients need only a part and not all the blood.
Hopefully, Mumbai will show its spirit once again, and we’ll be able to collect a lot of blood.
Keeping my fingers crossed. Will keep updating you with more details. And I hope some of you will also contribute by walking up to the nearest railway station or mall and help save some lives.
Not the usual candle light marches or the concerts etc., where people would come, join, leave and forget about it.
I wanted something more meaningful...where people would give something that would make them more involved, and hopefully therefore it would be a proper commemoration of the events of 26/11 and the people who gave their lives.
Hence, with the support of my organisation and a few like-minded people and organisations who are giving their time and space, we’re organising a blood donation drive in Mumbai. Comprising lots of blood donation camps across railway stations and malls, we intend to have this drive from Nov 26 for around a fortnight.
Coincidentally, while this drive was being organised, I read last week that Mumbai’s blood banks are nearly running dry, to the extent that surgeries are being postponed. And I thought – what an apt time to do this.
By the way, did you know that donation by one person does not mean that this blood will be given to only one person? One person’s donation will actually save maybe three or four lives – as the blood donated by us is separated into parts - usually red blood cells and plasma, since most recipients need only a part and not all the blood.
Hopefully, Mumbai will show its spirit once again, and we’ll be able to collect a lot of blood.
Keeping my fingers crossed. Will keep updating you with more details. And I hope some of you will also contribute by walking up to the nearest railway station or mall and help save some lives.
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