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Strange Times

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Strange Times By Naeema Akram So Heaven has given us to live in interesting times; we are entering the greatest global crises in many decades; and it is right for Muslims to reflect, taking advantage of these newly long and quiet days… - Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad in ‘A Perspective on the Pandemic’ May 2020 Diary, The world is closing in on me. In fact, it must be closing in upon many people these days. These are strange times. Extremely strange. I never thought I would be among those who would live to see these strange times. Here I am, surviving with the will of Allah – the best of planners. These times would make good stories for my grandchildren, if I live to see them. A virus has taken over the entire world - the Corona, literally the one who wears a crown. There are so many perspectives regarding it; so many conspiracy theories as well. Let’s keep everything, all theories aside. The fact of the matter is that tables have been turned. Our mindless marathon in th...
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Kids growing up, mashaAllah

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Children, specially boys, have the tendency to push you to your limits. My four-yr-old does the same to me. In fact, at times, I feel as if this is his hobby - to drive amma nuts and enjoy when she shouts (yes, - albeit I consciously try not to do that - I am guilty of doing so!) Anyway, these kids also have the tendency to surprise you at times, leaving you wondering that they are actually growing up fast, mashaAllah, and soon those tantrum-throwing phases that make both moms and tots end up in tears will be over, inshaAllah... So this is what happened just a while ago: First, we, the mom-son duo, had a long fight because I was trying to explain to him that his screen time was over and now it was my turn to use the laptop, and he just did not want that to happen. After a lot of argument and threats he finally understood and was happy that his nani had reserved  pakoRas   for him, which were exclusively being made for kaRhi . PakoRas also served to distract him from...
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Speed-breakers

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I have been thinking of resuming writing for quite some time now and today I finally mustered up the courage to visit the 'create post' page of my blog. I feel a certain anxiety knocking  down my senses at the moment. Writing used to come so naturally once and now it comes with effort. What is good about it is that it is still has not abandoned me altogether. Like old friends, who have all gone about their ways, it still, at times, comes back and reminds me of the connection we once shared. All good things eventually come to an end - I just hope that does not happen with me and writing, at least not until this transient life comes to an end... What prompted me to write down this post after such a long time is my recent meeting with one of my teachers, with whom I had absolutely lost contact during the last five years. Life is very demanding. Its phases, very complicated. The responsibilities it encumbers us with, endless...  زندگی تیرے تعاقب میں یہ لوگ  اتنا چلتے ہی...
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The Mundanity of Life

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Words fail me, My pen refuses to write About the mundanity of life - The octopus that has me in its clutches. Come, O traveller, and clear the path Through the snow-covered landscape of my heart, Release me of this bondage To mundanity, Let the water beneath the snow flow In an endless stream And in my pen, a seed sow, The fruit of which remains unwithered forever. - N.A.
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Stepping into the 30th Year of my Life...

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August 14, 2014. Thirtieth year of my life begins. I have never had such strange feelings on any of my birthdays as this particular one. The twenty-ninth year was quite happening, with me getting married and stepping into an altogether new life - I often call this change as having  been born anew. Living with new people is not as difficult as accepting them as they are is. The most important advice that a teacher of mine gave me in my last meeting with him was: accept people with all their imperfections. Remain patient, for the reward is for the one who remains patient. Husband also keeps on giving me a similar advice: learn to give time to people, and everything around you. Learn to give time to yourself. And, my only resolution for the year that has just began is to learn the lesson of patience. To learn is very well. I feel bogged down with a great sense of responsibility. An unseen responsibility of so many things that keep my mind preoccupied. I wish to once again explore t...
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People

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Me (talking to a close friend, S, very seriously about person XYZ who is related to me, and things that bother me about that person): XYZ is not bad at heart! S: Who is bad at heart in this world? Nobody. A man is neither Satan nor an Angel. Treat them as humans! This surely was a timely reminder!
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Location: Karachi, Pakistan
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And there I left my heart...

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I had always seen the beauty of my country in pictures, but beholding It with naked eye was an altogether a different experienc - a humbling one it was! I can never forget those awe-inspiring moments spent with husband in those serene lands where, for the first time in life, I felt the joy of being so close to nature... I had once read somewhere, "there's no wifi in forest, but you'll find a better connection." For the first time in my life I experienced that 'connection' which had hitherto remained hidden from my perception. The sight of the mountains and sky high trees covered with clouds early in the morning, and the sound of the Neelam River flowing, that came from somewhere deep down was an experience, that will forever remain etched in my memory. I will always remember how it felt like standing against the picket fence in the backyard of the resort where we were staying in, gazing at the magnificent beauty of the far away mountains of Kashmir, only the ...
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