Modernization

First time when I went in Ashura Juloos with my father, I was 4 years old. Unknowingly I was just observing the entire event. My father asked me to kiss the Alam and I inquired that what is this, he explained me the concept of Alam, and then he described the concept behind taboot, zuljanah, jhoola and other ziaraat. I saw different groups of people doing matam with two hands, I asked my father and he replied with a deep sorrow that once there was a time when some evil people martyred the whole family of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and imprisoned their women and children therefore from that time the lovers of Imam Hussain (a.s.) perform matam and azadari in remembrance of that event.

Next year again I went in juloss, this time I asked my father that I also want to do matam with TWO hands, with my shirt off, I started YA HUSSAIN, after few mins. I showed my chest to my father and asked him that is it getting “red”? With a smile on his face, he replied that it’s getting dark red and I continued matam with more enthusiasm. When we were on way back to home, I just wanted to reach home as soon as possible because I was afraid, if I get late in reaching home, the red marks on my chest will disappear, as I reached home, I took off my shirt and showed my chest to my mother and without any verbal communication, she just hugged me.

As Maula Ali also said that (mafhoom) “Children’s first ibadaat is for RIYAKARI” how true is this!

Time passed by and every year I use to do matam in juloos and majlis in the same way, shirts off and with two hands and purpose was to show my mother and siblings.

By the time I was 14, now I started realizing the tragedy of karbala and riyakari was converted in KHULOOS, this time my matam was for Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his household, when I went back home, I did not showed my red marks to my mother. This continued for several years, I use to participate in juloos from start till end, performed matamdari and the only objective was to pay tribute to Ahylebait.

Soon I was in my practical life, at age of 22. Group of friends use to go in different programs, majalis and juloos. Things were changes by this time and we use to walk behind in juloos, style of matamdari got changed and now we use to do ladies style matam, chatting on different issues and performing matam in a polite way. Soon I realized that the khuloos, I was feeling inside my heart is no more and participation in programs is due to time pass and friends gathering.

I got married and involvement in juloos restricted for few hours only, just to record my attendance and for sake of false satisfaction that I atleast participated. As soon as got on higher positions in my practical life and people started knowing me as a reputed and successful business man, I am not participating in juloos any more, now I go to mehfile-e-murtaza for full day amaal, in a peaceful environment, covered roof, sitting on one place, proper food and water arrangements, I am doing azadari.

I don’t know what I will be doing in next five years, maybe doing online azadari and again participating in juloos with a slight difference, this time it will be a virtual participation, lying on bed and watching live coverage on my television screen.

Protest

There was a time when In Syria, on order of ruler of Syria, his filthy followers used offensive language for Amir-ul-Momineen Hazrat Ali Ibne Abu Talib (a.s.) for many years, they used to curse Hazrat Ali (a.s) from mosques and in Friday sermons. Today most of the followers of Syrian ruler denied the fact but history has recorded that when the ruler signed agreement with Imam Hasan (a.s), one point in that agreement was “Ruler will immediately stop the use of abusive language with reference to Ahlul Bayt (cursing Imam Ali) after Salat of Jumu'a”. His signature on that agreement proved that this was being done and signing the contract means that he agreed to stop that. Still most of our brothers are confused when we ask them to choose any one, either Imam Ali or Syrian emperor, there is no way to opt both of them as a leader, one was on righteous path and other was imprudent, now every individual should do his own analyses to select his Amir-ul-Momineen.

As history always repeats, there is no surprise if a follower of Syrian ruler used offensive language against a follower of Maula Ali (a.s), on January 01, 2010, a wahabi mulla of Saudia Arabia, Mohammad al-Ureifi in his Friday sermon called Ayatollah Sistani an "atheist and debauched". People of Iraq showed immediate reaction and thousands of Iraqis protested the comments by Al-Urefi, Iraqi Parliament also condemned the statements and called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to speak out against such statements.

Protests were also held in Iran against this statement and all religious leaders condemned these remarks for Ayatollah Sistani. Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi in Iran in his Friday sermon said:

"Ayatollah Sistani is one of the pillars and pivots of Iraq's Shi'ites, and insulting Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini's photograph and [Iranian Supreme] Leader [Ali Khamenei] and Ayatollah Sistani stems from one trend."

We, the people of Pakistan also strongly condemn this statement of Al Ureifi and demand all brothers and sisters to protest against it.

Perception

Sometimes the actual scenario is very different from the perception we have build in our mind. Just because of certain minor concerns the entire perception is changed against that specific person or place or incident. Mostly these concerns are related to some subconscious signals produced by our mind.

Let me make it simple through one example, if you ask a child that in which school is he studying? And you get an answer “NAYE ROSHNI SCHOOL”, what will be your first perception for that child? Now think this way, same question with another child and the answer is “Karachi State School”, are both answers different from each other? Definitely not, but will your first thought be same in both cases? Definitely not!

Why

Just because, first response of our mind against any object is through our subconscious perception for that object. In above example our subconscious told us that “NAYE ROSHNI SCHOOL” is set as a bad name in our mind and for “Karachi State School” there is no such entity recorded in our mind. After that when our mind does the processing then in second instance we get to the point that both these objects are actually same but with different alias.

More easy example is a story which all of you have heard several times that when a king asked a palmist to predict his future and he replied that “All your family members will die infront of you”, the king order to separate the palmist’s head from his body and when the same question is asked from other palmist, he replied that “You will get a longest life in your family”, and he was rewarded by the king.

You see, both answers were of same meaning but the perception of death is recorded in bad sense and the perception of longer life is recorded in good sense in our minds.

Now let’s come to the point for which I discussed the “perception” theory and its impact. I received a hand bill few days back regarding opening of a “Day Care” center for senior citizen of our community. As a normal person, first response was from my subconscious which was Holy Crap .. one more cultural adoption from west, where we admit old parents to day care center so their interference and interaction is as less as possible in our daily lives. With the same bad perception I discussed this news with another person and same was his response in first instance, as our discussion went on both of us realized that what is the problem if a day care center is started … man this is good, at least there will be some activity for senior citizens and we discussed different advantages of having a day care center for senior citizens of our community, thus both of us got convinced that this is a good happening.

But then I asked myself, why my first response was negative and why I got convinced after discussion? Simple answer, my perception for the word “Day care center” is recorded as negativity in my mind and my subconscious told me that enrolling my parents in a day care center means that I am not willing to keep them with me. I got confused with my reaction so to solve this perception issue I decided to do an experiment. I asked one of my very good friend who is an educated and experienced person a question, “Why don’t you register your mother’s name in senior citizen’s day care center?” as expected I got a very rude reply that “She is not a burden on me”. Then when I asked same question with few more people, amazingly all of them replied in same manner. Then I changed my question “Why don’t you register your mother’s name in senior citizen’s activity club?” to my highest surprise this time all the answers were very positive, people asked whereabouts and details of that club and showed interest in it.

Then I concluded that in our society the word “Day care” is not recorded in a good sense and a negative reaction is shown by the society whereas activity forum/club is taken in a positive sense and people are interested to chase this word.

I am happy that a group of people thought and worked for senior citizens of our community and I pray from depth of my heart for their success and inshallah they will be rewarded heavily in this world and hereafter. Just one simple request which I hope they will take as a positive suggestion, please introduce this center with the name of activity club for senior citizen instead of day care center. This will just cost a reprint of broachers and bill boards but I guarantee you, with this one change you will get very positive response from society and this guarantee is based on a proven experiment.

Thanks and may Allah bless all the participants and organizers of this center.

Well-done!

Kaash Maoon Ney...

True Picture

Every person is mourning on the miserable bomb blast incident of Ashura Juloss in Karachi. Despite of all the grief and sorrow the positive and most encouraging thing was one statement which every single momin was discussing with each other.

“I wish I was also included in list of shuhada of this incident, how lucky they are that they did Ashura majalis in this world and sham-e-gareeban in jannat-ul-firdous.”

Murdabad America, Murdabad Israil, Murdabad Hindustan, Murdabad Taliban

Kindly listen following speeches to get a clear picture of people behind and supporting this incident.

Records/Facts of people behind this incident and supporting this incident (Must Listen)
(Extracted from 13th Muharram majlis in Rizvia Imambargah)

Press conference part 1

Press conference part 2

Press conference part 3