کعبہ کی فریاد

سنسناتی رات کی پُرواہیاں ، میرا سادہ لبادہ اڑاتی ہوئی

وہ دن کے تپتے صحرا کی ، گرم آندھی مجھ سے ٹکراتی ہوئی

کبھی کبھار برستی تیز بارش ، میرے اندر سرایت کرتی ہوئی

اور آسمان سے دن رات مجھ پہ ، چاند و سورج نظر ٹکاے ہوے

یہ سب کچھ بھلا لگتا تھا مجھے صدیوں سے ، پر اب کہاں

میری تڑپ میں بےقرار ، گرد آلود احرام اوڑھے ہوے

کبھی اونٹوں پر کبھی پیادل ، پاؤں لہولہان کیے

کوسوں دور سے ، مکہ کے پہاڑوں اور چھوٹے گھروں کے درمیاں

مجھ پر نگاہ پڑتے ہی ، سجدے میں گر جانے والے

یہ سب کچھ بھلا لگتا تھا مجھے صدیوں سے ، پر اب کہاں

ایمان کا جذبہ لئے ، مجھے دیکھنے کی آس کو سینے میں دبایے

سچی توبہ اور رزق حلال سے ، سفر حجاز پہ نکلنے والے

میرے گرد چکّر لگاتے ، گرتے پڑتے بے جان جسم

اور میرے پہلو میں جڑے ھجر اسود کو چومتے ہوے

یہ سب کچھ بھلا لگتا تھا مجھے صدیوں سے ، پر اب کہاں

بلند و بالا عمارتوں کے بیچ میں ، اب تو میں چھپ سا گیا ہوں

نہ رہے اونٹ نہ پیدل لوگ ، دور سے کسی کو میں کب نظر آتا ہوں

چاند بھی اونچی عمارتوں کی اوٹ سے آنکھ مچولی کرتا ہو جیسے

لاکھوں کا مجمع طواف کرتے ، ایک دوسرے کو کچل رہا ہو جیسے

یہ سب کچھ ہے کئی برسوں سے ، مجھے بھلا لگتا ہے اب کہاں

طواف ہوتا نہیں اب تو سیل فون کے بغیر ، ایسا لگتا ہے

زبان پر لبیک ہاتھ میں سیل ہونا ضروری ، ایسا لگتا ہے

میرا احترام اپنی جگہ ، پر سیلفی کلاک ٹاور کے سامنے بناتے ہیں

اور فرصت پاتے ہی یہاں سے ، ماڈرن مال میں شاپنگ کو لپکتے ہیں

یہ تماشہ چلا ہے چند برسوں سے ، مجھے بھلا لگتا ہے اب کہاں

اعجاز پتافی

نعت

کبھی تو میری بھی طلبی ہوگی حبیب ے مصطفیٰ کے دربار میں کبھی تو میں بھی آقا کے قدموں کے نشان چوموں گا

زبان پہ ضبط رہا اگر، آنکھوں میں سیلاب امڈ نہ آیا اب تلک نہ بلانے کا پھر، میں سبب ضرور پوچھوں گا

یہ گزارش بھی ہوگی یہیں پڑا رہنے دیں مجھے یا پھر اس غلام کو بار بار بلانے کا وعدہ لوں گا

ایک بار وہاں پہنچوں پھر مجھے کوئی ہٹاے کیسے اتنے برسوں کی تڑپ کو، چند دنوں میں، کیسے مٹا پاؤں گا

لاکھوں کو میرے مصطفیٰ بلاتے ہیں اپنی اور، ہر برس  اس سفر سے جو محروم ہوں، مجھے اس کا مداوا کرنا ہوگا

کہتے ہیں اجازت چاہیے سفر ے دیار ے نبی کیلئے کہاں بھٹکتا رہا ہوں، میری ہی غفلت کا نتیجہ ہوگا

اس مرتبہ پھر، جو میرا بلاوا نا آیا اگر وہاں جانے کی آس، میرے زندہ رہنے کا ہی بہانہ ہوگا

روز ے محشر پہ کون کر پایگا جدا مجھے انسے گا چھوڑوں نہ کبھی کو دامن کے آپ کیلئے شفاعت اپنی

اے خدا میرے نصیب میں جانے کا پروانہ ہوگا کہ نہیں میں تو بس آپ کے حضور درود و سلام بھیجتا رہوں گا

FLOODS: COMMITTEES, MEETINGS AND FACT FINDING MISSIONS

Day 1	The Minister Sahib is taking breakfast at 1300 hours in his personal Kothi (large bungalow) when an official bearer serving him whispers into his ear; Sir jee, a newspaper has published a report against you about flood havoc. What? Misinter Sahib looks blankly at the bearer. Jee, Sir jee. The paper accuses you as responsible for a deliberate breach in the in the protective bund (embankment) of river on the left bank to drown the poor and save your precious agricultural lands on the right bank. The bearer went on saying. Without taking a glance at the newspaper the Minister Sb picks up cell phone and calls his Personal Secretary. What’s this nonsense in the newspaper against me? You know that it was a government decision in the larger national interest to breach the bund on left bank instead of right because it is less populated and has less irrigated agriculture. You are absolutely right Sir, but you know this media, PS surrenders. I want a meeting on this issue today at 1700 hrs positively. Invite all concerned officers including Secretary Sahib of my Ministry. Keep media away from it, Minister roared. Yes Sir, replies the PS.
Meeting 1	Later in the evening, the meeting starts at 1900 hrs at arrival of the Minister. Minister yells; you all know that we have been working round the clock during the current floods to save poor people from the devastation and ensure that minimum loss is occurring to a common man but instead of lauding our efforts media is hurling allegations on us. After a long sermon of nearly half an hour, the Minister Sb grunts again; let’s formulate a ‘Fact Finding Committee’ to investigate the issue, fix the responsibility and submit its recommendations. And I tell you, Minister speaks firmly, no one would be spared if found guilty irrespective of their positions. With this Minister Sb announces that Committee will work under the chairmanship of Secretary, with Joint Secretary (JS) and the concerned Chief Engineer (CE) assisting him as members. Committee would submit its report within 15 days positively. After the meeting Secretary Sb whispers into Minister’s ear; Sir, we are scheduled to take a week long foreign visit on an official assignment next week. What to do with this Committee? Secretary Sb, you are a bureaucrat and you know better than me how to deal with in such situations, Minister Sb smiles meaningfully. He continues again; let things settle down, let people cope with the flood by themselves and let media shift its concentration to some other burning issue like Dharna (Sit-ins), terrorism or sectarianism. We would work according to our own pace. Are you getting me now? Minister looks piercingly into Secretary’s eyes. Yes sir, Secretary smiles mischievously. And yes, arrange Committee’s fact finding visit to the area before we depart for our foreign visit, Minister advises Secretary.
Day 2	A notification is issued from the Minister’s office on formation of high level Committee to probe into causes of flood in the vast adjoining area on left bank of the river. The Secretary heads the Committee while JS and CE are members assisting him.
Day 5, Fact Finding Mission of High Level Committee	The high level Committee undertakes the visit on a helicopter to get bird’s eyes view of flooded plains for estimation of losses. The helicopter also lands at one pre-planned spot, a makeshift Relief Camp where food, water, medicines, etc., are distributed to the ‘chosen’ affected people with buttery promises that emergency would be declared in the area; their houses would be rebuild, taxes on agricultural outputs waived off, roads reconstructed and hospitals/schools reopened shortly. And it is also revealed to disaster-hit people about the Committee’s formation to fix the responsibility on the officials involved in the heinous criminal act of breaching the river without prior notice to the masses living there.  After the visit, the convey flies to the UNESCO declared national wild park for hunting wild animal and birds, a place, where hunting is prohibited to preserve the endangered animals and birds from extinction. All the costs associated with this visit (except helicopter rent) are borne by the CE through a contractor who is promised of award of contract for rehabilitation works.
Day 36, Meeting 2: Formation of Sub-Committee	A month later when much of the hue and cry of flood affected population has died down to the deaf ears of all concerned high ranked officers, the Minister and Secretary are discussing floods and the Committee. Did you write field inspection report? Minister asks Secretary. Yes Sir, the report will be annexed with the main report. And How is the situation on ground? Sir, he replies, flood is no more there. People have started returning to their respective houses to repair them. The contractor has started the rehabilitation works of bund etc on verbal instructions of CE. The formalities will follow concurrently. So, how do you go about the Committee’s recommendations? Minister inquires again. Sir, I have issued a notification on constitution of Sub-Committee headed by a Superintending Engineer (SE), with an Executive Engineer (XEN) and a Tehsil-dar as members.
Day 42, Meeting 3	Xen and Tehsil-dar attend office of the SE. You know I’m heading the Sub-Committee to ascertain the cause of breach and collateral damage to the area, says SE. Yes Sir, reply both. Depute one of your Sub Divisional Officers (SDO) and a Patwari to the affected area for this purpose and prepare report on my behalf, SE instructs both. Sure Sir, both reply humbly with right hands on their respective chests.
Day 43, Meeting 4: Formation of Low Level  Fact Finding Mission 2	SDO Sb is visiting his boss’s office, the XEN. I’m here Sir, says SDO. Yaar, apne kisi Overseer ya Darogha ko survey keliye bhejo flooded area me (depute your subordinate for survey of the area). Ask him to take along a Patwari. Prepare the report in 2 days. And yes, fix the responsibility of breach on any of your field staff. We’ll decide how to save him and reinstate his job, directs XEN.
Day 50, Fact Finding Mission 2	SDO and the Patwari visit the area for the preparation of the report. Overseer and his staff arrange the tour, with lunch at a local landlord’s house. SDO and Patwari spend a week in getting the report prepared. For this purpose, they hire the services of a seasoned and retired ‘stenographer’ for translation of the report from local language to English and getting it typed as well. The report, which bears the names of XEN and Tehsil-dar, is then handed over to XEN.
Day 57, Meeting 5	XEN and Tehsil-dar are present in the meeting with the SE, while SDO, Overseer and Patwari wait outside. So, you have finalized the report, SE glances at a fairly thick document placed on his table. What’s in it? Who are responsible? SE asks while turning pages, glancing at the pictures of the flooded area attached with the report. Sir, XEN replies, we have investigated the matter thoroughly and arrived at a conclusion that breach on left bank bund occurred due to high flood with excessive velocity of water in the river. But the real damage was caused by the wild rodents (mice) and mongooses, which dug deep holes in the banks/bunds. River bunds were already under a tremendous pressure therefore, water seeped through these holes and ripped apart the weakened bund. But our staff carries out inspection on the banks during emergency! They should have taken remedial measures to avoid this calamity! SE reminds XEN. Yes Sir, we have found out that our staff; the Overseer, Daroghas, and Beldars have committed gross negligence in this respect and were neither performing their duties seriously nor showing due diligence. And, what are your recommendations, asks SE. Sir, XEN says, the report recommends suspension of above officials from the service, and the establishment of an enquiry committee under code of conduct to investigate the matter for officials’ criminal negligence or otherwise. Okay, I’ll share this report with CE and seek his further instructions and guidance, says SE.
Day 72, Meeting 6	SE is briefing CE about the report.  Sir, we have finalized it and have also fixed the responsibility on our staff for being careless and negligent. If report approved, they would be suspended from the service till an enquiry committee to prove our charges against them or it may absolve/clear them of any such wrongdoing. CE takes a look at the report, asks for improvement in the quality of text, grammar and pictures. Print an improved draft copy for discussing the same with JS before presenting it to the Secretary Sb, CE advises SE.
Day 100, Meeting 7	CE and JS are sitting with Secretary Sb on finalization of flood report. Secretary Sb instructs them to prepare an executive summary of this report on behalf of the high level committee and annex the sub-committee’s report with it.   And yes, Secretary Sb warns sternly, fix at least a 17-Grade SDO responsible for this flood fiasco. This would release pressure on senior officers and the report would get an approval nod from the Minister Sb.
Day 130, Meeting 8. Final Report	The high level committee report, duly signed by Secretary Sb, JS and CE is presented to the Minister Sb for his perusal and further instructions i.e. issuance to the government, and/or media. File the report in office record without releasing to anyone especially media, Minister Sb issues directions. People have short memory and there are serious issues cropping up every day for a common man, Minister Sb continues, no one remembers now if flood ever played havoc in the area about 6 months ago.

Windshield Cleaning Kids

Just stop at a busy city road signal till it becomes green and your vehicle is swarmed and stalked by various vendors cum beggars of all ages, of all genders. Some sell car sunshades and pieces of clothes for cleaning the dashboard, others flowers, jasmine garlands, bracelets, newspapers and prize bond results while many sell ball point pens, pencils, and even azaar-bunds (belt for shalwar/pajama). And there are numerous beggars and beggars in disguise, like women showing fake medical prescriptions to win sympathies and earn alms. Some real crippled/handicapped beggars also have their permanent dens on such intersections and signals. Word is that they were crippled in their childhood by their masters to grow into more effective and well-earning beggars.

But the emergence of an eye catching development at these signals in recent years is; Windshield Cleaner boys and girls. You stop at a red signal on a busy downtown road, and while in waiting till it turns green you take a peep at a missed call at cell-phone, suddenly just out of nowhere your windshield gets blurred with a foam-brush applying detergent on it. Without unrolling the glass you wave at a boy or girl trying to clean the windshield and yell in anger from inside the car that windshield was already clean and stop doing it. Unfortunately, within seconds, the washer boy’s brush had already started removing the detergent with the thin rubber attached at the other side of brush making the screen look cleaned and sparkling again. The signal turns amber and you begin moving the car, the cleaner boy now walks along the side of car expecting cleaning charges from you that normally range between 5 to 10 rupees; even peanuts for a hired car driver, let alone car’s owner. Since the boy or a girl cleaned the windscreen without your consent therefore you prefer to punish them and drive away rudely without paying them. Now this is a very common sight taking place repeatedly on each of four roads at an intersection throughout midday till midnight.

The above scenario depicts a normal behavior one would observe frequently on busy city road signals on daily basis. Nevertheless, there prevail some extreme situations too; the driver getting flared up on a cleaner and starts misbehaving with them using loud foul words, and sometimes trying to hit them too. These cleaner children, mostly and might be hailing from beggar parents do sometimes turn reactive. You would overhear them murmuring and cursing these rich car owners like; shame, you can’t afford a labor of 10 rupees, cruelty with poor, and alike. I too, sometimes fall prey to misdemeanor and rebuke such kids but then never speed away without having paid them their cleaning charges.

The other day I stopped my old jeep adjacent to a car at some city intersection road signal. The cleaner boys and girls ran up to the cars, they thought whose owners would pay them cleaning charges, carrying dirty old mineral/soft drink bottles filled with liquid detergent in one hand and small windscreen cleaning brushes in other. A boy started applying detergent with foam on windshield in spite of resistance and protest from the car driver. The gentleman looked perturbed but still asked his wife sitting along with him in the vehicle to look into her clutch some coins to pay the cleaner. She started searching desperately but it looked as if she failed to find them. In the meanwhile the signal turns Green from Amber and vehicles behind this particular car start blowing/honking horns to move. Finding the scene interesting and in a bid to help resolve this petty matter I shout at the cleaner, while moving my jeep slowly, and show him a 10-Rupee Note for his cleaning services rendered to the car. The boy is perplexed at my offer but still runs to grab it while I watch in amusement the stunned family in the car.

Without feeling myself a generous fellow, I tried to perform similar so-called ‘feat’ on other occasions too but due to traffic rush, chaos and noise at intersections I failed to do so. Hope, someone gets inspiration from reading this piece and repeats it.

Afala ………

Every new baby grows up following parents’ religion. Everyone sticks to the belief and faith of their own religions without reflecting upon the truthiness of such religion or even contemplating of converting to another one. I was born to Muslim parents, and therefore I grew up following my parents’ religion i.e. Islam and I too take it for granted that I’m following the righteous path without any doubt. In spite of being grateful to Allah (Subhan-hu Wa Ta’ala) I do at times find myself at crossroads failing to reply questions cropping up in mind, like:

1) What would have happened if I opened my eyes to non-Muslim parents!

2) If I were born to a nonbeliever family would have I converted to Islam?

3) If I were born to a Christian or a Jew family would I ever consider reverting to Islam?

The quest for satisfactory answers to above queries would probably lead me to put myself into the shoes of a “convert” or a “revert” to Islam and feel the hardships of life they were subjected to in respect of social boycott, financial squeeze, and the irreversible impact of torn blood relations, forever.

Qur'an is the final Book of divine guidance, revealed by Allah (SWT) through His Last Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Each and every word of this Book is from Allah (SWT), the Creator of the Universe.

Being Muslim is a matter of great pride but I must confess that we hardly make a concerted effort to comprehend fully the religion of Islam and the responsibilities conferred on us through the revealed Book Qur’an and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) called “Ahadees e Mubaraka”.

We read / recite (Tilawa) verses from Qur’an almost every day in early mornings, before going to bed in the night or anytime convenient to us. Similarly while offering Namaz (Salah) five times a day and during other informal prayers we recite by heart the verses from the holy Book.

Everyone reads Arabic Qur’an with a variety of level of understanding and comprehension. Most of the time we aim at reading a particular passage of Qur’an e.g. a Surah (Chapter) or a part of it without concentration and try to finish it in haste because our minds rest on settling and solving scores of everyday problems.

During the month of Ramadan, the recitation of Qur’an increases many fold on daily basis. And we have made it a ritual to recite complete Qur’an at least once in Ramadan. With years of reading the same Surahs repeatedly in Namaz etc., we also know by heart the meanings of these Surahs but we largely remain ignorant of knowing real philosophy of each and every word, phrase and sentence of Qur’an.

Allah (SWT) keeps reminding the readers of Qur’an that they hardly mull over the contents of the last divine Book and raises questions repeatedly that why don’t they think over them. For example the word / prefix “Afala” appears 60 times in as many Aayahs (verses) of Qur’an wherein Allah (SWT) reiterates to; then, will you not understand, be grateful, muse upon, reason, hear, see, and reflect on the signs of Allah’s creations in the world/universe?

Some of such Aayahs are reproduced hereunder:

Surah	Translation (Sahih International)	Aayah
2:44	Then will you not reason?	أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
32:26	Then do they not hear?	أَفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ
32:27	Then do they not see?	أَفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ
36:35	That they may eat of His fruit. And their hands have not produced it, so will they not be grateful?	لِيَأْكُلُوا مِن ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ
36:68	And he to whom We grant long life We reverse in creation; so will they not understand?	وَمَن نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ ۖ أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
37:155	Then will you not be reminded?	أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
47:24	Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?	أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا
88:17	Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?	أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ

And I feel drenched in shame when Allah (SWT) points out at my obstinacy and effrontery in Surah An-Naml:

27:62

Little do you remember.

قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Let’s pray to Allah (SWT) to shower His mercy upon us for we will remain blind, deaf, ignorant, stubborn, ungrateful and sinful, as ever.