Logging life

Auliya in Arabic means friend, helper, or protector. In Sufism, those who have reached high level of God-consciousness are called Auliya-Allah or friends of Allah. These are important people and no harm in visiting their graves and praying for them. But more often than not their graves (dargaahs) become a place to to plead and ask them for favors. Allah in Az-Zumar verse 3 in fact uses the word "Auliya" to say that Allah should be approached directly. LO! for Allah is the religion exclusive. And those who take patrons beside Him, saying: We Worship them not save in order that they may bring us nigh Unto God in approach - -verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Verily Allah guideth not him who is a liar and ingrate. [Az- Zumar : 3] Daryabadi translation.

In the following verse, Allah tells Prophet Daud (alaihe salaam) that I have made you a khalifa in the earth ( خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ ) so govern among people (فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ) with truth (justice) and do not follow your own desire ( بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ ). I find it significant that Allah tells Prophet Daud to govern among people and not rule over the people which suggests that correct understanding of "khalifa" is not "badshaah" as it is translated into Urdu below rather Ziauddin Sardar's translation of "trustee" will be closer to the meaning. Also, the verses lays down some guiding principles for the ones occuping the office of khalifa or by extension anyone in the position of governance that it should be done with justice and not one's desires. Pickthall (And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it b

In Surah Saffat, mentioning the story of Yunus, how he fled from his nation, then while crossing the river, his ship was caught in a storm and his name came up in the lots and he was thrown overboard then a ship swallowed him, Allah says that he may have remained there had he not been doing the tasbeeh. And had he not been of those who exalt Allah. He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. [ Saffat: 143-144 ] So according to traditions Prophet Yunus recited this famous dua: And we are advised to recite this dua whenever in difficulty. But should this dua be our first line of defense in trouble? Prophet Yunus was of course in a situation where he can not try anything else but remember Allah but shouldn't we be first trying all we can and then only leave the result in the hands of Allah? So in cases of emergency, first break glass, turn on the fire alarm and use the fire extinguisher.

In Surah As-Saffat, Allah declares Himself as Rabb-ul-Mashaariq i.e. Lord of the easts. Not sure why most translators have translated it as the Lord of the sunrises. But if we stick to original Arabic then question arises east from where? is it east from the reader's perspective or east of Hijaz? Also, how many easts are there? As-Saaffat Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings. (5) Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets; (6) سورة الصَّافات وہ پروردگار ہے آسمانوں کا اور زمین کا اور جو کچھ ان کے درمیان میں ہے اور پروردگار ہے طلوع کرنے کے مواقع کا۔ (۵) ہم ہی نے رونق دی ہے اسی طرف والے آسمان کو عجیب آرائش یعنی ستاروں کے ساتھ۔ (۶) Next verse, except for Pickthall everyone translate kavakib as start. It says that stars are ornaments of the sky (nearest heaven), this also raises lot of questions about nature and function of the stars. And then continue reading till verse number 10.

Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer, and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a Commerce that will never fail: [Al-Fatir: 29] سورة فَاطِر جو لوگ الله تعالیٰ کی تلاوت (مع العمل) کرتے رہتے ہیں اورنماز کی پابندی رکھتے ہیں اور جو کچھ ہم نے ان کو عطا فرمایا ہے اس میں سے پوشیدہ اور علانیہ خرچ کرتے ہیں وہ ایسی تجارت کے امیدوار ہیں جو کبھی ماند نہ ہوگی۔ (۲۹)

Quran says ulema are those who fear Allah. And they fear Allah because they contemplate on natural phenomena. So if look at these two verses then it is clear that ulema are not those who read and memorize Islamic books but scientists who think about and investigate nature around them. Beholdest thou not that Allah sendeth down water from the heaven, and then We thereby bring fruit of diverse colours? And in the mountains are steaks white and red, of diverse colours, and also intensely black. (27) And of men and beasts and cattle, likewise of diverse colours. Those only of His bondmen who have knowledge fear Allah Verily Allahis the Mighty, the Forgiving. (Fatir: 28) سورة فَاطِر (اے مخاطب) کیا تو نے اس بات پر نظر نہیں کی کہ الله تعالیٰ نے آسمان سے پانی اتارا پھرہم نے اس کے ذریعہ سے مختلف رنگتوں کے پھل نکالے اور (اسی طرح) پہاڑوں کے بھی مختلف حصے ہیں (بعضے) سفید اور بعضے سرخ کہ ان کی بھی رنگتیں مختلف ہیں اور (بعضے نہ سفید نہ سرخ بلکہ) بہت گھیرے سیاہ۔ (۲۷) اور اسی طرح آدمیوں اورجا

Then they said: Our Lord make the distance between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves. Wherefore We made them by words and dispersed them with a total dispersion. Verily herein are signs for every persevering, grateful persons. [Saba: 19] سورة سَبَإ سو وہ کہنے لگے کہ اے ہمارے پروردگار ہمارے سفروں میں درازی کر دے اور (علاوہ اس ناشکری کے) انہوں نے (اور بھی نافرمانیاں کر کے) اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کیا سو ہم نے ان کو افسانہ بنا دیا اور ان کو بالکل تتر بتر کر دیا بے شک اس (قصہ) میں ہر صابر و شاکر (مومن) کے لیےبڑی بڑی عبرتیں ہیں۔ (۱۹) In 1950s, the sub-urban culture started in the United States. The American dream of owning a home with two-car garage is a suburbian dream. When you have money you moved out to the suburbia, away from the hustle-bustle of the cities. But since it became so fashionable to move out of the city that soon banks moved in to finance this dream and we all now know the result of that. Other problem was longer commute hours because the work continued

Al-Ahzab O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point; (70) سورة الاٴحزَاب اے ایمان والو الله سے ڈرو اور راستی کی بات کہو۔ (۷۰)

Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (Al-Ahzab: 56) [translation: dariyabadi] سورة الاٴحزَاب بے شک الله تعالیٰ اور اس کے فرشتے رحمت بھیجتے ہیں ان پیغمبر پر اے ایمان والو تم بھی آپ پر رحمت بھیجا کرو اور خوب سلام بھیجا کرو۔ (۵۶) [tarjuma: Thanwi]