Bani Munafiq - by Hafiz Hafizabadi

Came across a mushaira in which Hafiz Hafizabadi recited his poem- Bani Munafiq. The thoughts are so well articulated that I had to save it with me. Here it goes:

Bani Munafiq

Main janta hon

kay asteenon main jo chupaye hoay hain tum nay wo hath paras

wo hath paras hain aur jin ko ya cho lain un ko ya sunehra kar dain\

ya manta hon

ya manta hon tumharay ausaf be-yaqeen ho gaye hain zahir

Falak say tera khameer utra ka jaisay koi munafiqat kay zamana-eindiwal main chahaton ki lay kar naveed utra

kalam kar kay giray murday say jaan balab jo parind uraye

bani munafiq kay ae pyambar

magar zara sun

main basti-e-beyaqeen adna say ___ khabardar kar raha hon

hawas kay maray zameen zaday

tmharay paon ki khak surma bana kar ankhon main bhi lagayen yaqeen na karna

tum in ki palkon main bethnay say guraiz karna

baray ajeeb-eghareeb hain ya

ajeeb in ki aqeedatain hain

ajeeb in ki muhabatain hain

kbhi jo dil in kay bhar gaye tou

lamhay say beshtar

phair lain gay ankhain

mjhay khabar hai

teray hawari 

teri maseehai 

teray qad say 

darain gay to

kia karain gay

teray hawari teray nahin hain

ya dast-e-paras kay hain pujari

ya rasm-e-pur ____ kay waris hain

pata nahin kis tarah ka tum say salook ho ga

agar tu manay teray liya chand mashwaray hain

bani munafiq say shab ko hijart

ya dast bardar hona apni pyambari say

ya aisa karna

jo asteenon main hain chupaye

wo hath paras chupaye rahna

wo hath paras chupaye rakhna

Job interviews and larke-wale visits- twin siblings

As I entered the senior year of university, the dreaded dilemma of career vs marriage finally presented itself to me. Fraught with uncertainty at both ends, I juggled to keep all doors open.-job interviews and larke-wale visits. Going through enough of these to make one feel worthless, I came to realize that both of these activities are a lot similar to each other.

Market Saturation:

Don’t say no to the time set for the ‘interview’. The job market and the rishta market, both are too saturated to allow you the luxury of fulfilling a prior commitment. Once you get a call, consider yourself lucky and agree for the meeting, or the next candidate on the list will be approached immediately.

“Where do you see yourself” question:

The moment in which your only concern is ‘now’, when all you aim for is ‘this job’ or ‘this guy’, foolish questions about future plans are thrown at you.

‘Where do you see yourself in next 5 years?’- a question asked at every job interview. Aren’t the interviewers aware of the fact that the answer to this is always an exaggeration, because, the only thing a job candidate is realistically capable of aiming at that moment is obviously the job he/she is being interviewed for.

The larke-ki-amma poses an even more mundane question- ‘What do you plan to do next?’ Lady, isn't it obvious. I am not sitting in front of you all dolled up to pass a scholarship interview.

Merit Evaluation:  

A multi-skilled candidate is what everyone is looking for. To land a good job, you need a resume showing off not only your academic excellence, but a long list of extra-curricular activities and considerable work experience, even though you are yet to graduate.

The larke-wala’s have a similar taste for multi-purpose bride-to-be. She should be well educated, to be able to support in times of financial crisis. She should be a good cook, so that the in-laws can get a dine-out experience at home, everyday for free.  She should be the hottest chick on the block, so that husband can have a red-carpet experience each time the couple goes out.

Dress-code:

There are sessions conducted in schools and colleges to counsel the new entrants in job market about how to dress up for the interview. A false impression as your first impression will lead to success is the mantra.

Similarly, the rishta interviews also have an implied dress-code to be followed. If it’s only the larke-ki-amma visiting, go for a sober colour. You don’t want to appear as too alive to scare the mid life crisis facing to-be-mother-in-law.  If the guy is accompanying his mother in the first visit, you have a tough situation. Try to go for a young, lively look, but the body language should send out a message of subservience. Never forget you are a kunwari larki in need of an identity, which only larke-wala’s can provide you with. Be thankful.

This cycle continues for me and many like me. All I want to ask is a little concern, if not from the corporate world, then at least from those who seek companionship

An edited version of this post appeared as a blog on website of Express Tribune
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/13386/marriage-proposals-and-job-interviews-are-pretty-much-the-same/

If there is no God...

If there is no God,
Then,
Who listens to my tears in the deep recesses of night?

If there is no God,
Then,
Whom does my heart hug in the moments of joy?

If there is no God,
Then,
In whose arms do I cuddle up to sleep after those long runs of life?

If there is no God,
Then,
Who gathered the scattered me to create me- old but new?

Am I secular? Am I Muslim? If I am both, am I still Pakistani?

Star Plus is the most watched channel in Pakistan, and my home is no different.  Though I claim to be the odd one out in family, watching Hum Tv dramas online, Star Plus was my station every Sunday morning for the last three months. Satyamev Jayate was too familiar to be missed, only till the last episode was aired.

Based on the spirit of Indian Constitution, the last episode was much about celebrating the secular identity of India. From a Hindu couple providing education to orphans of Muslim families in Gujarat to a Muslim man voluntarily assisting in funeral rituals of unclaimed dead bodies in accordance with their religion, most stories had some element of religious tolerance to show the true spirit of Indian constitution.

This last episode left me thinking about my own country’s identity- the Islamic identity.  Secular and Islamic, are these two terms mutually exclusive? Can I be secular and a good Muslim at the same time?

The teacher, who made me excel in mathematics, is a Christian. My best friend in kindergarten was a Hindu. I have attended a mass in Church, and I have fed fishes from the temple stairs. I ate turkey on Thanksgiving with a Christian family, and was invited to lunch by a Sikh family.

I have also served food to the homeless in a mosque. I have condemned the disrespectful caricatures made in the name of freedom of speech. I have defended the concept of hijab and polygamy. I wait for the blessed month of Ramazan every year, and I yearn to visit the holiest place on earth- the Kaaba.

Who am I? Am I secular? Am I Muslim? If I am both, am I still Pakistani? 

My country’s flag tells me Pakistan was not made to discriminate on the basis of faith. Its green field represents my Muslim identity and vertical white stripe exhibits the right of my non-Muslim countrymen on this Land of Pure.

My religion tells me to respect the Gods of other religion. It tells me to be kind and just towards all creatures. It tells me to protect the rights of the oppressed, regardless of their creed, cast, colour.

My country’s constitution states:

Wherein adequate provision shall be made for the minorities freely to profess and practise their religions and develop their cultures;

Therein shall be guaranteed fundamental rights, including equality of status, of opportunity and before law, social, economic and political justice, and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship and association, subject to law and public morality;

Wherein adequate provision shall be made to safeguard the legitimate interests of minorities and backward and depressed classes;

Pakistan was conceived as an Islamic nation. But Islamic does not at all translate into intolerant. Pakistan was supposed to be as secular as any other country on this planet. My religion and my constitution allow me to be secular and a Muslim together, only if my leaders would allow me and many like me to build a Pakistan that our ancestors actually dreamt of.