"I hope you have the courage
to live the kind of life
that gets you to the
place we are to meet,
and don't spend it
loving someone else
with half your heart
because you were afraid
I wouldn't show up."

- Mark Groves

Where Lies One's Strength... in One's Honour

It is not a person who is strong, but the person's strength of conviction.

Where one's intentions are honorable (i.e what one thinks, what one says and what one does are aligned), a solid foundation is laid to such person's strength of conviction.

Women and Faith - Asghar Ali Engineer

13

LAST year, I had gone to Afghanistan for a series of lectures on women’s rights. I also spoke on this subject in a gathering of distinguished ulema and one of the issues which came up for discussion was about women being naqisat al-’aql (short of reason) and naqisat al-iman (short of faith).

I asked if these definitions were in the Quran, as I did not find them anywhere in the holy book. When I asked if they were in the hadith, the answer was yes. However, I pointed out that any hadith which goes against the Quran cannot be accepted as authentic.

All the ulema agree that the Quran gives equal rights to men and women and both enjoy equal dignity. Then how can a woman be short of reason and faith? An alim who was insisting on women’s shortcomings was unable to reply and instead murmured and sat down.

Recently I was going through a book written by Maulvi Nazir Ahmed, a great scholar of Islam with somewhat liberal views, where he discusses the story of the creation of Adam (AS) and his being expelled from paradise for eating the forbidden fruit.

Maulvi Nazir Ahmed mentions that though Satan could not mislead Adam as he was firm in his resolve not to eat the forbidden fruit, he succeeded in misleading Hawwa (Eve) as she was short of reason and she persuaded Adam; both ate and were expelled from paradise.

It is highly surprising that a scholar of the stature of the Maulvi did not bother to consult the Quran, which nowhere says that Satan succeeded in misleading Hawwa. The Quran directly blames Adam for being misled and thrown out of paradise.

In Ayah 121 of Surah Ta Ha it is said “And Adam disobeyed his Lord and went astray.” Here Adam is directly being blamed for allowing himself to be misled and going astray, while Hawwa is not mentioned.

Despite this, Maulvi Nazir Ahmed and most of our ulema blame Hawwa for yielding to temptation and persuading Adam to eat the fruit of the tree. The evidence of the Quran is totally ignored and the ulema rely on hadith. Why did it turn out this way?

The reason lies in our anti-women attitude and thinking in general, which dictates that women are inferior to men and that men are the rulers. Where does this attitude come from? Naturally from the patriarchal values which are prevalent in society.

We would continue to think this way and quote prominent ulema without understanding that our ulema were products of certain periods and were prisoners of their time. In other words, we have to adopt a socio-cultural approach to religion. What we call Islam is not merely based on the Quran and Sunnah but also our social and cultural values. The social structure of that time was not only patriarchal but the prevalent patriarchal values also deeply penetrated our understanding of the Quran and our theology, though we consider our theology divine.
Women in the past feudal and patriarchal structure of society were subjected to severe restrictions including the denial of any public role. The segregation of women from men also became part of our treatment of women. During the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) time women played active roles, took part in various public debates and even accompanied the Prophet to the battlefield.

However, all this changed once Islam entered the era of monarchy and a feudal culture became the ruling culture. The monarchs maintained large harems and made women their prisoners to be guarded by eunuchs. It was in this environment that women lost the rights that they had been given in the Quran and Sunnah. Men were now projected as their superiors, totally ignoring what the Quran had to say.

The Quran gave equal rights to women in every respect (see verses 33:35 and 2:228). The holy book did not use words such as husband and wife but used zawj or zawja instead (zawj or zawja means one of the couple). Thus the husband and wife are referred to as zawj and our ulema, later on — under the influence of the feudal and patriarchal culture — began to quote a hadith that had prostration (sajda) been allowed for man, I (the Prophet, peace be upon him) would have ordered the wife to prostrate before her husband.

The Quran also avoided using the word ba’al as in Arabic it signified a deity. The Quran uses the word ba’al only three times and that too for narrating stories of the past; otherwise, it uses the word zawj for ‘husband’. The use of the word ba’al was avoided lest it be misinterpreted. The husband in Islam is no more than one half of the couple, signifying the equality of both husband and wife. Yet our ulema privilege the husband over the wife.

Since women were confined to their homes and their role reduced to that of a housewife, they lacked experience of the outside world, while parents thought that a person destined to be a housewife did not need any higher education. The woman thus usually remained illiterate and could acquire no experience of public life outside the home and hence came to be described as naqisul ‘aql (short of reason).

Today, conditions have changed drastically; women are working in every field of life and have become great achievers. In fact, they have proved themselves to be superior to men in several fields. To describe them as naqisul ‘aql is to display one’s own self as being short of reason.
The writer is an Islamic scholar who also heads the Centre for Study of Society & Secularism, Mumbai.

Eric Clapton - River of Tears

It's three miles to the river
That would carry me away,
And two miles to the dusty street
That I saw you on today.

It's four miles to my lonely room
Where I will hide my face,
And about half a mile to the downtown bar
That I ran from in disgrace.

Lord, how long have I got to keep on running,
Seven hours, seven days or seven years?
All I know is, since you've been gone
I feel like I'm drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.
Drowning in a river.
Feel like I'm drowning,
Drowning in a river.

In three more days, I'll leave this town
And disappear without a trace.
A year from now, maybe settle down
Where no one knows my face.

I wish that I could hold you
One more time to ease the pain,
But my time's run out and I got to go,
Got to run away again.

Still I catch myself thinking,
One day I'll find my way back here.
You'll save me from drowning,
Drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.
Drowning in a river.
Feels like I'm drowning,
Drowning in the river.
Lord, how long must this go on?

Drowning in a river,
Drowning in a river of tears.

My Journey...

Birth --> Assimilation --> Adventure --> Ego --> Patience --> Virtue --> Death

The companions - Love and loved ones.

Eddie Vedder -

I'm falling harder than I've
ever fell before
I'm falling fast while hoping
I'll land in your arms
'cause all my time is spent here
longing to belong
to you

I dream of circles perfect
eyes within your face
my heart's an open wound that
only you'd replace
and though the moon is rising
can't put your picture down
love can be frightening when you fall

And when the time is right, I
hope that you'll respond
like when the wind gets tired
the ocean becomes calm
I may be dreaming but I'm
longing to belong
to you

Celtic Woman - Sing Me A Song

Take the wave now and know that you're free

Turn your back the land, face the sea

Face the wind now, so wild and so strong

When you think of me, wave to me and send me song

Don't look back when you reach the new shore

Don't forget what you're leaving me for

Don't forget when you're missing me so

Love must never hold, never hold tight, but let go

Oh, the nights will be long when I'm not in your arms

But I'll be in this song that you sing to me

Across the sea, somehow, someday

You will be far away, so far from me

And maybe someday I will follow you in all you do

'Til then, send me a song

When the sun sets the water on fire

When the wind swells the sails of your hire

Let the call of the bird on the wind

Calm your sadness and lonliness

And then start to sing to me

I will sing to you

If you promise to send me a song

I walk by the shore and I hear

Hear your song come so faint and so clear

And I catch it, a breath on the wind

And I smile and I sing you a song

I will send you a song

I will sing you a song

I will sing to you

If you promise to send me a song

My Imperfect Dad...

Rock on! - Phir Dekhiye

Aankhon Mein Jis Ke Koi To Khwaaab Hai
Khush Tha Wahin Jo Thoda Betaaab Hai
Zindagi Mein Koi Arzooo Kijiye
Phir Dekhiye ……

Hoton Pe Jis Ke Koi To Geeet Hai
Woh Haare Bhi To Us Ki Hi Jeeet Hai
Dil Mein Jo.. Geet Hai Gun Guna.. Lijiye
Phir Dekhiye……

Yaadon Mein Jis Ke Kisi Ka Naaam Hai
Sapno Ke Jaise Us Ki Har Shaaam Hai
Koi To.. Aaj Se Apna Dil.. Dijiye
Phir Dekhiye…

Khwab Bhun.. Yeh Zara Geet Sun.. Yeh Zara
Phool Chun.. Yeh Zara... 
Phir Dekhiye…

Satinder Sartaj - Sai

The sheer simplicity of the song blew my mind.

Road to Sangam

Finally caught the movie.

Its a simple enough plot - a mechanic has undertaken to repair a vehicle's engine within a stipulated time period, which task attains a semblance of significance once he is informed about what the engine would be used for. The story is woven around how he inquires into his faith and the ideals of his community (largely from the prism of Gandhian values), which brings to the fore some significant issues for him (and some of the people he interacts with) to consider. [And to remind the audience about Gandhi's 'secular' ideals, the movie plays out in the backdrop of the homage being paid to an urn containing Gandhi's ashes by people across faiths.]

The line that stood out for me - "Pyaar se sab kuch mumkin ho jaata hain, Doctor-saab."

I absolutely loved the laid back feel to the plot and the characters. It was the perfect movie to watch on a lazy Friday afternoon, just after some of Mary's yummm! chicken biryani and smoked raita. :) Life is good!

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana

The piece, composed in the 1930s, is incredibly powerful and has been used as a theme in several iconic movies, including Star War and Lord of the Rings.

O Fortunavelut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurate et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem. Sors immanis et inanis, rota tu volubilis, status malus, vana salus semper dissolubilis, obumbrata et velata michi quoque niteris; nunc per ludum dorsum nudum fero tui sceleris. Sors salutis et virtutis michi nunc contraria, est affectus et defectus semper in angaria. Hac in hora sine mora corde pulsum tangite; quod per sortem sternit fortem, mecum omnes plangite!

O Fortune,  like the moon  you are changeable,  ever waxing  and waning;  hateful life  first oppresses  and then soothes  as fancy takes it;  poverty  and power  it melts them like ice.  Fate – monstrous  and empty,  you whirling wheel,  you are malevolent,  well-being is vain  and always fades to nothing,  shadowed  and veiled  you plague me too;  now through the game  I bring my bare back  to your villainy.  Fate is against me  in health  and virtue,  driven on  and weighted down,  always enslaved.  So at this hour  without delay  pluck the vibrating strings;  since Fate  strikes down the strong man,  everyone weep with me!

The composition has several, several fans and there is even a website dedicated to it. :)

Olivia Newton John - I Honestly Love You

Maybe I hang around here
A little more than I should
We both know I got somewhere else to go
But I got something to tell you
That I never thought I would
But I believe you really ought to know

I love you
I honestly love you

You don't have to answer
I see it in your eyes
Maybe it was better left unsaid
This is pure and simple
And you should realize
That it's coming from my heart and not my head

I love you
I honestly love you

I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable
I'm not trying to make you anything at all
But this feeling doesn't come along everyday
And you shouldn't blow the chance
When you've got the chance to say

I love you
I honestly love you

If we both were born
In anoother place and time
This moment might be ending in a kiss
But there you are with yours
And here I am with mine
So I guess we'll just be leaving it at this

I love you
I honestly love you
I honestly love you

Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Great Heart

 



The world is full of strange behaviour
Every man has to be his own saviour
I know I can make it on my own if I try
But I'm searching for a Great Heart to stand me by
Underneath the African sky
A Great Heart to stand me by

I'm searching for the spirit of the Great Heart
To hold and keep me by
I'm searching for the spirit of the Great Heart
Under African sky
Sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there's so much you can show me

There's a highway of stars across the heavens
The whispering song of the wind in the grass
There's the rolling thunder across the savanna
A hope and dream at the edge of the sky
And your life is a story like the wind
Your life is a story like the wind

(Chorus:)
Guga 'mzimba (body grow old)
Sala 'nhliziyo (but heart remain behind)

Validated - Lovely Video

All he ever wanted to begin with was to see people smile... from their hearts. :)

Eddie Vedder - Society (Into The Wild)

It's a mystery to me
we have a Greed
with which we have agreed
You think you have to want
more than you need
until you have it all you won't be free
society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
When you want more than you have
you think you need
and when you think more than you want
your thoughts begin to bleed
I think I need to find a bigger place
'cos when you have more than you think
you need more space
society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy *indeed*
I hope you're not lonely without me
there's those thinking more or less less is more
but if less is more how you keeping score?
Means for every point you make
your level drops
kinda like its starting from the top
you can't do that...
society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy *indeed*
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
society, crazy *indeed*
I hope you're not lonely without me

Bill Withers - Lean On Me

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...

:)

Just such an awesome video !! :)

Playing for Change - Stand By Me

This song says, no matter who you are,
No matter where you go in your life
At some point you're going to need
Somebody to stand by you.

Oh yeah! Oh my darlin' Stand by me!
No matter who your are, no matter where you go in life
You gon need somebody, to stand by you.
No matter how much money you got, or the friends you got,
You gon need somebody, to stand by you

When the night has come, and the way is dark,
And that moon is the only light you see.
No I won't be afraid, no I-I-I won't be afraid
Just as long as the people come and stand by me.

Darlin' darlin' stand by me, Ooo stand by me Oh stand
Stand stand by me C'mon stand by me stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Well should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't she'd a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Oh darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me,
Oh please stand, stand by me, stand by me.

Oh darling, darling stand by me, ohh stand by me,
Please stand, stand by me, stand by me.
Ohhh baby, baby... (interlude)

Oh darlin' darlin' stand la la nomie
Ooo stand la la nomie, O stand O stand stand
Stand by me c'mon stand by me, stand by me.
Stand la la nomie, oh won't you stand, la la nomie,
Oh stand la la nomie, stand by me, c'mon stand by me.

When the night has come, and the way is dark
And the moon, is the only light you see
I won't be afraid, lala nomie, I won't be afraid
Not as long, not as long as you stand by me.

I wanna be able to fly again... I Really do

There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly