Hate in Islam Inculcated/Distortions Countless

Muhammad The Richest Prophet in Arabia Prophet Muhammad, though living in extreme poverty, was richest in love. His love so boundless and unconditional that even his enemies couldn’t doubt it against the shimmering ocean of light in his eyes straight from the purity of his heart, offered to all for sharing and nurturing. That kind of love is the nectar of Islam for all time, but Muslims in this age and time refuse to taste the nectar from that ocean sweet and everlasting. Earning the notoriety of being hateful, violent and vengeful. Branded with countless epithets and tag-lined with slogans so very true and heartrending. One of those: ‘Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.’ Unveiling of Islam _‘Muslim is the one who is a man of peace and from whose tongue and hand people are safe.’ Ibn Haban quoting Prophet Muhammad in Hadith _‘Prophet is the greatest benefactor of humanity and of his Ummah in particular. Every Muslim is required to have greater love for him than for any other human being. Highest love for the Holy Prophet is made a test of faith, because the stronger the ties which bind a man to him the greater the strength with which he will be able to walk in his footsteps and the larger his capacity to do good to humanity. Practically, the Muslim world today has proved an entire failure under this test. The Holy Prophet and his teachings are misrepresented by (so-called) Muslims throughout the world and he is abused as no other religious leader has been abused, but Muslims do not stir a little finger to remove the misrepresentations and carry the true teachings of Islam to a world which is groping in the dark.’ Maulana Muhammad Ali _‘Ibn Umar reported: He heard the Messenger of Allah forbidding women in a state of ihram wearing gloves and veil and garments dyed with wars and saying that they might wear besides this what they liked of garments colored with safflower or made of silk or wool, or ornaments or trousers or shirt.’ Hadith Al-Bukhari (AD 11:29) Hijab and veiling is not Islamic, though many believe it to be so, including Muslim men and Muslim women who question not the veracity of such customs imposed by so-called men of learning since centuries. Such customs have become solid beliefs, repeated so often by so many with such passion and persistency that they have assumed the aura of truth. Yet it is possible to shatter this false aura of truth by chiseling away layers upon layers of lies where the purity of expression still breathes love and radiance within the pages of Quran and Hadith. There is not a single verse in the Quran with any injunction of veil or hijab. Below are two verses from the Quran prone to misinterpretation by the arbiters of Islam. _And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display their adornments only that which is apparent, and to draw their scarves over their bosoms. Quran 24:31 _O ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission is granted you. But if you are invited, enter, and when your meal is ended, then disperse. Lingering not for conversation. Lo, that would cause annoyance to the Prophet and he would be shy of asking you to go, but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of the wives of the Prophet anything, ask it from them from behind a curtain. Quran 33:53 Pagan women as well as women from Judeo-Christian background wore veil and hijab as a mark of wealth, status and distinction. To instill the virtue of equality amongst Muslims Prophet Muhammad forbade Muslim women to wear veils. The pearls of Hadith below attest to this fact. _Abu Dawud 11:29 The veil was worn in Arabia as a mark of rank: and it was therefore disallowed, as pilgrimage required obliteration of all differences of rank. Forbidding a veil in a pilgrimage is a further conclusive proof that Holy Quran did not enjoin the wearing of veil, as in that case the prohibition here stated would be a contradiction of the Holy Quran. Gloves are not allowed because like the veil they are a mark of rank. Ornaments are allowed because they are not a mark of rank, and are worn by even ordinary people and laboring classes. As for fighting--only in self-defense... Hadith 16 _Non-combatants were not killed in the battle, there being a prohibition against the killing of women and children. Fighting was to cease if the enemy offered peace, even though his intention might be to deceive. In essence our body is a musical instrument—a gift from God to be tuned with love. If we tune it with hatred, violence, bigotry, it makes discordant sounds to disrupt the sanctity of this holy earth, God’s creation. If we tune it with love, harmony, compassion, it evokes symphony of synchronicity from the very heavens even angels long to cherish and carry to the throne of God as a gift of joy and gratitude from mankind. _‘Life is a choice, a struggle and a constant becoming.’ Prophet Muhammad

Killing is Forbidden in Islam

Could the pious warriors of Islam kindly take some time off from the spree of slitting the throats of their brethren and contemplate this paradox of Muslims killing Muslims? __Also could the devotees of Prophet Muhammad awaken from their Allah-intoxicated bliss of reciting the Quran and denounce these apostles of zeal turned heathens, all murderers and cutthroats. _There were no Shias or Sunnis during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad and he could never tire of telling Muslims that Islam does not allow killing any Muslim or non-Muslim, only in self-defense. Currently, this sectarian violence has nothing to do with self-defense, but with the deep-rooted vice of malice, hatred, bigotry and intolerance. _Waves upon waves of violence have spread like wildfire of global enmity and ignorance from Syria to Turkey to Pakistan, just to name a few of the Shia-Sunni factions on this arena of a battleground. _‘Whosoever slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.’ Quran 4:93 _‘And when We made you a covenant, saying, shed not blood of your people, nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified Our covenant and ye were witnesses thereto.’ Quran 2:84 _‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo, Allah loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 2:193 _‘Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, He loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 7:55 _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ Quran 8:61 _Prophet Muhammad forever was a gentle guide to his followers since the inception of Islam. Shortly after the Hijra to Medina, Prophet Muhammad had secured peace between the tribes of Aus and Khazraj. One day as these tribes were making merry, one man by the name of Shas ibn Qays reminded them about the battle of Baath, taunting, that how they could make merry together after what happened at Baath when so many men were slaughtered from both sides. Soon, the men from both tribes began challenging each other to fair fights. Fortunately, Prophet Muhammad was informed swiftly before the fight could break out, and he reached the scene, appealing. _‘O Muslims, why you are behaving like you used to in the days of ignorance, even though I am with you and Allah has guided you to Islam? He has honored you with the light of wisdom and He has helped you abandon that spirit of enmity and vengeance, so that you can be united together as friends and brothers. Sheathe your swords and weep for your folly for even thinking that you could shed the blood of any man who is bound to you by the holy oath of brotherhood.’ The men had stood there shamed, humbled and repentant. _The political upheaval only twenty-four years after the death of Prophet Muhammad which split the silken fabric of Islam into the rags of Sunni and Shia, still carried the breath of Prophet through the virtue of at least of one Chieftain from the clan of Beni Saad. Even before the armies of Ali and Aisha confronted each other near Basra, the Chieftain of Beni Saad in the true spirit of Islam lead six thousand of his warriors back into the neutrality of the desert, declaring: ‘I would neither fight against the Mother of the Faithful, nor against the cousin of the Prophet.’ _After the army of Aisha was defeated, Ali forgave Aisha unconditionally, giving orders that she be escorted safely by her young half-brother to a house in Basra. Ali’s heralds proclaiming: ‘No one turning his back shall be pursued. No one wounded shall be killed. Whoever throws away his arms is safe.’ _‘O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty of Allah. Lo Allah is informed of what you do.’ Quran 5:8 _‘For that cause we decreed for the children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption on earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Our messengers came to them of old with clear proofs of Allah’s sovereignty, but afterwards, lo, many of them became prodigals in the earth.’ Quran 5:32 __‘Yet whoso doeth evil, or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah forgiving, merciful.’ Quran 4:110 ‘Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.’ Quran 7:199

Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon on Mount of Mercy

‘O Lord, guide my people, for they do not know.’ Prophet Muhammad Prophet Muhammad—the great physician of the heart is back in this book with a link to the right to cure the disease of violence inside the hearts of the Muslims. As the revered theologian of almost nine centuries ago, Al-Ghazali, who said: ‘For God most high has promised to revive his religion of peace at the beginning of each century.’ Prophet’s sermon on Mount Arafat after hajj: “My beloved friends, listen to my words, because I don’t know if I will ever be with you here again after this year. Therefore listen to what I am saying, carefully, and take these words to those who could not be here today. My friends and family, your lives, property and honor are sacred for you until you appear before your Lord, just as you consider this month, this day and this city sacred. Return the things that are entrusted to you to their rightful owners. You will meet your Lord, and He will hold you answerable for your actions. You have rights over your wives, and your wives have rights over you. Treat your wives with love and kindness. Verily, you have taken them on the security of God, and their persons are made lawful unto you by the words of God. Free your slaves, following my example, and tell others to do the same. But if they wish to stay with you, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the stuff you wear. And if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive, then part from them, for they are the servants of God as you and me, and are not to be treated harshly. Know that we are all equal in the sight of Allah, and journey together in this world as a family of brotherhood and sisterhood. All of us belong to the line of Adam, and Adam was created from dust. This is a gift of knowledge for all who cultivate wisdom and humility. An Arab is no better than a non-Arab, nor is a white better than a black, or a black better than a white, except in piety. Nothing is allowed to a Muslim if it belongs to another, unless it is given freely and willingly, so do not oppress each other. I am leaving behind me two things, the Book of God and my example, if you follow these two, you will never go astray. Spend freely of what is given to you, whether in prosperity or in adversity. Restrain you anger and pardon all, for Allah loves those who do good, as it has been revealed. This Hajj is acceptable to Allah, only if we have love in our hearts for each and every one of God’s creatures. Kill not your children. For fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them. As well as for you. Verily, the killing of them is a great sin. Quran 17: 31. This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin; for him, lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Quran 5: 3.” Prophet Muhammad recited, his eyes shining with mirth. “Know you that what month is this? What territory this is? What day?” “The sacred month! The sacred territory! The great day of pilgrimage—” Several voices spluttered forth, filling the Mount of Mercy with the music of joy. “Even thus sacred and inviolable God made His life and the property of each of you unto the other, until you meet your Lord.” Prophet Muhammad’s voice rippled above all, his arms held out. “O Lord! I have delivered my message and accomplished my work!” “Yes, you have, Prophet. Yes, you have—” The pilgrims cheered. “O God, I beseech Thee, bear Thou witness unto it.” Prophet Muhammad prayed. “This is the day of true brotherhood and sisterhood, of devotion and repentance. This is the day when Allah is revealed to His servants, extending His Hands with generosity and immense blessing! We are promised that during these hours by Arafat, Allah will send down His mercy and forgiveness to those, who are deserving and they will feel His presence!” ‘The heart of the believer is between two fingers of the Infinitely Merciful.’ Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad/Sharia/Islam

Islamic Sharia And we have not sent thee but as a mercy to the nations. Quran 21:107 Since Muslims have distorted the message of Prophet Muhammad so magnanimously, historians and theologians need to scrape clean the windows of unIslamic Sharia to have a glimpse of Prophet’s Sharia. The publication of Prophet’s book with a link to the right is an attempt to do just that. All windows scrubbed clean of countless distortions and misconceptions. Reflecting the original portrait of Islam as painted by the Prophet in synchronicity with his character as a loving, forgiving, compassionate Prophet of Peace. No valid definition of Sharia exists even to this age and day and a potpourri of those which are being tossed around are countless, concocted by clerics, historians and theologians. Such definitions written and rewritten by so-called scholars several years after the death of Prophet Muhammad with interpretations to suit their own ways of thinking, permitting no room for the proof of validity, criticism or discussion. Origin of Sharia, even the most orthodox of theologians would agree is based on traditions gathered from the sayings and lifestyle of the Prophet and from the wealth of revelations compiled as the holy book of Quran,. Starting with Sunna—exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad, if Muslims were to follow in his footsteps, there would be left not even a trace of cruelty, hatred, bigotry or violence in Islam. Hoping that reason as Prophet Muhammad claimed reason the most precious of God-given gifts would tempt theologians to open a dialogue with a string of discussions in the very ether of cyberspace, if not in the arena of global syllogisms. Prophet’s Sharia, before it was hijacked by scholars turned bigots and zealots was in all its purity the law of love, peace and harmony. He lived this law by the example of his life as a loving, compassionate and forgiving man of words and deeds. By interpreting revelations in such a profound manner so as to polish the precepts of Islam with the gold of love, tolerance and harmony. As it is stated in this revelation below. He it is who hath revealed unto thee Muhammad the Scripture wherein are clear revelations. They are the substance of the Book—and others which are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical, seeking to cause dissention by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: we believe therein, the whole is from our Lord, but only men of understanding really heed. Quran 3:7 And Prophet of course had to deal with the zeal of his followers at the very inception of Islam. One day Prophet was sitting in the mosque in Medina when Abdullah the son of Abdallah ibn Ubbay came suddenly to share the news of his father’s death and his last request before he died that Prophet give his shirt as a burial shroud and to come and pray at his funeral. The Prophet got to his feet to fulfil the last wishes of Abdallah ibn Ubbay, but his followers started protesting, knowing the deceased to be marked as hypocrite during his lifetime. Saying, how could he—the Prophet agree to grant the last requests of Abdullah’s father against the weight of the recent revelation? Ask forgiveness for them O Muhammad or ask not forgiveness for them. Though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. Quran 9:80 The Prophet turned to his heels, commenting over his shoulders. “I have to pray more than seventy times then, don’t I?” One revelation which was dear to his heart: Keep to forgiveness O Muhammad and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. Quran 7:199 Prophet’s forgiveness was unconditional and his love boundless. After the conquest of Mecca he forgave everyone, even Hind the wife of Abu Sofyan who had chewed on the heart of his slain uncle Hamza. When Abu Sofyan wished to accept Islam, Prophet said that if he was willing to accept if for fear that he would be punished if he did not, then he should not be willing. For no punishment was forthcoming and that he should wait till he could accept it without fear and with all his heart. Prophet’s own love extended to all God’s creatures. Once during a sermon a cat took the liberty of sitting over the edge of his robe and he wouldn’t get up lest he disturb the cat. At the time of his final pilgrimage to Mecca, he noticed a bitch on the road with a litter of pups and commanded his men to change their route so as not to frighten the young pups. He abhorred war and succumbed to its dictates only as a last resort after all efforts at peace were exhausted. The Peace Treaty which the Prophet signed under the Lote Tree lent so much advantage to the pagans that his own followers were angry and resentful. But he stayed firm, guided by his wisdom and by the wealth of revelations. His favorite expression: ‘No person has drunk a better draught than that of anger which he has swallowed for God’s sake.’ And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower. Quran 8:61 Again and again the Prophet had to guide even his loved ones on the path to compassion and tolerance. Once Omar dragged a man away from the precincts of the mosque when he saw him urinating by the wall. Later, Omar told the Prophet that the man had defiled the mosque so he had thrown him out. The Prophet reprimanded Omar, saying that since he treated the man roughly he must find him and apologize, adding that a pail of water would have purified the spot. Living amidst countless tides of zeal and intolerance, the Prophet was heard exclaiming: ‘By these pious fools my back hath been broken.’ To the very end of his life the Prophet strove toward cultivating the seeds of love, peace and harmony. He had forbidden the use of weapons before journeying from Medina to Mecca, he and his followers going there as pilgrims, not as warriors. As he and his cavalcade approached closer to Mecca, Saeed bin Udabah began brandishing his sword and exclaiming: ‘Today is the day of fighting.’ Prophet was quick to snatch the sword from him and hand it over to his son, Abu Qays. Reproof spilling down from his lips: ‘This is how you distort the message of the Prophet, O Saeed?’ Lo who distort our revelations are not hid from us. It is he who is hurled into the fire better or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Lo, He is seer of what you do. Quran 41:40 After the conquest of Mecca, quite a few reprimands landed on Ali since he was the closest and most beloved. The Prophet was talking to Othman ibn Talha when Ali snatched keys of Kaaba from him, saying: ‘These keys now belong to the Prophet of Islam.’ ‘Ali, be kind and loving and return those keys to Othman.’ Prophet Muhammad commanded swiftly and sadly. ‘Have I failed in my message of equal love and equal respect for all? He is not one of us who incites bigotry, or fights for bigotry or dies in its pursuit.’ Another scene of discord ensued soon after when Prophet’s wives were urging Ali’s sister Umm Hani not to seek protection for her husband Hudayfah who was an idolater. Ali was amongst them, threatening to kill his sister and her husband when Prophet appeared on this scene of contention. ‘I seek protection for my husband.’ Umm Hani flung her cloak over the shoulders of her husband and ran to the Prophet, and was received into his loving arms, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Whom you make safe, dear Umm Hani, him we make safe. Whom you protect, we protect.’ Prophet Muhammad turned to Ali. ‘Have you not been reprimanded for your zeal already?’ Another revelation close to Prophet’s heart: O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity, and let not the hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo, Allah is informed of what you do. Quran 5:8 In polygamous society when Arab men had several wives and concubines, Prophet Muhammad remained faithful to Khadija alone for almost twenty-five years of blissful marriage. After her death he contracted more marriages with women who were widows and needed protection, with the exception of only one, Aisha. The description of Prophet’s character by Aisha in one of the Hadiths: ‘He laughed a lot and never held a grudge against anyone.’ And if you fear you will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women who seem good to you, two, three or four. And if you fear you cannot do justice to so many, then one only or the captives that your right hand possesses. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice. Quran 4:3 After the conquest of Mecca: He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you and He is the most merciful of those who show mercy. Quran 12:92 to be continued—

Happy Birthday Shakespeare 2013

Shakespeare Revisited Cast of Characters: Shakespeare In his fifties Genius The double of Shakespeare, young and dreamy An unkempt room with one chair and a desk. A few pages on the wall, displaying sonnets. Uneven stacks of papers scattered here and there. The play begins with Shakespeare seated at his desk, dipping his pen furiously in the ink-pot. Genius is standing opposite him, smiling to himself. The reed pen glows all of a sudden, as if on fire, and Shakespeare blinks, stunned. Genius bursts out laughing, seeking the attention of Shakespeare. GENIUS Why are you afraid, O Bard of London? You know me, I am sure. SHAKESPEARE (aghast and shrinking) I do not know you. Who are you? GENIUS (edging closer) Bloody sad that you don’t know me! But I know you too well. You are Sheikh Pir. The Poet of the East. Dead and forgotten. SHAKESPEARE (his knuckles white as he clenches a sheaf of papers before him) Dead? GENIUS (laughing contemptuously) More alive than most, who are living in the slums of London, Sheikh Pir. SHAKESPEARE (planting his elbows on the table with a sudden violence) Who are you? Why are you here? GENIUS (his gaze bright and intense) If you don’t recognize your own genius, my friend, then you are doomed. I am here to goad you into writing a Tragedy, which would live forever inside the hourglass of Time. SHAKESPEARE (one snort of a mirth escaping his lips) If I were a genius, I would not be scraping pennies out of the filthy palms of the droolers? Or living in a garret, staging farcical scenes in my head? Besides, I am writing a comedy, not a tragedy. GENIUS (smiling to himself and beginning to pace) Juliet is not the kind of heroine you think her to be. And Romeo is not the prince embroiled in wars, as you perceive him to be. SHAKESPEARE (cupping his chin into his hands) Stratford-upon-Avon is not the place for magicians, young man. Go home, and suckle your brains on goat’s milk. How do you know the characters in my head, if you are that bloody talented? GENIUS (pacing and thinking aloud) Let it suffice for the moment that I know. Your Juliet is Hir, a princess from Jhang. And Romeo is no other than Ranjha, the prince from Hazara. You met them both. They were condemned by the virtue of love, and fated to die together. SHAKESPEARE (his eyes drooping shut) Such alien names. Alien places. If I had been there, had met such people, I would remember. My memory is flawless. GENIUS (halts in his pacing, watching Shakespeare) Genius is a mystery! Remembering, while claiming not to remember? Now you see Hir in the guise of Juliet. Though Juliet herself is a stranger to you. You don’t know how she looks like? SHAKESPEARE (his eyes fluttering open) Juliet is beautiful! Her beauty is engraved inside the mirror of my heart. Hir? I don’t know anything about her, or how she looks like? GENIUS (resuming his pacing) Hir is beautiful. She is the daughter of a king, and a victim of tragic love. Hir’s Romeo is Ranjha, a prince indeed! Hir falls in love with Ranjha, and in return, is consumed by her own love for him. SHAKESPEARE (his gaze following Genius, dreamy and distant) Something inside me is stirring. They get married, and live happily ever-after, don’t they? GENIUS (flashing Shakespeare an enigmatic smile) Truth, even veiled in falsehood, dares not kiss the lips of lies. Hir was forced to get married to a rich curmudgeon by the name of Saida, exiled into the valley of Rangpur. SHAKESPEARE (snatching his reed pen from the ink pot, and writing while murmuring) And she falls in love with her husband. A marvelous ending. GENIUS (mirth spilling from his lips and eyes) Love, a folly most grievous! No woman, if she was wise, would commit such a folly, even if she was marrying for the very first time. And Hir was wise, accepting not her farce of a marriage, and longing for Ranjha. Her longing itself brings Ranjha to her door in the guise of a jogi. SHAKESPEARE (writing with utmost absorption) Would you please leave whoever you are? I am in a bloody rush to finish this Comedy in order to pay my rent, or my landlord would throw me out into the gutters. GENIUS (Standing opposite Shakespeare, his gaze intense and impelling) That means you don’t want to hear the story of Hir and Ranjha? Are your sure? SHAKESPEARE (without lifting his eyes, still writing) Tell me bloody quick then. I want peace and quiet. GENIUS (pacing again) Hir and Ranjha elope. Hir’s parents urge them to return home. Promising them the bliss of home and marriage. Death and doom are lurking behind this promise of wedlock, not the wedding celebrations. Hir’s mother poisons the milk, which her daughter is to drink as a part of the ritual during the wedding ceremony. SHAKESPEARE (dipping his pen into the ink pot) Such tales told by the fools, and sung by the troubadours! Dull and predictable. GENIUS (waving his arms imperiously) Not dull, but tragic! Terrible and inviolate! You don’t want to hear the end, I gather? SHAKESPEARE (jabbing the paper with his reed pen) I am dying to—this second time around, striving toward becoming a rich playwright! If indeed, this is the second time around? What was I before this? A poet? No, don’t bother to answer. Just tell me the ending of this story, and leave. The dawn is nigh and I must finish my play. GENIUS (laughter trilling on his lips) Hir’s maid succeeds in revealing the murderous designs of her mother, but alas, too late! Hir has already taken a few sips from the cup of death. She collapses, but not before Ranjha has snatched the glass of milk, draining it passionately. Ranjha falls at the feet of his Beloved, both joined in Hereafter. SHAKESPEARE (lifting his eyes wearily and watching the Genius dreamily) Romeo and Juliet! It is a Comedy, and it is going to stay this way, since the characters profess to live, not die. You may leave now. I want Juliet to live. She is so very beautiful. GENIUS (vehemently) This play would be a Tragedy! Fates can’t be averted. Juliet is not permitted to disappoint the drooling patrons, who love conflict and the pincers loss and grief. Hir too was barred from disappointing her audience, welcoming death, and tasting the hemlock of immortality. Romeo would die too, by the law and virtue of his own madness, much like Ranjha, earning the title of Sufi and the Lover. SHAKESPEARE (abandoning his reed pen into the ink pot) Hir, this name sounds sweet upon my tongue. And Ranjha, wafting the Scent of Mystery. Did they live? Are they dead now? The Lover and the Beloved—I mean? GENIUS (standing in the middle of the stage, his look opiate) Living forever inside the rosary of songs, sweet and tragic. Worshipped by the young lovers, who still flock to their tombs, dreaming of love sublime and love unattainable. SHAKESPEARE (his gaze fixed to the Genius) Where are they buried? {One fake moon hovers over the stage.} GENIUS Look at that moon yonder. Waxing and waning. Livid and dying. The scarlet lips of fate, sinful as death. A Tragedy most beautiful. SHAKESPEARE (his head drooping over the table) The lily-livered heart of dawn is compelling me to nurture the Children of Tragedy. Hir and Ranjha are singing, holding the Torch of Love. Romeo and Juliet must taste the Soma of Pain. They must divorce Love and Hope. A Tragedy! Yes! A Tragedy most Sublime. A Truth most Supreme! The symphony of Love, Grief, Union. THE END

Boston Tragedy

'The good deed and evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better. Then lo, between whom and thee there was enmity, would become as though he was a bosom friend.' Quran 41:34 Ignorance by any other name is still spelled violence. It has many faces, but the ugliest of all faces is violence. And yet violence has become synonymous with Islam since Muslims from all parts of the world continue to carve the name of Islam with the pen of violence. Every time, pronouncing 'Peace Be Upon Him' when taking the name of Prophet Muhammad and yet killing in the name of peace and Islam. How could the kind, loving, forgiving Prophet have peace (he must be turning in his grave) when Muslims have become murderers and cutthroats. There are no answers and no one can stop this string of violence. With the exception if clerics, sharia-mongers and Islamic jurists who incite riots when Prophet's name is unjustly maligned with words/caricatures, could afford to take some time out of their acts of piety to denounce every violent criminal as often as necessary to pound peace into the minds and hearts of every false claimant of Islam training or influencing young Muslims to become murderers and hate-mongers. 'O mankind Lo. We have created you male and female and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. Lo, Allah is knower, aware.' Quran 49:13 Our love and prayers are with the bereaved and the bereaving.

Gun Violence in America

Guns as well as Laws are manmade _One to use for killing mankind _The other for protecting victims of crime _Calling spade a spade _Is quite an issue blind _Where arguments collect nothing but grime _Since all gun-violaters can't be locked in prison _Guns can be locked with Law behind a cage _Simply this stands to reason _If Congress is ready to heed Obama-sage _Sporting guns, hunting guns, rifles harmless _Who controls violence and weapons _Not guns, they are heartless _Laws alone bring peace on earth from heavens _Look into the hearts of families bereaved _Pump the pulse of gun-control Law to succeed