Allhumdolillah! I am at a much better place since my last post with series of lab tests, utlrasounds, a mammogram and some other really scary tests, and a gut wrenching anxiety of results. I am doing well thankfully everything was clear except low iron levels with vitamin d3 deficiency. These deficiencies are now on their way to recovery. It is worth noting that I have been struggling with intense brain and physical fatigue since 2019 but not a single doctor was able to identify my problem. Once somebody is diagnosed with depression or anxiety then every health issue they complain about is looked from the psychological lenses. Nobody asked me to check iron, vitamin b12 or vitamin d3 deficiencies even my mum who is a dermatologist always assured me that I am fine and this weakness is just a phase. It was a phase alright, it engulfed almost 8 years of my life pushed back my career and research ambitions. This is not the case alone with me but there are many people who silentl...
15th October
2015, that is when I wrote my last post. Although it has been more than a month
but it feels as if ages have passed. I have never felt this fulfilled and
complete in my entire life as I do now. Life, my professional activities every
aspect has gone through enormous metamorphosis. Learning, giving, sharing and
receiving are the words which could define me aptly.
As for the blog I have
missed it badly, every day I was experiencing something new that I was dying to
share. It is most interesting that my relationship with you all through this
blog is like two close friends, irrespective of the time gap after which they meet, it feels as if no time has elapsed between them- reconnection is almost immediate.
So where to start from,
of course the unfortunate attack on Paris and even more unfortunate the impact
which this attack would have not only on the lives of Muslims in France but
Muslims around the world. The attack has once again changed the world politics
and the role of Muslims and the immense challenges we all have to face from now
on.
A minority in the western media is kind enough to show tiny glimpses of the real and balanced picture of Islam and Muslims. Nevertheless,
it is negligible when compared to what could be said, and what should be
said...
We as Ummah, a grand
Muslim community of approximately 1.7 billion people have to start telling our
side of the story to the world in loud and clear words. It is not sufficient
that we dig out some encouraging and Muslim favouring remarks and tweets of a
westerner, or use hash-tags #islamisforpeace on the social media.
Honestly speaking
social media trends and hash-tags do not change or effect foreign or defence
policy of any country. Let alone, remotely affecting foreign policies, these social
media trends cannot even build any consensus or opinions in the think-tanks of
these powerful countries.
So what we should do?
Let’s think about the avenues available to us. We don’t have access to Western
media and we do not have a single media group which can translate our reality
and point of views. Al-Jazeera is there but it has become controversial due to it’s affiliations.
Should we write books
about the great achievements of Muslims of twenty first century in fields of
science, literature, law, education, research and the peaceful teachings of Islam?
In order to write those books we actually have to achieve
something somewhere, but the reality is that we have not accomplished much in any of those fields.
The irony is, we all are educated but our
education has rather than making us better Muslims and better humans have made
us intolerant, aggressive, opportunists, fraudsters, greedy and corrupt both
morally as well as financially.
Now what
other options are left....
We can show them
with our behaviour and social interactions with them that we are a true
reflection of Islam and how a Muslim should be. We can show the world that we all are one, we may be following different point of views but we all
are one Ummah and the humble servants of Allah.
We can show them that we are the followers of Prophet Muhammad
(Peace Be upon Him) who was the greatest Statesman ever lived. He, who won the
hearts of his severe opponents with love and patience. He, who gave rights of
life, property and respect to women.
He, who believed
in forgiveness because he always forgave even his worst adversaries. He, who freed war prisoners if they taught a Muslim. He, who said all men and
women should seek knowledge even if he/she has to go to China (and China
Fourteen Hundred years ago did not teach Islam but it taught medicine, science,
philosophy, spirituality).
He, who taught us that
our religion is incomplete if we do not follow and respect all other Prophets
who came before him and all other Holy Books which came before Quran.
Yet, a million dollar
question here is, can we really show them any one of the above? Can we show them
with our behaviour and social interactions that we are a true reflection of
Islam and how a Muslim should be? Can we?
Some food for
thought.....
Have a great day!
Sonya Syed. (Day 550)
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