Gaza's Reality

Would you be able to live like this ?

If nothing is more precious than a Human life, then what is...?

The picture worth a thousand words

The picture worth a thousand words

By Aijaz Zaka Syed

16 November 2006

THAT night my editor went down twice to go home and then came back wondering if we, after all, should carry that particular picture on Page One. I didn’t blame him. As editor, he had to keep his readers’ sensitivities and sensibilities always in mind.

And that picture of a young Palestinian woman stuffed in the drawer of Beit Hanoun morgue with her two daughters — a toddler and another one and half-year old — lying next to her was too stunning and too disconcerting even for us who are in the business of news and come across scenes of death and destruction almost on a daily basis.

The young mother, Sanah Assamna, looked as if she had just fallen asleep after having lulled her loved ones to sleep. It was just too beautiful and too painful! How could Israel’s brave soldiers kill such lovely and innocent creatures while they slept in the comfort and safety of their homes in Beit Hanoun that Tuesday night?

My boss was right to fret if by splashing such pictures on our front page, we would upset our readers. "We don’t want our readers to stare at dead bodies at their breakfast table, for God’s sake, do we?" shouted news editor from across the newsroom.

"He is right," the editor nodded in agreement. "Although I agree that this is the picture of the day — and very arresting and striking at that, we cannot publish such disturbing scenes of cruelty on Page One."

"But when the guys who are responsible for this depravity against women and children are least embarrassed about it, why should we have any qualms in bringing this to light?" I persisted.

Eventually and thankfully, we went ahead and published that picture after I pleaded with my colleagues to trust my news judgment. And I was right. That picture in cold print the next morning just leapt at you. Very striking and very, very moving!

Anyone who is blessed with children or has been a child wouldn’t remain unaffected and unmoved by this picture of complete innocence and the sheer barbarity of Israel to kill it. Seven of the 18 killed that Tuesday night in Beit Hanoun were young children, many of them toddlers. But then this is not the first time Israel has resorted to such depravity. We have been here before — with nauseating persistence. From the razing of Sabra and Shatila to the blood-letting of Jenin and Beit Hanoun, there has always been a macabre method in Israel’s madness. After all, Israel has to defend itself, as US President Bush points out every time the Israelis cowardly uses its brute force against men, women and children who have nothing to defend themselves.

And what is the big deal if it ends up killing a Palestinian woman here, a Palestinian toddler there in collateral damage. The children of Israel after all have a divine right to this ancient land. What if Palestinians have been living there for centuries? Besides, who cares if some ‘stateless’ people are bombed in the dead of night. They do it all the time those Palestinians — blowing themselves up! They are not like us. They are tormented by this irrepressible, eternal death wish. They have no love for life. They do not eat and drink like you and me. They have no families, no children and no homes to belong to. They have no dreams. They suffer no pain. They shed no tears. Actually, they do not exist for all we care.

Which is why the world does not lose its sleep when Palestinian lives are snuffed out across the large, rotting prison that the occupied territory is. Which is why every time Arab and Muslim states make regulation noises in the UN about the persecution of Palestinians, they are quickly shouted down by the Israel-US combine. The US veto power comes handy to shoot down even perfunctory and totally pointless UN attempts to hold Israel accountable. Just as the US has done in the case of UN resolution censuring Israel on the madness of Beit Hanoun.

US ambassador John Bolton rejected the resolution by arguing it “does not display an even-handed characterisation of the recent events in Gaza, nor does it advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace.”

What even-handedness, ambassador Bolton? When you have women and children — as young as six-month old who in their sleep didn’t even know they were in the line of Israel’s fire — pitted against the brute and full might of a terrorist state, what even-handedness are we talking about? And what peace? How could you talk of peace when Israel continues to bomb an impoverished and hungry people?

But then this isn’t the first time the US has sprung to the defence of its trusted ally and friend. There’s a long history of Washington protecting the killers of a people whose only crime is that they were born in the land that is sacred to three great faiths. The UN resolution slamming Israel’s attack on Beit Hanoun was the fourth in three years that was vetoed by Washington.

And what even if the UN Security Council manages to pass a resolution reprobating Israel? It’s hardly likely to make any difference to Palestinians. It hasn’t in the past. This UN resolution too will be consigned to the dustbin of history where there are many such worthless resolutions, passed by the world body after elaborate diplomatic shenanigans. Israel has yet to implement a single one of them. So much for the persuasive powers of the ‘international’ community!

Truth be told, if any one can stop Israel’s terrorism, it is the US of A. And it must, if it does not want the infinite suffering of Palestinians to radicalise the whole of Arab and Muslim world. The US must rein in Israel, if it wants to protect its long-term interests in the Middle East and worldwide. It must stop playing the devil’s advocate.

Aijaz Zaka Syed is Assistant Editor with Khaleej Times. He can be reached at aijazsyed@khaleejtimes.com

The Closed Quarter

I see a shadow,
A little shadow
I hear some voices,
Them getting narrow…
I sigh and close my eyes,
Fully anticipating a row…
Wearily I rest my head
On my knees,
As numbness fills
Every part of me…

‘Snatch’, I hear
I jerk my head up
The shadow I saw
Became many as they near!
I see hands,
All dark and bloody
Reaching out to
Tear every part of me…
I put my hands up
To protect myself,
To fight for my
Honor and dignity!
I see their hands
Crawling in the air
Their big talons
Ready to tear my wear…
I tighten up my
Outer cover, my
Inside shaken to the core
I try to stop
Those hands reaching me
But my honor – my niqab,
They tore…
I scream in anguish
As my honor kisses the dust
‘Learn a lesson’, I hear
Their voice, ‘she must!’

‘The veil she wears
Is nothing but a
Hurdle in attaining
New heights; we can’t
Identify her for we
Can’t see any
Part of her being…’

They said this and more
But my eyes were fixed
Firmly on the floor,
Tears welled up in
My eyes- as I witnessed
My honor’s cruel demise…

Today it was the veil,
Tomorrow it’d be something else
Ever so hot in our trail
Those hands never stop or fail!
With closed minds, and
Eyes firmly shut,
They see or hear nothing
Just follow what they want,
New ideologies ever they flaunt…!

The closed quarter
That’s what it is
No freedom to practice
What one’s religion teaches…!

The dark shadows now
Retreat, their job was done -
They left a battered
Soul behind…
…dented the body was
but
The spirit remained unbroken,
I stood up as hope filled
My mind…

The closed quarter
That’s what the
World has become!
Targeting, degrading
Not tolerating 'ny gem,
Who’s hurting whom?
Who’s losing what?
Closed quarters,
Some people are hiding
Behind them…

A is for Allah

۱ - is for Allah, nothing but Allah
ﺐ - is the beginning of Bismillah
ﺖ - is for Taqwa - bewaring of Allah, and
ﺙ - is for Thawab - a Reward
ﺝ - is for Jannah - the Garden of Paradise
ﺡ - is for Hajj - the Blessed Pilgrimage
ﺥ - is for Khatam - the Seal of the Prophethood -
given to the Prophet Muhammad -
Sall-Allahu-'alaihi-wa-sallam

ﺪ - is for Deen (Way of Life) - al-Islam (the Submission), religion with Allah since time began
ﺫ - is for Dhikr - remembering Allah, and
ﺭ - is for the month of Ramadan - Oh Ramadan
ﺯ - is for Zakah - to cure our greed, when we give our money to those in need
ﺱ - is for Salamun ‘alaikum - 'peace be with you', Wa ‘alaikumus-salam
ﺵ - is for Shams - the shining sun, which Allah placed for everyone, and
ﺹ - is for Salah - for when we pray, facing Him, everyday, facing Him, till we meet our Lord

Allah - there’s only one God and Muhammad is His Messenger
Allah - la ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah)

ﺾ - is for Dhuha - the morning light, the sun has turned from red to white
ﻂ - is for Tariq - a path to walk upon, and
ﻆ - is for Zill - a shadow, and
ﻉ - is for ‘Ilm - the thing to know, to make our knowledge grow, in Islam
ﻍ - is for Ghaib - a world unseen, and that we know is not a dream, and
ﻑ - is for The Opening - Al-Fatiha, and
ﻖ - for the Qur’an - the Book of God, and
ﻚ - is for Kalimah - a word we’re taught, to teach us what is good and what is not, and
ﻞ - is for the beginning of: La ilaha illallah
ﻢ - is for the Messenger - Muhammadur-Rasulullah
La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur-Rasulullah

Allah - there’s only one God and Muhammad is His Messenger
Allah - la ilaha illallah

ﻦ - is for Nawm - the sleep God gave, to give us rest after the day, and
ﻫ - is for the Hijrah - the Journey that the Prophet made, and
ﻮ - for Wudu' (ablution) - before we pray, to help us wash our sins away, and
ﻱ - is for Yawm-id-Deen (Day of Judgement)

Watch the video

I couldn't take my eyes off his face...

This image reminded me of a poem I wrote ages ago:

Many souls, least bothered
Lives lost, all bare;
Much chaos, no comfort
A hell, no care...

Some may opine that this image is nothing but an advertising gimmick...or perhaps it is not; It really is true! What if the child, the innocent victim caught in a bloody 'situation', is as real as you and me...? Whatever the case might be - I just couldn't take my eyes off this boy's face...

One Dreadful World !

How many of us have experienced dread?

No, am not talking about those part time, small phobias; what I am referring to is the actual experience of you-may-not-stay-alive-for-long ordeal and the real fear of losing your life in a way you never thought you would or for that matter, your loved one’s.

Does the above make sense?

If yes, then you’re one of those handfuls who try to read in between the lines and try to make sense out of the real world. If no, then what can I say?! It’s the way you are, that shapes up your thoughts. Look around yourself and you’ll see – so much of injustice, so much of antagonism, so much of blood…and so much of dread…just plain so much of everything…!

Now you know what am talking about?

I’ve been thinking and thinking [no, I can’t stop the thinking process because I simply can’t!!], so I’ve been thinking about what’s happening in the world. We have the Super Power[s] eating up the Not-So-Big-Powers and the result is chaos. A big, huge, gigantic air of chaos. When anyone tries to clear away that chaotic atmosphere, he’s stopped, either directly or in a not-so-direct-way. So, now we have this atmosphere of utter confusion, where you are even afraid to talk to your own shadow [out of the fear that it may silence you…], and when you’re afraid, you’re at your lowest best. When your inner core’s shaken, you’re a prime target for the opposition who don’t really approve of your oh-so-unlike-our-ways. They target you, torture you subtly and if that doesn’t work, openly. And that’s when the real dread begins – not knowing when your life will come to an end.

Scared?

Who wouldn’t be in an atmosphere filled with dread, but do you know what you’re going through when you’re actually experiencing the ordeal…

Know what I mean?

Those caught in the real dread don’t worry as much [and in some cases, not at all] about themselves, as much as they do about their loved ones. Family, friends and acquaintances – built from years of tender, love, and care…broken in a minute of mindless mayhem. And sometimes it takes less than a fraction of a second for the whole building to come down; collapse in front of your eyes. Millions, in fact countless number of people have lost their lives to bloody destruction. Annihilation in the name of some good-ol’- T. People who are gone, dead, are free from the worldly fears. People who are left behind continue to live in dread…what if it’s me next? Doesn’t that ricochet in your mind? The thought of what if you get caught in the world of mindless mayhem churn your stomach and fill you with dread?

Got it?

Welcome to the world filled with dread - been so for innumerable years and will be for many years to come. Enjoy your experiences, while they last, in this one 'dreadful' world.

What would you do...?

What do you see,
When you look at me?
Walking on boiling sand,
Bubbles burst on my hands…

What would you do,
When out of the blue
“Shells” surround you
And bruise every part of you?

Where will you run,
When all of a sudden
You realize you’re all alone
Under the blazing sun…?

Where will you hide,
When your home, your pride,
Everything’s destroyed before your eyes
And you stand all numb, unable to decide…?

Can you comprehend,
What it’s like to live on a land
That is cut off from the world?
Caught in mindless destruction,
Lives lost to inane stand…!

Do you realize
That the 24/7 rocket rain
Brings nothing but
More destruction and pain?

If you do know,
Then what would you do
If in my place,
It was you…?

Are you prepared...?

It so happens, an incident or even a tiny accident stirs your memory and makes you think. When I went to see off my aunt at the airport it struck me- how well prepared are we for a temporary journey, all decked up with our belongings carefully packed. And then I thought- have we wondered about the Final Journey? Have we made sure that our Deeds are deftly put on the right hand side of our life long luggage?

How well prepared are we for that once-in-a-lifetime Journey, literally?

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing) - Al-Imran: 185

Meaning, this life is just a passing phase- albeit a bit long. One doesn’t know for sure when his Call would come. It could be now as you’re reading this or later when you’re fast asleep. Did you take some time out today to praise your Lord? Even a few words would suffice:

“So know that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin, and for the believing men and women, Allah knows your movements and your resting-place”- Muhammad: 19

One who takes time out of his ‘busy life’ and ponders upon the life in Hereafter does himself good. It’s just not about doing good deeds and earning the reward, the remembrance of the Last Day matters as well. A constant reminder is what we all need, and this is what we all should do. 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler." [Bukhari: No.425, Volume 8, Book 76]

Because we live in a world so full of temptations, it’s only a matter of time before we let our guard slip. As no one’s immune to these enticements, we should be extra careful before we perform matters big or small. Intentions shouldn’t be the only yardstick to measure one’s goodness but you should also remain steadfast on your Emaan and practice patience. Prophet said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little." [Bukhari: No. 471, Volume 8, Book 76]

Thus, when you have a lighter conscience knowing you’ve carried out your religious as well as worldly duties, and you pray to The Almighty for mercy, forgiveness and guidance just before you retire to bed- you’re all set to take off the Ultimate Journey of your lifetime.

Bon Voyage!

“How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return.” –Al-Baqarah: 28.

Hidden treasure

A beautiful poem by a sister...

Hidden treasure

A diamond buried in a mine
A diamond in the rough, on the edge of a line
A flesh in the body, if corrupt, you shall be corrupt
For my heart is raised from the dirt
The heart, around it lies an orbit, like the planets
My deeds, a light was lit
The sun illuminates the planets
As my ways reflect the light or darkness of a pit
The diamond, rough layered
Polished and shined, its like the light of one who strayed
My life; my hereafter
Lit from my deeds and actions, of the matter through sorrow and laughter
Dug from under a mine
Shaped and polished -guided to shine
Take a hold of you reflection
Through these struggles, reach perfection

~ AliaS ~

Sarsatically, yours...

It’s amazing how time changes- or is it just another day paving way for night and so on

Sarcasm is the new way to be seen in. Irony is the ‘in’ thing to live with.

I thought only people who were useless, had ample time on their hands. Does this mean uselessness has no class? [am I one of ‘em too??]

I wrote what I thought. Other people need not think the same. Now, where did this ray of rationality came from?

Live life to the fullest…so that, you’d have many people attending your funeral!