A story of shattered hopes
“I am late!” muttered Laila as she walked into the cramped lanes of her neighbourhood. She held the earthen pot between her waist and left arm and adjusted the dupatta over her head with her right hand. She hurriedly walked towards her home to cook dinner for her Khala, her mother’s sister, who was going to visit them this night.
She entered a narrow lane and walked past a series of small roadside shops that sold a variety of colourful dupattas and handmade jewellery. The shops were crowded with women and children. Some women were busy arguing with shopkeepers, and…
A brief study of the life of Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Mohammad
Disclaimer :
- This story is written from the perspective of a Shia Muslim. Extreme care has been taken to not to hurt anyone’s sentiments. I believe in respecting everyone’s point of view. 😊
- pbuh means — peace be upon him/her.
- Imam means religious leader.
As I begin to write on a very controversial topic, let me tell you a bit about Fatima Zehra, the daughter of Prophet Mohammad. She is one of the most important women in Islam. She is considered among the top 4 outstanding women…
Travel. Iraq. Pilgrimage.
...and a request that was made 1400-years ago!
Every year in the Islamic month of Safar, thousands of Shia Muslims in Iraq leave their homes to begin a remarkable walk. Many people from different parts of the world also join this walk. People walking on this journey don’t worry about medical care, food, accommodation, or any other facility. Their focus is to reach their destination on time. They are walking towards Karbala.
…and its exquisite heritage!
In my last travel blog, I took you to Iraq to explore the Arab culture. Now, it’s time to take you to Iran to complete the rest of the journey.
After spending ten days in Iraq, we boarded a flight to Mashhad, Iran. The primary language of Iran is Persian. One major difference between Iraq and Iran is that Iraq is mostly desert, while Iran is mostly mountainous.
Mashhad
The city of Mashhad is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Shia Muslims. …
Preconceived notions have become common in our society. Many of us spend a good part of our lives seeing the world through the lens of others. These notions are dangerous because they create a barrier between two individuals. It eats away every chance of harmony and gives birth to conflicts. Stereotyping should never be supported, and self-introspection is necessary to find out if our minds are also clogged with cobwebs of stereotype. If yes, then we need to work on our perspectives. Why? Because prejudging is simply injustice!
Don’t Generalise
There are many stereotyped communities in this world. Some are labelled as…
Travel and Iraq
“We are going on a pilgrimage to Iraq and Iran,” my Dad announced.
Many Iraqi cities hold high religious significance to Shia Muslims and are visited by people from all over the world. I got super excited and started preparing for our trip.
I believe that to explore a country properly, one should be familiar with the native language. So, I started learning Arabic on my own from the internet and within a few months, I could speak basic Arabic!
It was in June 2014. We packed our bags and boarded a flight to Najaf with fellow other pilgrims to begin a trip that became the most memorable trip of my life!
Najaf
We…
Travel and Culture
Exploring a rich history blending tradition and modernity
Delhi is the capital city of India and it has a very special place in my heart. One reason can be that it is my home but the main thing that attracts me about Delhi is that it is a very beautiful blend of traditional and modern life. Delhi is a combination of the historical and modern world. From historical monuments to skyscrapers, Delhi has everything to offer. Let’s dive into its shades a little more deep:
History
Delhi is said to be destroyed and rebuilt 7 times. It has a very rich history as it was ruled by several dynasties…
Inner peace is like liberty in tranquillity — Marcus Tullius Cicero
Like many others, I have also struggled for inner peace. My quest for it included many things such as reading motivational books or listening to motivational speakers but everything I did make me realise that inner peace cannot come from external factors rather it has to come from inside, i.e, from the change of perspective.
Here are the following changes that I brought to my perspective and I feel free now.
- Support Yourself —We often unknowingly seek support from others. We want people to understand us and when this…
