Elastic Morality

Its either black or white,

Rigidness high, while judging other’s matter

Dish things out, but can’t take from platter?

What grade your child’s getting?

Staring the dress, “which sect u adhere”?

There’s much “Haram in your Halal, I swear”.

 Judgments sharp & opinions negative.

Got sentenced, 't was inevitable

Dealing with a moralist, goodness a fable.

But Moralities turn lax & principles elastic

When self was to answer

Grey is important, as line in white & black blur

“My Children are only children

 they will soon learn”..

“what's  haram or halal? …. I earn”..

“Well life is about gives and takes”

and “opinions often misleads”

There’s eventual goodness in all My deeds.

Cold judge for others

For self are lawyers, temperate

are bigoted souls and religion is hate. 

(by Samima)

A Bargain

Felt contented with what I got

Found peace, was agony around

Learning was truly inevitable

When days are hard n hell bound.

Life’s test is blessing in disguise

Worst is a sign of approaching Good

Deal with your monsters, learn from them

Felt bad first, but later understood.

Yes! Life isn’t fair, handle the crook

 When dishes out pains and tears

Play right cards, bargain well

By taking its wisdom, & tossing back  fears.
(by Samima)

Discovering Islam- by Akbar S. Ahmed (book review)

This was my first book by the author Akbar S Ahmed, on Islam with an anthropological perspective. I must say author did a fine job of writing such an informative book, depicting the progressive side of Islam  which has a lot of tolerance and forbearance in it. Book tells her readers about the rationality which is inherent in Islam  but somehow lost by Muslims today. Author does indulge in criticism but his is the constructive criticism with minimum confrontation. It’s a worth read for all those who believe that there is a rational and progressive side of Islam still to be rediscovered. At the end I must say that its an interesting read, a very neutral approach towards every fragment of Islam.

Historical Echo!! (by Samima)

Dive into books & permeate Past

It’s  same story, action replayed

Heard of history repeating itself?

Was negligence by us, & time relayed.

One civilization ascents high

Wealth and blessings are at peaks

But morals fall and standard lows

When line in Right & Wrong bleaks.

Society is there but essence lost

Collaboration it was, usurped Greed

Violence and fear dance with glee

Children of era swallow such seeds.

Would snatch whatever they want

No rules applicable or mores logical

What been taught, what been seen

Society contagious & pathological.

Rich living in castles and enclaves

Obsessed with money, buying in tens

Still despondent and hungry

Paranoia high, fear never ends.

Nothing would fill their bellies

As world is cursed with Greed

Lessons discovered by those

Who remember, think and read.

For rest, its repetitions and replays

 History was past, will be their coming

A nightmare bound to recur every night

A plague once broken, or tsunami forth coming.

What Goes Around, Comes Around (A True Story)

1892, Stanford University

A young, 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. A friend and he decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.

They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success.

The big day arrived. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and
explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honour the cheque soonest possible.

“No.” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left” The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.

It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know?
We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” The truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They
don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do.
Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for
help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.

The head there was a man called Herbert Hoover – who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons
of food grains to feed the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted.

Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, “You shouldn’t be thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college in the US .
I was one of them.”

The world is a wonderful place. What goes around usually comes around.

(http://pureinsight.org/node/3656)