Ignacy J. Paderewski and Herbert Hoover

This is a true story about what happened in 1892 at Stanford University.

Its moral is still relevant today.

A young, 18 year old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan. 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 $2,000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their troubles. They gave him the entire $1,600, plus a cheque for the balance of $400. They promised to honor the cheque as soon as possible.

"No" said Paderewski. "This is not acceptable" He tore up the cheque, returned the $1,600 and told the boys "Here's the $1,600. 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.

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 devastated. 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 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 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.

Rock, Stone, Sand rule

(This post was first published in October 2008 Metta Center email newsletter. The original author of the story is unknown.)

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2″ in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was. The students laughed.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

“Now,” said the professor,

“I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else, the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

Puppies for Sale

A farmer had puppies he needed to sell. A little boy approached him and said

“I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer,

“These puppies cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

“I’ve got thirty-nine Rupees. Is that enough to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle,
“Here, Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else moving inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared this one noticeably smaller. Down the slope it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began limping towards the other, doing its best to catch up.

“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the smallest one.

The farmer said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would”.

The little boy stepped back and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so, he revealed a steel support running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, Sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

The world is full of people who need someone who understands them.

More Blood— 2013

General George S Patton:

  "No poor bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making other bastards die for their country.”

There are people trying to kill us and are constantly killing us. They have repeatedly announced that they would like to destroy us, kill the educated ones and crush the rest. Since 2007, they have killed more than 4,000 Pakistani soldiers and more than 30,000 civilians. Our options are either to fight back or be killed. But it looks like we would rather be victims. Still people within us say that we should talk to them. And there are ones who label them as “Good” & “Bad”.

Month Wise Shia Target Killing
January	42
February	37
March	36
April	34
May	24
June	30
July	35
August	42
September	51
October	28
November	80
December	63

 

As 2012 was about to end, more violence more blood and many more innocent people lost their live. On December 30 repeat was somewhat the same as Pakistan witnessed the terrible killing of 19 Shia pilgrims in Mastung in Baluchistan. Twenty-five others were injured in the attack, which targeted a convoy of three buses in which about 180 people were travelling. It is not difficult to highlight who the real culprits were. These people have time in time out came after us killed us; and they will kill again. This was not the only place where blood was ruthlessly spilt. Those 21 levies personnel, who were abducted after raid of terrorist on check post, met the same fate. They were returned to their ancestral villages, but for burial. Not to stop, we also witnessed bombing of bus at Kent station in Karachi claiming 6 innocent lives and not to forget ANP’s Bashir Ahmed Bilour who was assassinated in suicide bombing.

Region Wise Shia Killing
Sindh	145
Punjab	81
Baluchistan	156
Gilgit Baltistan	55
Khyber-  Pakhtunkhwa	9
FATA	56

While our Supreme Court took notice of Shahzaib Khan’s murder, but did not give any heed to the blood which was ruthlessly and barbarically spilt on our beloved mother land. Civil society only raised its voice on incidents which could give them some lime light and media also stuck to its double standards by only showing high profile reports. As per one database, over 500 members of the Shia Community were killed in 2012. As many as 136 people from the Shia community were killed in Karachi, which was the largest number for a city.

According to many independent researchers, growing amount of anti Shia violence has its roots in alliance of Taliban and local jihadi outfits. This alliance in long term also processes danger signals for State of Pakistan. As Taliban would have grass root support in urban cities. After September 2011, the jihadi groups also turned their guns towards their old masters who had used them in Soviet Afghan jihad.

As for local jihad outfits, enforcement of ban on these organizations had little effect. As they renamed themselves and launched into mainstream. Thus as being in politics they have struck lethal blows to state machinery by providing human resource to Taliban and also fulfilling their own agenda of targeting Shias.

2012 also witnessed beheading of kidnapped people of same community in Baluchistan. This bought in another form of barbaric activity which could never serve cause of Islam. Instead it is just tarnishing our image. We also had Malala and Shahzeb Khan within us, who were killed but But we are just not in the limelight.

To end this blog, reference to a video of ASWJ’s head of Karachi in which he openly said that his organization would create an atmosphere in this country which would not let any minority especially Shia to survive. Meanwhile, Shias are being alienated from their own country. A country which was obtained in the name of Islam. When hope is lost, everything is lost. And as 2013 begins, the stage is being set for more blood to be spilt. Blood to be spilt in the name of God. Barbarians who take lives of innocent do it not by the will of Creator. This is oppression not Jihad.

A Peaceful Protest- Protest Against Shia Genocide

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”

                                                                                                         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

14^th December 2012 was marked as a great day in the history of peaceful protests. A group of 500 men and women got together on Old Numaish Chowrangi to protest against the on going Shia Genocide in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This sit-in protest (Dharna) was organised by different organisations and backed by over a million people from all backgrounds, including women and children.

Friday evening also witnessed forceful closure and gun fire in the city as one of the leading political party of the city came out to protest against Supreme Court’s verdict against its founding leader. So our media cam into action by constantly giving coverage to any incident which happened. From Friday to the unannounced strike by the same party, every event was given coverage by our media.

At the same time the peaceful protest was still going on with significant participation by not only men, but women and children too, of all ages. By the time some analyst visited the site of the protest, the number of participants had gone up to 50,000. Despite the ongoing violence in the city and lack of government support for security, the sit-in protest reached its peak on Saturday evening. This clearly showed that each participant had lost one of his or her family members, friends, or acquaintance, due to the ongoing sectarian violence in the city.

From political parties to people belonging to the media and not to forget our Judges; difference of opinion regarding violence against minorities is continuously moving our society inevitably towards a civil war. Our media, political parties like PTI, PML-N, PPP & MQM can take out rallies for Malala but none of them came forward when Syeda Mehzar Zehra was critically injured and his father was killed while going towards school. Imran Khan and media anchors that came out for Malala were silent on such an incident.

Similarly migration of Hindu families due to lack of security and incidents like Gojra are not on the agenda of any of our media groups or political parties. When suicide bombing takes place, the media and parties like PTI and JI come out and defend it by stating it as a reaction to drone strikes. Similarly, banned organizations on Youm-e-Ishq Rasool broke hell out in Karachi and Peshawar by damaging private property and on the same time were given coverage on media.

A peaceful sit-in protest of about more than 50000 people, where not a single car was burnt nor was any property damaged despite the absence of security personnel. Similar protests in Tunisia and Egypt were given ample coverage by our media but none were present when the sit-in protest at Numaish against Shia Genocide took place.

In end as I have always stated, today it's Shias in specific and other minorities. A day will come when these animals will come after your family also.

For Syeda Mezhar Zehra: We are a Nation of Cowards

I am writing this blog in response to an incident which like other such incidents has shocked me. Today early in morning, time when children move towards their schools. One such girl named Syeda Mezhar Zehra who was 14 years old. She was being dropped to school be her beloved father Nazar Abbas Zaidi. Near her school, animals in disguise of human Beings targeted her car. Apparently targeting her father. Her father breathed his last breaths on the same spot where as the young girl was shifted to hospital. Countless shia community members have been targeted since end of 10^th Muharam.

Here I won’t be a coward like my fellow countrymen who are working in MEDIA or any other ORGANIZATION working for well being of our nation. Even not like PTI, JI, MQM, ANP, PPP & PML-N who came forward to raise their voice against Gaza attack, Malala Incident & Salala Check post attach; but had no sympathy for this young girl.

Our CHIEF JUSTICE and his JUSTICE LEAGUE are busy in their same routine of conducting suo moto references one by one. But have not time to raise sou moto against such incidents where innocent people are being targeted on sectarian basis.

Everyone asks us that WHO IS INVOLVED IN SUCH AN INCIDENT? And very proudly our LEA and Rehman Malik state that there is a third force behind this. I would like to mention that it is the  work of ASWJ & SSP. Targeting professionals belonging to other sect has been witnessed by our nation in past also when doctors were murdered ruthlessly.

I have already mentioned this in my previous blogs that today these organizations are targeting SHIAS, BARELVIS, and other communities. A day will come when these animals would also try to attack you. Today a news strip posted on any news channel indicating target killing of shia community means nothing to you but think if such a news is about your family.

Syeda Mezhar Zehra did not get the same media and political support as Malala got. This just shows how immoral our society has become. Time in near future will come when terrorist belonging to ASWJ an SSP would target your family just because you did not follow their version of Islam.

Worshiping the Creator, and befriending the Devil!
Who would you seek on the Final Day?

-Iqbal

Knowledge and Sagacity of Hazrat Ali

(Below given matter has been taken from "Voice of Human Justice" by  George Jordac)

Hazrat Ali was incomparable so far as power of awareness is concerned. All Islamic learning till date revolves around him. He by far can be stated as the fountain of knowledge. Whatever scientific studies we are studying today, founding bricks was laid by Hazrat Ali

"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gate"

 

Hazrat Ali was brought up by Prophet Muhammad and it is a historical fact that he opened his eyes when he was picked by Prophet (PBUH). And from his child hood Hazrat Ali started to follow and adopt habits of Prophet (PBUH). Thus Prophet's legacy rooted in his heart and brain. He reflected over the Qur'an with the intellect and eye of a sage and learnt its latent realities. The circumstances provided him ample time to reflect over the Qur'an. So long as Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman remained busy with the caliphate, he kept his attention directed towards the Qur'an. He mastered its words and meanings. His tongue could recite it fluently and his heart was engrossed in it.

His knowledge of the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) was such that none else could compete with him in the matter.

Whatever heard by others was heard by him and whatever was heard by him was not necessarily heard by others. It is a well-known fact to both Muslims and Non Muslim that Hazrat Ali never narrated any Hadith from anybody but from the Prophet (PBUH). This was because not a single word or tradition of Prophet (PBUH) was hidden from his ears or eyes.

He was asked:

 

"How is it that you are superior to all other companions in the matter of the knowledge of Hadith?"

 He replied:

 "It is so because the Prophet (PBUH) told me whatever I enquired from him, and if I did not enquire about anything he himself made it known to me"

 
Hazrat Ali was superior to all others in the subject of jurisprudence and Islamic and also acted upon them more than anybody else. Those of the same group never found a better jurist and a greater arbitrator than him. Abu Bakr and Umar always came to him in time of need for the solution of difficult problems.

Abu Ilanifa known as 'the grand Imam' in the field of a jurist. He was a student of Hazrat Ali, because he learnt jurisprudence from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq who is the grandson of Hazrat Ali.

Abdullah son of Abbas, who was the preceptor of all others, was asked:

"What is the ratio of your knowledge to that of your cousin i.e. Ali."

He replied:

"The ratio is the same as exists between a drop and the ocean".

The companions have unanimously quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying:

"The best judge amongst you is Ali".

He possessed such intelligence, wisdom and power of thinking that in the event of dispute he could give the most rational judgement. His conscience was so strong that he was capable of giving a conscientious and just decision after examining and understanding various aspects of a matter.

Umar ibn Khattab has been reported to have said:

"O Abul Hasan! May that problem be not auspicious for the solution of which you are not available".

Hazrat Ali established public laws and national unity, and treated all the individuals as one person in the matter of rights and responsibilities. In his orders and judgements he fully observed this principle which is being followed strictly by the civilized people of the present times.

History shows that Hazrat Ali was the founder of the science of sentence structure. One day Abu'l Aswad, who was one of his friend came and saw that Hazrat Ali's head was bowed down and he was reflecting about something. He said: "O Commander of the Faithful! What are you thinking about?"

Hazrat Ali replied: "In your city (i.e. Kufa) I have heard something which was expressed by the speaker in a wrong manner. I have, therefore, decided to write an elementary book on the principles of the Arabic language". He then handed over a paper to Abu'l Aswad on which it was written that the words are of three kinds’ noun, verb and preposition.

The Imam reflected a little and then asked Abu'l Aswad to write down what he was going to dictate.

"The Arabic language is composed of noun verb and preposition. Noun tells about the things which bear that name, verb tells about the motion and action of that thing and preposition conveys a meaning which is neither noun nor verb. "Things are of three kind’s viz. a patent thing, a latent thing and a thing which is neither patent nor latent"

It is said that a woman came in the presence of Hazrat Ali  and complained that her brother had died leaving behind six hundred dinars, but out of that money she had been given only one dinar. Hazrat Ali replied: "Perhaps the heirs of your brother consist of one widow, two daughters, mother, twelve brothers and yourself". And the position turned out to be the same as was mentioned by the Imam.

The Imam looked philosophically at the secrets of creation, human life and society and numerous sayings with regard to the Oneness of God, divine matters, and metaphysics, are available. We have already remarked above that he was the founder of scholasticism and theology. He was a preceptor, whose skill and leadership has been admitted by every person, who came after him with his own view or remark. In Nahj al-Balaghah he has strung so many pearls of wisdom that, time, has made him stand in the first row of the philosophers of the world.

Prophet (PBUH) in fact referred to Hazrat Ali when he said:

"The scholars among my followers are like the prophets of descendants of Israel".

It is very difficult to find a person like Hazrat Ali who may conclude theoretical and rational matters with the power of his intelligence, and state them in beautiful and brief sentences in such a way that the time may preserve them, and they may become proverbs. Islamic sciences and learning absorbed the color of humanity in their paintings by means of celestial philosophy and their fountainhead were the two personality’s viz. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Ali.