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The Night of power
In spite of the fact that the huge endowments of Ramadan are notable, the most recent ten evenings of Ramadan are considerably more significant and much more honoured than the remainder of Ramadan. In these ten evenings is a night that Quran lets us know is superior to 1000 months (truly, months – not days). That is the evening of the “Laila-tul-Qadr” or as in English as “the Night of Power.” The most recent 10 evenings of Ramadan have a specific significance for us. Since these evenings are multiple times superior to other typical evenings. We ought not to let this brilliant opportunity to be parted with from our own hands. Truth be told, we should exploit this brilliant possibility given by Allah, the Almighty.
The things we should do during these days are: recite Holy Quran, carry out beneficial things, give charity, help other people, regard others, make dua for other people, excuse each and everybody, leave terrible habits. This is the right time for us all to appeal to Allah and look for pardoning from Allah for our wrongdoings that we have done during our entire life, our entire year. Make dua that to Allah that accept our apologies and have pity on our intense sufferings and set us free from our heavy fetters.
He has made these wonderful evenings for himself with the goal that the entirety of the Muslims can bow their heads before Him and do Ibadah for him. Prayer is Muslim’s hope for everything at all times. Let us submit ourselves and plead and plead and plead … as He alone can relieve us of our anxieties and sufferings.
AYESHA ZAMAN
Rawalpindi
SC judgement
With utmost of regards for Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan, I beg to differ with judgment passed by their Lordships on suo motu notice of COVIT19 pandemic lockdown, with reference to closing or opening of markets, public transport etc. Did Hon’able Judges seek advice of medical specialists and WHO advisories before giving their judgement? This is a medical emergency issue, on which there are authentic Hadith of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and not a matter of constitutional rights like freedom of movement etc. There is no higher public interest than right to life and security from contagious diseases, for which there is no vaccine as yet.
There is a basic principle involved which is State’s primary obligation to protect life of citizens as a priority over economic benefits accruing to traders, retailers, brand stores, shopping malls etc. Shopping for Eid at risk of spreading contagious virus makes no sense. The only issue which needed to be addressed simultaneously while protecting life of citizens and controlling spread of pandemic was to ensure that basic food requirements of poor are met. Instead of giving billions to boost big land developers, most of whom have illegally occupied thousands of acres of forest and state land, this money should have gone to the poorest of poor and on health, rather than giving waivers to dual nationals for maintaining 10% of assets in Off-Shore accounts or big business.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Confused lockdown
Government of Pakistan has tried to restrict people to their houses by putting every congregation under lockdown. But the lockdown we have witnessed was seemed to be confused. Apparently every market, park and even mosques were prohibited to be entered. But on the other side, crowds of people have made on their own were neglected and we saw an epic increase in Corona cases. It seems like people are unable to understand the importance of lockdown or social distancing. As lockdown has been eased in most of the cities, people are seen to throng the markets for Eid shopping as this was the very moment to shop everything they have been unable to shop in the past.
We want to live but we do not need life for that. We are very unfortunate to understand that, if we do not practise social distancing, we might not be able to celebrate Eid or might be cursing these clothes in future. Our Government is very proud of enforcing smart lockdown as they say, but what they are enforcing is Confused Lockdown in which everyone is confused, which way should they adopt to violate the social distancing and Government is confused whether they should let people die of hunger or Coronavirus. May Allah give us some sense to understand that we cannot live without life and cannot die if we have life in our hands.
MAMOONA SHAKOOR
Islamabad
Jesus’ miracle
The Holy Bible forbids the consumption of alcohol and many people keep asking me then why did Jesus turn water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana. Here is the proper answer which I’ve got after praying to the Holy Spirit. The miracle which Jesus performed at the wedding feast at Cana was not the wine which is made from grapes which we have today.
It was a Mediterranean drink made from various kinds of fruits known as ‘sherbet’. The people during Jesus’ time called it wine. Also, the wine which is drunk by priests during the Holy Eucharist is consecrated wine and not Port wine like the one sold in shops. It contains only 15 per cent of alcohol which does not make a person drunk. We are given a taste of it at the Tabor Retreat Centre every day during the Mass.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, Indi
