#book set in pakistan

[girlinaswing]

My Bookish World Tour- ASIA

12 done and 38 to go… YemenChinaSouth Korea JapanPhilippinesTajikistanUzbekistanKazakhstanKyrgyzstanNorth KoreaMalaysiaThailandMyanmarNepalBangladeshPakistanAfghanistanJordanCambodiaLaosVietnamTurkmenistanSri LankaIndonesiaBruneiArmeniaHong KongAzerbaijanBahrainCyprusEast TimorPalestineIranMaldivesTimor-LesteLebanonIraqSaudi ArabiaGeorgiaBhutanSingaporeIsraelKuwaitQatarOmanSyriaUnited Arab…

[secular-jew]

Please share and help stop propaganda and educate people.

I was born to hate jews. By Kaseem Hafiz

It was part of my life. I never questioned that. I was not born in Iran or Syria. I was born in England. My parents moved there from Pakistan. Theirs was the typical immigrant story: Move to the West hoping to create a better life for themselves and their children.

We were a devoted Muslim family, but not extremists or radicals in any way. We only wanted the best for everyone - everyone except the Jews. The Jews, we thought, were aliens living in stolen Muslim land, occupiers involved in a genocide against the Palestinian people. Our hatred was therefore justified and just. And it left me and my friends vulnerable to radical extremist arguments. If the Jews were as evil as we've always believed, shouldn't those who support them - Christians, Americans and others in the West - be just as evil?

All of this had its desired effect. At least it did on me. It changed the way I looked at the world. I began to look at the suffering of Muslims, including in Britain, as the fault of Western imperialism. The west was at war with us, and the Jews controlled the west. My experience at the university in the UK only reinforced my increasingly radical conviction. Hating Israel was a badge of honor. Set up an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian rally, and you were sure to attract a huge, approver

While in uni, I decided that the protests and propaganda against Israel were not enough. Real jihad requires violence. So I made plans to join the real fight. I want to drop out of college and join terrorist training camp in Pakistan. But, fortunately for me, fate intervened - in a bookstore.

I came across a book called The Case for Israel by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz. The case for Israel? Which case could that be? The title itself infuriated me, and I started reading the pages almost like a travesty. How ill-informed, how stupid, can this guy be to defend the defenseless? Well, he was a Jew. That must have been the answer

👉Still I am reading. And what I read challenged all my dogmas about Israel and the Jews: I read that it was not Israel who created the Palestinian refugee crisis, it was the Arab countries, the UN and the corrupt Palestinian leadership. I read that Jews did not exploit the Holocaust to create the state of Israel; the movement to create a modern Jewish state dating back to the 19th. century, and eventually to the beginning of the Jewish people almost 4000 years ago. And I read that Israel is not engaged in genocide against the Palestinians. On the contrary, the Palestinian population has actually doubled in just twenty years.

👉What I saw with my own eyes was even more challenging than what Dershowitz had written. Instead of apartheid I saw Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisting. Instead of hate, I saw acceptance, even compassion. I saw a violent, modern, liberal democracy, full of flaws, for sure, but fundamentally decent. I saw a country that wanted nothing but to live in peace with its neighbors. I watched my hate melt before my eyes. I knew just then what I had to do.

Too many people on this planet are consumed by the same hate that consumed me. They have been taught to despise the Jewish state - many Muslims through their religion, many others by their university professors or student groups.

So here's my challenge to anyone who feels this way: do what I did - seek the truth for yourself. If the truth can change me, it can change anyone.

I am Kasim Hafeez from Prager University.

[angelicguy]

pakistan tekken is so crazy its taken me a really long time to even kind of realize how it works. because korean tekken its really defensive obviously- if i had to condense it its "play defense and use good movement, let your opponent show their habits, and make reads from their habits/step and whiff the moves they throw out" with the idea being that you take as little risk as possible while still taking the damage as it comes. thats a huge generalization, and obviously people play different, but its how they are known to play (aggressive players like ulsan notwithstanding)

but pakistani players absolutely blast their asses every time. because (and this is what i THINK but its also what ive seen) pakistani players have this insane calculated aggression that they apply that completely breaks thru that defensive playstyle- you can see it in their choices of nina, feng, drag, etc. they find these characters that have moves that have a safe answer for every defensive option that there is (quick tracking moves, unseeable lows, long range mids) and just fucking pitbull the hell out of you with very low passive risk to themselves (by passive risk i mean they dont use punishable moves or duckable strings that can be seen/punished on first or second use). like this weird blender of attacks that absolutely decimate the defensive playstyle, because DEFENSIVE READS are based off of thinking "oh he did this last time/ he only has a set of options here, i can answer that with a specific option" but since they rotate thru their options so well they just scissor them to death. they do not wait or back up for the first 2/3rds of the set. theres nothing to whiff punish cuz they dont whiff, and you cant play patient because if you stand still they just kill you!

but the most DEVILISH thing about them is that they still have incredible movement and defense. atif butt vs keisuke and book at CEO showed this really well- he would just mog them endlessly for the first match, and about halfway thru the second match once they start catching on to their baseline offensive pace and start hitting back with the requisite counter offensive, they go SUPER defensive and start making those korean style reads back at them. its crazy. its like they have that defensive style as a fallback when the aggression starts biting them- but then their OPPONENT becomes too secure in the idea that theyre fighting aggro, and once they pick up on that they use their opponents responses against them its fucking evil

[timelesslords]

I’ve been meaning to make a post like this for a while, so here are some fiction anti-colonial/anti-apartheid/anti-genocide books that I read for the cultural studies concentration of my literature degree, that I think are super readable/accessible and don’t see recommended often:

1. The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan

A novel about a boy who was a victim of a terrorist attack as a child and how he becomes radicalized by the same terrorist group that killed his friends as a young adult.

Additional/background reading:

2. The Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam

a 24 hour snapshot of the last few weeks of the Sri Lankan civil war where the Sri Lankan goverment bombed a no fire zone, killing as many as 70,000 civilians, the vast majority of whom belonged to the Tamil ethnic minority. (this book is extremely graphic but very worth reading imo)

Background/additional reading:

3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith

A post-colonial novel spanning several decades centering on two WWII veterans living in Britain; one a white Englishman, one a Bangladeshi immigrant.

additional/background reading:

4. An Imperfect Blessing by Nadia Davis

A novel about the Indian community in South Africa, told primarily through the lens of a teenage girl and taking place during the dissolution of the apartheid state.

background/additional reading:

5. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

A modern retelling of Antigone set in post-9/11 Britain and Pakistan.

additional/background reading:

[geminipixels]

A bookworm and her finance bro older brother.

Meet the Sharma siblings, Rahul and Rima. I wanted to make some more ethnically diverse sims for my game. Ethnic wise, these two were inspired based upon South Asia, specifically India and Pakistan. Below are their download links if you're interested in adding them in game. Feel free to change them to fit your sim style, or use them as townie’s for your saves or to populate worlds.

Also, credits and much love to all the CC creators whose custom content was used 💞.

Download Rima here.

Rima is an aspiring journalist and self-proclaimed author pursuing a degree in Communications. While socializing isn't really her thing and she can be a bit clumsy, she has a creative heart of gold. Although she hasn't had any real life romances, she definitely has a few book-tok lovers somewhere on her bookshelf...

Download Rahul here.

Rahul is a typical finance bro. He spent his years at university investing his parents money, arguing over stocks and drafting up business plans. Graduating with honors in business, he plans to become a CEO of a mega-corporation somewhere in Bridgeport. Though he'll always make time to be there for his little sister.

Sidenote: Only their everyday looks have Custom Content. Every other outfit used packs and base game.

They may appear slightly different in your game due to my personal gshade preset, lightning mod, default eyes and skin and slider. My slider settings are set to 2 for facial and 1 for body, below are some links of my sliders and skin I used on the siblings.

My sliders are all from OneEuroMutt found here.

My default eyes are from here by Brntwaffles.

My default skin is made by @nectar-cellar found here. Though for these specific sims I used a skin by Brntwaffles called Fresh Blue found here.

[acmoorereadsandwrites]

Books to Try if You Loved Miraculous Ladybug

The way I have always viewed media is that it’s stories, first and foremost, and then the medium comes next. Medium can make a lot of difference in how stories are told, with visual media working quite well for the superhero genre and interiority shining in the written format. I want to draw attention to books that I think lovers of certain stories would also enjoy while also throwing in a few extras along the way and highlighting a diverse range of authors and genres.

If you loved the romance between a biracial artist and someone who likes science, try:

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

Rooney Gao grew up the daughter of a famous artist and wants to make a name for herself in the art world independent of her mother, going by the moniker Red String Girl. Drawing from Chinese folklore about the red string of fate, Rooney also follows ideas of destiny in many aspects of her life, including love. Jack Liu is a scientist at NASA who is perfect for Rooney, but his own insecurities and resistance to fate might be enough to keep them apart.

If you loved the Parisian setting and strong fashion components, try:

If I Promise You Wings by A. K. Small

A. K. Small spent part of her life in the Sacré-Cœur of Paris and you can feel the city come alive in her story of grief and moving on. Alix Leclaire has graduated high school and lands her dream job at the Mille et une Plume, a feather boutique that plays a part in the haute couture fashion scene. Despite her happiness, the loss of her best friend is still a fresh wound for Alix to heal from.

If you loved the Parisian setting and the exploration of a character with anxiety, but want more of the Eiffel Tower and a Queer historical bent, try

The Paris Affair by Maureen Marshall

Fin Tighe is working for Gustave Eiffel as they work to build the Eiffel Tower in time for the World’s Fair. But as the illegitimate son of an English earl with no other heirs, the guardian of a ballerina cousin who wants to focus on her craft, and the love interest of a member of the Parisian elite, Fin and his anxiety are going to be tested in ways he never thought possible.

If you loved the dynamic of Adrien coming from a famous family and Marinette coming from a working class family with the struggles of making friendships, try

Love at First Knight by Megan Clawson

When Daisy Hasting, LARPer enthusiast from a family of LARPer enthusiasts, is volunteered to be a temporary knight at the Tower of London for a summer camp, the last thing she expects it to find love, let alone with a member of the royal family.

If you liked the secret identities but want a more grounded romance, try

Maya’s Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja

School teacher Maya Mirza has agreed to an arranged marriage with her friend from college, but on her way to Pakistan, she Sarfaraz, a Pakistani-Canadian divorce lawyer who is cynical towards love and romance. Both keep meeting up as roadblock after roadblock appears on their way to Pakistan.

If you loved the magical girl elements, but want an adult POV, try

A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon trans. Anton Hur

When the protagonist is told that she is the legendary Magical Girl of Time, she’s thrust into the world of women with superpowers. From job expos to credit card debt to discussions around climate change to conversations surrounding grief and loss, this is the perfect book for people who grew up on the magical girl genre.

Bonus:

If you liked the monsters being people the MCs know and are impacted by strong feelings, try:

Princess Tutu

When Ahiru is transformed from a duck into the magical girl Princess Tutu to save Prince Mytho, she has to fight her own friends and grow closer to enemies to accomplish her goals, even at the risk of breaking her own heart. A metacontextual examination of opera, ballet, fairy tales, and broader storytelling, Princess Tutu scratches the Miraculous itch while also doing something wholly new.

You can also find this post on substack under:

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Andrew Doyle

Published: Dec 12, 2023

Towards the end of Christopher Marlowe’s play Tamburlaine Part Two, our marauding anti-hero burns a copy of the Quran, along with other Islamic books, as a kind of audacious test. “Now, Mahomet,” he cries, “if thou have any power, come down thyself and work a miracle.” Two scenes later, he is dead.

We might see this as a cautionary tale for our times. After all, it isn’t only Turco-Mongol conquerors who find themselves punished for Quran-burning. Last week, the Danish parliament voted to ban the desecration of all religious texts following a spate of protests in which copies of the Qur’an had been destroyed. Inevitably, the new law has been couched as a safety measure. This burning of the book, claims justice minister Peter Hummelgaard, “harms Denmark and Danish interests, and risks harming the security of Danes abroad and here at home”.

He has a point. Even unconfirmed accusations of Quran-burning can be sufficient to prompt extremist violence. In 2015, being accused of defiling the holy book, Farkhunda Malikzada was beaten to death by a ferocious mob in Afghanistan while bystanders, including police officers, did nothing to intervene. Many filmed the brutal murder on their phones and the footage was widely shared on social media. In 2022, a mentally unstable man called Mushtaq Rajput was similarly accused and tied to a tree and stoned to death in Pakistan. Earlier this year in Iran, it was reported that Javad Rouhi was tortured so severely that he could no longer speak or walk. He was sentenced to death for apostasy and later died in prison under suspicious circumstances.

But while we might anticipate that the desecration of the Quran would be proscribed in Islamic theocracies, it is troubling to see similar laws being passed in secular nations such as Denmark. The government had not been so faint-hearted when faced with similar problems in 2005. After cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed were published in Jyllands-Posten, a global campaign from Indonesia to Bosnia demanded that the Danish authorities take action. The government stood firm and the judicial complaint against the newspaper was dismissed.

In a free society this is the only justifiable response, albeit one that takes considerable courage. And the climate of intimidation that has descended since is a product of our collective failure to defend freedom of speech against the demands of militants. When the Ayatollah Khomeini pronounced his fatwa on Salman Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses, one would have hoped for a unified front on behalf of one of our finest writers. Instead, much of the literary and political establishment abandoned or even censured him. In the Australian television show Hypotheticals, the singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, implied that he would have no objections to Rushdie being burned alive.

That a work of fiction such as The Satanic Verses could not even be published today gives us some indication of the extent to which we have forsaken the principle of free speech. If we are so squeamish about the burning of Qurans, why were so many of us indifferent to the burning of Rushdie’s book on the streets of Bolton and Bradford? Yusuf Islam’s remark about the author’s immolation might have been flippant but, as Heinrich Heine famously wrote: “Where they burn books, they will in the end burn people too.”

The ceremonial burning of books in Germany and Austria in the Thirties has ensured that the act will always have a unique charge, and a disquieting, visceral effect. It is why, for instance, the most memorable scene in Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan is when the villain Steerpike sets fire to his master’s library. It is a gesture designed to repudiate the very heights of human achievement, to hurl his victim into a spiral of despair. When Rushdie saw his own novel publicly incinerated, he confessed to feeling that “now the victory of the Enlightenment was looking temporary, reversible”.

The burning of the Quran leaves many of us similarly troubled. We do not need to approve of the contents to sense that the destruction of a book is symbolic of a desire to limit the scope of human thought. When activists post footage of themselves gleefully setting fire to copies of Harry Potter, one cannot shake the similar suspicion that they would happily substitute the books with the author herself.

But while many of us find the burning of books instinctively rebarbative, to outlaw this form of protest is essentially authoritarian. And to reinstate blasphemy laws by specifying that only religious books are to be protected is fundamentally retrograde. Of course, such laws already exist in most Western countries in an unwritten form. In March, a 14-year-old autistic boy was suspended from his school in Wakefield, reported to the police, and received death threats after he accidentally dropped a copy of the Quran on the floor, causing some of the pages to be scuffed. He may not have committed a crime, but many people behaved as though he had.

And the same unwritten laws are in force in the fact that few would be brave enough to publish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed after the massacre at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015. Five years later, the schoolteacher Samuel Paty was beheaded on the streets of Paris simply for showing the offending images during a lesson on free speech. Closer to home, a teacher at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire is still in hiding after showing the images to his pupils and stirring the ire of a righteous mob.

The failure of the school’s headmaster, as well as the teaching unions, to support this man against the demands of religious fundamentalists is revealing. Why must those who claim to be defending the dignity of Muslims treat them as irascible children? At the same time, as Sam Harris recently pointed out, there is an oddity in the fact that so many Muslims do not appear to be alarmed that “their community is so uniquely combustible”.

The bitter reality is that terrorism works, particularly when so many governments across the Western world are seemingly willing to fritter away our bedrock of liberal values. This has been actuated, in part, by an alliance of two very different forms of authoritarianism: ultra-conservative Islamic dogma and the safetyist ideology of “wokeness”. The latter has always claimed that causing offence is a form of violence, and the former has been quick to adopt the same tactics. This is why protesters outside Batley Grammar School asserted that the display of offensive cartoons was a “safeguarding” issue, and the Muslim Council of Britain criticised the school for not maintaining an “inclusive space”. The same censorious instincts have been updated, and are now cloaked in a more modish language.

In a civilised and pluralistic society, the burning of a holy book might provoke a variety of responses — anger, disbelief, or just a shrug of the shoulders — but it should never lead to violence. Back when The Onion still had some bite, the website satirised this “unique combustibility” through the depiction of a graphic sexual foursome between Moses, Jesus, Ganesha and Buddha. The headline said it all: “No One Murdered Because Of This Image”.

Freedom of speech and expression still matters, and if that means a few hotheads and mini-Tamburlaines might burn their copies of the Quran then so be it. It is unfortunate that we have reached the point where Islam must be ring-fenced from ridicule or criticism, whether due to fear of violent repercussions or a misguided and patronising effort to promote social justice. But for this state of affairs we ultimately have only ourselves to blame, and in particular our tendency to capitulate to religious zealots when they seek exemption from the liberal consensus.

==

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Police in eastern Pakistan arrested more than 100 Muslim men and charged them under anti-terrorism laws for attacking a Christian father and son over allegations they desecrated pages of Islam’s holy book, officials said Monday.

The mob went on a rampage Saturday after locals said they saw burnt pages of the Quran outside the two Christian men's house and accused the son of being behind it, setting their house and shoemaking factory on fire in the city of Sargodha in Punjab province, said senior police officer Assad Ijaz Malhi. They also attacked the son...

[lilacmuse]

Field Notes from a Tranquil Heart

Two weekends ago, the Sunday school team at my masjid hosted a phenomenal expo revolving around the life of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)- it was one of the most beautiful, moving events i've experienced in a very long time. Unfortunately, i woke up feeling excruciatingly sick and realized i'd probably miss it; i had a sinus infection that had been building for weeks. Despite taking two different medications, i still felt too weak and feverish to get out of bed in the morning. The allergy meds then made me drowsy, so i fell back asleep at noon and didn't wake up again until nearly 3. As i woke up, i checked the time and realized i was going to miss my timeslot for the expo. After staying in bed a while longer and debating if i should skip it to let my body rest, i felt a strong pull in my soul that told me i needed to go, so i sleepily got out of bed and got ready. I slipped on a silky kimono-style abaya that i got in Pakistan last winter- the style makes me feel like a sensei, jedi, and Disney princess all in one (my 3 personalities, basically)- and paired it with a light yellowish-gold hijab with a lovely watercolor design reminiscent of a Farshchian painting.

By the time i left home, i realized i'd probably only catch the last 20 minutes, but i figured i'd make the most of that time and appreciate what i could. As i entered the masjid, i panicked- it appeared to be completely empty. After wondering if i'd somehow missed the entire thing, i finally spotted a girl, asked her where the expo was, and she told me it was upstairs. I took the elevator up and stepped out, fully expecting to see a bustling crowd of people, but the hallways were empty. I roamed around like a lost little lamb for a bit, then heard voices down the hall. I shyly trailed after them, said salaam, and asked them if they knew where to go. Thankfully, something about my face just screams "girl who couldn't navigate her way out of a paper bag", so one of them kindly led me to the right place :) I'm not too proud to admit that i would've probably wandered around for another 15 minutes if he hadn't helped me 🙈

As i stepped inside the expo room, to say that i was awestruck would be an understatement... i was absolutely floored and nearly moved to tears when i saw how beautiful, intricate, and thoughtfully executed every aspect was. I rarely ever use the word 'perfect' to describe anything, but it was as close to perfect as i can fathom; every detail was a true labor of the heart. Sometimes, people create beautiful things out of creative impulse or aesthetic passion- this event was a byproduct of pure, boundless, unadulterated love. The love was so deep and vivid, you could palpably feel it in every detail. I don't know if i've ever experienced an event so clearly overflowing with sincere devotion for Rasulallah (pbuh) and his beloved family... just thinking about it is making my heart melt all over again.

There were displays featuring every aspect of the Prophet's life, including a beautiful scene regarding his birth, presentations on his life pre and post-hijrah, a stunning rendition of the Cave of Thawr, various replica artifacts on display, tables dedicated to his favorite foods and perfumes, a storybook corner for children, a separate display featuring recommended books and biographies about the Prophet (pbuh) for adults, a stunning presentation on Imam Sadiq (as) and the Ja'fari school of thought, a photo area for families, and themed favors for every attendee that corresponded with each segment. Every step of the expo featured a brief informative speech given by a designated volunteer, along with corresponding videos and visuals. There were also akhlaq tips based on his mannerisms, and relevant infographics, timelines, and ahadith placed throughout the room- even the layout and set up was genius. One corner of the room had a stunningly beautiful display depicting Haudh-e Kausar; the beauty of it took my breath away.

As i walked through the expo, i found myself wishing everyone in the world could be there to experience it; it was life-changing. I kept imagining the excitement my 2-year-old niece would've felt if she were there- all the colors, sounds, and textures would delight her, and she naturally loves anything connected to the Prophet (pbuh) and Ahlulbayt (as) :) I know we often lament about how the world is getting worse day by day, but this is our saving grace- with a bit of effort and ikhlas, we can vanquish the darkness through acts of immeasurable beauty and light. The thought that the younger generation is going to grow up experiencing things like this fills me with so much happiness and hope.

As the expo concluded, there was an optional meditation session that centered around love for the Prophet and his family, as well as enhancing one's gratitude and love for Allah (swt)... to say that i was on cloud 9 would be an understatement :) Without asking me to explain my lateness (lol 🙈), one of the organizers kindly allowed me to stay for the next timeslot so i could experience the expo fully, and i'm so glad i did... i nearly teared up during the station discussing the Prophet's birth, then again while listening to his life story, then again during the section on his passing. I think the highlight of the evening was just seeing the children's faces light up as they went through the expo, their excitement at answering questions, and the enthusiasm with which they listened and learned- getting to see the soil of a young heart be cultivated with love is an incomparably pure feeling.

As often happens, the event held a subtle mystical dimension for me. One of the segments covered the names, virtues, and titles of the Prophet (pbuh), and the hosts had printed hundreds of these names onto tiny green slips of paper that they placed into various cups. After telling us that they'd made the niyyah beforehand for each person to receive a name that was spiritually meant for them, they asked us to choose one at random. The name i got was 'Mansoor'- the one helped by God. It immediately made me smile; i always, always need help, and God always, always sends it; this has been a core theme in my life since childhood- the subtle yet powerful ways He takes care of me baffles me and makes me laugh sometimes. It also reminded me of one of my most profound spiritual experiences last year... i never wrote about it here, but maybe i will someday.

When i went through the expo for the second time, i received the name 'Tayyab'- meaning good or pure. It felt like such a beautiful dose of reassurance; i'd spent the previous day wrestling with the central fear i've had since childhood: could God ever regard me as a good person when i have so many sins and shortcomings to my name? I know the answer is theoretically yes- He is the Infinitely Merciful- but i've always felt like a complicated quagmire of sins, complexities, and desires; though i love goodness deeply, i've never felt like i could cleanly place myself among the 'good'. I feel more like a complex, deeply human amalgamation of light and shadow, desire and virtue; an array of moral complexities that defies conventional categorization. Receiving that name felt like a gentle kiss from the Divine; a reminder that He sees me from the inside, with a Mercy i will never have the consciousness to fathom. Every time my doubts clamor at the gate of my heart, His gentle, ever-flowing love cuts through every fear and makes the unruly river of my soul feel more like a verdant oasis.

As the segment concluded for a second time, i was about to leave, but i felt an inner tugging to wait; it felt like God had one last message for me. I asked the host if i could choose one more name, and she happily said yes. I said Bismillah and made my selection- the name i got this time was 'Shaheed'. I've alluded to this a bit here, but there's no word i've reflected on more often or more deeply over the past year than this... i've never felt so attuned to that word and its meaning as i have since reflecting on the deeper implications of Palestine and the shifting consciousness of humanity. In my heart of hearts, even though i deeply love being alive for all the promise and potential and magic this life holds, there is a deeper part of me that secretly yearns to taste shahadat before i return to my Creator- i've realized recently that this is one of the specific qualities i long for in a partner. Even if we're living a comfortable, sheltered life in America, i want him to be the kind of person who wouldn't hesitate to rush to the aid of the Imam of his time, no matter the risk. I know this might sound morbid or fanatical to the uninitiated, but i now understand that life and death are two beautifully inseparable halves of each other, and to fall in love with life also means falling in love with what we falsely presume to be its opposite. Death is not an end in my eyes; it's simply the bridge that'll bring me one step closer to my Beloved when He misses my soul enough. But if Malak ul Mawt is reading this: hold your horses, homie- i'm still young and i do still want a long, fulfilling life; i'll see you when i see you iA :)

-------------------------------

Last weekend, i took an absolutely incredible, phenomenal, life-changing course on Imam Mahdi (atf)- i've probably said this before, but i think it was one of my favorite classes ever :) It brought me so much fascination, joy, and comfort; there was so much i'd never considered before and could never have learned about on my own- i'd take it a hundred more times if i could, and i felt genuinely sad when it ended. There's so much i want to say about it, but i think that'll have to be a separate entry; there's a connection to some esoteric things, and i'm not sure how much i should write about here. On a much less lofty note: may Allah (swt) forgive me for the person i become every time i play Kahoot 🙈

On Tuesday evening, i went to a majlis for a childhood friend's uncle- even though i only remember speaking to him a handful of times, i'm going to miss him; he had such an indescribably beautiful spirit. He was an extremely passionate, artistic, creative man who made a name for himself as a famous director and producer in Pakistani theater, but behind the scenes he was a very simple, pure-hearted soul. If i had to describe how i remember him in one line: he was like sunshine in the form of a man, with kind, gentle eyes and an omnipresent smile.

His majlis was beautiful; i sat with my best friend, and something about the energy around us and between us made me feel so spiritually blissful and safe- there's just something about being around someone who knows you inside and out and loves you with the entirety of their being, with no hint of envy or malice- it's heavenly. The speech was slightly underwhelming, but i'd attended a Sunni youth halaqa the evening before, and the contrast between the two reminded me how much my heart thirsts for the love of the Ahlulbayt (as) when i'm in Sunni spaces; the love of Rasulallah (pbuh) will never feel complete without that love, because their love was such an intrinsic part of him. How could one know him, but not know that? I know there are many wonderful Sunni scholars who do, but many who seemingly don't, especially the weird dawah bros online (the Shi'a ones are terrible too, i think we should quarantine them all on an island together and allow them to duke it out Siffin-style). I used to think Nasibism in the modern era was a myth bc i didn't believe anyone could be that dumb (no offense, but full offense), but i see it more and more lately. I puzzled over that issue for a long time, until i started reading about the history of anti-Alid censorship that went on in the formation of early hadith literature, and so many things began to make sense. All that said- despite my deep, unwavering devotion to Shi'a Islam, i've never been in favor of stoking the flames of sectarian dissension; this is merely a subjective notation on what i've observed.

On that note: i've had this blog for about 12 years and have written and reblogged about Islam from its inception, but i've never written anything that would be injurious or hurtful to anyone from any other school of thought, because that would go against one of the chief aims of our beloved Prophet (pbuh): the cultivation of a truly unified ummah. The more deeply one examines the lives of each of our Imams (as), the more we see that they held on to this goal and sacrificed nearly everything for it, striving to maintain the unity of the ummah above seemingly everything but the preservation of Haqq itself... isn't it strange how so many people seem to miss that? I will never, ever have a soft corner in my heart for their enemies- love is not truly love without dissociation from those opposed to one's beloved- but my heart will always bow before the adab of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Ahlulbayt (as). Their behavior will always be the benchmark, not our own inclinations. There's a lot i've been thinking about regarding Islamic unity and i'll commit those thoughts in writing if God wills. I've gradually come to believe that we can't talk about the Faraj of Imam Mahdi (atf) without also talking about the unification of the Muslim ummah... i could be wrong, but i often get the feeling now that the former necessitates the latter. I'll write about this in greater detail when i can, but i think that's what my dream was about back in June.

If you made it this far, you deserve an honorary doctorate :)

& if you're reading this: i love you & i hope life is beautiful where you are :) ❤️

x r

[peppermintquartz]

Was volunteering at a local library for a couple hours. Had a nice time 😊

3-year-old girl wanted to get her own library card but was too shy. Her grandmother who spoke no English asked me to help to fill in the form. The girl has the same birthday as my husband 🌸 Shell be coming to the library with her kindergarten class to borrow books on her own for the first time tomorrow!

Pair of dudes were very polite asking me to help them locate a Chinese book on Pakistan, except they were actually looking for a book on Palestine. Unfortunately while the book was in the library, it wasn't on the shelves... That's why the library needs volunteers - to help with the shelving. Anyway, I told them to reserve a copy online and they'll be notified when the book can be located.

Another set of parents getting a library card for their daughter. Turns out this second girl is in the same kindergarten as the first one. Alas, the first child and her grandma had gone home by then.

People do not know how to place books back on library shelves

People do not know the purpose of the numbers on the spines of library books

My feet hurt and my thighs have been thoroughly worked out with the weighted squats

[harryforvogue]

how do i write if i am stationary all my life? all of the novels i read take place in italy, spain, pakistan, japan, finland. i want to write a setting i don’t know, but i’ve never been so how can i? these books have the culture and areas written like a bloody travel guide, that’s how well the authors know what they’ve written about.

[knarangg]

Good but could have been better

Tiger 3 (2023) : I had higher expectations from this but still I would keep it in my good books. Many positives were there, but negatives were there too. Salman Khan did well but the MVP of this movie was Katrina Kaif for me. Her action & her story were good👌👌

I liked the way they connected things to the past and gave a connected feeling although not sure what Tiger 3's events set up for the future. Zoya's past, Aatish's past with both Tiger & Zoya and Vienna Peace Summit connections were good.

Although the movie increases stakes by killing character but it had negligible effect. And the whole saving Pakistan plan & National anthem at the end might have been too extreme. But one good thing was that the movie did not have any unnecessary songs in between.

The direction in the bike chase scene at the start was a little creative, wanted something more from that Towel fight scene, VFX could have been improved & ofc, cameo of Pathaan , the banter of these two is always enjoyable.

And lastly, the post-credit scene, I was expecting to see JrNTR in it & it was a surprise to see Hrithik Roshan going rough & rogue and now I am excited to see what happens in War 2 . To conclude, Tiger 3 is a movie that looks good on paper but could have had better execution.

[richincolor]

Review: Seven Days by Rebeka Shaid

Publisher's Summary: This is a story about Noori and Aamir. A story about grief, family, and the unexpected turns life can take. A story of first love.

Noori has it all sussed out. She may only be fifteen and a Bollywood fanatic with an incredible lack of foresight, but she knows a thing or two about life and its messy heartaches. When she runs into Aamir, a scruffy desi dude with tea-stained eyes, her confused soul turns upside-down. There is something about him she can’t work out.

Aamir is trying to escape a misunderstood and painful past. When his world collides with Noori’s, life gets even more complicated. Invisible threads connect them. Will they both realize what's at stake, before they run out of time?

My Thoughts: Can you fall in love in a week? The question is posed on the cover of the book. Is it possible? This story attempts to provide an answer through the eyes of Noori and Aamir. There are cute rom-com tropes and humorous moments within their journey, but there is also grief and pain to be found.

Noori believes she knows what she needs next in life and is pretty set on her path. She's finding comfort with Rumi quotes and her dream to go to school in Pakistan. Before she can actually set her plan in motion though, she and Aamir cross paths.

As you might guess from the title, the book is divided a part for each day with one additional portion at the end. It is further divided between the main characters. It was very helpful to have the dual perspective as we can learn about each character through their own thoughts, but also in the way they are viewed by the other. The author still managed to provide slow reveals of their backstories though.

Both of them are having issues with their families and as they spend time with each other and share, they help each other see things they may not have been considering. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but in a comfortable way for the most part. The ending has a twist and then skips to the future kind of abruptly, but otherwise, it followed a typical rom-com arc.

Recommendation: This is a romance, but is also a book about identity, family, hope, and how to move through the world even when things seem out of control. Readers who have faced loss may connect with the characters and anyone can appreciate the smiles and chuckles along the way.

Extra: Interview with author at PaperBound Magazine Publisher: Walker Books Pages: 299 Pub date: January 2024 Review copy: Purchased

[rogloptimist]

book recs for aapi heritage month 🕺🕺

a bit late, but happy aapi heritage month! i’ve been getting back into reading this past year after my pandemic slump, so here’s some books that i really enjoyed by aapi authors 

the poppy war trilogy by rf kuang - this series is a fantasy based on 19th-20th century china. it’s hilariously written with some of my favorite characters of all time, and deals with some really heavy topics like colonialism, the effects of warfare, and classism in a brutally honest fashion. i have so much to say about it but that’s for a much longer post-

babel: an arcane history by rf kuang - at this point i will read this woman’s grocery list, she is such a skilled writer and genius storyteller. babel is set in an alternate 1800s oxford university, in a world which the british empire’s power is built upon magic silver. babel unpacks the intrinsic ties between academia and empire from the perspective of someone on the inside and the concept of resistance. it also really hits home to the feeling of disconnect from your native language as a bilingual/third culture kid- overall just brilliant book imo. the magic system is also really interesting (as is that of rf kuang’s other work)- she builds upon the real world to create a fantasy that is engaging, but also very representative of the motifs of her work?? idk how to explain it but 🙏rebecca🙏

you’re the only one i’ve told: the stories behind abortion by meera shah - you’re the only one i’ve told is a collection of stories about abortion entrusted to shah, a medical practitioner who works as an abortion provider. the book humanizes these people and their experiences from a variety of different backgrounds and circumstances, and is a really compelling read. 

we have always been here: a queer muslim memoir by samra habib - we have always been here is a memoir about  habib’s experience growing up as an ahmadi muslim in pakistan, coming to canada as refugees in their teenage years, and grappling with queer identity within an environment where their body and personhood was thought to have been needed to be controlled. habib discusses faith, sexuality, and love through a lens of self discovery and finding community that you didn’t know existed. 

the henna wars by adiba jaigirdar - this book is set in dublin, and follows a young bangladeshi girl named nishat. nishat has fallen for an estranged childhood friend, flávia, who just so happens to be her rival in an upcoming school business competition. and by some luck, they both have chosen to create the same business; henna tattoos. i’m a sucker for fluff so this book got me, but it also deals with appropriation and queer romance (particularly from a 3rd culture experience) quite delicately. nishat’s relationship with her sister was also so well written, and i think was one of the most compelling bonds in this book!

this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar - okay i’m still in the process of finishing this book, but it has been so good so far! this is a story about two rival agents moving through a war that stretches across time, fighting tooth and nail for their own victory in a vaguely apocalyptic world. they begin a correspondence that spills into something that could change the course of time extremely literally. the writing style and descriptions are gorgeous, and the fragmented format of letters jumping across thousands of years is a really interesting reading experience. very cool book!

on earth we’re briefly gorgeous by ocean vuong - god this man is such a talent- everything good you’ve heard about his work is true and you should go read it rn. on earth we’re briefly gorgeous is written in the form of a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, and tells a story that crosses over 3 generations with it’s epicenter rooted in vietnam. the narrator unpacks how the effects of warfare, immigration and generational trauma have shaped his relationship with his mother and his own life. i’m not doing it justice (not for any of these rlly i cannot elevator pitch books), but vuong’s writing is so beautiful and intimate yet quiet? 💃💃🙏🫶👍🙏👌💃

that’s all i have for now, if you have any recs pls do tell!! to my fellow asian/pacific islander americans, your voices and stories deserve to be uplifted and celebrated without being fetishized, appropriated or pigeonholed. have a great may! 

[dertaglichedan]

A tourist has been dragged from a police station and killed by a mob in north-west Pakistan after being accused of blasphemy.

The police had been attempting to protect the man from the large group in the town of Madyan, a town in Swat district.

The mob had gathered after the man was accused of desecrating the Quran, Islam's holy book, on Thursday.

Lynchings are not uncommon after an accusation of blasphemy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan.

A Christian man was attacked last month after being accused of burning pages of the Quran, dying shortly afterwards.

Video of this latest incident has prompted outrage on social media in Pakistan. Footage shows the man's body being paraded through the streets and then set alight.

Police confirmed that the tourist had been "torched" and some 11 people were injured in the incident.