The First Voice

  "Silence is the language of God; all else is poor interpretation."   Rumi Before writing a single word, I am deeply mindful that my writing has flaws, as I am a human being with plenty of shortcomings. I simply consider myself lucky and very cautious, to try to put into words the experiences that help me in my life. Just a few lessons learned from the life of the Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him). This is just a glimpse, a single drop, or perhaps even less than a tiny shabnam (morning dew) from an ocean that is infinitely deep and wide. Hazrat Aisha (RA) beautifully summarized Muhammad ( Peace be upon him).  Essence, when she said: "His  PBUH character was the Qur'an." The philosopher Muhammad Rafiuddin also noted that the Qur'an is the word of Allah Kareem and that this universe is the work of Allah Kareem during the life of the Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him).   You can find both elements intertwined. Prophet Muhammad PBUH did not just ...

I hope the blessed morning of Arafah brings peace, mercy, and happiness to our brothers and sisters in Islam and to all of humanity. Ameen. While sitting in the masjid this morning for Fajr prayer, and listening to Imam Zaid speak about the preparation for Eid al-Adha prayers and share a few beautiful Hadith related to this blessed occasion, I wrote down a few thoughts that were coming into my heart. One thing many of us regularly do is come to the masjid to pray. Yet we often forget to recognize the people who dedicate their lives to serving the masjid and the community, including our imams and countless volunteers. Today, I especially want to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of our imams. They help ensure that the masjid remains not only a place of worship, but also a sanctuary where communities can grow and thrive with the values we hope to pass on to future generations. They are there before most of us arrive and remain long after everyone leaves. Imams live in the same ...

Life has a strange way of teaching us the most valuable lessons. Sometimes those lessons come from successful people, mentors, books, or difficult experiences. But once in a while, life sends a teacher so unexpected and so simple that it changes your soul forever. For me, that teacher was a mother Killdeer bird. One morning, I arrived at my office and parked my car as usual. As I walked toward the building on the same path I had taken countless times before, I noticed something different on the gravel near the entrance. The office administration had placed safety cones around a small area and blocked people and cars from crossing through it. At first, I did not understand why. But as I looked closer, I saw a small bird sitting quietly on the gravel. Instinctively, I changed my direction and carefully walked around her. At that moment, I had no idea that I was standing in front of one of the greatest teachers life would ever send me. Every morning after that, I started stopping to obser...

A Simple Idea That Could make a difference in one life at a time. One morning, I went out to get some bagels for my daughters from a bagel shop near my house. It was a quick trip, just picking up breakfast for my daughters as they were getting ready for school. Their bagel request came at the very last minute as they woke up, and I did not have much time to think just went and got it done. As I was driving I saw on the other side of the road a big sort of object but when I got nearby I saw a woment holding her hand and crying with pain and all her belonging on a shopping cart near by her. I felt havey in my  heart. I wanted to go and check on her but I knew if I go I wont be able to make it on time to take breakfast and drop them to school. I called 911. The man on the phone told me help was on the way. On my way back, I grabbed a bagel, a coffee, and some water to bring to her. But by the time I returned, she was gone. I left the food by her cart and prayed that she is ok. It hit ...

A Simple Idea That Could make a difference in one life at a time. One morning, I went out to get some bagels for my daughters from a bagel shope near my house. It was a quick trip, just picking up breakfast for my daughters as there were getting ready for school there bagel request came a very last mint as they wakeup and I did not have much time to think just go and get it done. As I was driving I saw on the other side of the road a big sort of object but when I get near by I saw a women holding her hand and crying with pain and all her belonging on a shopping cart near by her. I felt heavy in my   heart. I wanted to go and check on her but I knew if I go I wont be able to make it on time to take breakfast and drop them to school. I called 911. The man on the phone told me help was on the way. On my way back, I grabbed a bagel, a coffee, and some water to bring to her. But by the time I returned, she was gone. I left the food by her cart and prayed that she is ok. It hit m...

Dear brothers and sisters of India, more than just fellow human beings, we are people who have lived together for centuries, sharing rich culture, history, struggles, and beautiful moments.   For hundreds of years, we have shared land, roots, and traditions. It is important to remind ourselves of a truth that is often forgotten: we, as Pakistanis, are not enemies of India. In fact, if you were to visit Pakistan, you would experience deep respect and hospitality, because our connection goes far beyond borders.   Our grandparents and their generations lived side by side. We share food, languages, traditions, and values that cannot be erased. Those of us living abroad see this clearly, Indians and Pakistanis are not enemies; they are friends, colleagues, and neighbors. They have the same dreams, same thoughts, and same concerns and hopes from life. A mutual respect develops because there are opportunities for people from these two nations to interact over a longer duration, i...

Lessons from a Lifetime of Learning Communication is the most vital skill we possess, yet it is rarely taught. We use it every single day, influencing the lives of everyone we encounter. Growing up in Pakistan, I didn't realize its weight until much later in life. As the saying goes, “If you learn from other people's mistakes, then no one will have to learn from yours.” I have paid the "full fee" for this lesson so that perhaps, by reading this, you won’t have to. 1. The Gap Between Knowledge and Delivery For years, I observed a common struggle in our communities. In Pakistan, I saw many people choose social obligations or even a popular TV drama over attending the masjid. The imam often expressed frustration that people were not attending the masjid as much as they should. It taught me a vital distinction: Having deep knowledge and communicating that knowledge are two entirely different skills. Many scholars possess immense wisdom from the Quran and Hadith, b...