At least six people have been killed and dozens injured in Afghanistan after protests spread over the burning of copies of the Koran at a US airbase.
One person was killed in Kabul, one in the eastern city of Jalalabad and at least four in Parwan province. (Complete news)
I accept, we are the most intelligent group of people EVER!
Hanif Kureishi on “The most fascinating place in the world”
Award-winning author Hanif Kureishi gives his insight on modern Pakistani literature and on turning ideas into best sellers.
Asfandyar Khan - About her
Shot at 968th death anniversary of Sufi Saint Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (Data Gunj Baksh) 990-1077 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Artist: Asfandyar Khan (check/buy his music: asfandyarkhan.bandcamp.com)
Track: About her
Director: Usman Malik
Post-Production: tisvr Media Studios (tisvr.com)
Shot on Canon 7D with 50mm and 15-85mm lenses.
Photos from the event can be found here: flickr.com/photos/ujmi/sets/72157628980808247/
Ladies and gentlemen, finally I am ready to share my first music video with you. I know I could do things different, but it was a pretty spontaneous shoot. Looking forward to your comments and critique.
(Source: vimeo.com)
TedTalks: Moral psychology and the its matrix.
(via zushan)
From video: Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we’re left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.
My add: This is what I am going to refer anyone who asks me again, what I really believe in or why I am (kind of) a Centrist?
Shit Muslims Say
Sheikh Zubair is a Muslim, ISRAEL! and of course are Shia’ts even Human!?!
With the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the even more puritanical Salafist Al Nour Party having stunned both themselves and Egyptians by garnering more than 60 percent of the seats in Egypt’s parliamentary elections, we’re about to see a unique lab test for the Middle East: What happens when political Islam has to wrestle with modernity and globalization without oil?
Islamist movements have long dominated Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both the ayatollahs in Iran and the Wahhabi Salafists in Saudi Arabia, though, were able to have their ideology and the fruits of modernity, too, because they had vast oil wealth to buy off any contradictions. Saudi Arabia could underutilize its women and impose strict religious mores on its society, banks and schools. Iran’s clerics could snub the world, pursue nuclearization and impose heavy political and religious restrictions. And both could still offer their people improved living standards, because they had oil. (Complete article)
Sitting out in Sun reading “Marxism and other Western Fallacies” by the great Persian philosopher Ali Shari’ati. Am only few pages in but am really enjoying myself. This is also by the way a prime example of highly intelligent literature published posthumous with a completely retarded preface. I have never read a more horrendous apology for Iran’s Islamic revolution and the excesses they committed shortly being in power. (mobile)
- January 7
- , 2012
Misunderstood’ Mughal princes discussed
Lives of two Mughal princes, whose character sketches have been distorted by historians, their relations, religious views and a bitter struggle over political control of the culturally and economically rich empire, were explored at a programme attended by a small gathering of people on Wednesday evening.
Dara Shikoh, heir apparent of Emperor Shah Jahan, and his younger brother, Aurangzeb, were the central figures of the interesting discourse, New perspectives on the Mughals: the case of Dara Shikoh , held at T2F. (complete news)
my add: I wish they had at least posted a video of the proceeding online. If you are interested in the politics of Pakistan and South Asia, particularly with the Religious dynamics and history - you will enjoy reading this piece and perhaps will find pointers on what to read next.
Though a heir apparent of Emperor Shah Jahan, he was sidelined by his younger brother Emperor Aurangzaib by a mixture of superior military strategy and using Religion as his tool. Dara (taken from Persian Darius) with his unorthodox mystical religious views and artistic sensibilities proved no match for his younger brother, finding himself in clutches of death as an Apostate and a Mutineer. Our history went on to ignore vital details (something we continue till today) painting younger brother in golden colours while literally forgetting the older Dara.
History later shows how Aurangzaib who took the reigns in name of religion unlike his predecessors retorted to course of actions never seen before; causing the rift with Sikhs (wars with Sikhs, some even link this to the eventual blood bath of refugees on both side in 1947) and Hindus. This sometime is seen as a public outlook to appease those who supported him against his brother, because on other hand he kept on increasing number of Hindus in Administrative roles and kept on helping Hindus and Sikhs build religious temples or expand them.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Projections
One of the best use of projection I have ever seen. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has this very distinct appeal, and this light show really went very well with that.
From the video:
In celebration of UAE National Day 2011, Projection and design by Obscura Digital. 44 projectors with a combined brightness of 840,000 lumens were used to cover a surface 600ft wide x 351ft high
- December 21
- , 2011
Displaying similarities between Christianity and Shi’ism
KARACHI - The opening of a two-person show – Komail Aijazuddin’s ‘Altars’ and Muhammad Ali’s ‘Condolence Theatre’ – was recently held at the Canvas Gallery. People from all walks of life, including artists Sameera Raja and Durriya Kazi as well as Safinaz Muneer from the famous designer-duo Sana Safinaz, attended the launch of the exhibition that presents the perspectives of two Shia artists about the tragedy of Karbala. (complete news)
- December 15
- , 2011
Well my salafi friends refuse to pray behind me
Well what else is new on here and outside of Tumblr. People will say anything to dehumanize your existence and I don’t have an ounce of respect for such people.
Too bad for your nawasib friends. Would have been their only accepted prayer in their whole lives!
my add: Apologies for crudeness here, but how is your reply any different from that unfortunate Salafi’s which remorsecode mentioned?
(Source: st3pintoreality)
CAIRO: An Islamic cleric residing in Europe said that women should not be close to bananas or cucumbers, in order to avoid any “sexual thoughts.”
The unnamed sheikh, who was featured in an article on el-Senousa news, was quoted saying that if women wish to eat these food items, a third party, preferably a male related to them such as their a father or husband, should cut the items into small pieces and serve.
He said that these fruits and vegetables “resemble the male penis” and hence could arouse women or “make them think of sex.”
He also added carrots and zucchini to the list of forbidden foods for women.
The sheikh was asked how to “control” women when they are out shopping for groceries and if holding these items at the market would be bad for them. The cleric answered saying this matter is between them and God.
Answering another question about what to do if women in the family like these foods, the sheikh advised the interviewer to take the food and cut it for them in a hidden place so they cannot see it. (via almaswithinalmas)
My add: And then some of us complain?
(Source: bikyamasr.com)
Prostitutes peeking out from the doorways of their brothel. Photograph by Margaret Bourke-White. Lahore, Pakistan, 1946. (via legrandcirque)
My add: I last went to the red light area of Lahore (called Shahi Muhala - Royal Enclave, or Heera Mandi - Diamond Market) around 2005/06 and it is nothing like this now. But still a very dynamic part of Lahore with the best food I have ever tasted in my life. Two very important things I can never forget from that area would be, how once I saw a plague outside a house which read in Urdu, “this is a house of respectable people, please do not bother” and another how during Islamic month of Muahrram these women were sitting outside offering passing by people free Sharbat and Milk (part of a Muslim tradition where people offer free drinks “Sabeel” to passerby in memory of hardships Prophet’s family faced in desert).
Need to go back for a proper shoot soon.
Do not walk proudly on the earth; your feet cannot tear apart the earth nor are you as tall as the mountains.
Quran 17:37(Source: yourunlikelyhero, via silentlydrawn)
I am so amazed by those who are being oppressed, and at the same time mourn for Hossein (A.S) who lived as a freeman and died as one.
Dr. Ali Shariati (1933-1975 Iranian revolutionary and sociologist, who focused on the sociology of religion).
Actual Persian text: خود زیر شلاق ظلم و ستم زندگی میکنند،و بر حسینی میگریند که آزادانه زیست و آزادانه مرد
