Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Optimistic | Pessimist

I have been an optimistic person all my life....one of my friends actually criticizes me for being too optimistic about anything and everything but I can't help it, that's how I think, it comes naturally. That doesn't imply I am unrealistically positive or not sensible about it. Maybe I don't give up easily when my heart is inclined towards something. Generally being optimistic is considered a good thing and it works for me, though the disappointment level is amplified and so is the heart-ache if things don't work out the way I intended.Nevertheless so far so good . The potential of some serious pain hasn't stopped me from reaching out to a wish. All praise and thanks to Allah who has been most kind and most giving and I pray for his continued mercy and compassion for me and everyone I know. Ameen

I came across the article that I quote below. It's an interesting read. I could relate to the thinking style of a pathological pessimist who worries about the worst-case scenario but is willing to give it a shot. I do worry about the worst case too, at times I worry sick but i try to shoo away the negative thought by making dua.The article published in Times Online brings to surface the postive sides of being a pessimistic.

Imagine you are walking down the street. It is a lovely day — clear blue sky, a light breeze, sunshine. You marvel at what people refer to as “the miracle of life”. The leaves are so green! The birds are chirping! You are blissfully caught up in a state of vitamin D-induced euphoria. You think of the person you love most in the world, someone to whom you are profoundly attached. Visualising their face, you have a sense of infinite safety; you are filled with joy.

Then, you picture them dead.

Suddenly you are filled with dread, consumed by all the what-ifs that are contained in this thought. Thousands of them, like a shoal of sardines, racingare contained in this thought. Thousands of them, like a shoal of sardines, racing frantically through your mind. The more you try to push this thought away, the more space it occupies, expanding uncontrollably until you are not just experiencing the loss but are fixating on the details. The funeral arrangements, the life-insurance papers, questions of their Pin and the password for their e-mail.

Forget the leaves on the trees — you have more pressing concerns. Where’s the joy in being alive now? The sunshine has become oppressive; it’s no longer energising; it causes melanoma. You cross over to the shady side of the street. Read On

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

So be patient with admirable patience.

Here is a collection of some verses from the Holy Quran on Patience. If you come across any, other do share and we can build on the list. Thank you

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"Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure", [The Troops : 10].

"And We will certainly bestow on those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions", [The Bee : 96].

"And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk", [Mankind : 12].

"And be patient and persevering; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere", [Spoils of War : 46].

"But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all actions", [The Family of Imran : 186].

"But give glad tiding to those who patiently persevere, who say, when afflicted with calamity : 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return'", [The Cow : 155-156].

Chapter : 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse : 46

And seek help with patience and prayer, and this indeed is hard except for the humble in spirit

Chapter : 3 (Al-`Imran) Verse : 187

You shall surely be tried in your possessions, and your persons, and you shall surely hear many hurtful things from those who were given the Book before you, and from those who set up equals to Allah. But if you show patience and fortitude and act righteously, that indeed is a matter of high resolve.

Chapter : 12 (Yusuf) Verse : 19

And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said, 'This what you say is not true but your souls have made a great thing appear light in your eyes. So comely patience is now called for. And it is Allah alone Whose help is sought against what you assert.'

Chapter : 12 (Yusuf) Verse : 84

He replied, 'Nay, but your minds have embellished to you an evil thing. So now there is nothing left for me but goodly patience. May be Allah will bring them all to me; for He is the All-Knowing the Wise.'

Chapter : 14 (Ibrahim) Verse : 13

'And why should we not put our trust in Allah when He has showed us our appropriate ways? And we will, surely, bear with patience all the harm you do to us. So, in Allah let those who trust put their trust. '

Chapter : 16 (Al-Nahl) Verse : 128

And, O Prophet, endure thou with patience; and verily thy patience is possible only with the help of Allah. And grieve not for them, nor feel distressed because of their evil designs.

Chapter : 21 (Al-Anbiya') Verse : 86

And call to mind Ishmael and Idris and Dhu'l-Kifl. All were men of patience.

Chapter : 40 (Al-Mu'min) Verse : 56

So have patience. Surely, the promise of Allah is true. And ask forgiveness for them for the wrongs they have done thee and glorify thy Lord with His praise in the evening and the in morning.

Chapter : 46 (Al-Ahqaf) Verse : 36

Have patience, then, as the Messengers, possessed of high resolve, had patience; and be in no haste concerning them. On the day when they see that which they are threatened, it will appear to them as though they had not tarried in this world save for an hour of a day. This warning has been conveyed; and none but the disobedient people shall be destroyed.

Chapter : 50 (Qaf) Verse : 40

So bear with patience what they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting;

Chapter : 70 (Al-Ma`arij) Verse : 6

So be patient with admirable patience.

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

Smart Women

Barbara Walters, of Television's 20/20, did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan several years before the Afghan conflict.

She noted that women customarily walked five paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.

From Ms Walters' vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppres
sive Taliban regime, the women walked even further back behind their husbands, and seemed to appear happy to maintain the old custom.

Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, 'Why do you continue with an old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?'

The woman looked Ms Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation said...
'Land Mines.'

The moral of the story is (no matter what language you speak and where you go)

BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A SMART WOMAN!