View Point: Confronting sectarian extremists
This year's Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations brought along a pleasant surprise. Like in the good old times, the day passed off peacefully with the faithful taking out celebratory processions in different…
Definition of a shaheed
The word `shaheed` has assumed a common place in thelingua franca of the subcontinent, particularly of Pakistan, often used as part of the name of the deceased who has been…
Numbers narrative
THIS is essentially an age of narratives. Narratives not only shape people’s attitudes and behaviour they also form the contours of politics, identity and ideology. Each society has its own…
The value of good deeds
Human life is mortal. However, it can be made immortal by performing lasting good deeds. According to the Quran, life on earth has three phases. Allah says that it is…
Descent into depravity
‘To what depths of depravity can I not descend’ seems to have become the motto of several media people in Pakistan. A recent example is the venomous attack by an…
The two Taliban
Many Pakistanis are confused about the true nature of the Taliban and the Taliban movement. But some can clearly distinguish between the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban and see the former…
The two Taliban
MANY Pakistanis are confused about the true nature of the Taliban and the Taliban movement. But some can clearly distinguish between the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban and see the former…
The worst of times
A Church in Peshawar gets blown up by suicide bombers sent in by religious militants, killing over 80 worshippers. In their view, by killing non-Muslims these suicide bombers would go…
Redefining ourselves
In terms of massive tragedy, atrocities committed and personal traumas surely no one community has suffered more in contemporary history than the Ummah –the worldwide community of Muslims. Indeed, if…
Myanmar’s love of numbers can have sinister consequences
Nowhere does numerology have greater importance in shaping people's lives than in south-east Asia, where large sums are paid to buy items containing numbers considered lucky. The practice is particularly…
