Karim H. Karim’s beautiful poem is followed by a brief note from the editor as well as some pictures that he set off to take at Toronto’s Aga Khan Park, shortly after he had been inspired by the poem.
By KARIM H. KARIM
(Dedicated to all who are sad)
Sweetest are the songs That we sing in sorrows; Tears swell in our eyes Even when joy overflows.
Naïve folk fear the thorns Where flowers do flourish, Fresh with hues of hope.
Dawn’s light is nearest When sadness is darkest, Sings the black night In stars’ silent twinkle.
Embrace the aching pain, Learn to laugh a little And to comfort others.
Let storms beware That we are lighting The lamps of love.
Date posted: October 20, 2020. Last updated: October 22, 2020.
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(Based on Shankardas Shailendra’s (1923-1966) “Hain Sabse Madhur Wo Geet,” which evokes Percy Shelley’s (1792-1822) line “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of the saddest thought.”)
Karim H. Karim
About the author: Karim H. Karim is the Director of the Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam and a Professor at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication.
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Editor’s note: I was truly feeling sad earlier today (October 20), thinking about my daughter and my mother whom I haven’t visited for several months due to Covid-19. I was lonely, and also worried about my health in these uncertain times! My friend Karim H. Karim who is nearly 450 kms from me must have sensed that. I was waiting for another article from him altogether, not a piece dedicated for those who are sad. In my reply to his humble submission, I told him I would review it in a few days time! However, I decided to read it straight away, and his piece truly cheered me up. And in that moment of becoming a lot less sad, I gained some energy and headed to my favourite place! Yes, the Aga Khan Park, with two incredible buildings, the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum around it — gracious gifts from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Admittedly, I haven’t been to the Park for a number of weeks, passing by it only in my car. The photographs that I took during my visit to the Park, represent my joyous moments, that I owe to Karim’s beautiful rendition. As I walked to the park, I was reminded of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s quote where he says that if one has faith, one may be worried, one may at times feel sad but one will never be unhappy. How true! Enjoy the photos, which were inspired by the poem.
Date posted: October 20, 2020. Last updated: October 21, 2020 (new link).
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
Mystic Moon, Cast your spell… Your shimmering gaze, And, oh how many faces! Cleverly captured in reflections, On the dark, dark blue waves.
Shifting shadows of craters On your surface, Leave mere mortals Spellbound… With your catalogue Of explicit expressions No two alike.
At times you are serene, Sometimes in sorrow. When Joy overtakes you, Your smile crawls across your face Slowly but surely.
At times you appear horrified… Really speaking, I can’t blame you.
Are you keeping your eye on us? Like we watch over you? My niece calls you ‘God’s flashlight,’ Just making certain “All is well.” Sometimes she calls you a fingernail, Depending on your phase.
All are in wonder Of your sublime stature, Your welcomed wisdom. I offer you my humble respect By never underestimating your pull On our strings…
In all honesty I am in absolute awe of your Daily devotion to the Sun. It is a love of Another World.
Date posted: September 5, 2020.
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Farah Tejani graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in May of 1997 and earned top Honors for her Thesis on Short Fiction. With the help of her agent Barbara Graham she then went on to publish a collection of short stories published by Trafford, called, “Make Your Own Chai, Mama’s Boy!” — ten short stories dealing with different dilemmas South Asians face. Farah also wrote and co-directed her stage play, “Safeway Samosas,” which won “The Best of Brave New Playwrights Award” in July 1995. Her short story , “Too Hot” won third place in the “Canada-Wide Best Short Fiction Award.” and was read at The Vancouver Writers Festival. Currently, Farah is working on Childrens’ stories and a collection of poetry called, “Elastic Embrace” to be published in 2021.
Farah’s recent pieces in Simerg and affiliated website(s):
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A hundred years ago Katchhi and Kathiawadi Ismaili Khoja Muslims sailed to Africa and Zanzibar to make a living. Today, they have prospered in America, Canada and Europe. They wear western clothes, live in palatial homes and drive expensive cars but in the homes they still speak their rustic dialect and they remember the ‘pacchedi’ (Khoja Muslim head drape) their mothers wore.
The ‘Pacchedi Geet’ in a folk song form, is written in Gujarati, ‘transcreated’ in English, and transliterated in Roman script. The song is composed to remember and celebrate the pioneers who left India a century ago but kept memories of their homeland alive.
My thanks to Sultan Somjee for permission to use the bandhani image, and Zahir Dhalla for transcribing in Gujarati script.
I welcome singers to set up a geet with the lyrics that have been provided below. Recordings or questions regarding the geet may be sent directly to me at safder8@gmail.com or to the editor of Simerg at simerg@aol.com.
Drape (Khoja Pacched̨̨i)
Kohl-grey silk Studded with white stars A border of a thousand flowers. Mother, how many colours under your drape?
Milk, oudh and attar Strands of jasmine hanging, Underneath, I sleep in deep slumber. Mother, these are the colours under your drape.
Ghee, molasses, Apricots and raisins. Mother, your bread tastes so sweet. Mother, what colours under your drape?
Storms, thunder And lightening! Frightened, I hide under your drape. Mother, colours like these under your drape.
Witches, warlocks Ghosts and giants Scare me not under the shade of your drape. Mother, colours like these under your drape.
With tables and chairs We built boats And flew sails made out of your drape. Mother, how many colours under your drape?
Leaving home We crossed the seas. We spread Giga Patney’s patola. Mother, how can I break from the ties of your drape?
Your eyes closed, Your soul departed. We draped you in rosy pink. Mother, colours like these under your drape.
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પછેડી (Gujarati)
સુરમય રેશમ માથે ધોળા તારા ચારે કોર હજાર ફૂલ ની પટ્ટી …..૧ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની પાછળ કેટલા રંગ ?
દૂધ ઊધ ને અંતર માથે ટાંક્યા મોતિયા છાયેં હું સુવું ઊંડી નીંદરે …..૨ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની પાછળ એવા રંગ!
ઘી ગોળ અને સૂકો મેવો મા, મને મીઠી લાગે તારી રોટલી …..૩ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની નીચે કેવા રંગ ?
વાયુ વીજળી મેધા ઘરજે હું ડરી સંતાઉ પછેડી ની નીચે …..૪ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની પાછળ એવા રંગ!
ડાકણ દઈંત ભૂત રાક્ષસ મને ન ડરાવે પછેડી ના છાયેં …..૫ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની પાછળ તેવા રંગ.
મેજ ખુરસી ના વાણ બનાવયા ઊપર ઊડાડીયા પછેડી ના સઢ …..૬ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની નીચે તેવા રંગ.
દેસ છોડી દરિયા તરીયા ગીગા પટણી ના પટોળા પાથરીયા …..૭ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની પછળ કેમ છોળું ?
આંખ મીચાણી જીવ ઊડયાં ઓઢાળી તને ગુલાબી પછેડી…..૮ માઈં તારી પછેડી ની નીચે એવા રંગ.
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Pached̨i (Gujarati transliteration)
Surmai resham Mathé d̨̨hod̨a tara Chąré kor hajjar ful ni putti Maai tari pacched̨I ni pacchad̨ ketla rung
Dooth, oodh ne antar Mathé tankya motia Cchayeñ huñ suwuuñ oondi ninderé Maai tari pacched̨i ni pacchad ewa rung
Ghee, ghor̨̨ Ané sooko mewo Ma mané mith̨I lagé tari rotli Maai tari pached̨i ni niché kewa rung
Wayuñ, wijad̨i Megha gharajé Huñ santauñ durri pacched̨I ni niché Maai tari pached̨i ni niché kewa rung
Dakan̨, dayint Bhoot, rakshas Mané na darawé pachced̨I na cchayeñ Maai tari pacched̨̨i ni pacchad̨ tewa rung
Mej khud̨si na Waan̨ banawya Ooper oodad̨̨iya pacched̨̨I na suddh Maai tari pacched̨i ni niché kewa rung
Des cchod̨̨i Dariya tariyañ Giga Patney na patol̨a pathariyañ Ma tari pacched̨i ni pucchud̨ kem cchod̨uñ?
Aankhyuñ michan̨̨i Jeev oodiyañ Odh̨ad̨̨i tunné gulabi pacched̨̨i Ma tari pacched̨i ni niché ewa rung
Retroflex d̨, n̨ as in fud̨ (fruit) and pan̨i (water) Nasal ñ as in French ‘pain’ and Portuguese ‘paű’ (bread) Dental t as in tű (you) and d as in diwas (day)
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Pached̨i (Kachchhi transliteration)
Surmai resham Muthé d̨̨hod̨a tara Chąré kor hajjar ful ji putti Maai toji pacched̨I ji pudthia kitra rung?
Retroflex d̨, n̨ as in fud̨ (fruit) and pan̨i (water) Nasal ñ as in French ‘pain’ and Portuguese ‘paű’ (bread) Dental t as in tű (you) and d as in diwas (day)
Date posted: August 15, 2020.
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
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This piece is also available as a PDF File, and may be downloaded by clicking on The Drape PDF.
S. Giga Patney
S. Giga Patney has taught English as a Foreign Language in Japan, Portugal and England; and English as a Second Language in England and Canada. He won the Teacher Fellowship at the University of London Institute of Education when he was a teacher with the Inner London Education Authority. He was Head of Language Service In Berkshire, UK and Principal Lecturer in the Department of Teaching Studies at The University of North London. He joined the Department of Language Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada to teach on their post-graduate program. He has now retired and lives in the interior of British Columbia where he does his creative writing.
Books by the author:
Literary Fiction: The Shiv-Shivani Trilogy: Book 1: Shiva – Lord of Dance – A Novel in Raga Bhairava Book 2: Shivani’s Story – A Novel in Raga Bhairavi Book 3: Shivani’s Dance of Destruction – A Novel in Four Movements.
Fact-fiction: Ties of Bandhana- The Story of Alladin Bapu
Facetiae: The Alchemist Quartet Book 1: The Alchemist and the Prince – A Story of the Prince With a Nut in His Navel Book 2: The Alchemist’s Manuscript – Of the Travels of the Merchant of Yemen & His servant in the Erythrean Sea as Related to the Alchemist of Gozo, the Younger Book 3: The Alchemist and the Empire of Evil Book 4 (Forthcoming): The Alchemist and the Indian Boy
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Omnipotent and Merciful is He, Allah knows what is best, At certain times He chooses To put us through certain tests
He observes our response To His Rightful Command, And on this He Judges, Just exactly where we stand.
It is not meant to be easy, What would be the purpose, So we are challenged in truth, Our response to Him defines us.
Reflect and recall a time when, We chose not to obey His Laws, He being of course, All-Forgiving, No doubt, forgave us our flaws.
But what is to be said, Of Hazrat Ibrahim, The One, On the day he was commanded, To take the life of his own son!
Put yourself in his place, Could you do the same, Take the life of who you hold most dear, The ultimate sacrifice in Allah’s name.
Eid al-Adha celebrates Ibrahim’s loyalty, To The Great and Loving Wise One, Though surely riddled with fear and pain, He placed Ismail, his most precious son,
In front of him, and said a prayer, In the Name of Allah, Lord of All Things, He swang the knife and opened his eyes, And “Oh, But what Mercy God Brings.”
In the place of his very own son’s head A miraculous goat’s head had fallen, Allah rewarded Ibrahim’s obedience, Without even a moment of stalling.
Try to imagine the emotions he went through, Ibrahim was elated and held Ismail near, Most Merciful is Our Most Gracious Creator, Humbled by Allah’s Grace he held back a tear.
Abraham would we if we could, Be as loyal as you are to Allah’s Laws, You stand as a testimony of Great Faith, Without even a moment to pause.
Let it be our endeavour, to faithfully honor, The Words from Above they are in our best interest, Take a moment to reflect this Eid al-Adha, And we, too, will surely be at our best.
(The poem was composed on July 30, 2020).
Date posted: July 30, 2020.
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Farah Tejani
“Heavy topics painted beautifully with her word,” was how one reader responded to Farah Tejani’s recent contribution Elastic Embrace: A Collection of Poems. Farah graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in May of 1997 and earned top Honors for her Thesis on Short Fiction. With the help of her agent Barbara Graham she then went on to publish a collection of short stories published by Trafford, called, “Make Your Own Chai, Mama’s Boy!” — ten short stories dealing with different dilemmas South Asians face. Farah also wrote and co-directed her stage play, “Safeway Samosas,” which won “The Best of Brave New Playwrights Award” in July 1995. Her short story , “Too Hot” won third place in the “Canada-Wide Best Short Fiction Award.” and was read at The Vancouver Writers Festival. Currently, Farah is working on Childrens’ stories and a collection of poetry called, “Elastic Embrace” to be published in 2021.
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters
With one hand on his expanded stomach and another wiping his eyes, The hot sun shows no mercy, and the despondent mother cries. She has no fear and curses God, for how could this not shake her, She vows to make her reasons heard just when she’ll meet her Maker.
“Why must my babe go hungering for basic bread and water, When across the globe another Mom is feeding milk to her daughter, In big brick homes with fancy lawns and furniture and floors, While I hide from the sun in my simple hut with no doors?
Can you hear my wretched painful cries as the tears fall down my face? Is this why you gave me this gift so that I could not give him even a trace, Of something warm and substantial to ease the hole within his gut. Or is this my sad misfortune to be haunted in this agonizing rut?
How do you wish me to appease him, how is he supposed to understand? Why does his own mother, his loving provider, not soothe him with her hand?” The mother enraged by the Injustice and Unfairness of it all, Decides there is nothing left to do but to surrender to the Fall.
She takes a piece of fabric from the only dress that she has in her keeping, And moistens it with water she has boiled, and cooled down while she was sleeping, And draws it to her son’s parched lips, with prayers he will not get worse; And after he has drunk a few spoonfuls, she will pray to release this curse.
The doctors never make trips out to her people, they are miles from anywhere, “Yet people in better off countries are privileged with the very best Healthcare!” With trembling hands she tries to soothe her aching hungry child, But all the while the injustices just make her mind run wild.
“Just give me some hope, just give a sign, that You will promise to provide, All I want is these words from You and on this I will abide.” Just then she heard a rumbling of a crowd outside her door, A truck was parked and handing out rations while the people shouted, “More!”
Her uncle came with powdered milk and she simply could not believe it, She mixed it with the boiled water and praised how she received it, She drew it to his hungry mouth and he drank it with sheer delight, While tearfully she thanked her Maker and praised Him with her might.
“Hear me, I am grateful, but please God promise me this, You will stand faithfully by my side so that I will not dismiss, That when in need You are always there, so preserve my faith in You. Now my child’s hunger is satisfied, I am not so disheartened and blue.”
The mother held her babe to her breast and stroked him sweetly to sleep, And in his ears she whispered a promise that she vowed that she would keep, “I leave you In my Maker’s Hands, for He looks after us all, And whenever I am weak in faith I will remember upon Him to call.”
(The poem was composed on May 18, 2020).
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The Forest Cries at Night
By FARAH TEJANI
Dance june bug dance, Upon the dogwood’s dew kissed petal, Make your movements carefully On which foot will you settle.
Do you wonder needlessly, About that dreaded rattle snake, Or how she strikes fear in all who pass, With the clatter that she makes?
In the forest you are just a little one, Amidst the towering trees, With their sinewy branches, Blowing secrets in the breeze.
Mocking monkeys hanging by their tails, Eating ripe and sweet bananas, They thrive in this lush green forest, But could not possibly endure the savannahs.
Parrots with feathered wings bright, Squawk loudly praising the Moon, Rains quench this great green carpet, The owls hoot a different tune.
Greet the twitching grasshopper, Paying heed to their chirping sounds, Should there be a coming storm, Every animal knows what might abound.
Hear the forests buried secrets, Their message to us all, The riches that lie within her, ARE THE SACRED TREES THAT WE FALL!
So find shelter friendly squirrels,, Shine on Madame Firefly, These are the tears of the forests, And the animals never lie.
(The poem was composed on May 10, 2020).
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From Behind Heaven’s Curtain
By FARAH TEJANI
Take time and summon thoughts for those whom we cherish, In doing so we make certain that from our memories they don’t perish. As for the loved ones who’s souls have remorsefully passed on, Though it may feel like, they are certainly not gone.
From behind Heaven’s Curtain, they watch us from Above, When loneliness prevails, they shower us with LOVE. Blessing our endeavours, every moment, every action, Our successes, they recount with humble satisfaction.
When we are in distress, they beg God to ALTER, Our destiny, so that we can endure but not falter. Their prayers go answered; they are so loved by the LORD And it is on these sweet prayers that our very lives have soared.
Their hearts burst with joy when we are immersed in happiness, Months without hardships and countless hours without stress. In remembering our LOVED ONES precious pictures we keep, Upon gazing at their faces we cannot help but weep.
We ask God how could He? It was much too soon for them to part, But we are soon reminded of what we have known from the start, From the very moment we are born there is one thing for sure, There is no way to defy the grasp of death’s final lure.
Reminisce and treat precious these moments we have now, Before destiny takes another life and then it is too late somehow. Be joyous, take pictures, share loving words, embrace, Texting’s overrated LOVE IS ONLY REAL FACE TO FACE.
So put down your phone and just travel the distance, Be prepared for often you will be met with resistance. Because these days, no one has time left to spare, Take time to MAKE TIME and let them know that YOU CARE.
Busy lives just get busier and often time gets LOST And once it is GONE we realize at what PRECIOUS COST. While we are living make peace and share your heart, So that should one of us leave this earth, with LOVE SHALL WE PART.
(The poem was composed on May 27, 2020).
Date posted: July 24, 2020.
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Farah Tejani
We are delighted to introduce readers of Simerg to our new contributor Farah Tejani, with three of her recently penned poems.
Farah graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in May of 1997 and earned top Honors for her Thesis on Short Fiction. With the help of her agent Barbara Graham she then went on to publish a collection of short stories published by Trafford, called, “Make Your Own Chai, Mama’s Boy!” — ten short stories dealing with different dilemmas South Asians face. Farah also wrote and co-directed her stage play, “Safeway Samosas,” which won “The Best of Brave New Playwrights Award” in July 1995. Her short story , “Too Hot” won third place in the “Canada-Wide Best Short Fiction Award.” and was read at The Vancouver Writers Festival. Currently, Farah is working on Childrens’ stories and a collection of poetry called, “Elastic Embrace” to be published in 2021.
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters
Order of the day: “Stay at home” An opportunity to relax n catch up with sleep
COVID 19, you came to destruct, And Lockdown 20, you came to obstruct
Or a chance to question His existence deep No resistance now in the discovery of NUR?
An – NUR the sacred sound of the universe Found in every nook and cranny like a poetic verse
Well I Never …
To the garden perambulating the home Round and Round; looking for the Unknown
As Adam found Eve in His Garden of Eden Many jewels in my garden; blatant to my Oblivion
All speaking in color and shape, flower bush and tree Iqra – Read, Read what you know not, come set yourself free
Learn the sound of NUR through the birds of the sky Recite with the mind; find the power of the butterfly
Well I Never …
NUR exists; in the many shades of red and pink Juxtaposed with variegated greens all in sync
Green berries flowering to pink; Honey bees in search of nectar Confused with beautiful butterflies on their path as protector
Cant but just appreciate what I never saw before Blessings manifold of the birds in their original couture
The Neem, the Lime, the Chikoo & Moringa opening their boughs Guests invited to perch are the parrot, the dove and the crows
Well I Never …
Look everywhere and there is diversity in total harmony Not castles in the air, but the moon dancing round the planets
Under the moonlight am I, a whirling dervish on the lawn Moving to the rhythm of NUR, not aware when night becomes dawn
Twirling in happiness becoming submerged in His current He who is above all else, only His cell is totally apparent
COVID 19, did you really come to destruct? Really you helped to right the wrongs and reconstruct
Date posted: May 26, 2020.
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
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Kenyan born Roxana Jaffer, is an accountant by profession, and currently lives in the UAE. She is striving to make the world a better place, and is the founder of the NGO -– ‘abc: an Advent for Building human Capital’ (see www.myabcfoundation.org) which accords English to the unemployed in Hunza and Delhi, resulting in a 70% impact as youth get growth.
Her creativity is taking a different turn as she expresses spirituality through poetry she pens. We were delighted to welcome her into the Simerg fold with her recent composition Devotion Through Dhikr.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
A grain of sand, Held in its shell. A pearl is born, hidden from sight These are reflective within the whole Under the opaque crystal Of the peaked Ismaili Centre dome Here grains of sand transform into pearls. A mountain peak risen From circular white granite The translucent glass faces His one time home.
The moon is peeking out As it waxes on a journey The clearest night paves the way towards a seventh heaven No clouds to deter the clarity and blessings of quanta and waves. Piercingly clear, nothing interferes. The dome sits majestically, still as thin air In the bright night lit of stars Where all souls pray.
Those who eat of the fruits of that which is within In the peace of the night Light enters through the transparent glass You search for the spiritual nature of being Between the opaque and the transparent.
Peace tonight as Shawwal arrives Then dawn will break clearly And rustle of wings and hymns of birds will be heard, As buds have been born Tulip has bloomed Russian sage is waking Cherry blossoms are done Serviceberry smart in rows, salutes Infinity pools await water, Thoughts take root.
And so we wonder, What is under this dome?
The dome of the Ismaili Centre Toronto
Date posted: May 25, 2020.
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About the author: A regular contributor to this website, Dr. Navyn Naran was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Anaar (1936-2017) and Badrudin Naran (1930-1979). She is currently in Toronto working in pediatrics and volunteering at the Aga Khan Museum.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
Jamats around the world must participate in this unique venture undertaken by Ismaili Institutions for this most extraordinary night commemorating the revelation of the Holy Qur’an
There is a very impressive array of programming organized for the night of Laylat al-Qadr by the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Boards in the UK, Canada and the USA. Each jurisdiction has its own set of presentations and Simerg urges everyone — wherever they be — to avail themselves of outstanding recitations, sermons, interviews and stories as well as participate in quiet reflective moments that have been designated at specific times. A lot of effort has been put into this programming catered to every member of the Jamat, young and old alike.
Since this is an on-line presentation, viewers will be able to toggle to watch specific programs offered outside their own regions. Please click on the following images or links to see what the ITREBs in North America, the UK and Europe are offering on this truly auspicious and holy night of Laylat al-Qadr. The program can also be seen — for all jurisdictions — on a staggered basis on the website Ismaili TV, where time-zones are common, for example Canada and USA.
Please click on image for link to Laylat al-Qadr USA
Date posted: May 15, 2020.
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
The echoes of Nature Bring us back to the cave Wherein spirituality harkens the soul Hush What is this ? To “Read”? Not yet. First to calm down Slow down the thoughts And attend the Divine Intellect That which emanates within each of our souls Within the bear of this Magnificent body That is all too human But never humanly created.
The echoes of Nature Bring us back to the cave To will the calm. Creating space to calm the Will. The physical jamat Khana is closed today The spiritual space wide open The windows to spring invite us in To quiet the mind for moments within
The echoes of Nature Light our world Let fresh air be a gift to enjoy. Within the chaos we must remember our Peace The time is given To slow the rat race. Echoes of Nature Harken the soul Can you hear? Perhaps outside in nature Or your child’s face asleep Or the eyes of a pet by your side
About the author: A regular contributor to this website, Dr. Navyn Naran was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Anaar (1936-2017) and Badrudin Naran (1930-1979). She is currently in Toronto working in pediatrics and volunteering at the Aga Khan Museum.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
Heart in a pulsating mode; in rhythm with the breath Mind reaching its zenith; as thoughts meet their death
Gratefulness taking over; Conveying lightness to the body Entire body in smiles; Perhaps the spiritual light in embody
All because of the Dhikr, the constant chanting His attributes in tempo, energy in sync; all else negating
Dhikr: What an effect on the waves of the Gamma and the Theta Both leave defeated, allowing the take-over by the wave of relaxing Alpha
Dhikr: Bringing an awareness of His elements; so many …..Ninety-nine An inner need arises; to ascribe, to impute these traits divine
Dhikr: My heart is in a pulsating mode, in sync with the mind Now there is total unity; as mind, body and soul are totally entwined.
Date posted: May 13, 2020.
Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few.
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Editor’s note: We welcome Roxana Jaffer as our new contributor. Dhikr, penned by her in March 2020, is the first of her several poems we will be publishing in the coming weeks.
A Kenyan born girl, brought up in the UK and now residing in UAE, Roxana Jaffer has many awards to her name including “Global Inspirational Leadership Award”, “Best Best Woman in Hospitality UAE Award”, and “The Most Influential Women Leader Award 2019”. She was also recognized as one of the “Indian Super 100 Women Achievers in the Middle East & Africa”. She partners with UN World food program, and her endeavours have managed to feed over 460,000 hungry children in the world. She is instrumental in Holiday Inn Dubai attaining the coveted CSR Arabia award, four years running out of 13 Arab countries.
An Accountant by profession she has an MBA from University of Liverpool in Leadership and is a scholar of the Harvard Business School for Executive Education.
Roxana epitomises the best in human endeavour -– fun, laughter, hard work, creativity, caring for others, leading with a social conscience and above all, striving to make the world a better place and is the founder of the NGO -– ‘abc: an Advent for Building human Capital’ (see www.myabcfoundation.org) which accords English to the unemployed in Hunza and Delhi, resulting in a 70% impact as youth get growth.
Her creativity is taking a different turn as she expresses spirituality through poetry she pens.
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We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the feedback box which appears below. If you don’t see the box please click Leave a comment. Your comment may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
