Sohni Mahiwal

Sohni Mahiwal( Punjabi سوہنی مہیوال  Sindhi सोहनी  महीवाल) is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab and  Sindh, the other three are Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiba and Sassi Punnun.  It is also popular in Sindh and across the South Asia, the story is one  of the most prominent examples of medieval poetic legends in the Punjabi  and Sindhi languages.

Sohni, the potter's daughter

Sohni was  the daughter of a potter named Tula, who lived in Gujrat town in the  Punjab near the banks of the Chenab on the caravan trade route between  Bukhara and Delhi. As soon as the 'Surahis' (water pitchers) and mugs  came off the wheels, she would draw floral designs on them and transform  them into masterpieces of art.

Izzat Baig of Bukhara

Izzat  Baig, the rich trader from Bukhara (Uzbekistan), came to India on  business but when he saw the beautiful Sohni in the town of Gujrat on  the Chenab in Punjab, he was completely enchanted. Instead of keeping  'mohars' (gold coins) in his pockets, he roamed around with his pockets  full of love. Just to get a glimpse of Sohni, he would end up buying the  water pitchers and mugs everyday.

Sohni lost her heart to Izzat  Baig. Instead of making floral designs on earthenware, she started  building castles of love in her dreams. Izzat Baig sent off his  companions to Bukhara. He took up the job of a servant in the house of  Tula, Sohni's father. He would even take their buffaloes for grazing.  Soon, he came to be known as "Mahiwal"(buffalo herder).

Sohni's marriage

When  the people started spreading rumours about the love of Sohni and  Mahiwal, without her consent her parents arranged her marriage with  another potter.

Suddenly, one day his "barat" (marriage party)  arrived at the threshold of her house. Sohni was helpless and in a  poignant state. Her parents bundled her off in the doli (palanquin), but  they could not pack off her love in any doli (box).

Izzat Baig  renounced the world and started living like a "faqir" (hermit) in a  small hut across the river. The earth of Sohni’s land was like a dargah  (shrine) for him. He had forgotten his own land, his own people and his  world. Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, when the world was  fast asleep, Sohni would come by the riverside and Izzat Baig would  swim across the river to meet her. He would regularly roast a fish and  bring it for her. It is said that once, when due to high tide he could  not catch a fish, Mahiwal cut a piece of his thigh and roasted it.  Seeing the bandage on his thigh, Sohni opened it, saw the wound and  cried.

From the next day, Sohni started swimming across the river  with the help of an earthen pitcher as Izzat Baig was so badly wounded  and could not swim across the river. Soon, the rumours of their romantic  rendezvous spread. One-day Sohni’s sister-in-law followed her and saw  the hiding place where Sohni used to keep her earthen pitcher among the  bushes. The next day, the sister-in-law removed the hard baked pitcher  and replaced it with an unbaked one. That night, when Sohni tried to  cross the river with the help of the pitcher, it dissolved in the water  and Sohni drowned in the river. From the other side of the river,  Mahiwal saw Sohni drowning and jumped into the river and drowned as  well.

Sohni's Tomb

Sohni lies buried in Shahdapur, Sindh, some  75 km from Hyderabad, Pakistan. According to the legend the bodies of  Sohni Mahiwal were recovered from the River Indus near this city and  hence are buried there.

Mirza Sahiba

Mirza Sahiba is one of the four popular tragic romances of  the Punjab. The other three are Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnun and Sohni  Mahiwal.

Mirza–Sahiban is a treasure of Punjabi literature. It is a  romantic tragedy. Sahiban was a love-lorn soul. Shayer Pillo raves  about her beauty and says," As Sahiban stepped out with a lungi tied  around her waist, the nine angels died on seeing her beauty.

Mirza  and Sahiban were cousins not childhood playmates,mirza was sahiba's  mother's brother's son as mentioned in many books and folk tales in  punjab, fell in love with each other. But when this beauty is about to  be wedded forcibly to Tahar Khan by her parents, without any hesitation  she sends a taunting message to Mirza, whom she loves, to his village  Danabad, through a Brahmin called Kammu.

"You must come and decorate Sahiban’s hand with the marriage henna."

Mirza  Khan was the son of Wanjhal Khan, the leader of the Kharal tribe in  Danabad, a town in the Jaranwala area of Faisalabad. Sahiba was the  daughter of Mahni, the chief of Khewa, a town in Sial Territory in the  Jhang district. Mirza was sent to his relatives' house in Khewa to  study, where he met Sahiba and they fell in love. Her family opposed the  relationship, and instead arranged a marriage with a member of the  Chadhar family.

This is the time you have to protect your self  respect and love, keep your promises, and sacrifice your life for truth.  Mirza arrived on his horse, Bakki the night before the wedding and  secretly carried her away, planning to elope. Sahiba's brothers got to  know about this and decided to follow them. On the way, as Mirza lies  under the shade of a tree to rest for a few moments, Sahiba's brothers  caught up with them.

Sahiba was a virtuous and a beautiful soul  who did not desire any bloodshed to mar the one she loved. She did not  want her hands drenched in blood instead of henna. She thinks Mirza  cannot miss his target, and if he strikes, her brothers would surely  die. Before waking up Mirza, Sahiban breaks his arrows so he can't use  them. She presumes on seeing her, her brothers would feel sorry and  forgive Mirza and take him in their arms. But the brothers attack Mirza  and kill him. Sahiban takes a sword and slaughters herself and thus bids  farewell to this world.

Some other facts include that Mirza's  horse which was named bakki was from shri guru gobind singh's (10th sikh  guru)horse's blood line. also,out of all the legendary stories, mirza  sahiba's story is the only story where the guy's name comes first and  then the girl's. all others start with girl's name for example: Heer  Ranjha,Sassi Punnun,Sohni Mahiwal,Shireen Farihad,Laila Majnu.

Innumerable  folk songs of Punjab narrate the love tale of Sassi and Punnu. The  women sing these songs with great emotion and feeling, as though they  are paying homage to Sassi with lighted on her tomb. It is not the  tragedy of the lovers. It is the conviction of the heart of the lovers.  It is firmly believed that the soil of the Punjab has been blessed. God  has blessed these lovers. Though their love ended in death, death was a  blessing in disguise, for this blessing is immortalized.

Waris  shah who sings the tale of Heer elevates mortal love to the same  pedestal as spiritual love for God saying," When you start the subject  of love, first offer your invocation to God". This has always been the  custom in Punjab, where mortal love has been immortalized and enshrined  as spirit of love.

Just as every society has dual moral values, so  does the Punjabi community. Everything is viewed from two angles, one  is a close up of morality and the other is a distant perspective. The  social, moral convictions on one hand give poison to Heer and on the  other make offerings with spiritual convictions at her tomb, where vows  are made and blessings sought for redemption from all sufferings and  unfulfilled desires.

But the Sassis, Heers, Sohnis and others born  on this soil have revolted against these dual moral standards. The folk  songs of Punjab still glorify this rebelliousness.

"When the  sheet tear, It can be mended with a patch: How can you darn the torn  sky? If the husband dies, another one can be found, But how can one live  if the lover dies?"

And perhaps it is the courage of the  rebellious Punjabi woman, which has also given her a stupendous sense of  perspective. Whenever she asks her lover for a gift she says,

" Get a shirt made for me of the sky And have it trimmed with the earth"

Sassi Punnun

Sassui Punnun (or Sassui Panhu or Sassui Punhun) Urdu سسی پنوں; Sindhi سسئي پنھون; Hindi सस्सी-पुन्हू;  Punjabi Gurmukhi ਸੱਸੀ ਪੁੰਨ੍ਹੂੰ is one of the seven popular tragic  romances of the Sindh and four of the most popular in Punjab. The other  six are Umar Marvi, Momal Rano and Sohni Mahiwal, Laila Chanesar, Sorath  Rai Diyach, Noori Jam Tamachi commonly known as Seven Queens of Shah  Abdul Latif Bhittai .

Sassui Punnun was written by the Sindhi and Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in (1689-1752).

Sassui

Sassui  was the daughter of the King of Bhambour (it is in Sindh whose ruins  can be seen today). Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she  was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The King ordered that the  child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the river Indus. A washerman  of the Bhambour village found the wooden box and the child in the box.  The washerman believed the child was a blessing from God and took her  home. As he had no child of his own, he decided to adopt her.

Sassui and Punnun meet

When  Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of  heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punnun and he became desperate to  meet Sassui. The handsome young Prince of Makran therefore travelled to  Bhambour. He sent his clothes to Sassui's father (a washerman) so that  he could catch a glimpse of Sassui. When he visited the washerman's  house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited,  hoping that Sassui would marry a washerman and no one else. Sassui's  father asked Punnun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the  test as a washerman. Punnun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he  tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any  clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those  clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping  this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's  father agreed to the marriage.

Punnun’s father and brothers  were against the his marriage to Sassui(Punnun being a prince and she  being a washerman's daughter), and so, for their father's sake, Punnun's  brothers traveled to Bhambhor. First they threatened Punnun but when he  didn't relent, they tried more devious methods.

Punnun was surprised  to see his brothers supporting his marriage and on the first night,  they pretended to enjoy and participate in the marriage celebrations and  forced Punnun to drink different types of wines. When he was  intoxicated they carried him on a camel’s back and returned to their  hometown of Kicham.

The lovers meet their end

The next  morning, when Sassui realized that she was cheated, she became mad with  the grief of separation from her lover and ran barefoot towards the town  of Kicham. To reach it, she had to cross miles of desert. Alone, she  continued her journey until her feet were blistered and her lips were  parched from crying "Punnun, Punnun!". The journey was full of dangerous  hazards, which lead to her demise. Punnun’s name was on Sassui's lips  throughout the journey. She was thirsty, there she saw a shepherd coming  out of a hut. He gave her some water to drink. Seeing her incredible  beauty, dirty lustful thoughts came into his mind, and he tried to force  himself on Sassui. Sassui ran away and prayed to God to hide her and  when God listened to her prayers, land shook and split and Sassui found  herself buried in the valley of mountains. When Punnun woke he was  himself in Makran he could not stop himself from running back to  Bhambhor. On the way he called out "Sassui, Sassui!" to which the  shepherd replied. The shepherd told Punnun the whole story. Then Punnun  also lamented the same prayer, the land shook and split again and he was  also buried in the same mountain valley as Sassui. The legendary grave  still exists in this valley. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this  historic tale in his sufi poetry as an example of eternal love and union  with Divine

Heer Ranjah

Punjabis love and hate with extreme emotion. That fact is known to  Punjabis who understand the psyche of Punjabis. Yet due to social and  socio-cultural and religious barriers people who love beyond these  barriers end up giving up and thus the course of nature is obstructed.  Despite all the barriers there have been many people who lost it all in  love and they even gave up their lives. We do not suggest anyone to do  that in today's fake,false and socially correct world but if you love  someone be faithful and true to your love and your promises. Never break  your vows and promises. Love is a spiritual union and not physical.

All  these legends you read or hear became legends because of their  spiritual purity. In today's world that purity is not there anymore and  if there is in some good souls, the social system bulldozes all hopes.

Waris  Shah’s composition, the love story of Heer Ranjha is the story of the  young man and a young women, which did not receive the sanction of  society in the shape of marriage, a major theme of literature, music,  dance and drama not only in Punjab, but everywhere in the world.

It  is believed that the poem of Heer and Ranjha had a happy ending but   Waris Shah gave it the sad ending described above, thereby giving it the   legendary status it now enjoys. It is argued by Waris Shah in the   beginning of his version that the story of Heer and Ranjha has a deeper   connotation - the relentless quest of man (humans) for God.

The  story prformed in the form of an opera as well as a ballet is very  typical. Heer was the daughter of a feudal landlord Chuchak Sial from  Jhang. Before her sacrifice for Ranjha, she proved herself to be a very  courageous and daring young girl. It is said that Sardar (Chief) Noora  from the Sambal community, had a really beautiful boat made and  appointed a boatman called Luddan. Noora was very ruthless with his  employees. Due to the ill treatment one day Luddan ran away with the  boat and begged Heer for refuge. Heer gave him moral support as well as  shelter.

Sardar Noora was enraged at this incident. He summoned  his friends and set off to catch Luddan. Heer collected an army of her  friends and confronted Sardar Noora and defeated him. When Heer’s  brothers learnt of this incident they told her,"If a mishap had befallen  you why didn’t you send for us?" To which Heer replied," What was the  need to send for all of you? Emperor Akbar had not attacked us."

It  is the same Heer who, when she is in love with Ranjha, sacrifices her  life for him and says, " Saying Ranjha, Ranjha all time I myself have  become Ranjha.

No one should call me Heer, call me Dheedho Ranjha."

When  Heer’s parents arranged her marriage much against her wishes, with a  member of the house of Khaidon, it is Heer who plucks up courage during  the wedding ceremony and reprimands the Kazi (priest)." Kazi, I was  married in the presence of Nabi (Prophet). When did God give you the  authority to perform my marriage ceremony again and annul my first  marriage? The tragedy is that people like you are easily bribed to sell  their faith and religion. But I will keep my promise till I go to the  grave."

Heer is forcibly married to Khaidon but she cannot forget  Ranjha. She sends a message to him. He comes in the garb of a jogi  (ascetic) and takes her away. When Heer’s parents hear about the  elopement they repent and send for both of them promising t get Heer  married to Ranjha. But Heer’s uncle Khaidon betrays them and poisons  Heer.

In this love tale Heer and Ranjha do not have the good  fortune of making a home. But in the folklore sung by the ladies, Heer  and Ranjha always enjoyed a happy married life.

It was Heer’s  strong conviction, which has placed this tragic romantic tale on the  prestigious pedestal along with Punjab’s religious poetry.

There  are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being  'Heer' by Waris Shah written in 1766. It tells the story of the love of  Heer and her lover Ranjha. Well-known poetic narrations have also been  written by Damodar Das Arora, Mukbaz and Ahmed Gujjar, among others

(The Legends of the Panjab by RC Temple, Rupa and Company, Volume two, page 606) Rag Hir Ranjha

Awal-akhir naam Allah da lena, duja dos Muhammad Miran

Tija naun mat pita da lena, unha da chunga dudh sariran

Chautha naun an pani da lena, jis khave man banhe dhiran

Panjman naun Dharti Mata da lena, jis par kadam takiman

Chhewan naun Khwaja Pir da lena, jhul pilave thande niran

Satwan naun Guru Gorakhnath de lena , patal puje bhojan

Athwan naun lalanwale da lena, bande bande de tabaq janjiran

Firstly and lastly, take the name of God; secondly, of the Great Muhammad, the friend (of God)

Thirdly, take the name of father and mother, on whose milk my body throve

Fourthly, take the name of bread and water, from eating which my heart is gladdened

Fifthly, take the name of Mother Earth, on whom I place my feet.

Sixthly, take the name of Khwaja (Khazir, the Saint), that gives me cold water to drink

Seventhly, take the name of Guru Gorakh Nath whom is worshiped with a platter of milk and rice

Eighthly, take the name of Lalanwala that breaketh the bonds and the chains of the captives

& Heer  is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy Jat & family of the  Sayyal clan in Jhang, Punjab (Pakistan)). Ranjha (whose first name is  Dheedo; Ranjha is the surname), also a Jat & of the Ranjha clan, is the  youngest of four brothers and lives in the village 'Takht Hazara' by the  river Chenab. Being his father's favorite son, unlike his brothers who  had to toil in the lands, he led a life of ease playing the flute  ('Wanjhli'/'Bansuri'). After a quarrel with his brothers over land,  Ranjha leaves home. In Waris Shah's version of the epic, it is said that  Ranjha left his home because his brothers' wives refused to give him  food. Eventually he arrives in Heer's village and falls in love with  her. Heer offers Ranjha a job as caretaker of her father's cattle. She  becomes mesmerised by the way Ranjha plays his flute and eventually  falls in love with him. They meet each other secretly for many years  until they are caught by Heer's jealous uncle, Kaido, and her parents  Chuchak and Malki. Heer is forced by her family and the local priest or  'mullah' to marry another man called Saida Khera.

Ranjha is  heartbroken. He wanders the countrtyside alone, until eventually he  meets a 'jogi' (ascetic). After meeting Baba Gorakhnath, the founder of  the "Kanphata"(pierced ear) sect of jogis, at 'Tilla Jogian' (the 'Hill  of Ascetics', located 50 miles north of the historic town of Bhera,  Sargodha District, Punjab), Ranjha becomes a jogi himself, piercing his  ears and renouncing the material world. Reciting the name of the Lord,  "Alakh Niranjan", he wanders all over the Punjab, eventually finding the  village where Heer now lives.

The two return to Heer's village,  where Heer's parents agree to their marriage. However, on the wedding  day, Heer's jealous uncle Kaido poisons her food so that the wedding  will not take place. Hearing this news, Ranjha rushes to aid Heer, but  he is too late, as she has already eaten the poison and died.  Brokenhearted once again, Ranjha takes the poisoned Laddu (sweet) which  Heer has eaten and dies by her side.

Heer and Ranjha are buried in Heer's hometown, Jhang. Lovers and others often pay visits to their mausoleum.

The  epic poem has been made into several feature films. Bollywood versions  include Heer Ranjha (1928) starring Zubeida, Heer Ranjha (1929), Heer  Ranjha (1931),

Heer Ranjha (1948), Heer Raanjha (1970) directed  by Chetan Anand and starring Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh, and Heer  Ranjha (1992).This movie's songs became very popular all over South  Asia.

Pakistani versions include Heer Raanjha (1970) directed  by Masood Pervaiz and starring Firdous and Ejaz Durrani, Heer starring  Sowarn Lata and Inayat Hussain Bhatti, and Heer Sial starring Sudhir and  Bahar. In November 2009, "Heer Ranjha" was released in Punjabi starring  singer, actor Harbhajan Mann.

There are three types of 'friends'...

Those that are necessary like nourishment and you cannot live without them; those that are like medicine and are beneficial, so you need them sometimes; and finally, those that are like a sickness and you do not need them at all!
Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said, "The believer is like a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." Like a mirror, your friend gives you an honest image. He forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.
Once Prophet Muhammad (saw) was asked, "What person can be the best friend?" "He who helps you remember Allah (SWT), and reminds you when you forget Him," the Prophet Muhammad (saw), counseled.
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "A friend cannot be considered a friend unless he is tested on three occasions: in time of need, behind your back and after your death."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) also remarks, "My best friend is the one who gifts me my weaknesses and shortcomings." In other words one who brings to your notice your defects and flaws is indeed your true friend.
However, there is one very imperative point in the above-mentioned tradition of Imam Jafar Sadiq (as). When one presents an offering to a close friend, he does so with utmost care, not willing to overlook anything. He offers the gift with total respect and regard. For, even the most valuable gift if not presented with correct etiquette, can look very ordinary. While presenting the offering, the friend tries to make the most expensive gift seem very ordinary so as to not embarrass the recipient. On the other hand, the recipient of this gift tries to make even the most ordinary gift seem very precious, so as to please his friend. Similarly, when we wish to point out certain shortcomings to a friend, we must do so with a degree of respect and sincerity. Our sole intention must be to reform the friend and there should be no hint of any malice and self-righteousness. Likewise, when a friend highlights for us, our defects, we must acknowledge the same with respect and gratitude without any ill will and hostility.
Imam Hassan Askari (as) Says: "Those who advise their friend secretly are respecting them, and those who advise them openly are humiliating them."
Indeed if we establish these as the standards of friendship, the believers shall soon find themselves enveloped with friends who will take them closer to Paradise and farther away from the fire of hell.
Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: O you who believe! Take care of your souls; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right way; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will inform you of what you did. (Surah Al-Maeda, 5:105)
There are certain tips to remember if you wish to keep a stable friendship.
Do not dispute with him and do not be hostile to him.
Do not ridicule him. Do not quarrel with him. Instead accord friends the respect they deserve.
Imam Hassan (as) Says: "Befriend people in the same manner you would like them to befriend you."
Do not hold him in contempt nor consider him to be lower than you. Instead guard the honor of your friends during their absence and after their death.
Do not claim precedence and supremacy over him. Instead forgive the short-comings of your friends, because everyone makes mistakes in life.
Do not crack indecent jokes with him.
Finally, we ask Allah (SWT) to make us of the righteous ones and give us companions that will take us away from His Wrath and lead us to His Pleasure and Paradise.

Who should not be befriended according to the philosophy of Islam?

When choosing our friends we should ask ourselves first: Are they going to help us achieve the purpose for which we were brought to life? Or will they take us away from it? Will they desire for us Allah's (SWT) pleasure or is that completely irrelevant to them and not their concern at all? Are they leading us to Paradise or to the Hell?
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) narrates from his father who said, "O my son don't befriend five types of people:
1. Don't befriend a liar (Kadhib). For a liar is like a mirage. He shows the distant as near and the near as distant. He will always deceive you and trouble you.
2. Don't befriend a transgressor (Ghasib). For he will forsake you for a paltry sum and make your sins appear very alluring to you. He will make you a victim of Allah's chastisement through his petty sins and take you farther away from His obedience and satisfaction. He will make Allah's worship appear as His disobedience, and His disobedience as His worship. He will drag you along with himself in the fire of hell.
3. Never befriend a miser (Bakheel/Kanjus). For in your time of need and distress, he will withhold his wealth from you, while he is in a position to assist you. (He values his wealth more than anything else. And to that end he is prepared to forsake even his friends)
4. Do not befriend a fool (Ahmaq). For (in his foolishness) he will harm you while he intends to help you. (That is why it is said, 'A shrewd enemy is better than a foolish friend')
5. Don't befriend the one who breaks relations (with his relatives/Khata Rahmi). For, such a person has been cursed in the Noble Qur'an in three places. He is engrossed in his own affairs with scant regard for others. (Friendship with such a person will eventually lead the individual towards sins and disobedience of Allah)"
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "Do not befriend a sinner (Fasiq/Fajir) because he will sell you for a morsel."
Imam Sajjad (as) said: "Do not make anyone your enemy even though you consider him harmless and do not turn down a person's friendship even if you think he will not benefit you."
The Noble Qur'an says, "The hypocritical men and the hypocritical women are all alike; they enjoin evil and forbid good and withhold their hands; they have forsaken Allah, so He has forsaken them; surely the hypocrites are the transgressors." (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:67)
On the other hand, Noble Qur'an discusses the believers in the following manner, "And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger; (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Surah Al-Tawba, 9:71)
The two Qur'anic verses mentioned above only go to show how critical a role friendship can play in our lives. A true friend then, is the one who takes us closer to Allah's (SWT) compassion and grace.
Having deliberated at length on who should not be befriended, we shall now see what kind of people should be befriended. Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) narrates, "Friendship entails certain trusts and duties. Then the one who observes these obligations is a true friend and the one who breaches this trust is unworthy of friendship. These obligations are as follows;
1. He should be the same outside as he is inside. In other words, he should not have a dual personality. (In this age however, we often come across people who are exceptionally humble and modest on the outside, with little, if any humility, on the inside)
2. He will consider your virtues as his virtues and your misdeeds as his misdeeds. (In other words your virtues will cheer him and your faults will grieve him. God forbid, he must not feel relieved after observing some vice in you, and take solace from the fact that he himself is above that vice.)
3. If he acquires a position of power and authority, it must not bring about a drastic change in his attitude. In other words, prosperity must not transform the individual adversely. (There are some people who make the best of friends in adversity. But a positive change in their financial condition reveals a dark, hitherto unknown side of their personality. On the other hand we see some people who make good friends in prosperity, but misfortune transforms them, disclosing their fickleness.)
4. He must give his friendship (with you) priority over all his worldly possessions. In other words in times of adversity, he must be willing to give his all to redeem you.
5. He must never leave you alone in times of misfortune and distress."

How should we choose our friends according to Islam?

We should choose the friend that believes in and abide by our religion (Islam) and gives great respect to what Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (saw) had ordered us. And we should stay away from the one who is not well mannered and gives no attention to what Islam is about or what pleases or displeases Allah (SWT), for he will surely affect us negatively. There is no good if the companion drowns us in sins and displeasing Allah (SWT). The bases for the actions of those who follow the evil ways are corrupt; their actions are built upon misguidance and deviation.
Good friends are those who share with their companions both happiness and sadness. If we share our feelings with the wrongdoers whose actions are worthless and based on corruption, then we are following the same ways and standards as they are doing, and we will end up being as corrupt as they are, and then we are in a big trouble, how can we face Allah's (SWT) dissatisfaction and displeasure? Instead of making friends with the misguided ones we should befriend the righteous, yet treat the rest in a gracious and just manner. Staying at sufficient distance is necessary; yet treating everybody in a noble and kind manner is required.
The danger of having corrupt friends isn't confined to the worldly life. Such friendships produce repentance on the Day of Resurrection, too!
Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: "And (remember) the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! Would that I had taken a way with the Messenger! O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend! Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me;" (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:27-29)
The two main regrets on the day of judgement are (1) Not following Prophet Muhammad (saw) on the path of guidance and (2) Befriending a person who diverted one from the truth.
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) has said: "The felicity of this and the next world lie in two things: firstly, keeping secrets; and secondly, friendship with the good. And the miseries of this and the next world are summed up in two things: firstly, divulging secrets; and secondly, friendship with wicked persons."
So take heed before the inevitable day of judgement comes and we are reckoned for our acts.
Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: "Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqun (i.e. those who have Taqwa/Piety)." (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:67)
It is wise to choose moderation in dealing with friends. Excessive love and confidence in friends are unacceptable since it happens that a friend may change into an enemy and use the secrets that he had shown as weapons.
Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." (Surah Al-Maeda, 5:2)
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "When you cherish someone you should cherish him moderately for he may be your enemy someday, and when you hate someone you should hate him moderately for he may be your friend someday." Also said: "If you intend to cut yourself off from a friend, leave some scope for him from your side by which he may resume friendship if it so occurs to him some day."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "The secrets that you must show before your friends are only those through which your enemies cannot harm you, for a friend may change into an enemy."

Hachiko, the Faithful Dog

In 1934, a bronze statue of a dog called Hachiko was erected at the Shibuya Train station in Tokyo, Japan. The story of this dog is mentioned below.

Hachiko was born in 1923 and was owned by Eisaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. The professor used to take a train from the Shibuya Station every day to go to the university. Each day Hachiko accompanied the professor to the train station when he left for work. Upon returning, the professor would find the dog patiently waiting for his master and wagging its tail. This happy routine continued until one fateful day in 1925, when the professor was taken ill on the job and unfortunately died before he could return home. As usual, the dog waited at the train station that day for his master to return back. However, seeing that he wasn't coming back, Hachiko waited till night fell and retuned back home. The next day Hachiko went back to the train station again, waiting for his master to come back. He patiently waited till sunset and then retuned back home. The dog was so devoted to the professor that he continued to visit the train station everyday for the next 10 years! The people who passed the loyal dog each day were so touched by his story that they erected a statue in his honor in 1934.

In 1935, Hachiko died at the very same spot where he used to wait for his master.

Dear readers, we should take a lesson from this story for ourselves. By reciting the kalimah of Tawheed, all of us have taken an oath to be loyal to our Master, Allah Ta'ala. Now, we should look deep into ourselves and check to see how much love we really have for Allah in our hearts.

Source: Partially extracted from Wikipedia and Fabulous Travel.com.

The Sight of Kabah

One never tires of gazing at the sight of the House of Allah, the Kaa'ba. The site upon which the mercy and blessings of Allah are constantly descending. There is truly nothing comparable to the House of Allah on this Earth. People wish time would stand still so they could keep gazing at the Kaa'ba; their thirst is never quenched, rather it increases.

Once, while on a visit to Washington, people told me that a woman had accepted Islam and had some questions for me. They told me that many non-practicing Muslim women had started practicing again due to her. At prayer time she would dress in her best clothes as if readying herself for someone special, and would become oblivious to everything around her as soon she started praying.

After a brief question and answer session, I asked her what prompted her to accept Islam. She sighed and started explaining; "I was a Jew and my husband was a Christian who was posted in Saudi Arabia for some technical work. Everyday I used to see Muslim men and women dressed in white on their way somewhere. I asked my husband where they were going and he told me that they go to perform pilgrimage at the Muslim shrine of Kaa'ba. I expressed a desire to go but he told me that non-Muslims were not allowed. However, I was determined and so we both bought white clothes and set out. Fortunately no one stopped us and we reached Makkah, from where we found directions to the Kaa'ba. Upon seeing the Kaa'ba our eyes froze and time seemed to stand still. When we turned to look at each other after some time, we were both crying. With our eyes we told each other that this was the Truth and we should accept Islam. No one ever told me about Islam, but there were so many blessings descending on that House that they changed my life forever."

The blessings of Tawhid descend in Makkah, and the blessings of Prophethood descend in Madinah. One has seen nothing in life if he has not seen these two holy sites. May Allah give all Muslims the opportunity to visit to His House.

A World of Smile

About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.

As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots.

As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the cutest, largest smile I have ever seen. All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth.

That was ten years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.

The Carpenter

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key to the carpenter and said "This is your house, my gift to you."

The carpenter was in a shock! What a shame! If he had only known that he was building his own house, he would have made it better than any other house that he ever built!

Our situation can be compared to this carpenter. Allah Ta'la has sent us to this world to build our homes in paradise by obeying His commands. Now, we have to decide how well we wish to build the homes where we will live forever.

Giant Ship Engine that Failed

The following is an incident about an engine failure in a giant ship. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap $ 9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference. Knowledge in Islam is highly valued. Knowledge will benefit us in this world and in the hereafter.

A Brother Like That

Shuaib received an automobile from his brother as an Eid present. On Eid day when Shuaib came out of his house, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Uncle?" he asked. Shuaib nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Eid." The boy was astounded.

"You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."

After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Shuaib was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There it is, little brother, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Shop windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) meant when he had said: "love for your brother what you love for yourself".

The Guard Who Found Islam

y Dan Ephron - NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Mar 30, 2009

Army specialist Terry Holdbrooks had been a guard at Guantanamo for about six months the night he had his life-altering conversation with detainee 590, a Moroccan also known as "the General." This was early 2004, about halfway through Holdbrooks's stint at Guantanamo with the 463rd Military Police Company. Until then, he'd spent most of his day shifts just doing his duty. He'd escort prisoners to interrogations or walk up and down the cellblock making sure they weren't passing notes. But the midnight shifts were slow. "The only thing you really had to do was mop the center floor," he says. So Holdbrooks began spending part of the night sitting cross-legged on the ground, talking to detainees through the metal mesh of their cell doors.

He developed a strong relationship with the General, whose real name is Ahmed Errachidi. Their late-night conversations led Holdbrooks to be more skeptical about the prison, he says, and made him think harder about his own life. Soon, Holdbrooks was ordering books on Arabic and Islam. During an evening talk with Errachidi in early 2004, the conversation turned to the shahada, the one-line statement of faith that marks the single requirement for converting to Islam ("There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet"). Holdbrooks pushed a pen and an index card through the mesh, and asked Errachidi to write out the shahada in English and transliterated Arabic. He then uttered the words aloud and, there on the floor of Guantanamo's Camp Delta, became a Muslim.

Junaid Baghdadi and Love for Allah

Once at the time of Hajj, there was a gathering in Mecca of some friends of Allah; the youngest among whom was Junaid Baghdadi (ra). In that gathering, there was a discussion on the subject of 'Love for Allah' and as to who is the lover of Allah. Many of them expressed their views on the subject, but Junaid (ra) kept quiet. He was pressed to say something.

With his head bowed down and tears in his eyes, he said, "The lover of Allah is he who forgets his own self, remains engaged in Allah's remembrance with due regard to all its requirements; sees Allah with the eyes of his heart, which is burnt by the heat of Allah's fear; Allah's remembrance affects him like a cup of wine, he speaks the word of Allah as if All-Mighty Allah speaks through his mouth; if he moves, he does so under the command of Allah; he gets peace of mind only through the obedience of Allah; and when such a stage is reached, his eating, drinking, sleeping, awakening and, in short, all his actions are for the pleasure of Allah; he neither pays heed to the worldly customs, nor does he attach any importance to unfriendly criticism by people."

The Pious Man and the Shopkeeper

There lived a pious man all by himself, who spent most of his time in praying, fasting and praising Allah. Almost all his waking hours were utilised in meditation and devotions. He was very happy with his spiritual progress. No wicked thoughts came to his mind and no evil temptations entered his heart.

One night, he dreamt a rather disturbing dream. He saw that a shopkeeper in the town was far superior to him in spirituality and that he must go to him to learn the basics of true spiritual life.

In the morning, the pious man went in search of the shopkeeper. He found him busy with his customers, selling goods and collecting money with a cheerful face. He sat there in a corner of the shop and watched the shopkeeper carefully. No signs of any spiritual life at all, he said to himself. His dream could not be true. But then he saw the shopkeeper disappear to pray his Salah. When he returned, he was busy dealing with money matters again.

The shopkeeper noticed the pious man sitting in the corner and asked: "As Salamu Alaikum, would you like something, brother?"

"Wa Alaikum As Salam. Oh! No! No!" said the pious man. "I don't want to buy anything, but I want to ask you a question." He then related his dream.

"Well, that is very simple to explain," said the shopkeeper, "but you will have to do something for me before I answer your question."

"I will do anything for you," replied the pious man.

"All right! Take this saucer; there is some mercury in it. Go to the other end of the street and come back fast within half an hour. If the mercury falls out of the saucer, you will hear nothing from me. There you go now."

The pious man took the saucer and started running. The mercury nearly wobbled out of the saucer. He saved it just in time, and slowed down. Then he remembered he had to return within half an hour, so he started walking at a fast pace. At long last he returned puffing and panting. "Here is your mercury, safe and sound," he told the shopkeeper. "Now tell me the true interpretation of my dream."

The shopkeeper looked at the pious man's weary condition and asked him: "Well, friend, how many times did you remember Allah while you were going from this end of the street to the other?"

"Remember Allah!" exclaimed the pious man. "I did not remember Him at all. I was so worried about the mercury in the saucer."

"But I do remember Him all the time," said the shopkeeper. "When I am doing my business, I am also carrying mercury in a saucer. I am fair, honest and kind to my customers. I never forget Allah Ta'ala in my dealings with other men."

"Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allaah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah) nor from giving the Zakaah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allaah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He wills" [Al Quran, Surah an-Noor 24:37-38]

The Emperor and the Seed

An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you."

The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!"

One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by-still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.

Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened, Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful-in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey nice try."

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!" All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"

The Prophet taught, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 8:116]

Did You Thank Allah for Your Eyesight?

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."

What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

"It is He, Who has created for you (the sense of) hearing (ears), sight (eyes), and hearts (understanding). Little thanks you give." [surah Al-Mu'minun; 78]

Dard...

Humhe tum se itna mohabat hai "jan"


k



Barish ki boond bhi tujhe choo le tu






Bohat dard hota hai!.....

Yaad Ate Ho Tum.......

Sath tu aik pal ka tha
Phir qyun mujhe yaar ate ho tum
aaks ki traha mere dil pe q ccha jate ho tum
Dilbar bhi nahi ho, mere humdam bhi nahi
Yeh raste pyaar ke mujhe phir qyun dikha jate ho tum
Hum kabhi mile the tu aik ajnabi ki tarha
Meri raton ki neend phir qun oraa jate ho tum
Hawaun se hum tumhara pata pochte rahe
Kuch is traha se apny deewana bana jate ho tum
Sath to Aik paal ka tha phir quun itna yaad ate ho tum

Likh do

Eik Baar kar ke Aitbar Likh do
Kitana hai mujh se pyar likh do
Kat'ti nahi ab yeh zindagi tera bina
Kinta or karun intzar likh do
Tarss rahen hein bari mudat se
Iss bar apni mohbat ki izhar likh do
Deewane ho jaen jise parr kar hum
Kuch aisa tum mery yaar likh do
Ziada nahi likh sakte tu matt likho tum
Mohbat Bhari laffz doo char likh do
Ek baar likho Mohabat hai mujhe tum se
Phir yhehi jumla baar baar likh do