O Lovely

Saturday, June 30, 2012

FORGIVE / BE FORGIVEN --- FORGIVENESS

One day while I was driving back home from my office that a voice asked,“Have you forgiven Mr.X”?

I very angrily said,“No, Never. Him is going to answer me before ALLAH. I will never forgive him. I will seek justice from ALLAH in his case”

The voice said,“Think over it compassionately and reconsider”.

I said “Never. He will have to answer and repay”.

I was really angry..........

Well................

Forgiveness is the quality of ALLAH. Many of our faults are forgiven by ALLAH on daily basis. ALLAH has created Human beings and we seek forgiveness from HIM and HE forgives. Forgiveness is also one of the qualities which are liked by ALLAH as part of we Human’s character. Somehow we seek forgiveness from HIM but, when it comes to forgiving fellow human beings then we show indifferent attitude.

Quite early in life ALLAH granted me light in this regards with HIS kindness, that forgiving is liked by ALLAH. Since then it become the part of my daily routine that I, at the end of the day, before going to sleep, forgive all whoever has done anything wrong with me. I try not to hurt anyone but, if in case, unconsciously any such thing happens, I make sure that I ask forgiveness.

Well, question arises as to how one seeks forgiveness. Our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (SAW), in His (SAW) last sermon at Hajjat ul Widah, taught us the way of seeking forgiveness. He (SAW) announced that He (SAW) forgives everybody who has done any wrong to Him (SAW). Now this is the guiding principle for all, that before asking forgiveness from anyone, it is a must that a person shall be forgiven unconditionally.

Keeping the same principle as a base I then ask forgiveness after first forgiving the person concerned.

It happened only once that I did not forgave a person at the end of the day. That person really did very wrong to me. Many people in my life have done wrong to me but this person, really hurt me very badly with his lies against me. I forgave all as per my commitment to myself but him.

Let us call him Mr.X.

One day while I was driving back home from my office that a voice asked, “Have you forgiven Mr.X”? I very angrily said, “No, Never. Him is going to answer me before ALLAH. I will never forgive him. I will seek justice from ALLAH in his case”.

The voice said,“Think over it compassionately and reconsider”.

I said “Never. He will have to answer and repay”. I was really angry.

The voice kept quiet for a while then asked, “What if on the day of judgment there are some sins left in your balance and ALLAH conditions’ that unless you forgive Mr.X you will not be forgiven”.

It hit me like a flash. I immediately stopped by the roadside and cried and passionately seeked forgiveness from ALLAH saying, “O ALLAH, I forgive Mr.X. I was wrong and a fool. If YOU don’t forgive me who will. There is nobody who can forgive. YOU like forgiving, only YOU can forgive. Please forgive me”.

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
جب ان سے کوئی ناشائستہ کام ہو جائے یا کوئی گناہ کر بیٹھیں تو فوراً اللہ کا ذکر اور اپنے گناہوں کے لئے استغفار کرتے ہیں (١) فی الواقع اللہ تعالٰی کے سوا اور کون گناہوں کو بخش سکتا ہے؟ اور وہ لوگ باوجود علم کے کسی برے کام پر اڑ نہیں جاتے۔
003.135 And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - Who forgiveth sins save Allah only ? - and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.

After that, to me, a strange thing happened. A feeling of smoothness, relaxation and peace inundated my entire body. A sense of satisfaction and happiness prevailed. I sensed quite distinctly that my act has been liked and that I was forgiven.

So, O people! Do forgive all and see the miracles happening around you.

وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

اور اللہ تعالٰی سے بخشش طلب کرتے رہو یقیناً اللہ تعالٰی بخشنے والا مہربان ہے۔

and ask forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire

AAMEEN

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The color that only ALLAH can create. Amazing!

ENJOY THE CREATIONS OF ALLAH

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Monday, May 14, 2012

What a Father

Let me share another strange experience of my life. I am sure that the readers will be flabbergasted and shocked.

It was 1989 and incident happened at Gulgasth Multan, Pakistan.

That was a hot summer day and most of the people were retiring in their houses having the afternoon nap. Gulgasth is a posh area of Multan, Pakistan where generally well to do people live in their own houses.

The door bell of a house rang and the eldest son of the house, on his father's instructions, went to the gate to enquire and see who was there. When he opened the gate, three dacoits, with guns in their hands, pushed him and came in. The dacoits placed the gun on the head of the 15 years old boy and instructed him to take them in the house. So the boy turned, with face white with fear and trembling and crying he started moving towards the main door of the house. There was a yard in between the Gate and the entrance door of the house where beautiful grassy lawn was grown. The distance from the gate to the House’s main door was about 25 to 30 meters. Meanwhile, Mr. Kiani, the owner of the house and father of the boy, came out of house just to enquire who was there on the gate and why is it taking so long. Mr. Kiani, when saw his son on the gun point and Dacoits, immediately realized the situation, ran back in the house, closed and locked the main door of the house and hid himself inside the house.

The dacoits, noticing that, pushed the boy hurriedly to the door and while the gun was still on the boys head, demanded from Mr. Kiani to open the door or less they will kill the boy. Mr. Kiani refused. The boy started begging his father for his life and kept requesting him to open the door and give whatever the dacoits were demanding. But, his cries were going waste on the deaf ear of his father. The father rather told the dacoits that even if they kill the boy, he will not open the door. The dacoits fired and placed a bullet in the leg of the boy. But still the father did not listen. The dacoits told him that they will count ten and then will shoot and this time kill his son. They started the count. The dacoits were about to shoot the boy that five/ six people, who were coming out of a nearby mosque after offering their “Asar” prayers, heard the pistol fire and the cries of the boy and came to the gate. After realizing the situation, they challenged the dacoits. The dacoits immediately released their hostage and fled. However, the Mohalla people successfully chased and caught the dacoits and handed them over to the police.

This entire episode was narrated by the boy infront of the trial court as a witness statement, where the dacoits were being tried, and I was one of the Judges.

I still wonder, how in his life, Mr. Kiani could have faced his son to whom he almost sacrificed in lieu of his material belongings. And mind you, we confirmed that it was the real father of the boy.

Some how I still cannot believe that a Father could be so cruel to his own Son. What do you think?

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

STRANGE FATHER

Sometimes there happens such incident which results in defying the normal laid down norms of life and affections. And a person while going through it is surprised that how the normal standards of love of parents are not followed.

It was somewhere in 1981 and I was posted at Peshawar. One afternoon, one of my senior Mr. Majid told me that on the coming weekend he shall be going to Islamabad to drop his wife to her parents and he requested that as he shall be alone on the return journey so could I accompany him. He was travelling by road in his car, which was a Toyota Corona. I agreed.

When we finalized the program, another senior colleague of ours namely Mr. Zubair also requested to join. As it was a spacious car and he requested that he wanted to bring his wife and kid from Islamabad. Mr. Majid agreed and program was finalized.

We all reached Islamabad on Saturday evening as planned and stayed a night. It was the night of Saturday – Sunday. In the afternoon, Mr. Zubair called Mr. Majid that due to some commitment he cannot go back on Sunday evening as scheduled and requested that if we can wait for the night and he will reach us by 4 a.m and then the return journey can be made. Mr. Majid agreed as the distance from Islamabad to Peshawar was 166 km and we could have traversed that in about three hours. As we had to reach and attend the office at 07:30 a.m so we could safely start by 4.a.m and reach by 7 a.m

We started our return journey on early Monday Morning at 4.a.m and I recited the Quran verses for the safe journey. Mr. Majid was driving and I was sitting next to him on the second seat. Mr. Zubair, his wife and his 4 months old son were on the rear seat. One peculiar thing about Mr. Zubair was that he was completely bald but, he used to wear a very nice hear piece (wig) and was very sensitive that nobody should learn about his baldness. Like all bald people, he was also living in an illusion that nobody knows about his baldness. As somebody very rightly said, “ The bald person who wears a wig doesn't know that all those who know him knows that he is bald, all those who are not known to him couldn't care less whether he is bald or with hair. Ultimately he is actually making himself a fool by wearing a wig and showing that he is not bald.”

It was a very nice highway between Islamabad and Peshawar. As it was summers, so the dawn was already there. The car lights and the natural light were such that we could see almost 200 yards deep. As normal, during the night, many stray dogs, cats, rabbits and foxes were killed by the vehicles plying on the highways and their carcasses were lying on the road. Many crows were having their morning meal through those carcasses.

During the journey a discussion with Mr. Majid generated. It came up that crow is a very intelligent bird and can sense danger quite early therefore; it is difficult to kill it. Mr. Majid did not agree to my point of view and so it was decided that to prove me wrong he will have to hit by his car one of the crows having meal on the road by the animal carcasses. It was agreed between us that in case he succeeds, I will throw a party in his honour otherwise he will have to give a treat to me. He was driving the car at the speed of almost 130 – 120 kilometres/ hour. From almost suburbs of Islamabad he started to make an attempt to hit a crow sitting on the road having its share of meat from the dead animals. He failed every time he tried, as the crow could sense it quite early and fly out of danger.

While we were approaching “Pubbi”, a small town near Peshawar, that suddenly I realized that the car was moving towards the right side of the road, the wrong side which was meant for the incoming traffic. No crow etc was in sight and when I looked towards Mr. Majid, I was horrified to see that Mr. Majid was sleeping while driving and the speed of the car was almost 140 km/ hour. I shouted to wake him up and tried to steer the steering of the car to the left to bring the car on the right track but, it was too late as the car was going very fast and the reaction time was too less.

There was a Jungle of willow trees on the right side of the road, about 50 yards away from the road brim. The right brim of the road was almost 12 feet higher then the normal earth level. When the car’s right wheel crossed the right brim of the road, the car flew in the air, had a summer salt and landed with a bang on its roof. At that time nobody less me was awake in the car. While the car was in the air that I again recited the Quran verses and prayed for ALLAH’s mercy.

On landing, I immediately came out of the car from the front by kicking the Windshield glass and making the way. I then pulled Mr. Majid out and then ran at the back of the car. The roof and doors were collapsed and there was no way out. I made way from the rear screen glass, pulled the child and the mother out and shouted for Mr. Zubair to immediately come out, as I could see he is alright. I was hurrying as there was a danger of the car catching fire.

It was then that when I noticed the strange behaviour of Mr. Zubair. He, immediately after coming out of the car, started searching something in the rubble of the car and the earth around it. I told him to calm down as I have his kid with me but he kept searching in the dirt. Suddenly I saw that he found what he was searching. It was his "wig". He took it out of the dirt, cleaned it and fixed it on his bald head. Then and after then he remembered as to what has happened and where were we. He then started shouting, “Where is my son, where is my son, has somebody seen my son.” I told him that his son is alright, handed his son to him and also told him to look after his wife who was also sitting on the ground there in a state of shock”.

By now my readers have realized what I was trying to highlight. That man Mr. Zubair, in a state of emergency, was least bothered about his own son and wife. He was more concerned to locate his wig and to hide his bald head.

ALLAH saved us all from any injury. The car was totally damaged and the people of the area, who gathered around us, were amazed to see the Miracle of ALLAH. The only person injured in this accident was me and that too had a minor injury in shape of a cut on my arm which I got while coming out of the car by breaking the front glass. It was bleeding but I tied my handkerchief on it and got is treated afterwards.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

PRAYER

Can you believe that the woman who died right in front of my eyes came to life again? I started crying and begged ALLAH for giving the Life back to the woman who died in front of me a little while ago. The medical team came rushing towards the woman and started their medical procedure to bring the life back into the woman. They were massaging her chest and doing other resurrection procedures. The doctor gave her a life saving injection. The nurse placed the machine on the woman’s mouth and nose and started giving her artificial respiration but no use. The doctor then told all to stand clear of the woman and gave her the electric shock. Once, no response second, no response, third and the line on the Heart monitor started oscillating. The heartbeat of the woman started and she came back to life. ALLAH has responded to my prayers.الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

Since the year 2003, I started complaining to my doctor that I suspected heart problem. But he would always refuse to agree with me and always told me that the chest pain I am complaining about is of my stomach and not heart. The frequency of heart pain attacks kept increasing and the gap between the two pain attacks shortened. Initially I used to have chest pain after every six months. Then the gap narrowed to after every five months and it kept decreasing. But the irony was that whenever I used to be brought to the Cardiologist in emergency with the complain of the chest pain he would examine me, give me treatment for my stomach and relieve me from the hospital. This continued till 2008.

In this duration of almost five years three Cardiologists were changed/posted out of the hospital. It was somewhere in the beginning of the year 2008 when I again had a severe chest pain attack. This time the Cardiologist was Dr. Siddique, a new comer, who had just been posted in from The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). He gave me the treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where I was admitted. I was discharged again, after giving necessary medicines and declared fit. However, on my request Dr Siddique agreed to re-examine me after 15 days.

To cut the story short, after 15 days when I reported to him for medical check-up, he put me through a process of different tests and after completion of the Tests, which took almost 30 days, he also declared me medically fit and found no defect as far as my heart was concerned. However, on my insistence, he referred me to NIVCD for my Angiography test.

I travelled on my own expenses, all the way from Quetta to Rawalpindi, a distance of almost 2000 kilometres, for the test. It was very kind of Dr. Siddique that he made all my appointments with the Surgeons/Doctors there at the NICVD. Thus on the very next day of my arrival, I was admitted at the hospital and the Angiography procedure was performed on me.

The result of the test reports revealed that I was right and doctors were wrong. It was discovered that three of my Arteries were blocked. One blockade was of 98%, the other was 96%, and yet another was 97% blocked. Thus the blood supply to the heart was hindered and that was the cause of my repeated chest pains. It was however diagnosed, by a board of 10 doctors that medicine management should be done with me. The reason the doctors gave was that the blockades are at such an acute angle that “Stunting” cannot be done and heart by-pass operation was out of question as well, as it was too risky. The panel of doctors assessed that in-case the by-pass procedure is conducted; my survival chances were 5% to 3%. So nobody was ready to take the risk. Thus, me and my family were briefed that it will be better to go for medicine management and shall forget about the heart by-pass operation or any other procedure. So we agreed and came back to our home at Quetta.

Here, despite my adoption of the suggested medicine management and strict diet control, that too under the supervision of my Cardiologist Dr. Siddique, there was no relief in the heart pain. Rather the frequency of attacks of pain increased. The gap between one attack of heart pains to another was shortened to almost once per month. Meanwhile two years passed and it was now the year 2010. A time came when I had severe heart attacks, three in a row in a months’ time. After the third one, while I was laying in the Intensive care Unit that one of my friend came to visit me. This was the person who was constantly in touch with me and was abreast with my current status.

He advised me that I shall leave the present set of doctors and I should go for a second opinion by going to Karachi, where better Cardiologists were available. I agreed.

It was with quite some difficulty, due to my serious medical condition that our Cardiologist and the hospital authorities allowed me to travel, with a precondition that I shall be airlifted to Karachi under the supervision of a doctor in attendance and shall be admitted immediately in Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) at Karachi. So it was done accordingly. The appointment with the Cardiologist and the admission at the hospital was scheduled for the same afternoon when our flight was arriving at Karachi. However, we could not make it due to extra ordinary delay of the airline flight. We lodged ourselves at a guest room and the next morning appointment with the doctor was re-scheduled. However, it could not materialize as I had a severe heart attack the same late night. I was rushed to the hospital and admitted in the ICU. From there, in the morning, when I was a little stable, I was shifted to CCU. Here at CCU I remained admitted from 3rd march 2010 to 14th April 2010. I daily used to have three heart attacks and my Cardiologist, Dr. Qaiser and his team were surprised as to how was I surviving. They worked very hard with me with lot of dedication. So the frequency of my heart attacks came down to one per day. Dr. Qaiser told me that he is waiting for the day where I will give him clear three days without a heart attack that he will perform a fresh Angiography on me to see the current situation of my Heart and Arteries. This will help him to come to a conclusion as to what further medical procedure can be adopted.

It was there while I was in the CCU that the above narrated incident happened.

This woman of about fifty years was brought in unconscious with a reported severe heart attack. Dr. Qaiser and his team provided medical aid to the woman. Her medical condition improved and she came to senses. She remained alright for complete 24 hours. But the above episode happened when she had passed the previous night peacefully and was resting after having her breakfast. It was around 10:00 am in the morning. She was so positioned on my right sides’ next bed that I could fully observe her and her vitals monitor was right in front of me and was clearly visible.

While I was looking at her heart beat graph at the monitor that she had a jerk and the heart beat line at the graph went straight showing no kinks of the heart beats. The alarm of the heart monitor sounded and the technicians at the desk shouted for the doctor and the nurse, who were giving medical assistance to another heart patient some four beds away, and ran towards her.

It was then that I remembered the verse of The Quran and the Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, that ALLAH listens’ to the prayers of the patient and responds immediately.

I begged ALLAH for the life of the woman, quoting that he has promised to listen to the prayers of the patients. SHUKAR ALHAMDULILLAH (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ), ALLAH responded as per HIS own promise and the life came back to the lady. I cried in gratitude.

I may mention here that it took almost ten minutes before the lady came back. The attendant standing beside me, having years of experience at the CCU, told me that it is useless efforts as the lady has gone for quite long.

When she revived, the attendant said that it is a miracle and that it has never happened earlier in his professional life. After four days, the lady was discharged from the CCU.

I may confess here that during my more than a month’s stay at the CCU I prayed such for five more occasions and at all the occasions ALLAH was kind enough to grant my prayers by bringing life miraculously to the persons who were declared dead. I also prayed to ALLAH to give health to all who were with me at the CCU and ALLAH granted that. I may also confess here that I made another request to my ALLAH and saw its acceptance after few months in shape of a promotion of my friend who has helped me all along in my medical treatment. Peoples were very sure, due to all laid down standards, that my friend would not be promoted but he did.

On 14th April 2010, I was taken for my heart by-pass operation and Six by pass grafts were implanted to my heart. It was almost after fifteen days that I was again admitted back to CCU due to some little complications. There, out of curiosity, that I asked the Duty nurse at the CCU regarding any casualties during my absence of 15 days.

She informed me that there was causality almost each day after I left. Daily a heart patient expired. I felt sad.

Readers, it may be a co-incidence or maybe it was because someone of us (the heart patients at the CCU) was ignorant of the extensions of the Graces of ALLAH and thus did not pray.

So do always pray and never forget to pray for others whom you see suffering.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Saturday, April 21, 2012

GOOD LUCK

It was middle of Jun 2009 and it has been almost two years that I was without job. Those were tough days as it was very difficult to make the two ends meet. I had no source of income less my pension, which was too meager. Running the house affairs having a wife and raising four children had become a real tough task.

One morning I saw an advertisement in the daily news paper by a multinational company announcing a vacancy of General Manager. The required qualification matched my credentials, so I applied. In few days time I received a call from their manager HR informing me that they have provisionally selected me and was asking my availability. After a little negotiation, we came to an understanding and he told me that I will be getting Rs. 150,000.00 ($ 1765) per month, a chauffeur driven brand new Toyota Corolla Car, a three bedroom rent free house, medical insurance and a limit free cell phone ceiling. But he told me that I shall have to appear before a selection Board for a formal interview. This Board will be headed by an American, who, as per him, is the Managing Director of the Company. The Manager HR also informed me that I shall remain ready as I will be called on a very short notice as the Managing Director was due to visit Pakistan within Two/ three days time.

The very next day I received the call that I have to reach Karachi the day after for the interview. The Manager HR also said that I shall buy the Air ticket, whose charges shall be reimbursed to me on my arrival at Karachi. I accordingly managed my seat with the Airline. However, a day earlier than my departure, I received the call from the same Manager HR informing me that there was a change of program. He told me that their American Managing Director was now coming to Lahore and my interview will also be conducted there. So, I have to change my air ticket to Lahore instead of Karachi. The Manager also promised that all the charges, including cancellation charges etc will be reimbursed to me on my arrival at Lahore. So I agreed.

With quite difficulty, I managed the rearrangement and was able to get a reservation in the air line for the next day.

In the evening I confirmed my reservation/ arrival to the said Manger HR and he in turn told me about my detailed program. The Manager informed me that I will be received by their driver at the airport. He gave me the name and cell phone number of the driver and also informed me that the driver will be displaying my name’s ply card and a white Toyota Corolla of the latest model will be there to receive me. The Manager also gave me the registration number of the Car. He also told me that still there is a little change in the program because of the American MD. He told me that as their company intends to make a new factory at Kala Shah Kako, around half an hour distance from Lahore towards the north, so the driver will take me there for the meeting/ interview and from there, I will be dropped back to Lahore, where my stay arrangement for a night will be made. He said the rest of the details will be told to me personally on my arrival and meeting him.

The next day I reached Lahore at around 2 p.m. I looked for the driver when I came out of the arrival Lounge but could not see him. It was a very worm afternoon of June at Lahore. The sun was blazing hot.

I tried to call the driver on the given number but found it closed. Then I called the Manger HR. he was noticeably surprised to hear that nobody came to receive me as scheduled. He requested me few moments leave with a promise to call me back.

He called back after a while and informed me that the driver/ car, which were to receive me, have met an accident on the Ring road. He asked me whether I can come to certain place at the middle way mean while he dispatches another car to pick me up. I refused and told him that I will wait for the vehicle at the airport. So he agreed. Twice then he rang me up again to confirm that I am still at the airport. He also asked about my whereabouts as to where am I waiting confirmed me that the replacement vehicle is on its way to pick me up.

While I was waiting, I rang up my friend at Lahore to inform him that I am there and that by evening I shall be calling on him. My friend Mr. Rauf was part of an intelligence agency at Lahore.

On contact, Mr. Rauf asked me the purpose of my visit and I gave him the details as to why be me there and why/ where am I waiting for the car to pick me up. He told me to immediately leave that place, to get a first available taxi and rush to his office. The alarm in his voice made me worried and without asking any further questions, I hurried out of the airport, engaged a taxi and started towards his office. While in the taxi, I receive the call from Mr. Rauf confirming whether I am out of the airport. On my confirmation, he asked me the number from whom I was getting the calls of the Manager HR. Mr Rauf also instructed me not to respond to any of their further calls. I replied in affirmation.

On reaching Mr. Rauf’s office, I learned the horrifying facts from Mr. Rauf and thanked ALLAH for saving my life. My life was saved by a very short margin. The death kissed my cheek and fly by.

Mr. Rauf told me that while I was on my way to his office he checked the telephone number from where the Manager HR was making the calls. The Manger HR was actually calling from Rahwali whereas; he was pretending to be calling from Lahore. Mr Rauf told me that it was a big gang of scoundrels who was working for abduction for ransom. Mr. Rauf also told me that the gang had earlier abducted 36 retired Army officers of the stature of Colonels and Majors, and after getting their life time savings, killed them and buried them at unknown places. Mr. Rauf also told me that his office was able to burst that gang a year earlier and after arresting the culprits and getting their confessions and necessary evidence, handed them over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). They were further handed over to the local police by NAB, on the pretext of being not their subject matter. During the course, the police released them as some big shots of police and Two sitting Ministers and some Members of National Assemble and Provincial Assembly were part of the gang and were supporting the nefarious activities and whatever hue & cry was made by the families of the victims was suppressed and nothing was allowed to come out in the press. Further, the families of the victims were threatened to keep quite or get ready to face the dire consequences.

Mr. Rauf told me that the gang was now again operating, after a gap of a year period.

I still thank ALLAH for saving me from this disaster and my safe return to my home back to my family.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Sunday, April 15, 2012

FAITH

The eight gunners changed their aims and started firing on the stray dog. All the guns had 250 rounds each and they were firing in the automatic mode on the stray dog. Bullets were falling like rain drops on all sides of the stray dog, which was least bothered and kept moving with the same speed and kept sniffing the ground.

OK, let me start from the beginning.

I was commander of the troops and my job was to train them to the optimum and prepare them for war. On many occasions I noticed that though they were very brave and fearless troops but still sometimes they had this doubt that in the present day war with so much fire power of modern weapons, where every inch of the battlefield is cluttered with bullets and splinters from the bombs and mines, how one could survive. Though I had their many motivational classes but still I was not satisfied as their occasional questions kept coming. One day a miraculous help came.

It was a fine bright morning and we were on the firing range, preparing for the forth coming firing competition. That was the practice day of Machine Gun firing. We had eight teams practicing on eight 4x4 targets from 300 yards. Each team consisted of two competitive seasoned firers who were trained and were good marks man.

We were on the range since early morning and had five practice fires earlier and this was the sixth firing which was to be conducted.

When the firing was about to start and the firing control officer has given orders for the deliberate fire on own targets in own time then suddenly a stray dog entered the firing zone from the right and started moving slowly towards the left by crossing the firing field. The Field area was almost 50 yards horizontally from gun position number one, which was the Right most gun, towards gun position number eight, which was the Left most gun.

The stray dog was sniffing the ground as if in search of some food. It was moving very slowly and was least bothered as to what was going around. The Dog was almost 100 yards vertically away from the guns, in the middle distance in front of the targets.

Suddenly, firing control officer changed the orders and announced “Gentlemen, you have the new target now and that is the stray dog visible and moving in the middle distance. Engage target.”

The eight gunners changed their aims and started firing on the stray dog. All the guns had 250 rounds each and they were firing in the automatic mode on the stray dog. A astonishing scene was witnessed by all present on the firing range, this included the rest of the troops and the support staff, that the bullets were falling like rain drops on all sides of the stray dog but none touched it. The Dog was least bothered and never took any notice of the falling bullets around it and kept moving calmly with the same speed, and kept sniffing the ground and searching for something.

The entire eight guns emptied their ammunition on to the stray dog but not a single bullet, out of the 2000 bullets fired, touched the stray dog. It kept moving left and crossed the field and disappeared peacefully into the bushes.

Please remember, all the gun firers were trained and were having the experience of taking part in the national level firing competitions for so many years and many of them were awards/medals holders.

After the fire was over and all the guns went dry, the firing control officer assembled all and enquired as to what happened and why nobody was able to hit the stray dog with such a close range. Nobody could give any reason/answer and they were visibly astonished and looked perplexed.

It was then that the firing control officer laughed and said,” O Come on! This has very a simple answer. Destinies are controlled by ALLAH. Today it was not destined by ALLAH that the stray dog be killed. And as you all saw it from your own eyes that the stray dog crossed the firing zone safely in the rain of the bullets and none touched it despite all your concerted efforts”. He then said, “It is the same in actual war. Likewise nothing will kill you unless it is your destiny.”

3.145. وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ ٘

3.145. بغیر اللہ کے حکم کے کوئی جاندار نہیں مر سکتا مقرر شدہ وقت لکھا ہوا ہے دنیا کی چاہت والوں کو ہم دنیا دے دیتے ہیں اور آخرت کا ثواب چاہنے والوں کو ہم وہ بھی دے دیں گے (١) اور احسان ماننے والوں کو ہم بہت جلد نیک بدلہ دیں گے۔

003.145 No soul can ever die except by Allah's leave and at a term appointed. Whoso desireth the reward of the world, We bestow on him thereof; and whoso desireth the reward of the Hereafter, We bestow on him thereof. We shall reward the thankful.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

Get Together of 55th Long Course Karachi Chapter

A get together was held on the occasion of the marriage ceremony of the daughter of Attahullah Shah Bukhari on 14th April 2012. We all thank Bukhari for choosing this date as it gave the opportunity to 55th Long Course for their annual get together of the 37 years of their comradeship. It was a lovely evening at the services club of Malir Cantonment. All the members of 55th Karachi chapter graced the occasion and paid their homage and prayers to the lovely couple. A very nice gold set was presented by Agha Ali Raza Qizilbash, on behalf of the Karachi chapter, to the beautiful Bride. Here are some photographs of the function for those who were there but not present.