Ramzan – some home-truths

Today, ATP published this post of mine that attempts to look at some of the uncomfortable aspects of the way Holy month is practised…

“Religion’s Role in Politics” from the TPS blog

This is a thought-provoking piece published by The Pakistani Spectator (TPS) that brings together multiple views and voices on Pakistan. I believe there are…

Pakistani Civil Society Confronts Extremism

Thousands marched in the blistering heat on the streets of Lahore; and similar demonstrations were held in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar. Full entry here…

Shah Ast Hussain – II

After reading my earlier post, my dear friend Sheraz Haider has corrected the translation of the Persian quatrain Shah Ast Hussain as follows: Ruler…

Let us prove all those who link Islam with violence wrong

Contributed by G.S. Qureshi Does verbal criticism of Islam or Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) justify setting churches afire in the West Bank…

Indian mutiny was war of religion

India celebrates the 150th anniversary next year of the Indian mutiny or “first war of independence”, when Indian soldiers of the British army rebelled…

The Lost Jewel – Rediscovering Hazrat Ali’s Letter

This is a fascinating story. Pakistan’s premier female poet Fahmida Riaz, read a letter by the fourth Caliph, Hazrat Ali while browsing through a…

Imagining Ourselves – War and Dialogue

Imagining Ourselves (IO) is a global online exhibit featuring art, photographs, essays and film by young women in their 20s and 30s asking them…

the Conference of the Birds

The theory of Tawhid (Unity of Divine Being) has been beautifully expressed by the Persian Sufi poet Farid ud din Attar (1157-1235) in his…

End of the Enlightenment

This is a 2005 piece published by NewScientist.com and authored by Debora Mackenzie is an interesting read. I have often wondered where the world…