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Faith, Freedom and the Future of Pakistan

AzadiMubarak! Or not-so-mubarak? Two friends having a thought-provoking conversation on what it really means to be a Pakistani youth in these times of uncertainty and chaos.

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December 22, 2025

Work Hard For The Rest Of Your Life

The Life Expectancy of males in Pakistan is 64 and a half years. Assuming that is how long I would live, I have already spent more than 1/3rd of my life. How much time in these years have I spent working and worrying for the life that’s NEVER GOING TO END? And how much have I worked for the few more scores of my life left in more than 22 years I have been breathing? We are told by our parents and relatives “Beta, bas matric he sab kuch hai. Iskay marks sari zindagi sath chalnay hain. Achay college main chalay gaye tou agay asanian hongi (Son, Matric is everything. These marks will be with you all your life. You would have ease ahead if you get into a good college).” When you get in a good college this statement changes to “Beta, bas FSc main achay marks le lo. Entry test k liye achi achi tayyari karlo. Aik baar achi university chalay gaye tou kuch ban k he niklo ge (Son, just take good marks in FSc. Prepare well for the entry test. Once you get into a good university you’ll come out as something at least).” After you’re in a good university they tell you to work hard since your job depends on GPA. Be presentable in the interview. Don’t keep your pants above your ankles it won’t look good. Do anything you can but just get a job. You won’t get married without it of course.
Yasha Fatima
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December 22, 2025

Heedless…

There’s no such thing as a coincidence. Since 3-4 days I’ve been observing that at this hour (third part of the night) a bird, or a few of them, starts chirping. First it amazed me because you rarely hear a bird chirping so peacefully at this time. I couldn’t help but think that it’s praising Allah. I get these strange feelings, feelings of happiness and sorrow at the same time. The sound just makes you realize the truth of Allah’s words: “41. Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whoever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allah is Knowing of what they do.” [An-Noor (The Light), Chapter 24] You realize this and you feel happy. But then a feeling of sadness overcomes you. A bird who does not have to worry about his end is praising Allah SWT. What about me: a human whom Allah gave a brain to think, a mind to ponder, an intellect to reflect over HIS signs and recognize HIM? Yet how heedless am I of my end! How unfortunate am I to waste my time, especially this time of the night, while doing everything else but worship, when a simple creature, without the superior faculties that Allah has blessed me with, is Praising HIM.   Allah constantly gives us the reminder… “1. Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while
Yasha Fatima
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December 22, 2025

If HE Forsakes You, Who Is There That Can Help You?

I realized that every time there is rain and thunder and lightning, I start remembering the sins I have done. It makes me remember what end I would have, whether I would end up in Jannah or …… The darkness seems mysterious and scary. It makes me want to know what lies beyond all of this that we see, but at the same time makes me think if I’m even ready for it. Most of the time, the answer is no. But all of this fear is only for a while, isn’t it? I’m sure many of you have experienced it. We remember Allah when we are in trouble. We remember Allah when there is something that scares us and we know we do not have the power to save ourselves from it; we remember Allah only in these times. In normal routine, our days go without any thought of HIM being forever watchful. Even if we do remember that, we choose to ignore this fact because the world is just too pretty for us. That moment that we are enjoying is just too good to remember our end. We wouldn’t want to spoil our fun by remembering that Allah is watching us. We wouldn’t want to remember death – the destroyer of pleasures. It reminds me of these verses of Surah Yunus: 22. He it is Who enables you to travel through land and sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with
Yasha Fatima
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December 22, 2025

The Missing Ingredient

I was on a group yesterday and from there I went to a page through a link shared by someone. I just randomly started looking at the stuff and something really amazed me. The brother who was running the page was arguing with some guy and while explaining his point to him, he said something like “I’ve replied to you for this so many times but here you go I’ll do it one more time.” Then he pasted a link and said “read this completely and if you still don’t understand THEN only Allah can guide you.” I stopped there for a while. It suddenly hit me! THIS is the reason we are not able to influence people! THIS is the reason we explain something so many times yet the person pays no heed. THIS is the reason that although we get “likes” on our posts yet our words have no effect on people; because we rely on OUR logic, OUR argumentation, OUR rhetoric, OUR background knowledge of the subject and even OUR attitudes and values. We focus on learning all of these. But while doing so we forget the most basic and fundamental aspect of Da’wah: “…and Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [14:4] This is what’s lacking. It doesn’t matter how sincere we are, how well prepared we are, how good are our manners or how good we explain, if we’re relying on
Yasha Fatima
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December 22, 2025

Little Blessings

My friend and I entered the university gate in the late afternoon and started looking for some shade to sit under. We walked from tree to tree and umbrella to umbrella, but either the shade had gone or the place was occupied. Finally, after a long time, we saw a bench far off that gave some protection from the unrelenting sun rays. We rushed towards it, sat down and drank the cool water that we had just bought from the cafe. What a beautiful ending to a commonplace everyday story. SubhanAllah! This is what makes the summer season so delightful; a sip of cold water, a stick of ‘gola’ with your friend, sitting under the shade when all else is sunny, a dip in the pool and the list goes on. I realized it’s pretty simple if you think about it. Allah created diversity in the weather so that we appreciate little things. Would we ever be pleased with a glass of cold water if it snowed all the time? Would we ever be glad of long nights if they stayed long all year round? Would we ever be excited about the rain if it stayed humid 24/7? Of course not! Imagine, if the sun never came out or if the sun was cold or if the crops never got any sunshine? Scary? Yeah! And then, Allah does not ask us to accomplish big tasks all the time. We just need to thank Him for these little things. Saying Alhamdulillah
Yasha Fatima
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December 22, 2025

The 2013 Youth!

So who is cooler and who makes more sense?! You decide! So this first guy is your typical everyday 19-year-old Pakistani guy living in Islamabad and Lahore or any other major city in Pakistan. He gets up every morning, shaves.. Because all ‘young’ people have to shave right ?! Because EVERYONE does it and says so right? .. The scratches, the itchiness, the stress on the face  is all worth it because then he’ll get looked at by mates at Uni and if lucky, a pretty girl will stare at him and fall in love with him, yeah?!  Hmmm.. Spends over 2 hours getting ready, combing every strand of his hair to perfection..! Creams his face.. Stares at the mirror almost asking the question.. “Mirror mirror on the wall..”!! He wears his tight jeans ’cause you know that’s the ‘in’ fashion nowadays! Doesn’t matter if they are uncomfortable.. Gotta look good ! Gotta look sharp!! Puts on his best shirt, perfumes himself, bye to the family, catch the ‘wagon’.. Maybe stare at the pretty girl! You know, cheap thrills, yeah! Hoping she would look back! But no she doesn’t!! Oh well, plenty more fish in the sea (Uni), he thinks. Gets to campus.. Meets his mates! High fives as  if they are Americans – accidentally happen to be in Pakistan(!). Gets invited to a party or 2.. Then talk about cricket.. “What a shot, what a chakka!!”.. Followed by “The government is so messed up man.. Followed by “Did you
Yasha Fatima
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