Parting Words

An Epilogue, some may say, or maybe an intermission from the long drawn out, post free breaks that define Something Deep.
However you wish to reference it, I dabble once more.

The silly season is upon us, a season of vice and frivolity.
I'm not one to stand up and advocate real world seriousness and adult like behaviour all the time.
I do however feel the effects of a society spiraling down the abyss of untamed entertainment.
I speak of abject fascination in the negative territory of our actions, and the new found joy found in broadcasting such...

Life is uncomplicated. Be Good. Think Good. Live Good. 

We seem to have flipped the script, Be Evil, Think Evil, Live Evil...and then boast about it??

It's not as though the Rules of Engagement are undefined. We have the template, but in a true depiction of the foolishness of man...its a sadly understudied template.

Anyhow...the tapestry that once was has run its course. Blog posts, and writings, served well for a time of deeper inner strife. The here and now is just a random stumbling across posts of past...a writing to flex unused writing muscles if you will. A test of continuity...has the ability to write faded with age, with time?

Everything changes, fades with time...well, most things. That strong friendship, the joy in a good game of ball, I now find myself at the stage where, a relaxing couch is almost always more appealing then a game of ball. 

Judge not young uns', your time is nigh!

I am exaggerating though, not everything changes. My love for adrenaline still has me dreaming of bungy-ing and skydiving the world. My imagination is still painted by prospects of travelling, a more nuanced imagination of travel may be...I don't necessarily envisage myself backpacking across rough terrains, with nothing but park benches and baguettes to keep me company.(That was once a reality, by the way...) 

Money may have things to do it with it, money and the creature comforts desired by latter life. Not that I'm old...or have money for that matter...but a comfortable bed on my future travels would be appreciated.

So too has my love for horses (see: A Metaphorical Ode ), bikes, surfing, the ocean, all things new and interesting...the many things that defined my younger days. I may not actively participate, or look for the opportunity, but should it present itself...I definitely will raise a hand!

I should reword...Our approach to everything in life changes. Tempered by the joys, experiences and realities of life.

As I depart...this blog is unplanned. It may remain un-posted in drafts for quite sometime, who's to say? If it does make its way before you, some advice...That is my duty now, imparting advice. Aalim role and what not.

This year 2020/2021 has been an eye opener. Its time we turn back. Rediscover the template.

Death is moments away we need no further reminder, as things fade and change in our life, let not the changes lead to negativity. 

Build those broken family ties. Extend the much held-back apologies. Forgive the transgressions (and the transgressors). Repay the debts....

When man is need, he may not ask, he doesn't need to ask!

Be pro-active in the offering of assistance.

...and remember...Dua!

A special word of appreciation to the volunteers, spending their time and efforts in helping others in this time of greater human need.

The Ulama, making arrangements for counselling patients in hospitals and offering general spiritual advice, the Doctors, Nurses and Hospital staff, spending bleak hours trying to manage patients through critical periods, Bilal Adamjee and the Durban Muslim Burial Volunteers, the many odd hours spent managing ghusls and janazaas, the soup kitchens, hamper donors... the rest of you unseen, helping mankind...

Those in the public eye, we see you and appreciate.

Those hidden, we appreciate just as much.

Our duas are with all!

Take up a course, lend your hand as well...and always remember the perfect template!

Navigating the Quagmire...

The life we lead. It is not a known quantity.
Quality, tempered by achievements, and the lack thereof. Or so we think...
The human mind is small. Insignificant in fact. Comprehension of the vast untold is an unobtainable fantasy. One best left undesired. A firmly stated fact, one our scientific minds have yet to accept.

Today I saw a tree, Bent in ruku (well, not today...this post has been sitting, drafted, for far too long). I pass this tree almost everyday(when I pay campus a visit that is), yet one glance, one enlightened glance, and this sublime act of worship was breathtakingly manifested.
Like a cataract, sometimes we look but don't 'see'.

We strive, we struggle. The question to be answered though: for what?
It is an ill purposed, misaligned guidance that leads our lives.
Like the moth, drawn to the allure of light, we let this fantastical temptation more commonly known as 'the world' lead us.
We lie down, the martyr;  unsuspecting, unknowing...to what have we sold our soul?
This world. Hooked as we are, everyday...
A fallacy.

This guile of deception that is Dunya. An attack on the very spirit of who we are, Who we ought to be.
When a man no longer recognizes truth, he fights...with ardor...The willing martyr of a deluded course.
Our barriers are shorn...to draw us in has become no tough ask.
Drawn in, on journeys of wavering convictions. Journeys of perceived joy, imagined ease, and ill-defined success. A veneer of happiness. Nothing, but surface coating to the deeply rooted rust of our lives.

I think it is time we break these shackles. Stand defiant to worldly expectations, and live for truth and sincerity.  Perform that operation maybe, remove the blinding cataracts of deception.
Like that tree, submission.

In simplicity lies the key to this success, or so I'm told. Stand tall in submission.
Let the quality of our life be defined, not by the misinterpreted success of a false life, but by definitions of success as yet unknown to us at a personal level. The annals of history are replete with shining examples. For us though, our success, we need nurturing. Definition, at a level compatible with the thought processes of you and I.  For this.. to be defined.. guidance is in order.

Tangible guidance.
A challenge, to you and I!

Our logic is no true guidance, we would do well To accept, To understand, To believe, To follow this simple truth.
Logic would have us believe, Have us act. Induce mannerisms contrary to all ethics and principles of Deen.

Our logic is nothing but arrows of the devious. 

No man is safe from temptation, more so in a world of ludity and crudity.
Like the ignorant martyr. We are all guilty.
A sad day when the struggle is, in fact, nothing but a tumor. An obstacle to true benefit.

So once again. A challenge to us all.
Seek that guidance. Reap those rewards. Define that success!

University of Life

University. 

That exciting new stage in life. That new frontier. The wondrous times ahead. 

University. 

New people. Confusing structures. Confused lecturers. Complicated courses.

University. 

The final coming of age of every high school student. Dreamt of during many a tiring day in class, university always seemed to be the answer. Not an answer to a question posed per say. An answer to no question physically asked. An answer none-the-less. 

An answer to the ‘normal’ existence of a high school student.

I am an adrenaline junkie. I crave excitement. My ‘fix’ is in the very lack of normality. A normal school existence was a very long tunnel, one definitely in need of light at some end. 

University.

Mundane. Routine. Boring. Without intrigue. University. 

Who would have thought? The Answer hides questions anew. The novelty, glitter, and charm of University life is running dull, and I am fickle. 

I have come to an understanding. It has never been University. The answer to an un-posed question of a wandering mind was never in this institute of higher learning which, at the end of the day, is an institute of learning, and by nature devoid of fun.

That perceived yearning of a University life, has never had anything to do with University at all. The actual draw card. Novelty. 

My life has always been defined by landmark events. Exciting step after exciting step. Each step Progressively more expansive, as life meandered on. Parachuting. Backpacking. Road-Tripping. Scuba-Diving. Hiking. Camping. Biking. Bungee Jumping. White-Water Rafting. Hitch Hiking. 

Surviving. 

As stated, I am an adrenaline junkie. A thrill seeker.

Novelty, by its very definition, appeals to the core fibers of my being. It is my personality, my nature. Anything new, is bound to be fun (Not necessarily in the here and now).  All fun, is thrilling (At least by my definition), and I am in love with the novel.

To the whole University saga. I am bored. The novelness has run dry. 

That’s not to say I won’t complete. Stick it out, some say. Perseverance. Dedication. 

Who knows? That may in fact be the final play. 

To be absolutely honest, I enjoy this degree, Mechanical Engineering, it has elements of fun to it.

I have one last roll of the die though. A word of advice. Wisdom imparted if I may.

Passion.

Passion is the answer my friends, to that once long ago un-posed question. 

Not university, not Novelty. 

A fact of life, Novelty is no true motivating factor by any lasting standards. 

Familiarity breeds contempt, it is said. Similarly so, the loss of novelty is stolen allure.

To truly succeed. 

To rise. 

To fly. 

Passion is a requirement. It is an ingredient irreplaceable.

Fellow students, Future students…and other breathing beings. Think carefully. Choose wisely. Your career path, and life’s other mundane choices (True purpose is always defined, it is only the mundane we argue here), should forever be defined by passion. 

It is in passion that you will find contentment, through the obduracy and rigidity of all that is study...and life. (mundane of course)

Let not the glitter and glamour of novelty beguile you.

Find that ardor. 

Be passionate, else vicissitude shall always be yours.

Travel!

The discomforts that make up the joys of travel.
It is only one that has known the joy, an experienced, or should I say avid, traveler that can relate to sentiments such as these. Or so I would assume.
To the uninitiated, what joy is there in getting lost in an airport? What joy is there in being IN an airport?

But these are trivial tales.
With travel, comes the sense, the urgency, the desire to experience every moment, live every breath and enjoy every step. Throbbing feet, splitting headache, chafed shoulders and anxious tension at being ‘the newboy’ in town all beside the point.

An old adage, bad decisions make for good stories. Never truer than in the world of travel I say.
Stories come to mind, memories. Of streets dark. Wrong trains, missed flight, and the ill begotten comfort of public benches. These are stories, to be told someday, with false teeth and a grandchild on each lap (minus the certain censored bits of course). Yarns to be cherished.

The point is…I love travelling. A fact few may be aware of.
I speak not of the mundane, day to day commute to work type of travel. Any who enjoys that ,unless he/she is on a motorbike, (A rip-roaring single cylinder thumper. That than is completely understandable) is deserving of a place in Pietermaritzburg’s infamous house of the not so blessed.

What I speak of is travel to new places. The exotic, the unknown, the mysterious.
There is a beguiling draw to mystique.

Travel, unplanned. A new destination each day, a new sight each moment, and an unknown bed each night. (Planned trips are nice too, but in unplanned lies the lure.) The hidden joy to all travel is firmly embedded in the words ‘go with the flow’.

The friendly face of a helpful stranger, giving directions to an elusive place in an unidentifiable language.
The hostile glance of a haughty Parisian, wondering at the apparent foreigners roaming French streets, totally lost.
The bemused expression of a drunk Swiss. Staring in astonishment. A surprised greeting uttered more in reflexive shock than cognizance, to the three obviously homeless, making full use of sleeping bags and the comfort of Berns streets. Cooking midnight rice, and preparing for a nights rest in oblivious happiness.

These are faces to be remembered, stories to be told.
This is where the true joy of travel rears its ugly head.
To the uninitiated, the joy of a cold night is lacking. To a traveler, joy is in the unknown knowledge of what lies beyond.

There is however, another aspect to traveling. A deeply profound aspect. It lies in the realization of the world. The creation.
It lies in the chance meeting of an uninterested stranger, transformed into an enthusiastic friend, with the knowledge that we share the same faith.
It lies in the Masaajid of the world, and the realization that a Muslim in Spain, and one in South Africa differ only geographically. (Sometime ignorance apart)
This sense of brotherliness is no imagined joy.

Amongst many other things, I am happy to say, I am a traveler!
I have traveled (a bit), and hope to someday travel further.
Travel to learn the world. Travel to experience the world.
It is not something easily regretted, and this I say from experience.
(I’m sure Ahmad, and even Mahomedy can agree with me on this.)

Tips to the future traveler (A backpackers perspective):

1. Go with the flow. Nothing will ever always go according to plan. 
2. Pack light, less than what you consider light in fact. 
3. Budget. Either that, or starve. 
4. Ziploc bags, they come in handy, as does a pocket knife. 
5. Money pocket sewn onto your vest. It is your own personal safe, and works better than any money belt. 
6. Account for travel time, it takes time to reach new destinations. 
7. Sleep. Travel is tiring, sleep and take breaks. (Travel and sleep combined works well) 
8. For Halal food, its best to get directions from the nearest Masjid. 
9. Learn punctuality, even if its just for a few days. You wont regret it. May want a more precise timepiece than this though

The Prague Astronomical Clock

For more tips and hints, please refer to people that know what they are talking about. I am but a novice in the game...for now.

Bon Voyage

A Metaphoric Ode

Swift Gazes. Sparkling Strides.
Intensity, entombed within a veneer of fragility. The quite beauty of elegant subtlety.
Strength, Intelligence, Compassion, Devotion.
Hidden traits of a character. So joyous to behold.

Words have never failed me...but in this I lie.
Pray tell, how does one describe beauty so absolute?
A character so sound, an image so complete.
I despair!

Purity in sloping shoulders. Purity in the swallows neck.
Purity, shining. Radiance undiminished, from a face untarnished.
Purity of heart, pure in mind.

It is said of the asil: "High carriage marks the noble."
In you I see royalty. Floating.
An ethereal eternity of wonderment.

You stand aloof. A sun, among the stars of day.
Moon of the cloudless night.
There is no pedestal!


In baraka there is beauty and you my friend, are blessed beyond parity!

Jealousy marks my lot.
I can but hope.
I can but wait and hope.

- The Arab Horse

Actions...and consequences.

I have a blog to write…It is one of those ‘after long’ moments.

I suffer from something called “writers block,” well writers block with a difference. 

I write when the inclination strikes me, and generally ‘the inclination’ doesn’t strike.

It’s not some sort of premeditated thing, this blogging of mine. I actually had no intention of writing tonight. My sole intention for this night was exam preparation. A single potent word. Studying.

Exams are nigh upon us my friends, and here I sit dallying behind my keyboard typing in the hope that somehow, by some miracle, this will help me pass.

I heard it once said, ‘nothing is random, everything has its reason.’ Perhaps there was some subtlety in the day just passed, some niggling reminder. Something said…or unsaid, that caused me to open this word document and dance the keyboard dance.

I don’t know, and to be fair…I don’t really care. What does worry me however, is the approaching gloom. 

Exam morning, unprepared minds, beating hearts, and failed papers. I can almost hear the gloomy music. In fact, scratch that: Elfin language mournful song, departing ships and the whole Lord of the Rings ‘goodbye Elrond’ scene, that is my vision this moment.

Pretty gloomy, right. Well, to be positive, I only write 5 papers, it’s not like I’ll have much to repeat should I perchance fail J

Not that I have intentions of failing, I shall study and, with help, pass!

This brings me to a topic I’ve meant to blog about before. Time and laziness were just never on my side afore this day.

Actions…and consequences.

I heard a man once. A wise man.

He relayed these ‘pearls’ of wisdom: 

“Whatever is done, do it with a goal in mind. Every action has a consequence. Weigh the outcome, for man has been given intellect for a reason…Man has been given intellect, To reason.”

Okay, ignore the quotation marks, I’m paraphrasing…these may not have been this particular wise old man’s exact words, but the point remains the same. How profound!

Simple mathematics. Situation + Action = Outcome/Consequence. I say this not as an engineering student - although it is said that math is the friend of any engineer (Untrue, believe me. Math and I have this distinctly unpleasant relationship…nothing remotely resembling friendly about it.)  - I say this from a purely logical standpoint.

In our pride, in our arrogance, maybe even in ignorance, we have forgotten humanity.

We, as humans, have forgotten the very nature of the word, Human. 

Humane. This word refers not only to our treatment of animals. What we have forgotten is that, to be humane is also to be kind, considerate and caring to those who you may, for whatever reason, dislike. Human, entails being humane to humans as well as non-humans. These certain fundamentals we seem to have forgotten.

Words said, racist remarks, lies spoken…these are actions today, of which the final consequences will not be wholly enjoyable. That color you directed a racist tone to, that misfit you taunted…their day will come, and if this be our mannerisms, it will not be a day we enjoy.

Every action has its consequence.

Today being Friday, I heard a talk. A talk on success (Maybe this was the subtle precursor to this post?? ). 

We need to direct ourselves. Align our actions to those outcomes we would consider a success.

Time is short, fact!
We are not free spirits, to be left alone… Floating along on a sea of whims and fancies, goalless. We have a goal. Although our behavior, at times, suggests otherwise.

A brain crammed with student stuff, it would be well worth the memory space required to remember this one simple point.

There is a goal. Success. Success, is our goal.

We have a readymade definition of success…example, and solution provided In annals of history. Time to copy and paste my friends, as best we can. Time to copy and paste.

An Introspection

There are times in life, when introspection is warranted. Needed actually.

Two days ago, I just got back from a trip of utter brilliance. Amazing beyond compare, words fail to aptly describe the wonder of such a holiday…though there is a word I usually use when describing situations such as this: Epic! 

For those that haven’t been, the Garden route is a must…trust me on that! 

Apart from being just an amazing trip, during which, bucket list: bungee – check, sand boarding – check, travelling by taxi – check, getting lost somewhere - check, and much much more were achieved. This trip has brought me to a realization. One so profound, it scares me…but that’s a topic for future discussions, maybe.

Anyway, back on point…Introspection. 

Have you ever just sat and thought?  About anything, about everything, About life, about the past, about the future, about beauty, love, hate, people, sand particles, little blue people living on Mars, age of stars, hearing capability of ants and whether the moon really is made of cheese?

Have you ever really just sat and thought?

I have, and I love it. 

Apart from the random, thinking about oneself..ones own reactions, personal moments, times in history, experiences etc. can be a very satisfying and therapeutic process. The idea of self reflection, it has always intrigued me. I can, in all honesty, say that I am a reflective person (not in the literal sense, the sun does not shine back of me...though if you reaallly want to get technical, it sort of does... :/ )

but...Simply put, introspection and I…we are familiar friends. (I’ve got a good friend to thank for making me realize this. Thank you there.)

I have this firm belief that, in life, a little introspection every once in a while is necessary. I guess, come to think of it, the fact that I’m writing a blog post today is not that big a shock after all. I mean, what is a blog post, if not a form of written introspection?

You see, with introspection comes a realization of who you are. A deeper understanding. and with this deeper understanding comes the ability to change…the ability to Control change. 

Man is forever changing. Good or bad change, that now is left up to the person himself/herself.  With this ‘Introspection’ I speak of, change can be controlled for the good…or so I’d hope.

On a related note...very similar to introspection is discussion. Talking helps, a lot. All that therapeutic bullshit that we so often heard off and dismissed...well, some of it works. 

You see, the ‘Deep Dark Recesses’ of one’s mind can be a scary place, at times...well all the time in my case…Sometimes help is needed, this is one reason why I am a fan of criticism. (I appreciate constructive criticism by the way) Sounds weird I know, but others see in you what you would never have noticed yourself.Character analysis, It can be quite interesting. Quirks, personal traits, habits, all easier noticed and pointed out by others. 

All this to learn yourself...

I find that, knowing oneself leads to a confidence in who you are. Confidence is needed at times, and so it is that introspection (and discussion), in a subtle way, is good for a person...and now I’m feeling old and wise talking about introspection, confidence and personal profiles on a blog post.

Forgive me my ancientiness…in defense, I do boast ‘Pensioner’ amongst my many nicknames.

Thank You, and Goodbye :)