POSTER - Films and Islam

"Films and Islam" - by S Roman Ahsan

FILMS AND ISLAM - 26th July, 2020

QUESTION: Is watching films allowed in Islam? Should a true believer watch films?

ANSWER: We are living in an imperfect world. Everyone is accountable to Allah according to his/her circumstances and environment as to how he/she strives as per Islamic teachings.

Watching films is not really allowed in Islam. We need to avoid watching  unnecessary films and restrict our viewing habits to useful content which serves Islam as best as we can apart from content related to modern day requirements of science/technology, healthcare, life matters, career etc. But on overall basis our environments, both at home and outdoors, are devoid of Islamic purity owing to different uncontrollable factors. We are unable to engage ourselves in healthy physical activities also on regular basis. Considering all this we need to strike a balance in today’s world though no compromise on our basic concepts of Islam and our basic worship acts.

If watching a relatively clean good classic film once in a while lifts one’s mood then it is better than sulking which can cause friction with your close ones also. But we have to keep a check on ourselves lest we get carried away in this game! Some films provide worthy lessons of life to us but most films today are nevertheless only to provide entertainment value to viewers without any moral barriers. Censorship has been totally lifted also. Today's films can be compared with fast food which offers lots of taste and spice but has little nourishment value!

In Pakistan, currently we are producing cheap films in line with the same trends as in Bollywood with item songs and dance numbers. Such kinds of films are destroying the moral fabric of nation. To top it the Pakistani films made on patriotic themes in the last 15 years or so have been doing disservice to both ideology of Pakistan and ideology of Islam (list includes 'Khuda Kay Liay', 'WAAR', 'Sher Dil', 'Azaadi' etc). Hence we may find it better to watch classic Hollywood films sometimes than the current cheap stuff produced by Pakistani cinema. The quality of Pakistani films needs to be greatly elevated but what can you do if the level of moral values of the Pakistani society at large has drastically gone down? The producers in Pakistan thus try to cater to their taste which is more in tune with Bollywood films and also Indian TV plays being shown continuously on cable TV in Pakistan in the last 20 years.

As for International films (or plays) made on Islamic heroes / history, we need to be honest with ourselves. Do we watch such films or plays to implement Islamic lessons in our lives or just for entertainment? The fact is that most Muslims today watch such films or plays only for fun just like any other entertaining film or play which has no relevance with Islam. Instead of such films it is better to listen to lectures or to read books by different Islamic scholars and draw commonalities with the purpose to implement Islamic lessons in life or to at least strive!

Lastly, we are living in the first phase of End times as per the signs mentioned or prophesized in Sahih Ahadith (sayings of our Prophet pbuh). The Anti-Christ (Dajjal) who will be the false Messiah and who will be the greatest fitnah (test) for mankind from the time of Prophet Adam (pbuh) till Judgement Day will be One-Eyed (just one eye functional and blind in the other eye). 

We note that the camera was invented just over a century and a half ago and it is one-eyed (though rectangular-shaped but still like one eye). The television (including today’s flat screens), the computer or laptop screens, the cell-phones etc., all these are shaped as one-eyed. This was pointed out by an Islamic scholar and he might be right as these technological devices are being used more for the spread of evil or immoral content than for the good thus serving the agenda of Anti-Christ (Dajjal) who will ultimately lead the greater part of humanity away from the One God’s message!

Hence, to conclude we all need to be careful in these times regarding our media viewing habits and with our other trends in life in general!

-      By S Roman Ahsan (26^th July, 2020)

TONIGHT’S FILM – “To kill a mockingbird” (1962)

TONIGHT’S FILM – “To kill a mockingbird” (1962)

-      24^th July, 2020

Tonight we are sharing a bit on the 1962 film “To kill a mockingbird” which is based on the novel of same name by Harper Lee published in 1960. Enormously popular, it was translated into some 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize. The novel was praised for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice in the American South.

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The protagonist is Jean Louise (“Scout”) Finch, an intelligent though unconventional girl who ages from six to nine years old during the course of the novel. She is raised with her brother, Jeremy Atticus (“Jem”), by their widowed father, Atticus Finch. He is a prominent lawyer who encourages his children to be empathetic and just. He notably tells them that it is “a sin to kill a mockingbird,” alluding to the fact that the birds are innocent and harmless.

When Tom Robinson, one of the town’s Black residents, is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman, Atticus agrees to defend him despite threats from the community.

The novel inspired numerous adaptations, the most notable of which was the classic 1962 film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus. His Academy Award-winning performance became an enduring part of cinema history. Other adaptations included a Broadway play that was adapted by Aaron Sorkin and debuted in 2018. [Read full description at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird]

Late Gregory Peck won his first Oscar in the best actor category for this film. It is interesting to note that over the years Mr. Peck won five nominations in the Academy Awards for best actor and he had started his Hollywood career with the first film in 1944, but it was only for “To kill a mockingbird” that he won the award.

Following are some related video links for the film:

1-   AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE - AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains: #1 Hero - Atticus Finch

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqmnI4qtiGM

2-   Gregory Peck talks about 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in 1963 interview

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vouoju4mETc

3-   Harrison Ford (‘Raiders of the lost Ark’) on TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and GREGORY PECK

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVVzZjiS8Bo

COMPILED BY: S Roman Ahsan (24^th July, 2020)

VIDEO - Prof Allan Keislar's Spiritual Journey

VIDEO - امریکی پروفیسر کا اسلام کی طرف روحانی سفر

بحالت بیداری میں نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم کی زیارت - انھی کی زبان میں بہت خوبصورت باتیں ماشاءاللہ

My Spiritual Journey to Islam..by Allan Keislar ( An American Professor)

- 21 Minutes

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdxCdPFpOj0

ACTION FILM SCENES - 12th July, 2020

ACTION FILM SCENES – From “Raiders of the lost Ark” (1981)

-      12^th July, 2020

Some scenes from the 1981 American action-adventure film “Raiders of the lost Ark” set in 1936 which is often considered one of the greatest films ever made.

Steven Spielberg (film director, producer, screenwriter) teamed up with George Lucas (film director, producer, screenwriter) of ‘Star Wars’ to bring the magnificence of “Raiders of the lost Ark” to the silver screen.

It is pertinent to mention that “the lost Ark” (a chest) or the “Ark of Covenant” has historical significance in all three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Holy Qur’an the Ark is mentioned as “Taboot-e-Sakina” and according to some Islamic scriptures pertaining to End times, “Taboot-e-Sakina” will be rediscovered (though Allah knows best) by the last savior of mankind, Imam Al-Mahdi.

Apart from mention of some historical references as per Judaism, the entire film is based on a purely fictional story. It is still worth seeing. The Nazis are heavily demonized in the film, maybe because Steven Spielberg is Jewish.

1- FIRST SCENE - The Army Intelligence

 -      7 Minutes

 This is one of the earlier scenes of the film but not the very first one. Archaeologist Indiana Jones who is also a College Professor is approached by some Army Intelligence officers about intercepting a message of the Germans (the talk between them starts at 2:30 min of this video). Jones arrives at the conclusion that the city outside Cairo where Nazis are actively engaged in an archaeological dig has the connection with the Ark of the Covenant. At the end an officer says “An Army that carries the Ark before it is invincible.”

The creepy music at 6:40 min when Jones shows a picture of the Ark to the officers tells the viewers what may lie ahead in the film.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joqX0_llyWE  

 2-  SECOND SCENE - The truck chase

-      8 Minutes

The Nazi team accompanied by a French archaeologist (a rival of Jones) succeeds in locating the Ark and is carrying it away in a truck. Our hero is an Archaeologist and College Professor who not only shows his stunt as a horse rider but drives a truck as if he has been a truck-driver all his life. He does not back off after even a gun-shot wound in his arm, all humanly unbelievable feats. Good action for the viewers though in this scene which is towards the end of film.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqQD8sVtfA4  

3- Third Scene - Opening of Ark

-      5 Minutes

This is perhaps the second-last scene of the film. If you have a weak heart then it is suggested that you do not watch it. The ark (the chest) is being opened by the Nazis led by Belloq (the French Archaeologist) but a nasty surprise awaits them while Jones along with his friend is tied to a pole.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0APF3SO9tqE

-      DESCRIPTION:  S Roman Ahsan (12^th July, 2020)

Burhan Wani - برہان وانی کون تھا ؟

برہان وانی کون تھا ؟

٨ جولائی کو کشمیری مجاہد برہان وانی کی برسی تھی - برہان وانی بھی ہزاروں دیگر کشمیری مجاہدین کی طرح ایک مجاہد تھا مگر ٹیکنالوجی کا بروقت اور درست استعمال کرنے کی صلاحیت نے اسے عام کشمیری مجاہدین سے الگ بنا دیا تھا۔

اس نے اپنی سیلفیز اور موبائل ویڈیوز کو نوجوانوں سے رابطے کا ذریعہ بنایا اس کی ویڈیو کشمیر میں بھارتی تسلط کا مذاق اڑاتی تھیں، جو کشمیر پر اپنی سات لاکھ فوج مسلط رکھتے ہوئے بھی ایک چھوٹی سی عمر کے لڑکے کو سوشل میڈیا کے استعمال کرنے سے نہ روک سکی۔

جموں کشمیر کے ایک گاؤں شریف آباد میں ایک اسکول پرنسپل مظفر احمد وانی کے ہاں پیدا ہونے والا بچہ اِس قدر اہم کیوں ہوگیا۔ پندرہ سال کی عمر میں گھر چھوڑ جانے والا یہ ہیرو 2010ء میں کشمیر میں ہونے والے فسادات کے بعد آخر کیوں اتنا اُبھر کر سامنے آیا کہ بھارت کی ساڑھے 7 لاکھ فوج مقبوضہ وادی میں یرغمال بن کر رہ گئی ہے؟ اور جس کی جدوجہد بھارتی فوجیوں کا دردِ سر بن گئی ہے؟

برہان نے ایک معتدل انسان کے طور پر اپنی شناخت بنائی۔ اسی لیے وہ کشمیری مسلمانوں کے ساتھ ساتھ کشمیری ہندوؤں میں بھی مقبول تھا۔ اپنی ایک ویڈیو میں انہوں نے جنوبی کشمیر کے نوجوانوں کو اِس تنظیم میں شامل ہونے کی اپیل کی اور کہا کہ اب تک اِس تنظیم میں 30 کے قریب نوجوان شامل ہوچکے ہیں۔ برہان کی مختلف ویڈیوز منظرِ عام پر آتی رہیں، جن سے اُن کے نظریات کے بارے میں آگاہی حاصل کی جاسکتی ہے۔

برہان وانی کشمیر میں بھارتی علاقوں میں رہنے والے ایسے ہندؤوں کی آباد کاری کے خلاف تھا جو کہ کشمیری نہیں ہیں۔ وہ کشمیر کو اسرائیل اور فلسطین طرز پر بدلنے کی مخالفت کرتے تھے۔ اس کے نزدیک کشمیری پنڈت کشمیر میں رہ سکتے تھے۔ برہان وانی نے بھارت سے آنے والے ہندو زائرین کے قافلے پر حملہ کرنے اور انہیں تکلیف پہنچانے سے سختی سے منع کیا۔ وہ کہتا تھا کہ،

’’ہماری جنگ بھارتی فوج کے ظالمانہ قبضے کے خلاف ہے۔ کشمیر میں بسنے والے لوگ کوئی بھی ہوں اور اُن کا تعلق کسی بھی مذہب سے ہو، اُن سے ہماری کوئی جنگ نہیں وہ ہمارے بھائی ہیں‘‘

برہان وانی کی ویڈیوز اور تصاویر چند گھنٹوں میں تمام سوشل میڈیا پر پھیل جاتی تھیں۔ اپنی تصاویر میں بہت پرعظم بھارتی سورماؤں کی آنکھوں میں آنکھیں ڈال کر ان کی عددی برتری کا مذاق اڑاتا رہتا تھا۔ اس کی ویڈیوز نوجوانوں کے اندر جذبہ جہاد کے تصور کو انڈیل کر “شہادت ہے مطلوب ومقصود مومن” کا تصور ناصر کر رہی تھیں۔

برہان جدید ایجادات کو بروئے کار لاتے ہوئے مسلح جدوجہد سے ایک طرف بھارتی ملٹری اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے دروازے پر نئے طوفان کی دستک دے رہا تھا تو دوسری طرف جو لوگ آزادی کو محض پرامن مظاہروں اور اقوام متحدہ کی قراردادوں سے لیے جانے پر یقین رکھتے تھے ان کو یاد دہانی کروا رہا تھا کہ جنگیں پرامن رہ کر نہیں جیتی جاتیں۔آزادی صرف مظاہروں اور قراردادوں سے نہیں بلکہ چھین کرحاصل کرنی پڑتی ہے۔

وانی نے ایک ویڈیو بیان میں کہا تھا کہ بھارتی میڈیا اُن کی تحریک آزادی کو دہشت گردی قرار دے رہا ہے۔ اگر یہ لوگ واقعی سچ کہنا چاہتے ہیں تو انہیں کشمیر کی تاریخ کا مطالعہ کرنا چاہیئے تاکہ انہیں بھارت کی ریاستی دہشت گردی کا پتہ چل سکے۔ حقیقت یہی ہے کہ بھارتی میڈیا جھوٹ کی کاشت کر رہا ہے۔

8 جولائی 2016 کو وانی کو دو ساتھیوں کے ہمراہ شہید کیا گیا۔ برہان مظفر وانی کی شہادت کی خبر پوری ریاست میں جنگل کی آگ کی طرح پھیلی، جبکہ نوجوانوں کی جانب سے اِس قتل پر شدید ردِعمل بھی دیکھنے میں آیا۔ احتجاج شروع ہوا تو سیکیورٹی فورسز اور نوجوانوں میں تصادم ہوگیا۔

2 روز کے دوران احتجاج میں 17 سے زائد افراد کو شہید کیا گیا۔ کشمیری نوجوانوں کی جانب سے فورسز پر پتھراؤ کیا گیا جبکہ ہندوستانی فوج نے مظاہرین کو منتشر کرنے کے لیے پہلے آنسو گیس استعمال کی مگر احتجاج قابو نہ ہونے پر فائرنگ کی گئی جس کے بعد کئی افراد جاں بحق ہوئے۔ اُن کی شہادت پر کشمیر میں احتجاجی مظاہرے ہوئے جس میں اب تک 200 سے زائد افراد شہید جبکہ 2 ہزار افراد کی آنکھیں ضائع ہوچکی ہیں۔ 20 ہزار افراد ایک سال میں زخمی ہوچکے ہیں۔

برہان وانی کا جنازہ بھی ایک مثال بن گیا اس کے جنازے کو سوشل میڈیا پر دیکھ کر لاکھوں مسلمانوں کی آنکھیں اشکبار ہوئیں۔ کتنے جوانوں نے اپنی جان قربان کرنے کا ارادہ کیا. دنیا نے کشمیریوں کے اس انوکھے جذبے کو سلام پیش کیا۔

برہان کی کہانی جان کہ ہمیں اندازہ ہوتا ہے کہ کبھی نہ کبھی ایک شریف شخص کے لیے بھی ہتھیار اٹھانا ناگزیر ہو جاتا ہے۔ برہان اس بات سے واقف تھا کہ اس کی موت ناگزیر ہے اس کے جنگ بھارت جیسے ایک ایسے ملک سے تھی جو لاکھوں کی تعداد میں فوج رکھتا ہے اور بہت بڑی ریاست کی مشینری اور مربوط نیٹ ورک کا مالک ہے۔ مگر جہاں بات جذبہ ایمان اور شوق شہادت کیا جائے وہاں مسلمان قوم کی کوئی ہمسری نہیں کرسکتا۔

مسلمان جنگجو ٹینکوں مشین کرو میزائلوں اور جیٹ طیاروں کے ہوتے ہوئے بھی میدانِ جنگ میں قدم رکھنے سے پہلے اپنے جذبہ ایمانی کو ٹٹولتا ہے۔ وہ اپنی نیت کی درستگی کرتا ہے تاکہ اس میدان کارزار میں قدم رکھنے کے ارادے کے پیچھے صرف رضا خداوندی کا حصول ہی کارفرما ہو۔

دنیا نے جان لیا کہ اس گیس کا دھواں پھپھڑوں میں اتارتے ہوئے اپنی آنکھوں کی قربانی دے کر پیلٹ گن کے فائر سہتے ہوئے غلام فضاؤں میں آزادی کے نعرے بلند کرنا جب کہ آپ ایک گولی کی دوری پر ہوں جو آپ کی سانسوں کے ڈور جسم سے منقطع کردے کس قدر مشکل ہے۔ مگر برہان وانی با سعادت زندگی اور بامراد شہادت ہماری نوجوان نسل کے لئے ایک واضح پیغام ہے۔

کشمیر ہماری شہ رگ ہے اسے آزاد کروانا ہمارا اولین فرض ہے۔ حکمرانوں کو بھی جاگ جانا چاہیے اور عہد کرنا چاہیے کہ اپنا مکمل کردار ادا کریں گئے۔ اقوام متحدہ کو کشمیر کی آزادی اور ان پر مظالم کی یاد دہانی کروانی چاہیے لیکن حقیقت یہ ہے کہ اقوام متحدہ فلسطین اور کشمیر کے مسلمانوں پر ظلم پر ستر سال سے خاموش ہے - کشمیر ہماری شہ رگ ہے تو پچھلے سال اگست سے بھارت نے ہماری شہ رگ کو دبوچا ہوا ہے - یہ کیسی شہ رگ ہے ؟ کیا ایسے میں ہمارا جواب سخت نہیں ہونا چاہیئے ؟

اللہ برہان وانی اور شہداء کشمیریوں کے درجات بلند فرمائے آمین !

DIVINE INTERVENTION - For Broken Hearts

DIVINE INTERVENTION

بِسمِ اللہِ الرَحمٰنِ الرَحِیم

Good news for broken hearts and the disturbed souls. Spiritual Healing through Holy Qur'an . . .

Beautiful and Heart-trembling recitation of Surah Ar-Rahman by Syed Sadaqat Ali (with images)

- 22 Minutes

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0zhwHdXN1I&pbjreload=101

Film Scene - Best of Hollywood

FILM SCENE - BEST OF HOLLYWOOD

- 4 Minutes

[NOTE: You will be receiving a relevant article on 14th August so this post is not meaningless. Secondly, this post is being shared due to a certain 'universal theme' and we don't have to copy those ways of the West which are in clash with our traditions.]

This is the last scene from the 1953 movie, "Roman Holiday" starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. It was directed by William Wyler who was also the director of "Ben Hur" (1959) which won 12 Academy Awards. This is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in cinema history.

A bored and sheltered princess who is visiting Rome escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman. But she has to finally return to her own world.

In this last scene, the newsmen are gathered at the palace where the Princess meets them. The Princess and the journalist exchange greetings very formally as if there is nothing between them and as if they have met for the first time. But the air is thick with emotions. After meeting the newsmen the Princess climbs the stairs but turns around especially for Joe Bradley (the journalist) without making it appear to others. Her face shakes with helplessness as she glances at Bradley who nods at her. She knows this is the last time she is looking at him and he is also aware he is going to lose her forever. After she is gone with her courtiers and the rest of the journalists have also left, he stands there alone for some moments looking in the direction where she just disappeared.

These kind of Hollywood classics are hundred times better than the current Pakistani TV plays which are made on themes proposed by NGOs.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIxNV9DSEwA

DESCRIPTION: S Roman Ahsan (7th July, 2020)

NEWS AND VIEWS - Sunday - 5th July, 2020

NEWS AND VIEWS - SUNDAY, 5th JULY, 2020

US SENDS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS TO SOUTH CHINA SEA

To counter China's military activities against India, US is sending two aircraft carriers to South China sea. Uncle Sam will always come to aid of India but does not worry about the pain of Palestinians as well as the Kashmiris who are facing Curfew since August 2019. Some people were saying that USA is not able to engage in big wars now due to issues within the country and due to poor economic condition. USA the country and their heads of State are nothing themselves. It is the secret powers behind the various heads of States in the West that are controlling the world which is just like a chessboard for them. They own the chains of Multinational firms, the ammunition industry and the media in the world. War brings profit to them as their firearms are sold and used.

These are indeed dangerous times for the whole world. Any military event can escalate leading to a big global war. As far as India is concerned, Pakistan strongly believes that India will hold a false flag operation to attack Pakistan. 

PLANS TO BUILD HINDU TEMPLE IN ISLAMABAD

A Hindu temple is about to be built in Pakistan's capital Islamabad by the current government. There are different views about this. However, the scholars of Islam and the inhabitants of Islamabad clearly say that government of Pakistan has no right to build a Hindu temple from its own resources which are after all tax money of Pakistanis. It is true that minorities have rights to practice their own religion in a Muslim country but since the last 1400 years, a Muslim state has not built a Hindu temple from its own monetary reserves. If need be, the minorities should purchase their own land and build their worship places from their own money. The Muslim government only has the obligation to protect the existing worship places of Hindus but not to build new ones from own expenses. In any case, there are very few Hindus in Islamabad so their is little need to allow the construction of a Hindu temple there.

Our Prophet (pbuh) was sent to break idols, we should never forget!

FROM "Together We Rise!" - www.togetherwerise.blogspot.com