Before the advent of Islam, Hazrat Jafar Tayyar ؒ possessed four noble traits that made him beloved to Allah. This post is part of a collection of timeless virtues #NobleTraits and how we can build our own character, piece by piece.
And then there is you…
A son reflects on his father’s life, lessons, faith, and final days — a deeply personal tribute to Abu Hazur (1934–2025).
I close my eyes, and I open them. I breathe in, and I breathe out. Sometimes I speak, but mostly I stay silent. I spend my day in meetings, handling escalations, assigning work, coaching my team, and coding my dreams – always trying to do
Why We Follow the Fiqh of an Imam
Between the Qur’an’s 6,236 verses and nearly 10,000 rigorously authentic hadith, Muslims face a vast ocean of guidance — sometimes overlapping, sometimes appearing to conflict. How then does one believer decide which narration to act upon? This is where Uṣūl al-Fiqh becomes indispensable. It is the science that explains why one hadith is preferred over another and ensures consistency in deriving rulings. Without it, Islam risks fragmenting into personal interpretations based on translations and isolated texts.
Monday Morning Meanderings – A philosophical look on modern life
Is this what life is? Is this what we are here for? A few clicks here and there. Opening screens, closing screens. Thinking, deciding, delegating, taking ownership. Reading emails, replying to them….
The Fifth Discipline – My Book Notes
In The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge introduces a powerful framework for building learning organizations through five interconnected disciplines: Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision, Team Learning, and the central pillar—Systems Thinking. While the book is dense and often repetitive, its insights into systems thinking, feedback loops, and the concept of leverage points are invaluable. I found the distinction between reinforcing and balancing loops particularly enlightening and applicable not just in business, but in politics and personal growth. Here are my book notes from the book.
About The Horrendous Book: Gray Man
Finally I get to use the word Horrendous for a book. Normally my policy is that all books are good if we are able to connect with them. But this book by…
Visit Visa Process in Kuwait
Recently, visit visas were opened for Pakistanis in Kuwait. The visas were opened for everyone, including immediate family (parents, spouse, children), extended family (in-laws, brothers, sisters), and even for friends, cousins (not…
Authentic Pakistani Food in Kuwait – Roghan Restaurant Experience
I love Pakistani food because I find it to have multiple flavors. Previously, we used to go to Yaadgaar Restaurant in Farwaniya, but like most Pakistani restaurants, it was closed. After that, we tried many restaurants promising Pakistani cuisine and taste, but they were either not up to the mark taste-wise or ambience-wise. And then we (my wife and I) heard about Roghan restaurant and decided to give it a try.
The Wonders of the Limitless Sky
I have a special bond with nature – ocean, trees, forests, mountains, valleys, and streams, all have enchanted me for as long as I can remember. In this blog, however, I will be talking about the limitless sky.
Fighting With Writing
Writing is a battle—sometimes the words flow like a raging river, and other times, they hide in the shadows, refusing to come out. Fighting With Writing is that frustrating struggle, where thoughts and sentences refuse to cooperate. It makes me wonder—am I really the one writing, or am I just a vessel through which words pour out when they choose?
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
The internet is flooded with templates promising to make you a millionaire—videos, articles, and books that claim to have cracked the code. But the real million-dollar question is: do they actually work?
How To Manage Your Finances Without Stress
You cannot control your income, but you can control your expenses. This live-within-your-means is the best financial advice you will ever receive. And one that will save you from many financial problems and overall stress in the future. In this blog, I give some general tips around this one piece of advice.
Kensington Station, Platform Nine
I remember how I enjoyed writing poems when I was growing up. After almost 30 years, I thought to give it a try again 🙂 Kensington Station, platform Nine Alone she stood in…
5 Ways to Effectively Remember What You Read
Let us talk about a common problem that most readers face. How to remember what they read? 1. Pick the Book that you are most curious about. I always have hundreds of…
Khushoo and Khuzu
Salah is the connection between us and Allah and the stronger that connection is, the more beneficial it would be for us. If we want to realize The Pakistan Dream we need to make an effort to offer Daily Salah with Khushu and Khuzu.
Beyond Politics: The Real Right to Rule
Political debates are common in our country, usually focusing on “who is better for Pakistan” rather than “what is better for Pakistan.” Most political manifestos promise improvements in education, poverty alleviation, defense, and jobs, but they often hide a singular aim: “How do I stay in power forever?” None address the crucial question, “Who has given us the right to rule?”
The Wonders of Quran – 1
Living the Pakistani dream means having a strong connection with the Holy Quran. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, had made it clear that Pakistan would be a state where the laws of the Quran and Sunnah would be implemented and followed. That was the basis of the Two Nation Theory as well. In this blog series, I will relate to my journey of connecting with the book of Allah – The Holy Quran.
Asking Questions
Lessons from the talks of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi. Asking Questions.
The Long Road Ahead
The long road ahead is not covered by hard work or perseverance, but by breaking it down into smaller, manageable chunks. Make the chunks so small that moving from one to another…
Lessons on greed from Abha
How I got a deeper meaning of greed on my journey through Abha’s mountains and its vast valleys discovering gratitude and the antidote to insatiable desires amidst nature’s profound teachings.
On Reading Books To Gain Knowledge
To read, understand and remember hundreds of books that you will read over the course of your life, you would need to develop your reading skills. In this blog I would be sharing some tips on how you can do that.
Flash Fiction: The Most Horrible Book Of the Century
For many years, Ernst Kane Williams had been featured as the ‘The Most Horrible Writer’ in his local bookstore. His nomination was done by a committee of 10 avid readers and writers…
What is the Purpose of Life?
This blog post explores the importance of finding the purpose of life and how it can bring comfort and peace, even in the midst of hardships.
About the Book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
This blog is an all you need to know about the book ‘Range: Why Generalists Triumps in a Specialized World’.
Arguments Against University Education and How You Can Avoid Them?
“University education is not just about making money. It’s about making a positive impact on society, gaining in-depth knowledge, and staying adaptable to changing market trends. Discover how to address common arguments against higher education and thrive in your career. #Education #CareerTips #PersonalGrowth”
How you, as a teenager, can choose a career
“For a stronger Pakistan, it’s crucial to build strong careers. Achieving this requires a combination of visionary thinking, thorough research, seeking wise counsel, making informed decisions, and being prepared to work diligently. Let’s work together for a better Pakistan! 💪🇵🇰
Why Must We Dream?
The dreams we have at night may be random and fleeting, but the dreams we have while awake are the ones that matter most.
Pakistan Politics – 2023/2024
Last year, I wrote some of my analysis on the political situation and what we can expect. You can read the blog here. I believe it’s time for another one. So here…
Dust
It was around 4,000 years ago that I walked on a curvy dusty path toward a booming market right in the shadows of a tall, towering fortress. My body was sweating from places that I didn’t know existed, still, I took wide steps with my chest out and chin high, confident even though I entered a centuries-old market.
A visit to the Stunning Wahbah Crater
I have seen several breathtaking wonders of nature and every time the first expression that came to my mind was ‘Subhan Allah’ (glory be to Allah), for only HE can create such wonders. But the first expression that came to my mouth, on seeing the Wahbah crater, was ‘Auzu Billah’ (I seek the protection of Allah).
Pre-travel anxieties and solution
“After reading the duas with their meanings, I felt a considerable decline in my anxiousness, and secure in the belief that Allah would be with me, whether in a bustling city or on a deserted highway. This, I believe, was the most significant lesson I learned, and I pray that these duas remain close to me before every journey that I make.
In my next blog post, I’ll share the stunning experience of seeing the Wahbah Crater up, close and personal. Follow me on Twitter to know when the post is out
A Visit to Al Qarah Mountain Range
The Al-Qarah Mountain Range or Jebel Al-Qarah is in the Al-Ahsa Province of Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahsa province is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Al-Ahsa Oasis is composed of twelve components and…
About the Blog
A life that enjoys the fruits of modernity without compromising Islamic laws is a life lived by the Pakistan Dream. I try to live that life and share my experiences in this…
Flash Fiction: Back from the dead?
I knew she was dead. She had died a few years ago. Still, I was not surprised to see her. I was standing with my friends when I saw her. Her clothes…
A Memorable Morning at Al-Kout Beach: Discovering the Magic of Nature
Sometimes, I find myself planning expensive vacations so that I may experience nature up, close and personal. However, I realized that nature is not confined to distant exotic destinations—it surrounds us in…
Umra Trip – Jan ‘2023 (1)
Due to the easing of restrictions on Saudi Tourist visas, it was finally possible to undertake the journey of Umra from Kuwait using one’s own vehicle after a decade-long hiatus. We all…
Still Writing: The Pleasures and Perils of a Creative Life
Dani Shapiro, in her book gives a deep insight into her process of writing and what it takes and gives back to her. Rather than reviewing the book, for which I don’t…
Pakistan Politics 2022/2023
My Analysis on what is to come. Pakistan is yet again facing a political turmoil. Nothing new for Pakistan and it’s politics which has always been searching for political stability. At the…
What Time Is
You can tell people what is the time, but it is very difficult to tell them what time is!
The Spider’s Web
Have you ever seen a rat wheel? It is a small wheel in a small cage. The tiny rat, climbs into the rat wheel, you want to see him play. So you…
The New Normal
The sound of Azaan (the call for prayers) enters my room along with a cool breeze through an open window. Under normal circumstances, I would get up, perform Wuzu (ablution), call on…
Along came a Virus!
The talk was about Artificial Intelligence. The talk was about Smart Cities. The talk was about terrorism and wars, about naked genocide wiping out cities and populations. Along came a virus and…
Ignoring Hadith
This hadith warns about a time when people with filled stomachs will say that we need only the Holy Quran to determine Halaal and Haraam (we don’t need Hadith). Rasool Allah (peace be upon him)…
Qaza-e-Umri
There seems to be a confusion on the subject of ‘Qaza-e-Umri’. Qaza-e-Umri means to offer all ‘Farz’ and ‘Waajib’ prayers (salah) which have been missed in our life. A group of people…