No way back!

A poem by Maham Shahbaz

She sat alone on her bed and looked out...

She saw the world go on happily, while she was breaking apart 

she saw children play , while she played with her feelings 

she saw little girls dance , while she danced with her sorrow 

she saw a couple walk , while she left the one she loved

she saw ppl with a choice , while she had none

she saw happines all around from her castle of misery 

she remembered how things were...

Whenever she was with u , she was happy contended complete

the moment u went away , she felt like a criminal and she was lost 

she was confused...in a storm 

in a storm where you would hold her hand and show her the way 

in a storm where she somehow lost the one she loved

in a storm she is lost , blinded by the dust 

but y is it all around her?

The wind mocks her every time and the dust in her eyes loaths her 4 losing u

she remembers how easy it was to luv u 

she remembers hw easy it was to feel imp 

she remembers...the thoughts sufocate her 

she wants to fly away

she wants to run away 

she wants to go back

she wants to smile again 

she wants to 4get ,let go

but her memories r too good to b hidden away , to b forgotten

the problem is , she cnt stp feeling 

because she remembers , she remembers it all...

Inspiring Story of Converting to Islam.

Published in Daily Express by Javed Chaudhry in his column Zero Point.


If you want to understand what Islam is read the stories of the people who have converted to Islam just recently. They will tell you such angles of religion which you wont find in books. They are on such high level and will teach you many things which your religious leaders won't be able to.

I was fortunate enough to meet one such Muslim in Spain. He belonged to one of the European countries and before converting to Islam, was a guitarist associated with a famous musical band. He also had a degree in Music but after converting he had a beard now, left music and traveled around the world to study Islam. He told me the story of converting to Islam which was amazing.



He had three hobbies. Playing guitar, Impress girls and drinking wild. He used to play guitar and collect money, Impressed a girl by taking her to a date, sitting in a pub and drinking until late night. The next day they were usually found in a park, beside a road, In a hotel's room or in the girls apartment. This was his usual life but then he made friends with another muslim boy who also loved drinking. He was from Egypt and came to europe for studying but fell in love with a girl who left him for another man. The egyptian guy could not take this and started drinking. He used to drink all night and sleep in his hostel's room all day. His father who was a rich man used to send hi money so his life was easy. The musician met the muslim guy in the pub. They both were not that religious. Musician thought all the religion were fraud, The egyptian guy said there must be no religion as it makes people fight and humanity was better served if their were no religious divisions.

They talked about religion everyday in the pub while drinking, during these chats the musician noticed something strange. The egyptian guy used to quote Allah, Koran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) without any hesitation at the start of the discussion but as soon as he started drinking he never uttered a single word about these three or any quote relating to it.  He used to change the topic toward other religions of the world. Musician tried his best to bring the egyptian towards Allah and Prophet but was never successful. Egyptian was so adamant that even when he was drunk at the best he never ever uttered anything about these.

One day Musician asked the Egyptian guy about it. They were at a coffee shop and were in normal condition. Egyptian guy gave an answer which he found really strange.

He said that after he is drunk his tongue becomes dirty as drinking is not allowed.  I can never utter the names of Allah and my Prophet (PBUH) with my dirty tongue? After drinking I wake up on the morning, brush my teeth, clean my face, mouth and tongue, only then I utter the names of my beloved Prophet, Allah and Holy Koran. This is my love for them and no matter how worse a muslim I am, no matter how bad I get I can never take the names or disrespect them in any way.

This struck the Musician deep inside the heart. He went to a book shop, bought the translation of Holy Quran. The moment he stated reading it he knew his life had changed, as he kept on reading he fell deep in love with it. He left music, changed his dressing and converted to Islam.

I asked him what Inspired you most about Islam, and he answered "Unconditional Love".

Islam is the only religion of the world which fills your heart with unconditional love for Allah and Prophet (PBUH) , it builds a fort inside your heart which can never be destroyed. A Muslim can be cruel, liar, drunk, cheater or anything, he can compromise on anything but when its the matter of Quran, Allah and Prophet (PBUH) he will forget everything, fight the biggest forces in the world, stand against the Pharaoh but never hear or say a word against them, that too just after reciting the first Kalima,  thats what Impressed me the most.

Happy Birthday Shahid Afridi.

Posted in KHELO PAKISTAN !

My first interaction with Shahid Afridi lasted a couple of seconds. It was just a shake of the hands with a big smile on his clean shaved face, and why not. It was 16th March 2004 to be exact. Pakistan had beaten India in the 2nd ODI of the Samsung Cup and Shahid Afridi who had been recalled in the team after a long gap had played a big part in victory by scoring 80(58) and also taking 2 wickets for 57 runs.

Shahid Afridi back then was all about Carefree-ness. You could see it in his behavior, the way he talked, the way he moved, the way he had a smile on his face. Back then Shahid Afridi was all about passion. You could see it in his bowling and you could see it in his batting and the way he fielded. Back then he was a Super Star. You could see the way crowd chanted his name and wanted him to hit a six every ball when he came out to bat, you could see all the banners with his name written, you could see the crowd going mad when he fielded near the boundary ropes. His bowling was a bonus in those days.



My next memorable interaction with Afridi was during the 2005/06 series after he had smashed Harbhajan Singh for four sixes in an over and that too during a the first Test Match in Lahore scoring a magnificent 102 runs with 7 sixes. He still had that smile on his face with the slightest of beard now. "Autograph please" I said. My voice barely coming out.
" Idahar lao, naam kya hai tumhara? " He said. In his heavy voice. I handed him the tennis ball.
"Raafay", I said.
He signed the tennis ball. No words, nothing else written. I was disappointed, grabbing the ball with my hand and turning away.
"Left hander ho?" He said again.
"Yes" I said.
''Cricket kheltay ho?" He said again.
"Jee". I said.
"Shabash, good luck" He said.
I felt overwhelmed and ran away to tell everything that happened to my parents.

He went on to score another century in the next match with the same carelessness, same passion. By now religion was starting to play important role in his life, it was obvious. Praying five times a day even during the match days was a normal routine by now. His batting was more consistent than before his bowling was worth bowling him 10 overs during the ODI matches with four players all on the of side to stop runs. Crowd still wanted him to hit a six every ball and he was willing to oblige. Nothing much had changed about Afridi in the cricketing sense, he was still the same.

Last of my memorable interaction with Shahid Afridi was during the World Cup 2011. Pakistan had beaten Srilanka just two days ago. Shahid Afridi was man of the match with the figures of 4/34 in his 10 overs. His beard had grown thicker, He was more stronger now, Shaking his hands told you the power he had. Religion had its showing on him.
"InshaAllah" was a common word with most of the sentences he said. "InshaAllah we will reach the Semi Final if we keep on playing like this" He said.
That Smile was still on his face but you could tell he was a lot more measured in everything he did now, he wanted to lead by an example. His bowling had come of age in the past 2 to 3 years, easily the best leg spinner in the shorter format commentators would say. Taking a wicket with his hands aloft in the air, legs stretched wide, standing like hero is a familiar sight for cricket lovers now. His batting was sensible now. He still hits bowlers out of the park, not on the requests of his bowlers but at his own will. They still call him BOOM BOOM though.

As Cricinfo simplifies it "Of Shahid Afridi it can safely be said that cricket never has and never will see another like him. To say he is an allrounder is to say Albert Einstein was a scientist. " A complete Super Star, easily the most loved one in Pakistan and around the world. He became a heartthrob after his first cricket match, he still is all around the world, he will always be a heartthrob of millions until the day cricket is played. 


Happy Birthday SHAHID AFRIDI ! Long may you live, Long may you keep entertaining, long may you serve Pakistan. Ameen!