Zavia - Scattered Thoughts

A few weeks ago, while I was browsing net, I came across a link for downloading Ashfaq Ahmed’s Zavia. I used to watch Ashfaq Ahmed’s program on Television with the same title Zavia so this struck me and I downloaded the whole digital book and start reading it as well while downloading.

The hallmark of Ashfaq Ahmed is that he talks about on social issues and on very little things, which, according to some of my friends are useless, but it has always attracted me, and I intentionally or unintentionally memorized his examples and implemented on my life.

For example, we always try to find out who is right and who is wrong. Although I watched this program I guess 10 years back, but still remember it as Ashfaq Sahib has quoted a very simple example. He narrated that there was a Baba (baba means an elder figure who is considered as mentor to seek guidance in life) sitting with his students. One of his students came and said it is a very difficult task to be a WALI-ul-LLAH (friend of ALLAH (swt)) and this requires years of exercise, prayers, etc. The baba acknowledged his view and said yes indeed it’s a difficult job and one acquires this status after facing quite a lot of hardship. Upon listening this, another student presented his views and says, but we see that those who are not a good soul, like thieves and addicts, suddenly faces a thing which changes their lives within a moment and they become WALI-ul-LLAH. The baba gave consent with his views as well and said you are right too. There are people who becomes WALI-ul-LLAH out of nowhere. Now, these are two entirely contradictory observations and baba agreed to both and this made another student to speak and he said how could this be possible that both of them are right, while both have contradictory views and immediately baba replied that Son, you are right too. It is not possible that both contradictions can be true for same thing.

Believe me, I have been so much under stress in finding out the truth as I browsed history books, Quran, Hadis book to determine which of Islamic sect is absolutely right and whenever I tried to detach my self from biasness I find myself in same position. Although the views are entirely contradictory yet they appeared to be quite rational.

But the example quoted by Ashfaq Sahib has made me think that there can be more than one truth. Although logically it is impossible and I am of the view that there can only be one truth so this led me to conclude that “there isn’t any truth” exist in this world. While using the word truth I mean “sachaii” (Urdu word). What we have in this world is “Perceptions.”

Well, I am a bit short of time so cannot go into details what perception means to me as it is quite a lengthy topic to discuss and I’ll be back with my thoughts on perceptions.

But for the readers of this blog, I suggest that you should once in your early life read ZAVIA by Ashfaq Sahib because he teaches how to be a human being, if not a good one.

Regards