October 8th 2005, Remembered
Oct 8, 2007
By Administrator
Filed in Helping Pakistan
October 8th 2005, changed Pakistan forever, at precisely 08:50:38 a massive earthquake struck the northern areas of Pakistan over 80,000 lives perished in a blink of an eye, thousands were displaced ultimately resulting in millions of dollars in damage.
At this tragic moment it was really heartening to see that every Pakistani around the world joined in the relief efforts in unison to help the suffering. It was a proud moment of unity which sadly seemed to last for a fleeting moment and has long since been forgotten, the tragedy was without doubt a lesson from God Almighty, but it seems that we may have already forgotten too quickly, we have returned back into the slums of looting and plundering that has always been the hallmark of our corrupt leadership we have forgotten, we continue to loot and plunder the nation with no care and worries of any repercussions whatsoever.
I would like to join A for [pine]Apple in prayer at Islamabad Metroblogs
Let’s pray for the departed souls, May Allah bless them with Maghfirah and Peace in Jannah; and for the affectees who lost limbs, families, homes, businesses, and lot more we’d never be able to even comprehend, May Allah’s blessings be with them (Ameen)
Please its time for us all to stop for a moment and reflect back on that day two years back where we were all a witness to some remarkable stories of unity, faith and discipline which was interspersed amongst the tragic loss of life, lets reflect back on the fleeting glimpses of a proud nation which stood up for something it truly believed in, if we can do it once then I believe we can do it again and not wait for another tragedy to jolt us again into our senses.
Lets preempt the rebuilding of our own nations with our own hands lets forget about any help from our politicians who continue to be self indulgent in protecting their own seats of power simultaneously amassing wealth for their own benefit. Simply said we don’t need politicians, We need Leaders.
Links:
- Lahore Metroblogs – 8th October and 08:50:38 AM
- Chowrangi – Remembering Pakistan Earthquake 2005
- Buzzvines – The earthquake
- Islamabad Metroblogs – The Quake (8/10/05 – 08:50:38): Remembered
- Mera Jehaan – Say a little prayer…
If you have written a post on Remembering the 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan please post the link in the emails and I shall update the post with the links
3 Comment(s)
By Rubab on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
I agree we need leaders.. to unite us
By Rubab on Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
and to drive us in right direction
By rehman on Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
whyis pakistani journalists printing ant-islamic articles?
KARACHI: Debate on madressah education
By Meera Jamal
KARACHI, Feb 19: Many parents send their children to madressahs for hifz, or memorizing the Holy Quran, as they believe that the parents of those that memorize the Quran will find a place in heaven, while others believe that a hafiz may take seven people to paradise with him/her. Interestingly enough, Karachi has almost 100 madressahs for girls of various schools of thought.
However, though religious knowledge should not be left out from a child’s life, people like Riaz have opted not to send their children to a madressah despite family pressure.
“I told my family that for my own and my children’s success in the other world, I cannot make them suffer in this world. I have a maulana sahib who comes to my place and teaches my children at home as the atmosphere of madressahs, molestation and physical abuse are major concerns for me,” he says.
Kiran, an employee at a bank, reveals how difficult life has been for her. “For years I was sent to a madressah for my parents’ sake. However, after I started my normal education I lagged way behind the others. I had to put in double or triple the effort of an ordinary child,” she complains.
But there are also a few people like Erum who believe that religious education is meant for boys only and therefore she sends only her son and not her daughter to madressah. “Hifz is like a professional degree and I believe girls are not strong enough to study this. Furthermore, what will be the use of it? She will get married one day and will give birth to children as that’s her primary job.”
The best of both worlds?
However many madressahs, after realising the importance of worldly education, have started giving their students the basic knowledge of maths, science and computers. Still, there are certain concerns in this regard about balancing both worlds. To counter this, madressahs condense the academic curriculum, though without consulting any educational experts.
“The decision for shortening the syllabus lies with the administration only and our administrator,” says Syeda Fatima Sabeeh, Coordinator of the Islamic Mission. She describes how the students are divided into four groups in their school. “We have two primary sections: group ‘A’ has Nazra along with nine subjects (science, social studies, Sindhi, Tarjumatul Quran, computers, Islamiat, Urdu, English and mathematics), along with hifz. While in group ‘B’ there is hifz as well as five subjects – English, Urdu, maths, computers, and general knowledge (a hotchpotch of science and social studies). Then there is a section meant for hifz only, where students are taught the basics of computers and English. One section is meant for academics only,” she explains.
When asked what career options girls have after doing the hifz course, she replies “they can opt for the Aalima course. And if they opt for normal education after that, all the careers are open for them.”
There are also madressahs which open in the evenings for school-going children. These evening madressahs are countless and are not registered; in fact, almost all the mosques used to have a set-up for young children who were tutored by the Imam of the mosque. However, only a few pupils actually understand the meaning of what they are made to learn.
Jamia Rehmania, located in a mosque in Malir, is a madressah that has separate sections for girls and boys. Wearing white uniforms and scarves, the girls here are not more than 12 years old.
The owner of the madressah, Hafiz Ayaz Rehmani, explains how the institution is being run. “We have three madressahs in Karachi. The others also focus on academics. Over here we have four teachers that look after 100 girls. Teachers are selected on the basis of experience and their knowledge of the Quran by the administration,” he says. When asked if the stereotype manner of teaching – thrashing and humiliating the girls by the teachers – is being followed, he denies that such practices are in use.
Misunderstood concepts
Even among academics there’s a debate on the issue. Professor Hasnain Kazmi, an educationist, believes that the word ‘hifz’ has been misunderstood in the region. “Hifz, in olden times, meant understanding. Not memorising. I do respect parents who send their children for hifz. However, there is a need to modify the clichéd concepts,” he says.
He also finds it quite odd that children are sent to madressahs at an age when they can hardly comprehend the significance and meaning of what is being taught. He further clarifies that in religion, there is no restraint on studying modern sciences.
“The basic idea of hifz was to make the child understand religion to the extent that he can lead his life according to the teachings of Islam,” he says. He argues that religious knowledge and scientific knowledge should go hand in hand. However, Prof Kazmi says madressahs “should consult some educational experts when it comes to what they teach children.”
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, Chairman, Department of Physics at Quaid-i-Azam University, is also quite critical of the set-up of these madressahs.
“Madressah students have severe skill handicaps as compared to those who go to good schools. They know very little science, mathematics, English, geography, history, and other subjects needed in a modern society. Only a few go to universities, and then usually for degrees in Islamic studies only. Consequently, they become a burden on society,” he says. While on the career choices these children have available, he points that madressahs in the subcontinent have traditionally turned out the occasional Islamic scholar who makes a contribution to religious subjects.
He further argues that every young child would prefer to play, sing, dance, and live the life of a happy, normal child rather than being punished and beaten. “Of course it is unfair to send him or her to a place that aims primarily at defeating the child’s natural curiosity, creativity, and critical faculties. But of course, parents do send their children there. For poor people it is a necessity: free room, board and supplies. But others want their children to be disciplined and given a thorough Islamic education,” says the scholar.