The Prophet's birthday this week

Al hamdulillah, wassalaat wa salaamu ala rasoolillah.

Tomorrow is a holiday in Pakistan due to Eid Milad-un-Nabi... having started working that does make it slightly against my personal interest to argue that this is a bid'ah, the Sahabah never did it, etc. But myself, I will be breaking the trend and actually be taking my first teaching assignment tomorrow insha'Allah.

LUMS is an interesting place to meet people. I'm supposed to be training some NGO employees attending the "Social Enterprise Management Programme" on the pros and cons of putting a service on the Internet. I thought I'd sit in on one of the other sessions on the module to get a feel for the crowd. Quite a diverse lot. The issue being discussed was how a hospital that focuses on a single type of operation is very lucrative due to what we call "economies of scope". One participant could relate when she said "Yes, we do a similar operation in our family planning work... we close up the blah tubes and you can perform that operation anywhere without need for a table..." The facilitator of that discussion - who happened to be an ardent TJ - offered no comment. He moved swiftly onto the next point.... interesting place to meet people this LUMS.

Wonder what personal experience they'll want to share with me in the world of cyberspace... "Yes I remember the time I was in this chat room and somebody asked me advise about getting sterilised...." (?!)

Mehfil-e-zikr-e-habeeb

These days DHA (my locality) is plastered with posters all over about this series of 3 evenings dedicated to mehfil-e-zikr-e-habeeb. I've already missed two... what do you think, will I have done a travesty to any sense of Muslimhood in me if tomorrow, THE day, misses me?

Shabir's in town

Yes Shabir Siddique, of Nelson and of Australian connection, surprised me the other day by turning up at my place (yes on his now 4 year old motorcycle). We will have the benefit of his company for at least a month it seems. He's considering moving to Pakistan.... now can you think of one single reason why Shabir will even consider saying no to such a prospect...?

Political philosophy of ibn Taymiyah

I've got a friend who has to write an essay for his Islamic Political Philosophy (run from a Sufi orientation) class, and he's decided to give the teacher a run for his money by actually trying to put it to him that i.T. did have a political philosophy. Can you help this brother... he's not conversant in Arabic so direct translations or pointers to websites rich in such discussion would help... remember he's got to fit into 7-8 pages... no dissertations please.

Jury still out on chicken

I was at a meeting of some high-ranking foreign deligates in a five star hotel here in Lahore... can you imagine a buffet without chicken... I actually experienced one ... it seems because chicken is being shelved, even mutton without meat on the bone is selling... so it seems the chicken crisis continues... though, Shazad, rumour has it that steak has returned to Defence Club: will you consider reviewing your position? Not even for the sweet onion sauce at (halal) Subways?

wassalamu alaikum

Abdullah