LUMS Masjid

there are times when the only thing i want to hear is the recitation of Imaam sahab at LUMS Masjid. To hear him when he recites the last few verses of Surah Hashr and heart trembles despite the hangover of sins and ghaflat. SubhanAllah, what voice Allah empowers some with.
LUMS Masjid is where i learnt that there is another dimension to life, to world, to lifestyle, to every Allah ki bandi.  Ajeeb. The Masjid that is not many meters away from the rooms where the masjid is debunked, its essence disected, its existence questioned. The masjid is also only a few yards away from REDC, the space with white marble chipped in and "coveted corporates" who charge a couple of thousand dollars to tell how to balance the dunya and..the dunya. ajeeb.
In front of the masjid is the parking lot that's no its own, but reserved for the cuff-linked people at REDC and the respected faculty of LUMS. One of the tiles on the way to entrance of LADIES ONLY section is very wobbly to step at. I never knew which one it was. another tile has a little green stem with small leaves growing form underneath its odd base.
I miss LUMS Masjid.

T.G.I Pakistan

T.G it's Pakistan for

the adhaan
the masaajid
for the sight of abayas hijabs naqaabs
for the topis and shalwaars
for khutabaat and bayaans
for the traffic jam on a jumuah outside a masjid
for a hard straw prayer mat
for that hot floor that a namazi places his feet on
for that coolness in his eyes as he goes into sajdah
for multiple takbeers i hear from masjids from underneath my khais
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
for that imam who does the countdown to the fajr
for that imam who checks the mic
and then gives the much awaited maghrib adhan in ramadan
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
for never having to use and reuse a compass to know where the qiblah is
for never having to worry if the chicken pakoray for aftaar are halal
for the small acts of goodness that a nation in crisis still does
for the largest platters and waste baskets my country hasnt seen so far
for the hot walls, hot floors, hot carpets
for the chest-tightening, rib-touching saff that are formed in a jamaat nonetheless
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

yes my country does not have the greatest arsenal
and it also doesn't have food for half its people
yes it seems a miracle or a dua is the reason for its survival

but I thank God it's Pakistan
for i hear sweet words of the muaddhin
and i feel the coolness there
but just numb cold here
for i feel full in a long hot saum there
when i hear the echo of the adhaan in the air
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

Flag of Pakistan

Madeenah tayyabah wa munawwarrah .

بسم الله ألرحمن الرحيم 

Hum ne maana keh jannat bohot hai haseen

chor kar hum nah jaayein madeenah kabhi

yuun to jannat mei sab hai madina nahi,

aur madeenay mei jannat maujood hai

Allahumarzuqnee shahadatan fee sabeelika, waj'al mautee fee baladee rusulik