Adil Najam

Today is 12 Rabi-ul-Awal – and Eid Milad-un-Nabi – marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

I sit at the airport in New York awaiting my PIA flight to Lahore to be announced, knowing that the whole country will be decked up and glowing for the occasion. Cannot wait to be part of the festivities. On this, the birthday of the Rehmatulil Aalameen, I pray and wish for rehmat not only for the Prophet’s believers in Pakistan, but for all people in Aalameen. It seems to me that to personalize His (PBUH) rehmat as if it were only for the few who we think “got” the message right, is – it seems to me – to miss the entire message itself.

So, today, on this Eid Milad-un-Nabi, I pray in the name of the Rehmatulil Aalameen (PBUH) for rehmat for all aalameen, and for all people everywhere. May they – may we – be all blessed with peace.

Adil Najam

Mohabbat aisa darya hai, kay barish tHehR bhi jayee
Tou paani kam nahiN hoota

Adil Najam

February 13, 2011, marks the 100th birth anniversary of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

From the very first post on this blog, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and his poetry has been a muse, a mentor, a monument, and a mirror to our thoughts, our wishes, our hopes and sometimes also our fears. In our posts, and also in the comments from our readers, probably no personality has been evoked more often or more fondly than Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

On this, his centenary birthday, what is the best way to remember Faiz Ahmed Faiz? We can remember his persona and personality, his politics and ideology, his life and times, his music and melody, and so much more. But there can be no greater tribute to a poet than through the power of his own poetry. And that we wish to offer as a tribute today.

Help us write this post today. Help us make this the most moving, the most authentic, and the most vital post of all. Tell us what is (are) your favorite verse(s) from Faiz Ahmed Faiz? And why? What moves you about them? What thoughts do they evoke? What sentiments do they invoke?