Cottage and Reflections

Came back from a fun-filled cottage trip from Kinmount.
It was a meat-o-thon fest - Pepporini (halal) pizza, 10 oz NY Steaks, Ribs, Bacon (halal) , Beef patties, Sekh kabobs and Chicken tikkas. Ice-cream for desserts - Magnum, Kulfis (plain + mango) and Hagen Das almond chocolate bars. To top on that we had Dodh-patti chai twice a day.
From desi standard it was a 'hit' cottage trip as food is all we cared about lol. To be fair, we also had few activities - canoeing, hot water tub bath, play station, karaoke, Bingo (Saba won the game  organised by Javaria) ...well, that was it. Missed pool table a lot.
Canoeing in Lake Kawartha was the best part. I had developed a nag for rowing later. back stroke, font stroke. Embarrassingly enough, our boat was also capsized - luckily it was only me and Owais in the boat minus our kids.

 




On our 2nd day, we got to know about Muhammad Ali's death. He was suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than 30 years and had frequent ins/outs from the hospital for respiratory ailment.
The Legend who was famous what he did not only inside the ring but outside as well. He spoke with remarkable conscientiousness and truth. A trait that cost him his career and money but that didn't matter at the end. He was destined to receive all the love, fame and adulations from all over the world that the politicians were not able to suppress. He was a true global sports icon. His fame and legacy transcended through borders and future generations.
I did have once-in-a-life-time opportunity to meet with the Legend in Dubai. I was around 6 years old and little I knew who was this giant humble beast. All I recall that he came across as a passionate, caring, humble person - ironic for a World Heavyweight Champion ! May his soul rest in peace. May his legacy be alive in everyone's heart for what he stood for. May his sins be forgiven ! Ameen.

Muhammad Ali lifting me (R) and my twin brother

After we came back from cottage, we had to prepare for another milestone in Islamic calender: arrival of Ramadan.
The holiest month for 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. Ramadan where the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed. Monday was the first fast and expectedly it was a challenge. Woke up at 3:45 AM for sahoor before waking up again for work. And our fast does not end until 9 PM - sunset time ! With all the non-stop eating at the cottage, Ramadan would be a welcoming detoxification of body (and soul).

Rebellion by Heart

        Heard that song "Batameez Dil"? That songs really reflects my attitude. I like to trod on the untrodden.
In part to be classified as 'cool' and in part to explore the other side of things. I end up being called 'Chuppa Rustum' for doing the unexpected. To defy the conventional custom or norm in culture has always given me satisfaction. Being raised with my twin, I was always touted as the 'mischievous twin'; lead all the pranks and menace while my twin  obediently followed my instructions. Going against the tide was restricted to cultural domain only ; wish could had been more courageous in different domains.
        I am reminded if this trait when I skip Taraweeh in Ramadan. Although my not praying Taraweeh stems from apathy and not from ignorance or rebelliousness. I am no scholar or hold authority to issue 'fatwa' nor I want people to get judgmental about it either. Discussion of "pray 20 or 8 Taraweeh" , "which taraweeh is the quick one" and packaged with fund-raising and Islamic talks disturbs me and what is more worrisome is when people consider skipping Taraweeh tantamount to skipping a fard (obligatory) namaz.
      For me praying Taraweeh in congregation is akin to mechanical drone following the lmam from one posture to another for an hour plus. It can be made self-entertaining when mind wanders and hatches thoughts or can be an ordeal affair if standing next to a burp gun.
      Devoting oneself to religious act for self-realization, self-improvement and inner-peace should be the ultimate goal of a religious act; with out it - you are simply wasting your time. Since Taraweeh is an optional prayer, it has the same reward when prayed in solitary - but that it is to laborious to recite 16 or 40 (depend on 8 or 20 taraweeh) different Surahs when you can simply stand behind the imam and boast about your religious commitment.
      Having said that, 10 days of Ramadan has passed, with time totally a constraint - hope to do whatever religious act or remembrance I can with pure intent and dedication. After all, it is having heart at the right place :)