2014: Make it Good

Welcome 2014

There isn't much difference between 23.59, December 31st and 00.00, January 1st. I stopped up last night (typical) and ushered in the New Year. It was a quiet affair, at home reflecting on the celebrations being broadcast from around the world. I can't say I felt different from one year to the next.

This past year gone has been a work hard year. I'm reaching that stage in life where I know that I am caught between personal ambition and responsibilities. The latter appears to dominate and one of the reasons I appear to have opted for regularity is because the external pressures around me have grown. Responsbilities to others I believe in, to a point. but an honest confession would be that the head and the heart conflict on this matter, so I wonder what the future holds. As I get older I know that there are fewer opportunties, but ultimately we restrict ourselves don't we? 

We are just microspecs in the universe and yet we are still surrounded by too much conflict in the world around us and in our personal lives. Hope remains my favourite word because it allows our dreams and motivations to thrive, and prayers are made to Allah Almighty. 

Where we are responsible for controlling the events in our own lives, I want to begin 2014 with one simple thought. 

Make it good.

عید نوروز

نوروز د نوی کال او د سپرلی اوله ورځ ده ۰دا جشن تقریباً دری زره کاله سابقه لری او د نړی دری سوه مِلیونه خلک دا جشن لمانځی۰

 نوی کال په شاندار مرسمو یادیږي او هغه هیوادونه چې دا جشن لمانځی هغه افغنستان، ایران، تُرکيه، قزاقستان، تاتارستان او ترکمنستان دي۰ داسي دا رنګ نور سیمي پکښې هم شامل دي لکه بالکان، کُردستان، چین، هندوستان او پاکستان۰

 ټولو ته د نوی کال مبارک

تور خان

MMXIII: Happy New Year

!نوی کال مبارک

Created in Tagxedo.

Peace. Hope. Prayers.

 !سال نو مبارک
!نیا سَال مبارک

Hope and Opportunity: Goodbye 2012

Sure there isn't much difference between the 11.59 31 Dec/00.00 1 Jan, but the passing of one day to the next heralds the opportunity to do things differently. Hope drives me and for what it's worth, I wish you all a brilliant new year. As the year draws to a close, I share a few images that have made this blog over the past year.

Made in Pixlr Express

Prayers and wishes for the coming year. Ameen.

MCDXXXIV - 1434 - ۱۴۳۴

1434 Hirji. New Year. Moharram. Peace.

Sheikh Zayed Masjid, Abu Dhabi. 

Photography by me.

I Want To See The World United ...

The song comes from the UN's 7 Billion Actions series, and gives us a chance to look forwards with a simple message of unity.  It is a good way to start the New Year.

Hope and wishes.

New Year Dawning

The sun rather feebly struggled to shine,
Causing fractions of sky to light up.
Flowers pushed heavy heads out of the soil,
Drunk with sweet water from nature's own cup.

The grass sparkled and glimmered - a carpet of emeralds,
Drops of water reclined on silk petals of rose.
Trickling down to the ground as a gentle, cool breeze,
Spread the heady perfume throughout orchard groves.

Birds shook sodden wings and  soft feathered heads,
Rejoicing in the golden, warm sunshine.
Their sweet tunes travelled throughout the air,
As they wove their love nests with dried twigs and twine.

The sun transformed to a ball of orange flame,
Was merciless soon in its sphere of fierce heat.
Shining in all its supreme glory down,
On the freshly-washed world now ready to greet.

V. Mahfood

Picture taken from CSMonitor showing a scene from China.

A Song for New Year's Eve

A Song for New Year's Eve
William Cullen Bryant

Stay yet, my friends, a moment stay—
Stay till the good old year,
So long companion of our way,
Shakes hands, and leaves us here.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One little hour, and then away.

The year, whose hopes were high and strong,
Has now no hopes to wake;
Yet one hour more of jest and song
For his familiar sake.
Oh stay, oh stay,
One mirthful hour, and then away. 

The kindly year, his liberal hands
Have lavished all his store.
And shall we turn from where he stands,
Because he gives no more?
Oh stay, oh stay,
One grateful hour, and then away. 

Days brightly came and calmly went,
While yet he was our guest;
How cheerfully the week was spent!
How sweet the seventh day's rest!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One golden hour, and then away. 

Dear friends were with us, some who sleep
Beneath the coffin-lid:
What pleasant memories we keep
Of all they said and did!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One tender hour, and then away. 

Even while we sing, he smiles his last,
And leaves our sphere behind.
The good old year is with the past;
Oh be the new as kind!
Oh stay, oh stay,
One parting strain, and then away.

Moharram 1433: محرم ۱۴۳۳

As well as heralding the start of the New Year, Moharram محرم remains a month of remembrance and one of the four sacred months of peace. The Battle of Karbala that signifies the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA) in 61 AH is marked during the 10 day period of remembrance that culminates with Yaum Al Ashura.

Moharram 1433

محرم ۱۴۳۳

New Year Hope - د نوی کال هیله

دوستان او همکاران

د بسم الله سره
 
سلامونه وړاندې کووم او ټولو له د نوی کال هیله غواړم

خوشاله اوسئ، اباد اوسئ، د خدائ په ښه نظرونه کښی اوسئ

آمین

هيله
اميد
Hope

نوروز مبارک

Tor_Khan تور خان

Journey of Hope

In 2010, Central Asia Institute projects have continued with educating a roster of 68,000 students, including 54,000 girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They also established 42 new schools, and also initiated two dozen other temporary schools in shelters, tents and rented buildings. To date the Central Asia Institute has 172 schools, dozens of literacy and computer centres and a budding scholarship program for advanced students. 

Despite the gloom surrounding the region and the pain of the people, I want to begin 2011 with the view that there is always hope. I continue to remain in awe and admiration of Greg Mortenson's work and including a link here to the CAI publication that reflects on the previous twelve months, appropriately enough entitled Journey of Hope. 

Auld Lang Syne

Robert Burns (January 1759 – July 1796) famously took an old Scottish folk song and wrote it in a version that is now associated with Hogmany, marking the tradition of New Year's Eve. Across the world Auld Lang Syne* continues to be heard  in various forms as the end of one year becomes the dawn of another. I share a contemporary version here that carries a feel-good message of hope. Peace and hope to everyone. Ameen. Tor_Khan.

Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

The new year brings us hope for peace,
A new day for mankind,
Where we can all live hand in hand
And leave all hate behind.

For auld lang syne, my dear.
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

When dreams they seem so far away,
Your soul can feel so low.
But love is never far away;
Your heart won't be alone.

Let's make a world where people care,
A world that knows no fear,
Where we can open up our hearts
And hold each other dear.

Our children grow, they need to know
The Future's theirs to hold.
If we can teach them how to love
Then the world can carry on.

For auld lang syne, my dear.
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

*old long since

Nowruz - نوروز

Nowruz
نوروز

نوى كال مبارك

Tor_Khan تور خان

Swat Diary: 'A New Beginning'

Adapted from the BBC.

1431 AH: Peace for the New Year (١٤٣١)

Today is 1st Moharram 1431 (١ محرم ١٤٣١). Peace and greetings for the New Year and beyond, InshAllah.

Fighting, technically, is prohibited this month, so I'll make my prayer for peace as today is Jum'ah too.