A unique Mothers Day was celebrated on the 20th of May by Iman Youth Group (IYG). This amazing organisation celebrated Bibi Fatimeh (a.s) birthday tying it in with the perspective of mothers day. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s) called her "Umme Abiha" which means mother of her father.
The color theme was a beautiful fusion of purple pink & hints of silver.
The segment that got everyone teary eyed was one where the girls called their mothers on stage and thanked them for their effort & it was best said by Houra, "Everything I am today is because of you".
Some more gorgeous & painstakingly done details....
IYG also presented a Drama in which they discussed various social issues that the youth face.
One of the actresses in the Drama .
They say a photo speaks a thousand words, so I'll let these following pictures be a testament to the impact of the drama on the audience.
A beautiful mime which had stunning synchronization and as everyone knows mimes are all about timing, which they had spot on.
There was a beautiful end to the beautiful ceremony, after the awards were given, the entire IYG came on stage holding diyas and recited beautiful verses of poetry . Regrettably I can't put up those images due to Hijab restrictions but here is a sneak peak & the rest yo'll just have to imagine or attend next year!
It was a memorable event & it was an honor to be their official photographer :)
Zooming Out,
Alizeh.
Star Studded Sky & Rose Petals at my feet...
Crystal like stars formed a beautiful canopy above & rose petals lined the way: hopefully a glimpse of what lies ahead for the newlyweds.
Crystals & crimson rose floral arrangements made for a beautiful hallway entrance.
Delicate flowers seemingly spun and interlaced ; like the intricacy of the bride's jewelry .
Only in a child's eyes:
Crimson dominated through the vibrant colors of the guests attire.* Yes I'm in love with those shoes*
We learn how to behave at gorgeous venues & yet yearn for the freedom children posses.
Of tall flower centerpieces, lemon slices & sugar cubes.
Love the symmetry between her dress & the cake.
Zooming Out,
Alizeh.
I fell in love with Iraq the first time I went there in 2011 ( more HERE ) & 2012 proved to be no different. In Babil (Babylon, which is one of the oldest civilizations on earth) which has been renamed Hillah, is the Holy shrine of Prophet Ayub(a.s) also known as Prophet JOB.He was one of the most patient of Prophets. Prophet Ayub prayed," Truly adversity has afflicted me and You are the Most Merciful of all who show Mercy" (Surah 21,verse 83).Allah accepted his prayer, as affirmed in the Holy Quran:" Then WE heard his payer and removed that adversity from which he suffered and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance of the worshipers". (Surah 21verse 84).
How befitting that both he and the King of Patience should be but miles from each other . And into Baghdad....
All roads lead to heaven: Karballa one way, the other to Najaf.
Ah Hussain (a.s). Ah Hussain (a.s) , Ah Hussain. (a.s)
Quick, quick : To Karballa. Anyway we can & by Any means possible .
"Forever my heart will be in one place and I in another".
Zooming Out,
Alizeh.
I want to start 2012 by saying a huge:
Thank You: to Allah for the countless blessings He has bestowed on me.
Thank You: to all the people who have visited the site and more so to those who took the time to email me or leave their kind words; it means so much.
Thank You: to those those who comment and pass it on FB and for all the likes and tweets too ;)
Thank You: to everyone who has been my system of support : you all know who you are.
Thank You: to all the nay-sayers for you only made me stronger and more determined to achieve my goals.
Help Portrait- Islamabad, Pakistan- 2011 !!!
I couldn't speak when I got home; the lack of sleep over the last few days and the unexpected emotional toll the day took on me all combined made me mute. People shouldn't have to live like that is all I could think-can think. Having lived my entire life in the sub-continent one would imagine I would be used to extreme poverty. But it shreds your soul every time.Not just the disparity and alienation of the have and have nots.
Yesterday was 10-12-2011. A date special to hundreds and thousands of people all over the world; for it was the only time alot of people could have their photographs taken with their loved ones and family.For many, it was the first time they'd have their picture taken.
I too had the honour of being part of such a global movement. I was well prepared I thought, all the legal documents and paperwork was taken care of, and I'd read the stories and seen the videos and yet how ill prepared I was. Help Portrait is all about giving back to the local community, and I decided it would be nice to give something back to an oft forgotten & ignored community; our Christian brothers.
Mathew Academy has been set up for all the children belonging to the slum area .It is open from 4 pm on wards for students to receive Primary education to High school.
So what exactly did I see? .
A winding dirt road. An open drain flowing through the midst of mud and bare brick houses. A small 3 roomed home, out of which one had been given for the purpose of educating the community. That is generosity.
It was so dark I could barely see. How could the children write?. Was it that, that made me inwardly cringe? OR when I saw the children shivering, and hunching their shoulders with every cold drought of air?Or the fact that one teacher so lovingly combed a students hair as he hadn't been able to do it at home? Or that the two elder girls automatically became mother hens and lined up the little ones,refusing vehemently to have their turn before every little one was done?
A teacher( who works till the evening, then comes and teaches) proudly told me when they had opened the school they had only 20 students.Now they have over 35.
It was the contentment. The genuine happiness and gurgling laughter ;the incorruptible dreams of innocence it's self. Their generosity which made us all look like misers in comparison. Their unbreakable spirit that remind me of my ingratitude.I never knew that happiness could humble me. .And crumble me, all at once.
Special Thanks to; Fauzia Minallah who is the first person I contacted -and the first person who responded, Ahmed Faraz for being the liaison , Imran of Mathew Academy for being so welcoming & allowing me to participate in Help-Portrait & Marziyeh *my star assistant without whom none of this all would've been done in an hour on the day of Help Portrait , as that is the only time slot we had ! *
Zooming Out,
Alizeh.
Inheritor of Sorrows
"O flag bearer beside the shore of love,
Getup! Do not fetch water from the spring of love,
Your departure shatters the hope of love,
Without you Ali is numb,without you-
Thirst and afflictions upon my orphans!
Inheritor of sorrows do not stretch-
With your dry lips such-
Fires to the seas- do not set".
Those with Ali say Hussain
Those with Fatimeh say Hussain
Those with Zainab say Hussain
Safa and Marwa say Hussain
The plain of Mina says Hussain
Karbobala says Hussain
Surat Nor and soora Alaq say Hussain
Th Almighty also says Hussain
The warirors all say Hussain
The weepers all say Hussain
But Hussain says Abal Fazl!
Farshe majlis pe aur musalle par, har jawaa keh raha hai roro kar
Ham rahe na rahe magar bibi, ta qayamat rahe ghame Sarwar
Majlise gham me ashk barsaane, aasake ya nahi khuda jaane
Kya bharosa hamaari saanso ka, ab kahaa ham kahaa azaa khaane.
*Dedicated to the two scouts Shaheed in Karachi Firing by Sipa e Sahaba*
Ay meri bibi (Zahra) tere bacho ka gham manaa te hai
Apni awlaad se kahi barke gham ye pyara hai.
Un shaheedo ka ye mukadar hai, sayibaan inka teri chadar hai
Unke sino pe ay meri bibi daaghe maatam nishaane haider hai.
Note:
~These are pictures from my phone not my DSLR .
~The above two quotes are from Persian Nohas in translation.
*Does anyone realize the potent irony of the title Sipa e Sahaba?- An army of the Prophet(s) that is free to commit cold and calculated murders in broad daylight? Or an army of the Prophet (s) that slaughters youth like Zain Ali Zaidi and orphans children of Azhar Hussain? An army of the Prophet (s) that massacres those who commemorate the death anniversary of the grandson of the Prophet (s)? Is it just me or does anyone else see the potent paradox and irony of this:An army of the Prophet (s)that lives on the bile hatred of those who love the Prophet (s) and his Kin? Which is instructed in the Holy Quran : Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin."
(Al-Qur'an, Surah 42, Ayah 23)
(References from esteemed Sunni books:
1)Tafseer al-Qurtubi, volume 16 page 20 the verse of Muwaddat
2)Hilayat al Awliya page 201 Volume 3 the verse of Muwaddat
3)Tafseer Durre Manthur page 7 Volume 348, the verse of Muwaddat
4)Tafseer Jauhar page 129
5)Tafseer al-Baghawi, Volume 1 page 190
6)Tafsir al-Nasafi,.Volume 4 page 101)
Why does such an army of the Prophet(s) need to call themselves Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat? Is it because their actions have been so sordid and hands so deeply drenched with the blood of innocent youth that they now need to shed their identity and wear a garb of disguise; to become part of the masses.To attach themselves like leeches with a league of people who have a clean conscience and nothing marking their name so that they may disperse amongst crowds like cowards ,and walk with their heads bowed.
Learn from those who would rather be killed a thousand times then stop mourning the Prophet's (s)grandson.The very Prophet(s) you'd attached your army to. And the following verse would be beneficial to be heeded and accepted; as that is all one can do when faced with the truth:
"Tum kitne Hussaini marogay
Yeh sari qaum Hussaini hay".
Zooming Out,
Alizeh.
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