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JAVED
ZAHEER---FOUNDER OF SHIR INTERNATIONAL NETWORK:
A
MISSION WITH A VISION TO SERVE HUMANITY IN REALITY
SWORD OF THE LORD,
SERVANT OF GOD
BY
JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER
TORONTO: Truth
is always bitter but is the only solution to our questions, problems and issues
as it holds the key to real success and happiness. Most of us keep away and run
away from the truth because of the bitterness. Still God keeps showing them the
right path. Those who deliberately deny the truth and oppose it, God makes them
like deaf, dumb and blind and they remain in darkness and restless. They become
cruel, selfish, greedy, exploiters and conspirators. In short, they become
enemies of humanity and mankind.
We
keep seeking guidance and blessings from God and even keep complaining and
blaming Him but fail to recognize, understand and accept the guidance and
blessings He is giving us and showering on us in various shapes and forms and
through various means including situations, conditions, lessons, experiences, family
members, relatives, friends and strangers.
I
feel the painful prick of bitterness too and get very much excited and
disturbed when I hear the truth expressed bluntly and with a hurting tone and
intention.
When
Shahid Hashmi, who is chairman of Canpak Chamber of Commerce, said: “You people
are not following Islam in the real sense but defaming it. You all just keep
talking but don’t act. The words and deeds do not match. Stop doing this and
try to understand and follow Islam and worship God truly”.
Shahid
Hashmi is a good person and I respect him very much and we enjoy good family
terms but I got excited and angry and responded accordingly because I do not
agree with some of his logics, reasons, examples and thoughts on various issues
and matters, which makes the people uncomfortable. I have my own way of
thinking and working and keep focusing on them.
I
don’t like wasting my time and energy on nuisance and nonsense. Shahid Hashmi no
doubt he is very sincere with people and community causes and had worked to
earn the prestigious status in Canada. I keep asking him to focus on his good
work that he and his family are doing for the people and communities,
particularly bridge building. His message about Islam and peace is very
powerful, except some of his views and analyses but then they are his own.
He wants the community to change their mindset
and think and act like Canadians, join the mainstream and contribute
tremendously. I agree that there is nothing wrong with this but we differ with
his critical approach because people take him wrong and the impact of the good
message and effort is lost.
When
I realized what he said about Islam and our role then I became restless because
I was wrong and my attitude was bad. I asked myself: “What good I am doing
practically to truly worship God, follow Islam and serve humanity. Yes, most of
us are defaming Islam and not worshipping God and serving humanity in the real
sense. The lifestyle that we have adopted is not according to Islam or as a
good human being. This is why most of us
are in darkness, pain and suffering.”
The
next day, when Shahid Hashmi called me, before leaving for Saudi Arabia to
perform Umra along with his wife Seema Hashmi, I said sorry to him for my bad
attitude and for hurting him. In my heart I thanked both God and Shahid Hashmi
for making me realize my mistakes. I keep praying to God to help me become
really good in all respect and protect me from Satan, his army and his followers.
Similarly,
my friend, Syed Muhammad Iqbal, president of Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), keeps
checking me by saying: “You are a good person but you commit great and grave
mistakes by talking and writing bad about Mullas. You should know that Mulla
means friend of Allah. By criticizing them you are criticizing the friends of
Allah and could face punishment from God. I know that when you criticize Mullas
your focus is on those who are Cut-Mullas and imposters who are posing as
Mullas and fooling, cheating, harming, hurting and exploiting the innocent and
helpless people. They are doing wrong and defaming Islam and I too am against
them and dislike them. In fact all those who recognize and understand them
dislike them.”
I
keep arguing with Syed Muhammad Iqbal as well but compelled by my conscience to
realize, agree and accept that he is very right and I should refrain from all such
criticisms of the friends of God known as Maulana, Mufti, Mulla or Molvi. I
seek forgiveness from God and His help in correcting and improving myself.
I
was impressed and shaken as well when my Christian friend, Dominic, told the
truth: “We are deaf because we don’t listen to God and His believers and
lovers. We keep ignoring God and His message despite knowing them very well.”
He was very right and I agree with him.
Both
of us had very friendly discussions and agreed that Muslims, Christians and
Jews are all cousins and believers of the same God and His holy books and
divine messages. The hatred and differences have been created by the human
beings. That is not what God has taught us to think or do.
I
told my Christian friend: “First of all we must like, love and respect each
other as good human being beings then only we deserve to be called Muslims,
Christians and Jews. We must help, support, promote each other and protect each
other from the devil and enemies of mankind and humanity. When our God is the
same and our purpose of life is the same then what is keeping us away from
uniting and learning to live and work together. Why do we get trapped and
become a prey of the common enemies
“When
God has told us in Chapter 109 of the holy Quran: “(109.1) Say: O unbelievers!
(109.2)
I do not serve that which you serve, (109.3) Nor do you serve Him Whom I serve:
(109.4)
Nor am I going to serve that which you serve, (109.5) Nor are you going to
serve Him Whom I serve: (109.6) You shall have your religion and I shall have
my religion.”
“After
this divine message of God, there is no point in arguing, debating and
fighting. Everything is crystal clear for us to understand. Still those who
engage in heated and senseless discussions, debates and arguments are committing
a grave mistake by violating the divine message of God and should understand
the serious consequences.”
In
my heart I again keep thanking God and all my friends and those who keep
pointing out, correcting and guiding me. This indeed is a great blessing for
me.
The
fact is that God is unseen but His guidance and blessings are seen and felt by
all. That is enough for us to recognize, understand, accept and worship The
Lord of the lords---ALLAH---Who is the owner and author of His holy books
Quran, Bible and Torah, which are for all human beings including Muslims,
Christians and Jews.
God
tells us what He is in Chapter one of His holy book Quran: “(1.1) All praise is
due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. (1.2) The Beneficent, the Merciful. (1.3)
Master of the Day of Judgment.”
He
again says in Chapter 112. “(112.1 Say: He, Allah, is One. (112.2) Allah is He
on Whom all depend. (112.3) He begets not, nor is He begotten. (112.4) And none
is like Him.”
God
has sent the message and guidance for human beings in Chapter 103: “(103.1) I
swear by the time, (103.2) Most surely man is in loss, (103.3) Except those who
believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other
patience.” God also tells us in various chapters of the holy book as to who are
the people who believe and do good. This is why we have to accept and believe
the divine messages of all of His holy books and scrolls.
So
all those who are ignoring the divine messages and finding escape routes and
excuses must keep trying to reform themselves to escape the anger and wrath of
God and the punishment as a result.
All
those who are deliberately denying and opposing God and good must learn a
lesson from history. The holy books are full of lessons. Pharaoh denied and
opposed God and started harming the good, innocent and helpless people and true
believers and lovers of God. Then God punished him and his followers and kept his
body intact so that till doomsday day people should see it, learn a lesson and
realize the consequences of all those who deny and oppose God.
This
is a great example for all those who in the name of vested interest think and
act against the interest of the people and harm and hurt them and cause massive
death and destruction. All the cruel rulers, leaders and people faced the
consequences, were destroyed and dumped in hell. This is what they earned
because of their cunningness, selfishness and greed. Somebody called me from outside Canada and asked:
“Hey Javed, who the hell are you? What the hell you think of yourself? What the
hell you want? What the hell is your SHIR?
I
listened to him very patiently and replied in a very friendly and respectful
manner:
“My dear lover, I don’t want to ask who you
are but would certainly like to answer your interesting queries in order give some
peace to your confused, boggled and disturbed mind. I can only pity on you as I
understand very well that there are millions like you who are suffering from
mild to chronic mental sickness and trying to snatch the peace of others and
make their lives miserable. I can only pray to God to cure your mental sickness
and give us all including you and me proper guidance to love, respect and serve
all and to live and work together.
“As
regards your questions, let me tell you in brief who I am:
“My
dear, I am the servant of God (Allah). My pen is the Sword of The Lord (Allah).
It is used for the help, support, promotion and protection of the good, needy
and deserving people, particularly the innocent and helpless ones.
“As
a human being, I do commit all sorts of mistakes and sins, both knowingly and
unknowingly, but feel the guilt, seek forgiveness and try not to repeat them. I
have the courage to admit this that I don’t have the strength to become a
practicing Muslim, a good believer and a good person in the real sense. This is
why I keep seeking forgiveness. I keep
thanking The Lord (Allah) the way He has taught us all through divine messages
in the holy Quran, particularly chapter one of the holy Quran (Sura Al-Fateha).
“I
have founded SHIR International Network to give a name to my work and struggle
and to provide a platform for the people. The mission and vision of SHIR is to:
Serve Humanity In Reality. This is the common divine and spiritual message of
all religions of God including Muslims, Christians and Jews. All followers and
believers of God understand, follow and promote this common message. There is
no vested interest and our interests are common interests. The interests of all
the messengers and believers of God were common.
“I
am determined and committed to serve humanity in reality in the best possible
manner. I am never alone in my work and struggle as God and His blessings in
various shapes and forms are always with me including my friends, colleagues,
supporters, readers and fans.
“I
fear exploiting, harming, hurting and cheating people but never fear those, no
matter how much influential and powerful they are, who try to exploit, harm,
hurt and cheat others and always try to face them, expose them and fail them in
all possible ways. God has always supported and protected me and blessed me
with successes.
“I
am a very social person and like and love to meet, greet, treat and respect
people and make good ones out of the lot my friends. They are few but more than
enough. I keep encouraging them to keep helping, supporting and promoting each
other in all possible ways and according to their best abilities and
capabilities.
“Despite
lacking, hardships and difficulties in coming forward and practically
contributing they do keep trying. This alone is a great help for me and for all
of us. They are indeed far much better and capable than me in all respect,
comparison and performance. What I am
doing is a mere simple job and in the capacity of a common man and I enjoy this
lifestyle and status very much. I thank God for all the great blessings and
guidance.
“So let’s all forget the differences and get
united to live and work together for our COMMON INTEREST: Serve Humanity In
Reality (SHIR). I wish you good luck, best wishes and success.
“We
learn lesson from history, experiences and each other. Always keep our eyes and
mind open for the good. This is how we can become practically good. Nobody is
perfect so we must all keep trying.” Hearing
all this, the caller laughed and said thank you.
I
keep helping the community members by supporting and working with them. My friends including Syed Shakeel Ahmed,
Razzak Chishti and Afzal Khan Nayyar were given a place by the Executive
Director of TNO, Ahmed Hussein, who is a great supporter of the community. They
formed the Thorncliffe Seniors Club (TSC) and I try to help them in my own
ways. The number of their supporters is increasing including distinguished
personalities and leaders like Shahid Hashmi, Chairman, Canpak Chamber of
Commerce, Syed Muhammad Iqbal, President of Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), and Hafiz
Sattar Khan, who heads the prestigious organization Association of
Professionals of Thorncliffe (ATP) and serving Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office
(TNO) on a senior position is helping them in the best possible ways. This is
all a team work and all groups and community leaders and members are
collaborating to work for a common cause to serve the community, particularly
seniors.
Afzal
Khan Nayyar, who is a very experienced team member and leader and has closely
worked with late Razaul Jabbar in managing and organizing the group PICAS meetings,
has many plans to organize social and cultural events and lectures by
distinguished members of the community and mainstream. The TSC and community is
fortunate to have such experienced hand. He is a very good photographer as
well. He plans to meet the TNO Executive Director Ahmed Hussein and Hafiz
Sattar Khan to share and discuss the plans for implementation.
I
have already thanked the media colleagues and friends as follows:
“My
dear media colleagues/friends: Let me first of all thank all of you for the
continued support and promotion. This is how we live and work together and love
and respect each other. I am determined and committed to work and serve in reality
all people and communities. My writing
focus always remained on the innocent, helpless and the needy and deserving
ones. I keep trying to listen to them and serve them in the best possible
ways. I founded the SHIR International
Network platform to use it as a mean to do my important work. The common
message of SHIR helps end differences and hatred as it serves the true purpose
of our lives and tells us our duties and responsibilities.
“I am not preaching or teaching anything
but just playing my role for SHIR. There
are people who keep trying to make me their puppet and even go to the extent of
hurling threats including of deportation and abuses. They try to dictate me
forgetting that I cannot be dictated or scared. I keep listening to them
patiently but do what I feel is right and hope that they would understand my
objective and my work. Despite their painful attitude and narrow mindset, I
avoid confrontation with them because I don't want to waste my precious time
and energy on nuisance and nonsense. I want to see my local media getting
strong and professional and ready to help them. I expect understanding, support
and promotion on mutual and respectable basis. Friends, thanks once again for your
support and promotion.”
JZ’S PROFILE: Founder of SHIR International Network (Serve
Humanity In Reality---SHIR), declared by Judges as one of 75 Finalist Best
Canadian Immigrants, an Honour for the Pakistani Community. Joined Journalism
Profession in 1974 (Daily `SUN’, Karachi) and still serving as a professional
journalist (2014). Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (Awarded by
National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada—NEPMCC. Award presented by
Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner (Presented
by North American Desi Idol), Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran
Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and
The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Canada,
ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, Canada, ex-Chief
Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `DAWN', Canada, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of
English Daily DAWN, Pakistan (From 1986-1999), Chairman, CANOPI, Director of
Children Dignity Foundation (CDF---Canada & Pakistan) and Honorary
Director, Canpak, Chamber of Commerce, and Honorary Director Information, Pak
Seniors Forum (PSF), is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in
order to serve all people and communities. Contact: (416)696-0981/jazamedia@hotmail.com
To read more JZ’s exclusive articles, please visit: nepmcc website (Editorial Sections. Scan years from 2004).
Visit www.javedzaheernews.blogspot.com for latest exclusive articles.
JZ'S
MOTTO, MISSION & VISION: SERVE HUMANITY IN REALITY
