Whispers of the Soul by Nadia Nizam

Piles of Property and the Massacre of the Present By Nadia Nizam Today, as I stand under the scorching sun of life, my father’s presence returns to me like a dense, cool, sheltering tree. I write this piece not only in his memory, but also as a lament for that lost simplicity which has quietly vanished from our times. Walking in his footsteps, I realize with piercing clarity that life was never a burden—we turned it into one ourselves. My father was a living book of logic and reason. He never accepted nonsense, yet paradoxically, his own life was built upon the logic of love. A modest salary, six children, and a three-room house in Islamabad—where my uncle also lived—felt like a small guesthouse. I still remember how the aroma from the kitchen and the laughter of guests could not be contained within the walls. Whether friends or relatives, my father’s dining table never felt small, because its measure was not his income, but the openness of his heart and my mother’s patience. While the...

  یہ سچ قبول کرنا مشکل ہے، مگر حقیقت یہی ہے. بیرونِ ملک برسوں کی محنت سے کمائی گئی رقم اکثر خاموشی سے اپنے ہی خاندان کے لوگ نچوڑ لیتے ہیں۔ ہم میں سے بہت سے لوگ یہ جانتے ہیں، مگر پھر بھی نظرانداز کر دیتے ہیں—شاید اس لیے کہ رشتوں کا بوجھ سچ سے زیادہ بھاری محسوس ہوتا ہے۔ اکثر کوئی رشتہ دار یا جاننے والا نشانہ بناتا ہے۔ ذہن میں ایک بیج بویا جاتا ہے: “یہ بات اپنے شوہر/بیوی کو مت بتانا۔” “یہ تو ہنگامی ضرورت ہے۔” “میں واپس کر دوں گا/دوں گی۔” “ہم تمہارے مستقبل کے لیے سرمایہ کاری کریں گے۔” “بہن بھائیوں کا خیال رکھنا روایت اور دین ہے۔” “لوگ طعنے دیتے ہیں۔” “ہماری شان بن جائے گی۔” “فلاں کے بیٹے/بیٹی نے باہر سے فلاں برانڈ بھیجا ہے۔” “تم باہر ہو، قیمتی تحفہ تمہاری طرف سے ہونا چاہیے۔” “لوگ کیا کہیں گے؟” یہیں سے ایک خاموش مگر خطرناک کھیل شروع ہوتا ہے—جذباتی بلیک میلنگ، ہمدردی، مجبوری کا دباؤ، رشتوں کا واسطہ، اور کبھی کبھی دین کا سہارا۔ مقصد ایک ہی ہوتا ہے: آپ کی محنت کی کمائی، آپ کے علم کے بغیر حاصل کرنا۔ چونکہ اوورسیز پاکستانی خاندان سے دور رہتے ہیں، اس لیے یہ دھوکہ دہی آسان ہو جاتی ہے۔ کبھی شوہ...

   " A Dollar Sign" A Bitter Message for Overseas Pakistanis This truth is hard to accept, but it is reality: the money earned through years of hard work abroad is often quietly drained by people from one’s own family. Many of us know this, yet choose to ignore it—perhaps because the weight of relationships feels heavier than the truth itself. Often, a close relative or acquaintance targets them. A seed is planted in the mind: “Don’t tell your husband/wife about this money.” "It's Urgency " "I will pay you back" "We will invest it for your future" "This is a tradition or religious to take care of your siblings" "Loag Tannay detay haen" "Hmari shaan bn jaegi" "Flah ko betay/beti ne bahir se flah brand bhaija he" "Tum bahir ho, qeemti tohfa tumhari trf se hona chaheay" "Loag Kia kahaen ge" That is where a silent but dangerous game begins—emotional manipulation, sympathy, pressure throu...

Why We Should Focus on Hope Rather Than Fear Why do we so rarely speak of the profound blessings that the grave holds for the righteous? Why don't we proclaim with conviction that the most glorious day of our existence will be the one when we finally stand before our Lord, enveloped in His infinite mercy? Imagine that moment: departing from this transient world to enter the boundless embrace of Ar-Rahman, the Most Merciful, whose compassion surpasses even that of the most devoted mother. This isn't mere poetry; it's a divine truth rooted in our sacred texts. Consider the beautiful hadith narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He once observed a mother animal carefully avoiding stepping on her young with her hoof, protecting it with utmost tenderness. Turning to his companions, he remarked, "Indeed, our Lord is far more merciful to us than this mother is to her child." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim). This analogy isn't just comforting—it's a p...

 Karma—known as "Mukafat-e-Amal" in Urdu—is the universe's ultimate, unchanging law. It's like an automated justice system where no court is needed; verdicts enforce themselves. You reap exactly what you sow, whether it's a harvest of wheat or thorns. In this post, we'll explore 15 timeless principles of karma that remind us how our actions echo back in profound ways. 1. The Boomerang Effect Whatever you throw into the world comes circling back. Just as a stone tossed into the air falls to earth due to gravity, your acts of kindness or cruelty will return to you. It's impossible to block someone's path without the universe blocking yours in return. 2. Returns with Interest The universe doesn't just balance the scales—it adds compound interest. If you've slapped someone once, life might hit you with tenfold force. Whether good or bad, karma's payback always exceeds the original deed, amplifying the impact. 3. The Power of the Victim's Si...

  We don’t just take trips; we build architects of the future. While many see family travel as an expense, we’ve come to understand it as the quietest, wisest investment in who our children will become. Toys gather dust, even the glittering ones. But the salt-spray nights camping by the sea, the shared hilarity of a wrong turn on a winding trail, the awe on their faces seeing mountains kiss the sky – these aren’t just moments. They’re the chisels shaping confidence, curiosity, and character in ways no material thing ever could. At home, it’s easy to slip into the role of the Homework Enforcer, the Bedtime Warden. But on the road, the script flips. They see us laugh until we cry, fumble with maps, bravely (or awkwardly) try strange foods, and figure things out together. In those messy, real human moments, something profound happens: authority softens into trust, and a deeper connection takes root. We become teammates, not just parent and child, facing adventures side-by-side. Lost? ...

We often point fingers at "bad people" for the pain and suffering we witness in the world. But what if I told you that much of the heartache I've observed, both personally and within my family, doesn't stem from outright malice, but from a far more insidious force: WEAKNESS ? This realization has been starkly illuminated by personal experiences. For instance, whenever I encounter someone from my Pathan community, an almost inevitable question follows: "Why did you marry a Punjabi? Why not a Pathan?" The curious, sometimes judgmental, gaze that accompanies this question no longer surprises me. For years, I'd simply smile and deflect. But today, I feel compelled to share the deeper reflections these interactions have sparked. It's a difficult truth to confront, but the most profound regrets, the most devastating losses I've witnessed, often originate not from deliberate evil, but from MEN who simply weren't strong enough. Not strong in physical...

In every home, there is certainly a balloon. Everyone knows when to inflate it, when to fill it, when to let air out lightly, when to release it into the air, and when to blow it up with a pointed needle.  Look closely, the string of that balloon is always in someone’s hand, because using that balloon is the easiest thing; there’s no hard work involved—just whisper a little something in the balloon’s ear against someone, and then watch the show unfold. This balloon starts to swing back and forth and then bursts loudly.  People in the house use it silently and wisely. They keep themselves behind and inflate that balloon. Believe me, every home has this balloon, which is infamous for its verbal carelessness, quickness, and rudeness. But in my view, these people are very pitiable; they are the ones who get used the most, are the most time-wasting, the most dishonored, and the most restless. I do not feel anger towards them but rather pity and compassion. They don’t even realize t...

In our homes and communities in Pakistan, a pervasive issue plagues us: the relentless pursuit of control. It's as if a psychological knot binds us, compelling everyone to manipulate and dominate one another. We all harbor a desire for others to dance to our tune, to live life as we dictate. While we may not always live our own lives to the fullest, we often seek to dictate the lives of those around us, making their existence unbearable. Parents want to control their children, expecting them to follow their every command. Husbands seek to dominate their wives, while wives, in turn, scheme to control their husbands. Sisters demand that their wishes prevail, and daughters-in-law strive to seize control of the household. It is rare to witness a son, guided by Islamic principles, gathering his sisters and mother to discuss their father's inheritance and urging them to claim their rightful shares promptly, easing the burden on their deceased father who will be questioned by God. Thi...

In our fast-paced, tech-driven world, it’s easy to dismiss a child’s lack of response as mere distraction. However, this behavior is often a subtle form of disrespect that can have lasting consequences on their relationships and social skills. When your child ignores you while glued to a screen, it’s not just a momentary lapse in attention; it’s a lesson in power dynamics and respect that they are internalizing. The Scene: Calling for Attention Imagine this scenario: You call your child’s name once, then twice. You receive no reply. Instead, you find yourself speaking to the back of their head as they remain fixated on their device. This moment can feel frustrating, but it is essential to recognize that it is more than just a fleeting annoyance. It reflects a deeper issue that can shape their understanding of communication and empathy. The Lesson in Power Dynamics When ignoring becomes habitual, your child learns a powerful lesson: your voice can be background noise, easily dismissed u...