connecting

Saturday 26th July
In the haram of Imam Reza (as), at zohr.

This time, I had been able to enter the haram as I wished, to get pulled into the melee and drunk on the same crazed spirit that makes normal, civillised people behave like lunatics to get to and cling to the zarih. Other times, this choice had been made for me. You would think that I would have learnt the lesson better by this stage.

On the first day, with great anticipation, hope and desire to perform ziara on behalf of all, I had entered the throng, and basked in the Imam's proximity. The second day, I had not prepared myself sufficiently, and all of a sudden found myself at the haram door with my thoughts scattering. Reading the permission to enter proved it; even after the small rise of emotion on asking the imam (as) as the son of Fatimatul Zahra, by the right of Fatimatul Zahra (as), it was very evident the invitation was a grace from the imam and I had limited my own experience and connection.


This was the third time we were to enter the haram.

I was intent upon not repeating the mistake of the second time, in an attempt to recapture a little of the spirit of the first. I made my way towards the soaring golden arch, with the white-hot morning sun resplendent, high above it. Just before entering a spot caught my eye – an area to sit within the row of worshipers, on the right hand side, a short distance from the door. The feeling came to me that I should sit in it, but I couldn't reconcile this with not yet having done ziarah. I pushed it aside and entered the door, into the mad crowds. I found spaces and pauses in the crushing in which to read my ziarah, but neither relaxed, nor truly comfortably, nor personally. Throughout I couldn't shake the feeling that I should be outside. Eventually this feeling overcame me, and I moved outside after the core ziarah, to read the final salutations.


My place was still empty, waiting for me, welcoming me. I sat in it and completed the ziarah and prayer more peacefully and calmly. By this time it was almost noon, with the beaming, burning sun hanging high above our heads, as I sat amongst the pilgrims in the shade of the golden archway, at its edge: in the cool breezed shade, inches away from the cloven half of sunlight.

Looking up at the sun in its zenith, glinting off the soaring gold, I had a vision; of the insanity of crowds, crushing each other in the race towards the grave, clamouring to have their many requests heard and granted, thinking of the fulfilment of their own needs, then to go home and think of little more; as an outsider to it – for a second seeing the difference in behaviour for the real servant of the Imam (as), one who was truly there to do as commanded and await his call, who would pull away from the crush to reach the physical grave, and hang back for just that, not breathing a word for his own sake: knowing that the Imam (as) saw him where he stood, knew his state fully, knew he was ready to serve, and if needed, knew he would call for him.

All these people had come for the Imam (as), mistaking his grave for his presence... all these mad crowds directed one way; between them those with vision would pull aside and wait, distant from the drunken madness and seeing it for what it was; behaving like a human being and faithful servant; patiently, politely, waiting for contact and a command from the Imam (as).

I saw the difference between serving yourself in the Imam's presence and serving him, and realised to truly be his follower you could not follow the crowd and ask only for your own desires, but instead must always be thinking,

“How can I serve my Imam?”

“What can I do to serve you, O Imam?”

“I am ready, and waiting for your command.”

* * *

On Sunday, for the first time ever, I chose not to enter the haram building, although I could, and performed ziara outside; again in the shade of the golden arch, and the glorious presence of the Imam (as).

* * *

July 2008

The role of the state in internet censorship

Some of you may have noticed a link on the left hand side of this place to my Flickr account. Yesterday as I was idly browsing I came across the photostream of someone living in Iran - and in it, this photo. And he wasn't the only one complaining, I found more images along the same lines from other members. Although I was vaguely aware that Iran filtered websites, I was surprised -- but then I remembered the trouble a friend of mine in Iran recently had, again with access to the relatively harmless* and rather fun Flickr, and randomly, Statcounter.


The Problem

I sympathise with their frustration. At my place of work internet access is filtered -- and it is not only pointless but completely hampers any legitimate use of the net. Search engines are practically useless because many of the results are blocked, research and literature searches are nearly impossible (medical papers will contain reference to certain parts of anatomy which the filters seem to think makes them pornographic), and stupidly enough a heck of a lot of inappropriate (in terms of work) sites like YouTube and MSN seem to get past the filters.

I'm not saying the reasons for filtering websites at work are not valid; after all nobody thinks its acceptable to spend the whole day at work on forums or shopping online -- but you need to give people their freedom too. Who cares if someone checks their email or reads the paper online in their lunch hour? Or if they need to find out the cost of sending a parcel right before they head for the Post Office on their way home? Apparently, my employer does. Even though the activity is innocent, costs them nothing and is completely within allocated breaks, they insist that it shouldn't be allowed. Its just this narrow-minded and overbearing attitude that breeds dissent. All in all, the shortcomings of the filtering process and policy has stirred up a lot of ill-feeling towards the IT department & higher management.

And this is just filtering at work. I would not be impressed at all (to say the least!) if I had to face the same thing at home.


On the Other Hand...

The issue as I see it is that Iran is an Islamic country with rules and social etiquettes largely defined by this identity. And lord knows, a heck of a lot of the stuff on the internet is not Islam-friendly. I can't count the number of times I have done an innocent Google search and come across a wildly inappropriate and completely irrelevant site within the results -- once I searched for an old DOS game by typing "Daggerfall" (the title), and nearly fell off my chair when half way down the screen there was a link to what seemed like a pornographic site, possibly involving paedophilia (this is based on the description, I didn't click the link!). Adding the word "download" to practically any search seems to give similar results -- even with safe search on. The image search suffers from similar drawbacks, I've been traumatised too many times through inappropriate freak-show type images popping up on my screen even though I try to take measures to avoid them. One of my friends father was surfing some university site which had been hacked, and got redirected to some porno site where 100 revolting pop-ups filled his screen, much to his horror. Most of us users of the net in the "free world" have had some kind of experience like this.

After all, the owners of such sites want to increase their traffic and so will tag their sites with hundreds and hundreds of words which may not be relevant at all: but will improve their chances of popping up on a search. This tagging, sadly, also has the potential to confuse filters. Amongst the other crud of the Internet we haven't yet covered chatrooms, which are known to be a hangout for paedophiles to try and lure children into meeting them offline: the British Home Office has recently launched a campaign to address the dangers of this. Couple this with the viruses, malicious emails, piracy and groups which promote illegal and deviant behaviour, and there you have it: one hell of an argument to filter the net -- to make it safe to use for people of all ages including children, and nice normal people who don't want to be bombarded by viruses, adverts and porn; and who don't want to give potential serial killers, rapists, paedophiles and other criminals the chance to learn, encourage each other or convene. It is a fact that the internet has become a recruiting ground for many of these criminal groups.

Many people in the UK and US, amongst them my relatives who have pre-teen children, have invested in some form of personal internet filtering software such as CyberPatrol, and blocked pretty much everything except a few children's sites they know and trust. Speaking from personal experience for the reasons outlined previously, there is no way I would let a young child in my care access the internet in its entirety. Children are impressionable and known for their curiosity; exposure to the worst the internet has to offer may develop illicit interests in them will likely have a serious adverse effect on the social, religious and personal development of the child. In terms of society at large, the net - like television and computer games - can desensitise people towards certain behaviour. Films and video games are age-rated to give some level of protection to vulnerable and impressionable individuals, but of course the internet has no parallel in this. A call for freedom is one thing, but I don't think the majority would argue this means giving everybody full access to everything.


The role of the State

As an intelligent adult, there is no doubt a part of me that would resent censorship by the state: particularly given that I don't agree with a lot of what my country of residence does. But there is another side of me which does want some limits, some form of curbing of the descent of the internet into a fetid swamp of crime, malicious activity and smut (article: the internet will become unusable by 2008). And if you ask me if I would rather raise children in the UK or in Iran, my answer will be Iran about a thousand times over - Flickr or no Flickr.

So what should the role of the state be? Should we expect full access of the internet wherever we are and leave filtering as a responsibility of the individual, even though the effects of this freedom with irresponsible individuals may increase the dangers in our society? Should we expect the state to filter some content to protect the casual surfer, and if so, how -- the issue is that filtering mechanisms are far from perfect and will undoubtedly block some legitimate sites while allowing inappropriate ones anyway - but is this inconvenience better than the alternative? Should we have progressive filtering, where individuals can petition to open access to certain sites which may have been filtered incorrectly (as at my place of work, although there is a very inconvenient delay of days to weeks before the site becomes unblocked). Or should we just ban the internet altogether? (Just kidding!)

The question is not an easy one to answer, but one which needs to be addressed. There must be some middle ground whereby us moralistic Flickr users can have our cake, and eat it too.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/salehoffline/41107653/

* * *

* Flickr is fine as long as you don't actively look for bad photos.
Mar '08

How to Strengthen your Iman

Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani, Imam of the Friday Prayers at the Sayeda Masuma haram in Qum, was asked how young people in the west might go about increasing their iman.

His answer was simple. He told us:

There are three things you should do.

1. Pray at the very first time of the prescribed time for prayers


2. Read at least a quarter of a Juz' of Quran every day


3. Carry a notepad with you wherever you go, and record your bad deeds throughout the day. At the end of the day review what you have written, and ask forgiveness for the sins you have committed.

* * *

The Start of Faith: Establishing your beliefs beyond any doubt
The way to progress
Seeking knowledge of God, above and beyond any other form of knowledge

* * *

Nahjul Balaghah sermon 1: what is it to Deny God Attributes?
To Deny Him Attributes II
To Deny Him Attributes III

* * *

Ideas from the book "Man & Destiny":: Virtual
Virtual II
Virtual III
Virtual IV

* * *

Qum, Iran
August 2006

Invitations & Welcomes

When the door opens, know that the owner of the house has opened it for you. If you choose to come, it is possible through their permission and not otherwise. Don't let shame & self-awareness make you forget -- it is not on your own merit for you to feel deep & uncomfortable shame at its lack; it has always been at the grace and mercy of the resident.

The scholar-prince of believers invited you first - before all, before you yourself were his follower. His speciality in thought, answers in the face of abundant & colourful ideologies, his rational & logical approaches, historical & narrated through his fathers, his diplomacy, wisdom & means & method of survival & habitation amongst unbelievers & class society, his humility & maintenance of the perfection of Islamic behaviour despite plots & hostility -- this Imam who first called, & has called as many times as the Prophet, held lessons for your situation; an example & guide for your life. Your delay in realisation did not prevent his re-invitation, & his gentle beckon remains, sweeter than ever, ready for your approach.

Hand picked by him are his visitors - like flowers. This son of the Prophet is my Imam: he watches over me, teaches me, & draws me close when I need him, if I am willing to come.

* * *

Iran, Mashhad
July 07

On Mercy:: Dua Kumayl

what weighs on your heart, which you fear the consequences of -- that abandonment to the cold & dark loneliness of doubt or disbelief - that isolation & lack of comfort, support & guidance which you need to progress -- that without which you fear withering death & suffering with a burning heart...

This
is known to Allah,
& leaving a believer so distressed
-- no matter their sins --
is not consistent with His mercy.

He is the One who quells the flames,
& makes them coolness & peace.

He is the One
Who would not leave -- by His Greatness & Mercy --
A believer, expectant & calling for Him.


What you fear
will not happen.

* * *

in His name - the Merciful, the Great.
First Dua Kumayl in Mashhad, Iran
July 2007.