لا يلدغ المؤمن مرتين

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

My Father never told me this was a Chinese proverb when he would quote it, but it is a good lesson just the same. There should be no embarrassment in being duped by someone. Just don't let it happen again.

Reflecting my thoughts.

Having studied at Al-Jamea-tus-Saifiyah in Surat I had mastered the Arabic language particularly the classical version. IB was an integral part of the Jamea syllabus. I wonder how I had topped in biology at IB in Jamea being a novice. It reminds me of the days of childhood when I used to dream becoming a doctor and taking up medicine as a profession.

Wonder that dream changed or did it not and turned into a reality. In a much junior class we were given an assignment on "The best Profession". I remember and infact still have a copy of the eassy which had a basic level argument at that particular stage of mind proclaiming that "Teaching was the best profession".

I did end up in teaching fianlly. I wonder where my dream of becoming a medical professional evaporated or did it take new shape.

At a later stage in Jamea one of the books of Syedna al-Qadi al-Noman - A journal of the revered Chief Justice of the Fatemi Empire - gave me an insight that I still remember. One of the Imams was given a book by his father being told that it was on the subject of medicine, a very noble subject and field of knowledge as refered by the father. The Imam sat down night long reading the book and reported the next day having found nothing related to medicine. The father replied that it was indeed so. It had the know-how off curing the illness of the spirit. The knowledge of that would quench the thirst of desprate souls in search for salvation.

Jamea Saifiyah did give me an insight in the knowledge of spiritual medicine, a small breafing though, and a long way to go. I am no preacher or an expert teacher but do have a little insight in to the ilm of Ale Mohammed. It may be limited but I do continue to expand my boundries. I may not be an expert that can consult any jack and joe but I keep learning.

After being into the practical world leaving the student life of Jamea behind since 5 years I can say I am still a student of the Fatemi philosophy and do need lots of improvement. There are people who wish for a perfect world and pray for it but it never happens. All that can happen is a perfect self. I do believe in that. It happens to many and for most when they have no more to live. The time is already over.

Writing about my thoughts that are yet vivid is a passion to me. Joining the Nextgen and mumineen.org was a good experiance and having known so many people it feels good to be loved and understood. The knowledge of classical Arabic and English made me pen about the subject I am a student of. At several occasions I do find blocks and at times the words just dont seem to end.

I still wonder how I ended up into this tech biz. Web Hosting was an idea that popped up early in the year 2002 and I did loose a lot of money and time innitially as this was not a serious thought but a learning proccess. I have covered most of the losses I made but the profits are not luring any more. I wonder if I should continue but then I do want to preserve the identity of EKHWAN. The name was popped up when I was trying to get a brand for my self. Ekhwan means Brothers. Innitially I was thinking of Ikhwanus Safa but then Ekhwan seemed right and I branded my cyber or net exsistence as Ekhwan. This was what Dai Abi Abdillah used to call the Mumineen of Kutamah, who were his followers. The Dai of Imam Mehdi to North Africa. Since then I having been logging my thoughts in words and print hoping that someday it might take up a role of perfection in action as well. The quest is still a long way to go. The medical doctor has yet to become and will remain a student till the last breath.

I wonder if we should ever stop writing or talking on our beliefs of perfection in fear of criticism over our contraversial actions. Does not our talk leap us a step forward towards the dream of the staunchest critic, a dreamer who wants to see a perfect world. If so then all priest and preachers should seek an alternate job.

"Happiness is not the absence of problems; but the ability to deal with them."

HAPPINESS

Yes, that's right. We all have problems, and Jack Brown is simply pointing out that if you can deal with your problems well, you will find happiness. Don't hitch your happiness to your problems, because the problems can become a heavy drag. Separate your problems and your happiness. That way, you can work on solving your problems while at the same time remaining happy.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Inaugurates Saifee Hospital

Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the newly reconstructed Saifee Hospital in Mumbai in the presence of the world wide Dawoodi Bohra community spiritual Head, His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS).

The function was part of Syedna's 94th birthday celebrations and attended by numerous . Ministers from several countries, politicians, diplomats and heads of international institutes.

Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh in his speech specifically lauded the human development contributions of the Dawoodi Bohras under the leadership of Syedna. “This architecturally graceful hospital will add to the beauty of Mumbai while providing invaluable services to its citizens” were the sentiments expressed by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his message.

The multi-specialty hospital was conceptualized and built by the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq, His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), as a tribute to the memory of his illustrious father and predecessor, Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin.

“Under the directives of Syedna, Saifee Hospital shall endeavour to provide medical treatment that is safe, ethical and affordable to all human beings irrespective of caste, creed, or religion" said Shaikh Yusuf Qasimji, CEO of the hospital.

The 150 crore hospital project has entirely been funded by Syedna personally, with the contributions from the international Dawoodi Bohra community.

Strategically located at Charni Road in South Mumbai, the sea facing, 14 level ultra modern hospital with its 259 beds and 700 medical and support personnel shall offer comprehensive medical and surgical care by internationally renowned doctors using state-of-the-art technology all under one roof.

It offers the latest diagnostic and therapeutic facilities integrated with the hospital information system, latest radiology and imaging equipment, a dedicated ICU floor with 37 beds, 6 futuristic, sea facing operations theatres, distinctive maternity wards, and an exclusive domain for physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

It also offers holistic care that includes, Preventive Healthcare, Fitness facilities and Alternative Medicine. The 9th floor is dedicated to a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre, Acupuncture, Yoga, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Unani and Ayurvedic medicines.

One wing of the hospital includes a modern sanatorium which is expected to be used as a resting place by out-patients and their families who come from outside Mumbai.

Huzaifa Shehabi, assistant medical director asserts "the Saifee Hospital is committed to excellence in healthcare with an unconventional, patient friendly ambience". "With its world class facilities the hospital is also an attractive medical tourism centre" he adds.

Saifee Hospital is a pioneer for healthcare:
• It is the first in the Asia-Pacific region to install Contura-560 model beds that allow patients to adjust the back rest, height tilting and knee-break at the touch of a button.
• First in India with Xenon lighting which replicates sunlight in the operation theatre.
• First in Mumbai with fibre optic cables for high resolution and fast data transfers.
• First in India with Primus RS, a physiotherapy rehabilitation technology employed to provide complete physical fitness workouts to patients and sports persons
• First in India with water treatment plan on the premises to provide water that will meet WHO potable standards throughout the hospital.

On the gala occasion, the Trustees of Saifee Hospital Trust handed over the keys of the newly constructed Adamjee Peerbhoy Sanatorium Trust to its Trustees in the presence of the Prime Minister.

Be kind to yourself.

KINDNESS

You wouldn't chew somebody else out for a small error that was totally unintentional, would you? So don't beat yourself up over perfectly human mistakes, either. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt, and show confidence in yourself...so that next time the mistake won't be repeated.

I worry about every mumin - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS)

"I travel a great deal. I remain away from you for long periods of time, but this separation is only on a physical plane. Be assured that I keep you in my sight, I have placed you in my heart. I swear in the name of Allah and Maula Imam-uz-Zaman that wherever I go, east or west, I have never forgotten you, I have always remembered you, remember you and will go on remembering you. Each day and each night I worry about every mumin, mumina and their children. Might somebody make my children stray from the straight and narrow path? Might somebody snatch away their reputations and dignity ? Might someone hurt their feelings ? Momineen, in this way, I remember you every minute and every second, I am sure, you, my children remember me, too. You love me and it is not possible that you can forget me either; but if under the circumstances of this world, it were ever to happen, even then, be assured that I, Mohammed Burhanuddin, have not for a moment forgotten You, and I never will."

 

Words of Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb, T.U.S.

MAKKAH'S WATER OF BENISON

Zamzam

 

Comes the hajj season, and I am reminded of the wonders of aab-i-Zumzum. Let me go back to how it all started.

 

In 1971, an Egyptian doctor wrote to the European Press, a letter saying that aab-i-Zumzum was not fit for drinking purposes. I immediately thought that this was just a form of prejudice against the Muslims and that since his statement was based on the assumption, that since the Khaan-i-Ka'aba was a shallow place (below sea level) and located in the centre of the city of Makkah, all the waste water of the city collecting through the drains fell into well holding the water.

 

Fortunately, the news came to Shah Faisal's ears who got extremely angry and decided to disprove the Egyptian doctor's provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of aab-i-Zumzum to European laboratories for testing the pot-ability of the water. The ministry then instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plants to carry out this task. It was here that I was employed as a de-salting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment.

 

At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like.

 

I went to Makkah and reported to the authorities at the Khaan-i-Ka'aba explaining my purpose of visit. They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that supplied millions of gallons of water every year to hajjis ever since it came into existence at the time of Hazrat Ibrahim, many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well. I asked the man to show me the depth of the well.

 

First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches.He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well.

 

I thought of another idea. The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the aab-i-Zumzum storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well.

 

After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted,"Alhamdollillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well." Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well.

 

Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady.

 

After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Khaan-i-Ka'aba, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Makkah. I was told that these wells were mostly dry. When I reached my office in Jeddah I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the Zumzum well could be internally connected to the Red Sea.How was it possible when Makkah is about 75 kilometres away from the sea and the wells located before the city usually remain dry? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one we analysed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical.

 

The difference between aab-i-Zumzum and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these was slightly higher in aab-i-Zumzum. This may be why this water refreshes tired hajjis, but more significantly, the water contains fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking. Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false.

 

When this was reported to Shah Faisal he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that God bestowed as a gift on the faithfuls coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage.

 

Let me sum up some of the features of aab-i-Zumzum.

 

* This well has never dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the demand for water.

 

* It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence.

 

* Its potability has always been universally recognised as pilgrims from all over the world visit Khaan-i-Ka'aba every year for hajj and umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them.

 

* Water tastes different at different places.

 

* Aab-i-Zumzum's appeal has always been universal.

 

* This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities.

 

* Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odour problems. But in the case of the aab-i-Zumzum well there wasn't any sign of biological growth.

 

* Centuries ago, Bibi Hajra searched desperately for water in the hills of Sufwa and Murwa to give to her newly-born son Hazrat Ismail. As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of God, shaped itself into a well which came to be called aab-i-Zumzum.

 

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-Sent by Mustafa Mogri.
-Adapted from an article by Mr. Moinuddin Ahmed.