The Great Pilgrimage : From Here to Here

Note: This story is very close to my heart. How? Let it be a secret!!shhhhh!!!

“We had already met your so many demands, even by going against our “*mujma-a”. We only need *taa-lime-haqiqi and dua of our Holy Father to live our life. There is no use of sending a girl to madaris for taalim, when her destiny is to end up doing a homely job. We have to invest in your marriage also. In today’s era you won’t get a good husband without a heavy dowry. Moreover, Baghdad is quite far, we can’t take a risk of leaving you alone. You are grown up and world is not a very good place. After taking concern of each family member we have landed to a decision that it’s a nice time for you to marry and settle down. Usool Nusrat! this time you won’t be granted with your wishes!!”

The flash of the fear and fascination of the unknown almost swallowed Usool. Each and every word echoed almost thousand times in her ears. She stared the nearby stairs with an unidentified glance. She was neither dejected! Neither elated! She maintained the complete silence as if something is running at the back-stage of her conscious and it is not the right time to speak out her mind.

Her long black eyes seemed to be lost, lost in finding the destiny in the deep ocean of her thoughts. Her brownish-black hairs swept her face on and off resembling the puzzle of life. Her long and sleek fingers supported her chin and gave a platform to rest her heaviness. Her sigh revealed her shattering hopes. Everything seemed to be volcanic except her soul which pulled her back from giving up.

She was sitting silently, wrapped up in black shawl and trying hard to collect all her senses and to devise the solution to mold the situation in her favor. Physically Usool is neither tall nor a slender woman. She has a refined appearance and is conservative in dress most of the time. Gracious manner. She displays an air of unemotional responses. She cries in her sleep and little elsewhere.

So, this is Usool Nusrat, her friend’s used to call her Osul so we will also call her Osul only:-)

I feel, she was almost 17 when this situation arouse. They were looking for a boy. But she was not mentally prepared for marriage. She wanted to continue with her “taalim”. She got through many competitive exams. Hmm! Brains dude!! :-) She got a good call for her graduation in the capital city of Baghdad. O I seriously wish! If things were as easy as they appear.

Her family was a middle class family, living in the city of Najaf, Iraq. Her abbu, ammi, chachajaan, everyone in the house was a bit conservative. From the beginning itself they have lived in a town. That place was really small. Their society and culture didn’t seem to be very motivating about girl’s education. Her family had the similar record track of females.

O Yes! But Osul was a perfect revolutionist. Because of her *tahriqi attitude she somehow managed to undertake basic taalim. Obviously, not in free but had given a real tough fight at every step in convincing the members of her *ahlo-ayaal.

Poor Osul, like always this time also she faced a big “NO”. Her life was almost devoted in solving the riddle of Right, Sight and Life. “*Qu-wat” is the exact word which we can relate to her. She believed that there’s only one way to succeed in anything and that is to give everything. Put in your soul. Play your cards with *mun-fard and Allah’s grace is definite to come. She never had a faith in the term “destiny”. As per her destiny is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. So, if things are not falling your way, just change your view. Guess, her taqat lied in her *zah-ni only.

If you can convince them logically and leave them unanswered, nobody will dare enough to repeat his “NO” and hopefully things will turn up from a “NO, NO” situation to a “YES, YES”. I know, she was a great strategist!!

After listening to the final word from her family she silently left the kamra. After, few minutes she came back with a bunch of newspapers. But the pile was of only one section of newspaper, the “shehnai” section.

She asked her parents, her chachajaan to point out atleast one advertisement in the matrimony where a well-established, professionally learned groom wish to marry only an Inter class passed female. To their surprises, all the Engineers, Doctors demanded a graduated life partner.

“I know, I am young and world is not a descent place to survive on own but don’t you have faith on your taleem? Don’t you hold the faith in the tahzeeb taught to me by you only? I know, you won’t allow further studies but please answer me why your colleagues allow their daughter to study far. Do you really think that they are insane? I am ready to marry at this stage but do you actually think that I will get a well established guy, who will respect my individuality. Moreover, I do not even understand the meaning of the proposed relationship; do you find that I will be able to do justice to the relation? If every answer is yes, I am ready to marry, because then it will make sense”.

She said it hesitantly.

And for sure, there were no answer to her questions. After all, right things said in a right way always hold a power to grant you with your Rights!

Her actual power lied not in the framed speech and facts presented by her but in the courage which she gathered. She dared to speak against the views of her elders. She gave a perfect example of intellect and valor. Guess, she was born not to get influenced but to influence others!!

Life is a dream, realize it! The way to happiness is in your power, as you only hold the choice to choose and point out the way!! Osul truly followed it.

Also, an Idea can change your life, goes completely with this incident as Osul, from the meharbaani and reham of the Allah did really well in her academics. She got a job also. But later she resigned from it, after having been realized that she has to do something great. Something which can be useful to society. Now she is working as a columnist of a newspaper, through her articles she raises the agenda which seeks attention at an individual perspective. Besides, she is a District Magistrate. She decided to give the Public Service Commission exam. Her interest was to hold authority and power, where she can exercise control and pass some rules and regulations. In her term, she emphasized on girl’s education.

In her late 20’s she got engaged with Aajzi Tauqheer. Osul: principles and Aajzi: modest. What a combination of names. :-)

Purposely, I would like to share Aajzi’s view for his sharike-hayat.

Osul, I see a girl in you who had some eyes through which we could read her sincerity and simplicity towards life, a girl who had a face that can just help one to feel relaxed and happy as only peace and joy was spread from it, a girl that has a way to express that makes you feel unique in a way but in the same time that shares very deep and philosophical thoughts with so much of simplicity, a girl that is courageous, though life wanted her to be a fighter, she became a fighter as her goal is to achieve perfection. Perfection is a word that is nearly synonym with her name, a girl that fights for truth, sincerity, honesty and who only shares her pure feelings, a girl that is very modest even she has became a so important woman in so many different ways. Now many young girls will be allowed to get some knowledge. You are simply a complete woman.

Impressive thoughts! I purposely included these lines. The speech speaks volumes about the respect which she has gained from the society by making her individual stand.

She always said “Originated from Nature, discovered by Me”


*mujma-a : group, *taa-lime-haqiqi : Divine knowledge, *tahriqi : revolution, *ahlo-ayaal : family , *Qu-wat : strength, *mun-fard : intellect, *zah-ni : talent
Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Shabbir for providing me with some Urdu words