Short story from Dr. Jernail S. Anand

Older South Asian man with a beard, a deep burgundy turban, coat and suit and reading glasses and red bowtie seated in a chair.
Dr. Jernail S. Anand

THE NEXT DATE

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand

After spending a life time in the company of Babas, who always preached against alcohol and bad habits, [don’t ask me whether they themselves acted on their own advice or not], and serving in the ‘deras’ [holy places] for a lifetime, I remember how I impressed some other people also, by telling them some inflated truths [truth if inflated is also an untruth], so that when they joined, and became followers of the Baba, the Baba then conferred on me the title of a Group Leader [Chhote Sahib]. There were thousands of Chhote Sahibs, who were working for the Baba.

There may have been many things going amiss, but I was lucky I did not see anything. And as a result, I had a peaceful death, and after serving the Baba and the people, I was sure God will house me in a special cell in Heaven. On reaching the assembly waiting for the judgement, with Dharamraja listening to each one’s historic deeds on earth, I found they paid no attention to my titles. But I was sure to be admitted to Heaven on the basis of my hard work, and sincere followship of the Baba.

When my turn came, they handed over to me a charge sheet, and I was asked to reply in six months. During those six months, I was to stay in the Over Lap, a newly designed place where all good and bad people were made to stay. The charges shocked me. I was quizzed for every good thing that I had done on the earth under the influence of the Baba, whom I revered as my Guru. Every person had a different charge sheet. I had a fast look at the end of the list where they had mentioned that I was 90 percent eligible to enter Hell.

You were expected to do good, and believe in simply joys, and live in innocence. Why you joined this band of idlers? Remembering God is no job in itself. On the earth, you were expected to do some good work for your family and the society. You wasted your time in the service of the Baba who is already on our hit-list. All the work you did in the name of ‘Sewa’ [service] was miscarried. You told lies to unsuspecting people and forced them into the servility  of your master. You told deliberate lies. It is unpardonable. You say you have done ‘simran’ of God every day in the morning and evening.

Chanting God’s name, without following holy edicts, is a waste of time. God does not believe in such practices which are hollow. You have been running round and round your self styled demigod. There are millions like you wasting their time around these gods. The sewa [service] that you are doing is useless if you do not understand the fundamental issues. The fundamental issue is your innocence. You work for yourself, but at the same time, make sure, your work helps the society, and it does not harm others in any way. If you are aware of it, and act accordingly, you do not need such godmen.

You also do not need to read any holy books or even to recite the name of God, if you remember one thing: to be innocent. Regarding lots of deprivations imposed arbitrarily by these Babas, you are better advised to follow your wishes. If you want to eat non-vegetarian food, or drink alcohol, if you take tobacco and enjoy smoking, if you enjoy bar dances, we have no problem so long as you do not cause any harm to society, your family and even to yourself. There is no sin, no crime if you can feel happy the way you want to live.

We have given you this beautiful body. A beautiful mind. A beautiful family. And a wonderful society of men, women, and a life in which there are huge reserves of vegetation, animals, beasts and birds. It is meant for your enjoyment. Only beware of of Knowledge. It is the gift of Satan to Adam and Eve. Knowledge alone is not enough. It is wisdom which tells you to act when, how, why and when not. What should not be done, is as much your duty, as what should be done.

We give you six months to learn, realize and accept what we want from you. Dharamraja then said, give him the next date after six months. 

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, with an opus of 180 plus books, is Laureate of the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards.  His name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Anand is a towering literary figure whose work embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision.

Essay from Abdukakhorova Gulhayo

Young Central Asian woman in a brown sweater and a small necklace with dark straight hair up in a ponytail seated in a classroom.

About the hadiths of Imam Bukhari. Imam Bukhari. He is considered one of the most famous people of the Islamic world and is called the “Imam of Muhaddis”.

We can come across many hadiths during our life, but the hadiths of Imam Bukhari are very beneficial for Islam and cause a radical change in the way of life.

There are 7379 hadiths in the book of Imam Bukhari “Al-jame’ as-sahih”. These hadiths are about the good and bad sides of people, about honoring parents, about giving zakat to relatives, about pride and love. It is a hadith. After hearing the name of this hadith, I had a question. How can a person insult his parents, and I learned the answer to this question after reading this hadith. The hadith begins like this: A person does not insult his parents!

Abdullah bin Amri narrates: “The Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him”, said: “One of the greatest sins that a person commits is to insult his parents!” Then he said: “O Messenger of God, how can a person insult his parents?” they answered. I read this hadith and wrote down the sentences that I remembered for people. No one should insult the parents of another person, because the person who insults him is considered to have insulted his own parents.

Abdukakhorova Gulhayo was born in 2006 in Namangan region. Currently, he is a 2nd-year student of the Uzbek language Department of Philology at the University of Business and Science. Ambassador of the International Organization for the Protection of Children’s Rights in India to Uzbekistan. He is the author of many scientific and journalistic articles.

Essay from Dr. Reda Abdel-Rahim

Scene of a large outdoor stadium in the Egyptian desert, with pyramids in the distance.

The Great Egyptian Museum is Egypt’s Gift to the World 

Dr. Reda Abdul Rahim 

There is no doubt that the connection of the Grand Egyptian Museum site with the Giza Pyramids gives it a special importance that is not available to other museums, as it is a museum of all ancient Egyptian antiquities within sight of the majestic Giza Pyramids in a visual association that calls for reflections on the symbolism of the place, the connection between the past and the present, and between modern technologies, and the techniques of building pyramids from stones. And I will take you, dear reader, on a brief trip to this great edifice, on a visit that urges you to visit it as soon as possible, to stand on the greatness of grandparents and grandchildren together.

Large white stone statue of an ancient Egyptian god or pharaoh with a headdress and tunic.

The Grand Egyptian Museum takes triangular geometric shapes that overlap in the facade different dimensions and shades of color, with a rhythm of dark triangles in color with the use of transparent alabaster(alabaster) sometimes in variations extending to the landscape layout surrounding the museum, with a visual extension on the one hand to the top of the Great Pyramid and on the other to the top of another faraway landmark.

The visual relationship of the museum, from a perspective that emphasizes the close connection between modern Egypt and what was lost in the Tallied. In front of the museum stands an obelisk symbolizing Majesty and power, belonging to King Ramses II from the city of San al-Hajar, east of the Delta, it was moved by lifting it on a base of four columns, engraved with the name of Egypt in all languages of the world, the base was designed to show at the bottom of the obelisk the cartouches of King Ramses II, becoming the first hanging obelisk in the world.

Various stone busts of gods and goddesses from ancient Egypt behind glass in a museum.

From the spacious obelisk Square, visitors enter the museum through a pyramidal gate to the main square, where the huge statue of Ramses II stands, which was initially transferred from MIT hostage in 1957 to the railway square” iron gate”, which has since been named Ramses Square. the huge statue rises in the museum’s spacious, high-rise interior courtyard with its pyramidal geometric shapes in which natural light manipulates with geometric designs through transparent alabaster stones and others in sloping ceilings that intersect with geometric formations triangular architectural blocks, suggesting pyramidal voids through which visitors move to a great staircase lined with statues of great Kings, while your steps lead you on 24-meter-high steps, through a distance of 64 meters, from the era of ancient Aquarius to the Greco-Roman era, through 72 statues, including the statue of Queen Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten.

King Senusret I, in his Osirian form, and the god Ptah, whom the ancient Egyptians believed to have created the world with a word, also overlooks us through the eternal past, while Amenhotep III appears to us with “RA Hor my sister” to remind us of the cosmic philosophy of which the Royal Institution was an integral part, and RA The Sun God of Heliopolis was united with Horus the God of the south when the two countries United. The visitor passes on the stairs ascending from the thresholds of history to the era when the Mediterranean world opened up to the ancient Egyptian civilization, which in the Roman era combined Osiris and APIs into a Greek god called” Serapis” to spread his worship in the third century BC. From the great staircase through the glass facade overlooking the pyramids, the visitor enters the twelve exhibition halls, which begin with prehistory and end with the Roman era.

Image of the Sphinx in Egypt projected over an obelisk at night.

The shows celebrate three main themes: the property system, society and beliefs in galleries with an area of up to 18 thousand square meters. It is used to display collections and artifacts of more than 54 thousand pieces from different eras, and from all over Egypt and its spots, which are full of time-preserved Antiquities, rare collectibles in a chronological sequence that allows the visitor to choose his path through the ages, exploring societal transformations in each era. In addition, the museum includes a display of two of Khufu’s boats, and galleries dedicated to the contents of Tutankhamun’s Tomb, displayed together for the first time since its discovery in 1922.

Poetry from Dessy Tsvetkova

Blonde middle aged woman, light skinned, with dark-colored eyes and small earrings and a black top, seated on a couch.

Radiant day

Smiling to the sun, morning has arrived.

A few little birds walk on the railing of my balcony.

My suitcase is ready, the door drives me,

I go out, my destination is the weekend, free as a falcon.

Smiling to the sun, I sit in the train.

Road is twisting spine all in front the eyes 

Lovely glamorous day, in the sky flock of cranes,

in my palms crumbs of bread, 

in my suitcase – a handful of rays. 

Poetry from Turkan Ergor

Young Eastern European woman with shoulder length straight blonde hair, a scarf, a green necklace and black top.

LESSON

Wherever I look

I’m take lesson from

Even from the tree

Even from the bird

I hear a sound

Firstly slower than

Then it gets faster

Thundering

It’s raining

People running away

Rain stopping

Rainbow coming out

And people

Being happy

From this life.

Türkan Ergör, Sociologist, Philosopher, Writer, Poet, Art Photography Model. Türkan Ergör was born in 19 March 1975 in city Çanakkale, Turkey. She was selected International “Best Poet 2020”. She was selected International “Best Poet, Author/Writer 2021”. She was selected International “Best Poet, Writer/Author 2022”. She was awarded the FIRST PRIZE FOR THE OUTSTANDING AUTHOR IN 2022. She was awarded the 2023 “Zheng Nian Cup” “National Literary First Prize” by Beijing Awareness Literature Museum. She was awarded the “Certificate of Honor and Appreciation” and “Crimean Badge” by İSMAİL GASPRİNSKİY SCIENCE AND ART ACADEMY. She was awarded the “14k Gold Pen Award” by ESCRITORES SIN FRONTERAS ORGANIZACIÓN INTERNACIONAL.

Poetry from Darren Demaree

Emily as Men of Science Waste Their Lives

No matter the reward

of knowing,

the incredible things

can only nurse us

when they’re in

our mouths.

I cannot chorus

with any other man.

I’m busy, with Emily.

Emily as a Suit of Gold

Whenever

I’m given

an opportunity

to wear Emily

I am to be

witnessed

& remembered

for the excess

of her love.

Emily as an Owl in the Morning

The light is staggering,

but she can still see me

even when I hide from her.

Poetry from Hassan Musa Dakasku

Soft whispers in the darkest night.

A mother’s love shines like a guiding light.

A woman of pure nature, full of love’s might.

Thinking, speaking, in affection’s delight.

Her heart is as deep as the heavens above.

Filled with feelings and love.

A labour of endless love.

Mother, a colorful phenomenon, magical and bright.

A faultless projection of paradise, a wondrous sight.

As the Quran says, “Show gratitude to Me and to your parents dear” (31:14).

And the Prophet’s words, “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother”.

So dear.

She offers glassfuls of love to all.

A nurturing spirit that stands tall.

With a heart full of affection, she guides us through life.

A mother’s love, a precious gift, a treasure so bright.

She’s a multi-dimensional mirror, reflecting divine beauty, rare.

A reliable blessing for humanity, beyond compare.

In her presence, hearts find peace and rest.

A mother’s love, forever etched in our breasts.

So let’s cherish and honour our mothers with glee.

For their love and care, are blessings to you and I.

Hassan Musa Dakasku, is a Nigerian writer, a passionate advocate for youth well-being and a performance poet, He is an author based on vulnerability and of a personal blog.