Issue 161 (Sep - Oct 2024)

The adage goes that the humankind can go up, even higher than angels, and they can go low, even lower than beasts. This is an extremely broad range, and we are created with the potential to “excel” in both directions. One can see the height of excellence the humankind can reach in beauty, art, and…

For years, we have ignored our true needs, chasing after some fantasies as if they were necessities of life. Sometimes unable to discern what our real needs were, and other times mistaking some of our luxuries for needs, we tied our lives entirely to such luxuries and lived in contradictions. What…

The emergency room shift that evening was quite calm. We were drinking coffee and chatting in the doctors’ room. Michael, a young doctor who had started in the department only two weeks ago, had already adapted to the new environment. He was asking me questions, as I was his senior shift partner. A…

Throughout the history of humanity, one of the things we have found difficult to comprehend and unravel is undoubtedly the concept of time. On one hand, it appears to flow inexorably and irreversibly, intertwined with everything, exhibiting a certain continuity that encompasses life itself, and con…

In a world where ideas hold the power to transform lives, Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo becomes the guiding light for those who aspire to captivate, inspire, and change the world through the art of public speaking. Imagine a stage where the most brilliant minds converge, where innovation, inspirat…

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, a twentieth-century scholar, emphasizes that God sent Prophets as guides and leaders to humanity for spiritual development, and that He gave some wonders to each of those Prophets for material progress. God assigned them like “foremen” and “masters” for people, and this is w…

Happiness is a primary goal for all of us – a goal to reach and maintain in our lives. For thousands of years, people have tried many ways to achieve this essential goal. One prominent approach to attain happiness is “gratitude.” In this article, we will cover this concept from various perspectives…

Literally meaning being transported from one place to another, journeying in the language of the Sufis is described as being freed from living a restricted life with carnal or bodily concerns and bounds and turning to God on the horizon of the heart. It can be viewed and dealt with within the conce…

As the sun rose over Agra, casting an orange hue on the horizon, I approached the Taj Mahal, one of the world's most breathtaking examples of Islamic art and architecture. Standing before the massive structure, I was awed by its intricate details and the spiritual aura it radiated. The Taj Mahal…

Amazon Fresh, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash, Instacart, self-checkouts and social media. In today’s world, living without an iota of real interaction with anyone else is becoming the norm. With new trends like remote work and ongoing fears about large gatherings still prevalent in many parts of the…

How many veils must be lifted till your glimpse is gifted How much pride must be sacrificed  till your grandeur is recognized How much tribulation must be undergone  till a purified self is born How many desires must be forsaken  till I let my soul awaken How much heartbreak must be felt  till I al…

Asceticism (zuhd), in essence, involves renouncing worldly pleasures and completely removing the desires for the material world from one’s heart. A person who practices asceticism is known as an ascetic (zahid). An ascetic defines their relationship with the world based on necessity and need. They…

Predicting major earthquakes months ago Girona et al. Abnormal low-magnitude seismicity preceding large-magnitude earthquakes. Nature Communications, August 2024. Recent study suggests that significant earthquakes could be predicted days or months in advance by detecting low-level tectonic activ…