Haidar's Corner

Many nights ago I died Death's stranglehold gripping me like a lion pinning its prey In that moment Life played back Like a tape With no rewind or pause Just vivid clarity Like day and night All my moments consecutively Accounted, successively From opening till end credits No time or space for edits It was the uncut display Undeniable Incontrovertible A t The End Expect no applause For each performer Is his own Director Haidarwali 201711300627hrs

Mentorship, according to Wikipedia "is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person (known as a mentor) helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person (known as a mentee/protégé). The mentor may be older or younger than the person being mentored, but he or she must have a certain area of expertise. It is a learning and development partnership between someone with vast experience and someone who wants to learn." . Today more than ever, there is an urgent need for mentoring due to the variety of issues that people have to deal with. Yet unfortunately, there is a clear lack of mentoring opportunities both for the mentors and the mentees and as a result of this, the society as a whole loses. . The reasons for these challenges can be divided into two: Mentors' challenge and Mentees' challenge. . On the side of the Mentors, there is an ever increasing pressure to balance the numerous career, family and individual goals in a w...

Everyday, we think about the future in different ways ranging from a couple of minutes, hours, days, months, years or even our whole lifetimes. . But rarely do we see such chronological periods as building stones to the future reality we seek. For in each moment, an individual is charting the course for their future, while at the same time writing their history. . Therefore careful introspection is needed for a person to 'visualize' how their actions today will shape the realities of tomorrow and this is quite profound in more ways than can be imagined. . It is a fact that the single most important factor responsible for success in any human endeavour is 'practice'. The amount of time devoted to repetion of any sequence of activity is what makes a person a 'master', 'professional', 'expert', and any other tag we wish to use. This means that from the onset a 'visionary' ensures they make 'practice' a habit in an attempt to pr...

the vastness of the unknown . have you ever stared into the heavens high up above the vastness incomparable except perhaps to define the word yet even so we cannot see the fullness for want of a wider horizon whose stretch seems to bend at corner of eyes' vision . sometimes it feels as if the skies are layers that need to be peeled like that speck, unknown atop tiny bulb wrapped away under multitude of leafy covers that is an onion, lodged in a sack loaded one upon another buried within a truck headed for the city! . Haidarwali 201711121142hrs

You look at me as if I am ghost, yet ghosts do not have feelings for there is no body to store. I am real dust-covered flesh and bone with a wheelbarrow of pain and joy,  sorrow and hope, trying to get home. . I used to have a life before I became this...this remnant of an existence whose memory is fading as fast as a cloud of smoke fleeing a windstorm. Only a few precious moments remain as mementos of fate's decree. . You should know that I have recorded a thousand steps, to move towards my destiny, but each one only takes me back,  across deserted fields, into thick, dark forests and over the expanse of the lonely seas. . I have only arrived back, at the very end of the earth, where the sun does not shine during the day and the moon and stars hide at night with only my heart as proof that I am alive. . Haidarwali 201711121019hrs

If 'footprints' could last Like a metal cast I'd have put in firm place Yet neither sign nor trace Have I stumbled on This long winding 'path' If 'voices' could linger Like an echo of a ringer I'd have followed their sweet rhythm Yet neither rhythm nor rhyme Have my attentive ears heard Over blare of this 'song' If images could be clear Like the feel of monstrous fear I'd have 'seen' the big picture Yet neither order nor clarity Have I set eyes upon From this high 'balcony' If thoughts could materialise Like a blink of my eyes I would have fluttered aplenty Yet hardly any speck  Have I been able to grasp from this blinding 'smoke' In the end I remain a Searcher... Haidar Wali 201110312110

Despair is in the air Yet without, would we aspire? Is true love possible  When definition is impossible? Still, love's prospect is dear For fear life would be bare Baskets can hold rocks, not water As they will forever drain the latter So hold not mistakes' pain Hopelessness blows like desert grain Words can wipe the shame of blame From bleak future to glowing inner Renewed hope, is no more utopia Bury not, feelings' scars  Let spoken words soothe away Healing with each passing day Desperation's darkness erased With Aspiration's shining light Like night disappears When Dawn reappears. Haidarwali 201711060805hrs

How do we return to eternity... When it's shattered beyond repair? How can these hearts be happy... When we've chosen despair? How is it we hold onto vanity... When even on ourselves it's not fair? These pieces of fragments I hold... Are evidence of a love of old. Though withered & frail It might've been; I reminisce the times we have seen. So do not think all is in vain; Glass shattered in a window pane... Lo! Behold our love is rather like clay; The fragments mendable anyday. When do we start our journey... Everlasting beyond compare? When shall we bury the worry; Of imperfection that we share? Well, in eternity there's no hurry; Only unity, in a pair... Haidar Wali 201109291143hrs

Prose they say is like a lighthouse stationary Boring dull, yet vitally A lifesaver when darkness visits occasionally . Poetry then is like a ship docked regally Yet sails billow and pant eagerly Yearning adventure's allure earnestly . Yet whichever one picks Ensure that checklist ticks Words and meanings in right mix. . Haidarwali 201610310940hrs

There in your palms Look hard See the lines Crisscrossing Each one etched Like moments Nothing remains Within grasp Emptied hands Lie(s) scattered Though you dust You shall follow As shall I We all are earth's inheritance. . Haidarwali 201610302350hrs

It is for sure that time of year Dusty blanket over skyline; unclear Leaves fall and greens begin a-fading Sun dimming fullness of its glaring. Icey fingers of gripping cold Slip through shuttered windows Stealing warmth like wily thief Under cover of darkness. Abandoned wears Fluffy socks, scarves and mittens Only then remembered A friendship; soon rekindled. Logs and bonfires begin to crackle Host, to shuddering huddle of bodies Heating soon becomes Treasured necessity. Streets and walkways deserted As soon as dusk arrives For all the men have gone home To the waiting arms of their wives! As I drop words in a juggle I myself am snuggled Upon cosy bed, in blanket All comfy; fully wrapped. So Welcome to Harmattan Which some enjoy like diehard fan While some dread for many a reason This most cold and freezing season! Haidarwali 201710250752hrs

That's all I have Left All else is like smoke Ephemeral Spider's web is no abode Says The Almighty! Tears rush down Like torrents Washing away the rubble Remnants of a structure That stood like Gibraltar But even Rome fell Like Goliath So in the end My solace Only words will remain After the lights go out. . Haidarwali 201610222213hrs

You see co-travellers do not joke with travel plans pack your things early, on time do not wait for last minute rush utilize, free cargo forward as much check-in extras and travel light when at station awaiting departure confirm you have yourr ticket handy and boarding pass it won't be long any moment the call can come and do remember arrivals with exits happen at once as you are leaving others are coming for no one stays in this busy hive all, are but passersby footprints left like on running river or etched upon the sahara sea or even better the snowcapped poles for we are nothing but: Travellers. . Haidarwali 201710190834hrs

Before I go I want to beat Everest But if I can't I'll surely plant a fruitful tree Before I go I want to travel the whole world But if I can't I'll surely read all the books I can Before I go I want to be wealthy and rich But if I can't I'll surely teach what I have learnt Before I go I want to save humanity But if I can't I'll surely save this one soul Before I go I want to fall deeply in love But If I can't I'll surely still luv you all! Haidarwali 201710152201hrs

Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh . I want to start by thanking the organizers for the opportunity to share a few words with this great gathering. My name is Aliyu Wali. I am here to give a very short talk titled The Power Of Reading. At first when I was contacted by the organisers to deliver this talk, I did not know what I was going to say. . This is because the theme is on "reviving reading culture" which is a general problem today all over the world, that different communities are trying to address with the help of experts. . So since I have confessed that I am not an expert, 😀😀😀 it will be easier for me to talk on the topic freely, and give you my personal thoughts, without sounding like I am not making sense. . Let me start by asking questions: Why read? Why do we read? How can reading help us become better people? . Personally, I started reading at a very early age and the more I read, the more I wanted to read. Th...

Do you know the color of my heart It's blue Like the sky It sings Like a nightingale At dead of night It's taste Chocolate and honey Do you know the color of my mind It's mosaic Like a rainbow It meanders Like a river Seeking its source Its taste Pizza and salad So enjoy! Haidarwali 201710131856hrs

I looked out the window All I saw was chaos. So I went back Closing myself in Insulated, I thought I was Now chaos, Is at my door Banging its fists Furious Like raging fire Do I open Or not. Haidarwali 201710131233hrs

Don't tell me the Sun has yet to rise Or the Moon has lost its light The long Night is for preparation Darkness blots out distraction(s) For contrast is what gives us sight. Hope is a bird fluttering its wings Attempting to take flight It reminds me of butterflies With dotted and striped wings Afore they were but dull and motionless Wrapped in silkiness Before emerging in all their awesomeness You too are cocoon(ed) Awaiting your transformation. Haidarwali 201710080727hrs

There are so many things that are not going well and for each one there are solutions that only need someone to take the initiative and start at the very least. Changing things doesn't need one to have all the answers figured out or to have all the resources needed to effect change, but rather the will to take the very first step and proactively seek to initiate the change and slowly and surely it will happen. That is why I always like to think of what can be done about what we are complaining about instead of wasting too much time on whining about how things have gone wrong. For in reality,  we are all capable of igniting the change we so desire! Haidarwali 201710080641hrs

When sound of footfall disappears When light becomes invisible Neither flesh nor blood will remain But Wind will still whisper Earth's breathing will continue Moon will pay its visits And I will remember Once upon a time Etched on mind's canvas A thousand shatterings Only recreates Mosaics captivating Of unique blends and hues For even after curtain is drawn There is unending din Of applause. Haidarwali 201610071546hrs

mabubbugar yanayi da zuciya take ciki su ke furta yarda muke ji a yayin da kalmomi suka kasa bayani wasu masu dumi da zaqi wasu gishiri-gishiri masu sanyaya ruhi da masu zuba kamar an saki da masu diga a hankali walau ya zam na dadi ko kuwo na juyayi suna sace duk kalmomi don sukan sami asali daga zurfin zuci baiwa daga Mabuwayi ya bawa dan Adam shi zuciya ta fito fili ta bayyana yarda take ji Iko sai Allahu Rabbi! Haidarwali 201710052313hrs

they are outlet that speak our feelings those beyond words some warm and sweet others salty and cool dripping or running of grief or joy so deep they kidnap speech Humanity's endow meant as relieving flow Haidarwali 201710052228hrs

I tread on paths a thousand soul's soles etched on earth like engravings one upon the other overlapping contours artistry's legacy bequeathed reverberating across eons like deafening silence announcing arrival echoes of existence like relay everything races to final source. . Haidarwali 201710040628hrs

I like silence's beauty made alluring by stillness quietude's solace in solitude serenading in serenity calm except: for occasional ripples cascading slowly like tree rings stored stories and written records preserved for posterity deep waters in tranquil rest till awakened by a ripple Haidarwali 201710021132hrs

I searched For meaning Without Yet looking within What is lost Will be found Clarity creeps Like smoke With age I am learning To let go To be free Of everything Only nothing Endures Leaves fall Skins peel Waters dry Rocks erode Air dissappears Like fading memories Leave Marks no deeper Than a lifetime Brief Like a breath Each moment Counting down To eternity Haidarwali 201709271518hrs

In my previous write-up  on the subject matter I listed out the functions of a manager as an analogy to the father's role. Here, I expand on them: Planning: Generally this is one of the hardest things to actually do because most times we feel it is somewhat futile since the ideal is hardly the same as reality. However, planning is fundamental to success and thus as a father you must plan consciously. If you want a good home you must make the effort to document where you are as a family and where you want to go (the vision).  Your plan will answer questions like how big a family do you want have; what are the values you want your family to be identified with;  etc. Personally I like to document in writing so that I have a 'working document' which enables me to measure how far I am going and make corrections in case I am starting to derail.  . Organizing: Here is where you actually start implementing the plan. As a father it is your responsibility to consc...

I. Me. . Two words that exemplify Man's vanity which knows no bound even as his origin is clearly humble. A drop of nothingness that becomes a fragile living being who soon after dying, rots away into stinking matter. . Birthed with no possessions and likewise departing empty-handed despite his futile grasps aimed at possessing all he can lay his hands upon. . His life is characterised by utter toil, mostly useless; whether in affluence or wretchedness it has no bearing, since the calls of nature he must obey unfailingly. And amidst all his struggles, Death rubbishes all earthly plans to dusty ash to be blown away like a spider's web meeting a hailstorm. . I am no one, and I am nothing. . Haidarwali 201708300033hrs

flowers bloom colors compete in vivid display ... and green emerges victorious amid the burst comes life and paradise is born and nothing completes the scene like fluttering fluff of feathers singing sweet songs and bees buzzing busily between blooming beauties fragrant fulfilling scents while swish-swashing streams of water gurgle, gush and glide racing running rivulets fully flowing forth for everything wears a smile upon return of spring . Haidarwali 201608140934

I love Nature's inimitable voice and the accompanying and sights which go to the very depths of the heart to give pleasant serenity. . Is it the soft rustling of branches and leaves caused by the rousing wind or the crack of thunder that follows the zigzag of lightening's strike across the skyline. . Perhaps its the gurgling flow of a stream steadily trickling, heading to meet with the gushing waters of the ravine whose deafening force blasts unceasingly. . Another might be the mixtape of sounds of living things inhabiting any particular ecosystem to give it its uniqueness. From Asia's forests to the Congo basin on to the Great Amazon - though all dwarfed by the Taiga biome stretching from Russia to North America. You will hear sounds such as croaking of frogs, gyration of crickets and other insects, cooing and cries of different birds, growling of cats mighty and small, hissing snakes and other slitherers, thuds of the hoofed ones and not to forget the laughter and ...

"What is it that makes all of us end each day with the sense that we have not lived our time, but have been lived, used by what we do? Why has time disappeared in our culture? How is it that after decades of inventions and new technologies devoted to saving time and labor, the result is that there is no time left? We are a time-poor society; we are temporally impoverished. And there is no issue, no aspect of human life, that exceeds this in importance. The destruction of time is literally the destruction of life." -- Jacob Needleman

It's one of those times when things just slow down to a dull lull. Nothing excites or draws interest and you find you are just irritable. Usually there's a host of antidotes that come to mind and one is tempted to act as if these measures will be efficacious in solving your problem. Yet sometimes the only real solution might actually be to allow the mood play out. Emotions are supposed to be expressed and so if one attempts to suppress them by 'self-deception' it might temporarily solve the problem only to resurface in a more benign form. Thus like a burst dam allow it to just flow out. Connect with the feeling and discover its roots so that you can grow in self-awareness. Once you understand the cause it will be easier to channel your energies appropriately. Haidarwali 201707292142hrs

Always make sure you have a positive impact on those who cross your path and try to leave them as better individuals when you part. Acrimony is a waste of time and an emotional burden not worth keeping a space for. Better things await our attention. Every preoccupation is renting a space in your mind and using up the already insufficient time you are trying to manage so choose what you spend your time on and what you think about, for you become what you think!  In the end, all we really want is the calmness and serenity of being self-aware and at peace with oneself. Barka da Jumma'ah! Haidarwali 201707280815hrs

I love pictorials - whether painted or snapped probably because I'm a visual. I am fascinated by artworks which seem to take you into another world when you stare at them. I like scenic depictions for their ability to freeze time and I often find myself sucked into scenes and imagine how it would feel being there in real. And I also like abstracts because they make your brain to go to work trying to decipher what it is that is in the image. All in all pictures are a delight for the eyes to behold, bringing to life images in the mind's eye, feeding and nourishing the sense of sight!   May our sights be blessed, always! Haidarwali 201707271754hrs

Whenever I travel, I get a rare chance to reconnect with my true self through engaging in meditation and introspection which is enjoyable - especially when you're not the one driving! There's something about seeing the landscape laid out with varying vegetations, farmlands and settlements each seemingly undisturbed, insulated within their individual bubbles as if existing in a separate dimension. Ah! then my favourites the clouds up above forming and unforming; dissipating like the millions of thoughts flashing in the human mind. I will always treasure such moments of renewal and regeneration even as these days journeys are done with trepidation of accidents, robberies and kidnappings. May we all be protected. Haidarwali 201707242037hrs

Writing is such a wonderful medium for expression. It is such an effective tool for unburdening. A white blank sheet awaits you to pour forth all those nagging persistent thoughts where each word eagerly stumbles out to find its space upon the virgin arena. Though I am not yet a writer, I aspire to be one and because of this, I love to write. I know - and yes, it is not all who write  that are writers. Anyway, I cannot fully express how grateful I am discovering the awesome blessing of writing and to be so attuned at being its permanent disciple. In writing, I find my voice; loud and clear, unreserved unshackled. For me there's no shyness; no stage-fright or missteps. Just a flow of my thoughts being crisply expressed. I thus write with much enthusiasm and joy whether it be prose or poetry; ultimately basking in freedom's glow! Haidarwali 201707230210hrs

When does life happen? in moments like this untreasured while walking away closing doors handing over cycle to circle drawn in sand erasing memories plucking hairs off the balding waiting for yesterday to catch tomorrow maybe now, maybe later it is happening it has happened which makes me ask When did life happen? Haidarwali 201607221656hrs

I was cocoon until emerging I found the world had grown younger . though sojourn brief upon transforming butterflies fail not to share beauty and so I sit amongst birds to learn; to fly to perch and catch a stream of golden sunlight . quest for knowledge and wisdom never ends and has no deadline neither for teacher not to talk of... the one to be taught. . Haidarwali 201805021936hrs

never knew this abyss was bottomless endlessness is excruciatingly horrendous pitch dark like black ignorance frustrated tears squirm and wriggle to think that absence was cure when it only sharpens contorted heart shrinks daily yet a return is impossible for Death is no Joker but plays for keeps. Haidarwali 201607190156hrs

I have a computer. . ... I install a software but leave out information about me. . I ask: how can that computer know what I am? . Now I bring in a connection that can be used to search for the meaning of me...and before long it starts appreciating several things about me. . Now even from that connection, it can only know what has been uploaded to it. There are things about me that can never be appreciated from browsing about me. This can only be appreciated if I am met in person. . This for me is the analogy about God. We do not have the capacity to perceive more than what God has given us. Whatever knowledge we seek about God can never be fully gotten because we can never operate at that level. Our operating system/processing capacity is limited because we operate at a lower dimension. . Consider this also: . You cannot expect a computer made in 1970 to play/process a media of 2000 except if either of two things happen: . 1. The media is converted back to the format...

Better you do all Before you grow up When you grow up, Shell would have become a tortoise's; Wings withered; Being's spirit burnt; You would never be able to fly; For sky would be darkened; Dreams erased; Stars out of sight and reach; Ink dried; Hope stolen; Shattered moon with no Sun to reflect from; Voice gone with lost peace; And soul in last throes, So... Do not wait to grow up, For the time to act is now! . Haidarwali 201707172028hrs

She is speechless, For same was professed By previous lovers Each time they raised From the depths Only to plunge back Into suffocating abyss . She is weary and weak She cannot, will not... Move out of this place Cage they call it? Tis better to be imprisoned Than let loose: a prey . It is sad to think That her days will waste away Like smoke into the air With none to share The precious heart worn  . So much love to give So much laughs So much emotions So much  . It pains It tears It hurts . But it seems better Like this . Alone . Haidarwali 201511251940hrs

As the sun sets, where do fins lie in the subterranean world? Does the setting sun herald a dawn to which creatures come out to play? Which light glows to show the way as clear as scent on a trail? I wonder of such and much more... Haidarwali 201402171228hrs

They say nothing lasts forever Yet this night is eternal The wait for dawn's piercing is brutal As if I were married to Never . Maje Amin 201607161633hrs

. As humans we interact with our environment based on emotions which are felt and seek to be expressed. One of the ways of doing this is thru writing. Writers find an outlet in writing and perhaps like no other medium, it is one that let's them pour it out. . The challenge is always finding the right words for expression. They seek a match between what is felt and what is to be said (written). So heart and mind must align before creating this art of the word written. Like the painter arranges a palette 🎨 of colors beside a blank canvas, likewise do writers have at hand array of words awaiting to be selected and arranged. Like musical 🎶 composers combine notes to get a 'piece', so also writers employ an amazing dexterity in writing. Whether in poetry or prose, fiction or not, good writing has symphony and flow. You know you are being taken on a journey and you are actually going to enjoy it! 😊 Haidarwali 201707161229hrs

I watched with teary eyes as my beloved's shadow merged into the horizon, the object of my heart's attention melted like winter's last snow. What an ironic twist! Undeterred by the spasms of Winter's last stand, light's rays started streaming in causing Night to quickly retreat. Dawn had kept his end of the deal with Day - in defiance to Dusk's double-facedness. The Sun's appearance helped provide a sturdiness not unlike the grounding provided by a long walk that fills the nostrils with brown colored earthiness and greenery's melodic symphony delighted the ears interspersed with colorful birds' singing and tapdance. Occasional fluffy white clouds hovered above like floating feathers painting the bright blue board that was the sky. The canvas complete was a blissful sight to behold. Yet still something was amiss. My hand hanging by my side was empty, bereft of the warmth of companionship. So I sat on a stranded bench, worn old from the uncountable...

waters lapped, unevenly caressing the bank portent and foreboding as if in fear soon torrents appear ripples growing into waves one upon another; battering rainbow became dull mosaic all seemed lost in the flooding angry vortices sprouting doors to the unknown flailing like long grass against gusts winding and then in a blink all slowed to 'a-resting' stop shrieks and howling died And Calm inherited all. Haidarwali 201707151058hrs

Do not tell me of wealth, for I have been stranded in the middle of a desert Do not tell me of squalor, for I have met Affluence Do not tell me of sorrow, for I have seen a family reunited after war Do not tell me of joy, for I have seen genocide leave an old man barren Do not tell me of hopelessness, for I have seen the end of slavery and apartheid Do not tell me of enthusiasm, for I have seen a blind crippled dwarf Do not tell me of sweetness, for I have tasted defeat's bitterness Do not tell me of disgusting, for I have drunk pure crystal clear water Do not tell me of loneliness, for I have swam in ardor's depths Do not tell me of love, for I am yet to find its cure. Haidarwali 201707130042hrs

Slumber is no one's mate, So far you breath, it will conquer Futile is the attempt to resist It will snatch or sneak and persist Till you give up and succumb Leaving you drooling, dumb Agape, a-snore Oblivious to screeching shout or rumbling roar Rendered lifeless by Death's sibling Till set free from this arrest Sleep conquers all except The One Who needs no rest For sleep actually serves at His Behest. Haidarwali 201707122241hrs

Today is another piece of the jigsaw as you continue building your tomorrow. You have everything you need because you have hope; you have dreams. Life will always have hiccups but the good times are what endure. Regardless of what has passed or what may come , we have this moment even if briefly to smile, to share. So take my hand, as I lead you into this garden to smell the roses and see the greens shining and the sparkling sky blue above. Water gurgling, gushing, crystal clear like glass, melodious flow interspersed with cooing and twittering birds. Remember, you don't need to solve everything right now. Just let go of those worries and enjoy what you have now. Do those routine things you do everyday with relish. Taste each morsel in your mouth like your first and rediscover the meaning of delicious; appreciate those little things that don't seem significant. Find something to do and avoid worrying because as I tell anyone who cares to listen, things will always sort them...

A time upon us already When 'Muslim' will be sought In history books When semblance will assume The invisible cloak King who wears no clothes Islam, no longer skin Is rather worn As occasion's attire The Turban today Tomorrow turns Tuxedo Some, all is bared For 'Salam' is, Oxymoronic With Death throwing parties When intellect cowers Sheeple ascend to 'self-heard' Pockets of division, 70plus It is as He said Prophetic proof proffered Please ponder People Make haste to stop Waste of all gifts Placed in thy care With Time the grand prize Priceless is each moment Taken away It is almost midnight When Gong will sound The start of The Inheritance I have nothing more To give or lend For journey's end draws nigh. Haidarwali 201607050735hrs

the brushstrokes begin with fast-forming Nimbostratus then, that wondrous flow of showers continuous, unceasing: marka-marka in Hausa downpours, drizzles and droplets aroma of rain-scented earth melodious whirring and purring of raindrops rushing past racing to reach home cool freshness of air blowing grey skies draped with a cloak of smokiness greens wet, with gleaming brilliant glows thru window, this canvas I view awestruck by Nature's artful display. Haidarwali 201707090857hrs

We cannot all be onstage some must stay behind the scenes drummer is often faceless while dancers flaunt their looks melody is best heard not seen while speech seeks profile to match soil and rain host seeds even while air of life is invisible we must not be all onstage for who would release curtains upon end of life's acts and scenes? Haidarwali 201707080618hrs

the cruelty of reality hits like a crushing death-blow its intensity dulled by hope's presence pain would have been sweet if not for stolen emotions all I can do is shed tears of ash to be swept like autumn's leaves trampled like gravel of path oft-traveled strewn with uncountable memories entrusted upon by passers-by believing their secrets lie buried, layers upon layers unpealable, lost for beyond reach is loss irreparable. Haidarwali 201707072320hrs

So I sighed. Deep inside I had these thoughts all lined up waiting to be attended to. I knew I had to see to them but it was easier to forget about them and act as if they didn't exist. That sweet delusion that sucks you to worry-free-land was hard to avoid. That's how my addiction to procrastination started.

the Night calls this traveler for a tètè-a-tètè even vigilant Moon is not privy to this clandestine plot, hatches, then thickens cocky, sinister, silent mirth filters through like waft of aroma snakes the air nostril-bound - the eyes see nought for sight in the darkness, is of the mind finally a breakthrough as daybreak draws near and with no ado my guest hurriedly departs before the Sun unveils itself. Haidarwali 201706270059hrs

like ants upon finding a trove flurry of excitement flows but now I heave this burden wearily drooped shoulders atop aching bones dried skin wraps spent flesh delayed fate won't be denied its recompense like bubbles blown; brimming to burst the world's just a droplet in the Universe! Haidarwali 201706250226hrs

I finished reading In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Mayinka and my was it a read! In a very long while I've not been sucked into a story like this one. Emotionally, it was superb in evoking feelings, the characters were excellent and the plot was so real that I kept reminding myself it's actually fiction evwn as I wondered whether it happened in real life. Set across the decades from Nigeria's independence to the 2000s it takes one on a journey of a young man's sojourn abroad, finding love, return to Nigeria, his losses, twists of fate, dreams of better future and the several tragedies in his life all interspersed within the fabric of Nigeria's turbulent history since independence with a theme rich in culture and art. I will definitely be looking for another of the author’s publications: Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun. Haidarwali 20170510

So this long weekend-break (Democracy Day) I treated myself to the pleasures of  my favorite genre: Crime mystery. 'Six Problems for Don Isidro Parodi' by Jorge Luis Borges (translated by Norman Thomas Di Giovanni) was delightful even though I suffered to adapt to its winding style, plus, strange combination of wordings sprinkled all over ranging from Latin, French, Spanish and some 'stubborn' English. Yet, despite being prose, I found the writing so 'poetic' (which totally made up for the previous 'suffering') especially the author’s excellent use of descriptive language. Set in Argentina,  it tells of the tales of a former detective - Don Isidro - wrongfully jailed who is consulted to solve the six cases from within the confines of his cell. And to make it even better, embedded within each story are carefully concealed 'satires', 'caricatures' and other nuggets ingeniously woven into the characters and plots. For this reason, I intend...

Paradigm shift, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: "... an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way." . Change is usually a slow process due to vested interest(s) that resist any attempt to break the status quo because those who determine the meaning of our collective reality fear to lose their legitimacy - which was never built on merit. Thus, so long as narratives remain the same and are skewed in favor of perpetuating the current state of affairs, so long will things remain the same. . To succeed in displacing bondage with freedom,  there must be a new way of thinking that empowers the voiceless to speak - for silence in bondage is one of the most hopeless fates that a human being can be resigned to. . But the oppressors know this and thus they use all manner of subterfuge to keep the shackles in place. That is why education is made a luxury and the path to its attainment is ...

It's the norm for His Highness' words to be twisted to suit his traducers' malcontent and malice. Just like the Sun does not refuse to shine because a dark cloud covers it, so also does Amir Muhammad Sanusi II not mind a hoot about the misguided and incoherent cacaphony of voices that are unknowingly trying to arrest their own shadows in futility. He needs neither their fruitless acquiescence or approbation nor does he fear any person's criticism of what he puts forth to do for he is forever in the care and trust of His Creator and seeks only the Almighty 's Guidance at all times. The cement of time will long be dried by the time they awake and find that He - the Heir of 'Tagwayen Masu' - has since left a trail of dust for them to grasp at while he continues his march into the waiting hands of hope's victory and destiny's promise. We can only pray that they are cured of their affliction. Long Live the Amir of Kano! Maje Amin 201702210027hrs

As proposals are being formalized by the Kano Emirate Council to address the problems that bedevil the marriage institution let there also be commensurate effort in tackling the issue of payment of Zakkat which is a Pillar of Islam and one of the key fundamental activities upon which societal stability within Muslim communities is supposed to be built upon. Many problems that we Muslims experience are due to the inequities that are being perpetuated by non-adherence to the Zakat institution. The rich need to start supporting the less-privledged to become independent through establishment of revolving-funds. They prefer to give insignificant amounts as 'free money' rather than setting up establishments and foundations that can sponsor education, provide jobs and create sustainability throughout the community. To address the incessant crises and challenges, our leaders must enforce Zakkat with equal effort as is applied to the Marriage law. As the Hausa say: Bikin Magaji, baya...

Knowledge is one of the most humbling phenomena in life. The more you go deeper they say, the more you realise its endless vastness and wonderous infinity! You realise how insignificantly naive you are to claim to be anything more than a lifelong novice who hopes that by the time he is leaving this world he would have luckily learnt the first letter of the alphabet of Knowledge! O Allah grant us beneficial Knowledge! Haidarwali 201703030458hrs

After the storm silence descends Its echo screaming and vividness blinding I wish there were more words They seem all swept away Is it all said and done Dusted and now mum; lips unmoving The unsaid weighs down like kilo-tons Release this bird we've chained Let escape the flutters Stop this chasm widening Sinking us to oblivion emotions overwhelm to that point we involuntarily break like the outpouring tears like the quickened heartbeat and the sigh let out to restore equilibrium and allow us move on. Haidarwali 201703031907hrs

I was alone, before you came along and now nothing is the same with the tick of the clock pounding in my ear deafeningly. I reach out my hand and grasp at air, even as invisible dust is blown away like the mirage on the road to the Promised Land. Hope. It barely keeps awake and like the gears on a pulley meshes to continue the rolling rhythm of routine. All semblance of color and melody are absent except for the memories that rekindle the heart's eagerness to return home. Haidarwali 201703061447hrs

The scribe's ink wets the slate as 'alkalami' pens the hallowed script. 'Littafai' layed neatly in the 'lounge', enough proof that learning is the preoccupation of this learned literate. 'Alif, Lam and Meem' have left there mark on many a sitting and the container of 'tawada' would not mind a refill. 'Buzun Malam' upon which the limbs repose holds many a memory of 'taqara' sessions. How many a 'dalibai' and have passed through the hands of my Honored Mallam? I wish I were there to 'gyara alkyabar Mallam! We pray to Allah to continue blessing the souls of our 'Mallamai!' Haidarwali 201703211210hrs KEY: 'alkalami': pen 'Littafai': Books 'Alif Lam and Meem': Three prominent consonants of the Arabic language somewhat equivalent to the letters A, L, M. They prominently feature at the start of several Chapters of the Holy Quran. 'tawada': ink 'Buzun Mallam': Th...

Yawwan qorafi akan rashin daidaituwar al'umma abu ne da ya yawwaita a kafafen yadda labarai da sashe-sashe na zantawa tsakanin jamma'a. Yawwan korafe-korafen ba shi ne abun ji ba. Hasali dai rashin samun mafita! Idan ka samu majalisu da aka hadu - ko a gidajenmu ko a waje - zaka tarar yawanci kuka kawai akeyi kuma karshe a bige da turawa 'gwamnati' ko 'shugabanni' laifi. Toh anan sai ka rasa wai su wadannan din da aka qaqabawa laifi su waye su! Ina ce ni da kai da ke da shi da ita ne? Shi gwamnati dai mutane ne ke hada shi sai ya zamto an rarraba muqamai. Hakanan shugabanci kuma abu ne da komai qanqantar wuri ake samu don haka yasa kaama daga iyali wanda za'a iya cewa shi ne tushen al'umma har zuwa kololuwa Shugabancin Qasa aka tanadar da tsari na shugabanci. To meyasa nayi wannan dogon bayani? Ba wani abu ba ne illa tabbatar da cewa gyaran da muke son gani a rayuwar mu dole mu ne zamu tabbatar dashi ba wai wani chan zamu jira ya zo ya kawo mafita ba...

Duk al'ummar da take son cigaba, dole ta fuskanci matsalolin da suke addabar ta kai tsaye ta hanyar zama 'tsintsiya madaurinki daya'! Cigaban al'umma yana samuwa ne a yayin da bangarori na al'ummar suka haddu wajen nemar ma kansu mafita. Dan haka dole mutane su hada kansu don a 'kai ga gachi'! Duk da taimakon 'kai-da-kai' yana da matukar wahala, dole haka za'a daure tunda 'sai an gwada, akan san na kwarai'! Wuyar ta dai a fara. TRANSLATION: It is universally acknowledged that society can only make progress when the constituent parts come together for common purpose. Today more than ever, communities must revive the 'spirit' of cooperation to tackle the challenges that face them. We cannot continue to complain and rue how things are falling apart while refusing to try to cooperate. As the well known example of broomstick being more effective when tied together, so also are people better able to tackle issues when they cooperat...

But I thought 'He', was fiery warrior Cowering at nothing; Avoiding show of 'weakness' 'Achilles' likely to render 'Him', putty in the hands of another... See! your talk of emotions is 'unmanly'! It goes against 'laws' of male propriety. Do you not see As Man enters 'His' house Having stayed away For the better part of every day He gruffly clears His throat Announcing His Lordly entrance Dressing His face with mask of sternness Belying what is beneath. He 'chews stones' So that 'masses' will not 'disrespect' Since 'respect' is reciprocal He gives sternness in equal measure. Thus we shall not allow 'Dilution' of manly purity With enticing allure of emotional display! We remain 'unemotional'! Haidarwali 201703231320hrs

Komai wataran wucewa zaiyi Babu abu madawwami Ko wahala ko jin dadi! Don haka dauki rayuwa da sauki Ka huta ma kanka tararradi Dama duniya shi Zuwa mukai zaman wucin gadi Chan 'Gidan' mukewa tanadi Muna ta kokarin yin guzuri Kafin lokaci yayi mu tattara mu tafi Ba wai neman 'duniya bai da amfani Bal, kar dai ya dauke mana hankali Mu zam tamkar 'bayi' a wurinshi Son zuciyarmu ya zam linzami Ya batar da mu a dokar daji Mas'tada'a shine saiti Dace shine a sami wadatar zuci Ba yabo, ba fallasar asiri Wannan shi zai kaimu ga gachi Allah Ya tabbatar mana da alkhairi! Haidarwali 201703241514hrs

Writing attempts to give permanence to humanity it seeks to hide our fragility, behind cloak of continuity, handing down our essences for perpetuity when pen touches paper it is like a reunion flow of thoughts is etched onto parched surface awaiting to be fed like dried earth eagerly expects the rains. . Haidarwali 201703300949hrs

I saw a meadow far off in the horizon lying in waiting fit for grazing; strolling; a sea of lush green beautifully contrasting the bluish sky with waves undulating grass on the field flailing clouds up above drifting both sleepy like a floating leaf swirling in the air free. Haidarwali 201703311935hrs

The ephemeral nature of life escapes us when we are busy living, but death periodically jolts us back to reality and everything loses its lustre. It is at such times we see that it is the seemingly small trivial things that are more important. Like the smiles, the hugs and the gestures of genuine care. Haidarwali Even though others may help us or obstruct us on the path to self-esteem, especially when we are young, no one can literally  give  us self-esteem. It must be generated from within. Haidarwali

Sneak peak: "The operatives of 'Operation Blitzkrieg' stealthily made their way into the left wing of the sprawling estate. Timing as well as precision were key in order to ensure that the conspirators do not slip through their hands once more. Having tracked the money across 3 continents, with 5 topclass secret agents of the Coalition either missing or assumed dead, what was at stake was far more than some paltry stash of a couple of a hundred of million dollars. Within this posh grounds lay the fate of not only the free world but the whole of humanity! A fresh bead of sweat broke across Ethan's face and as if reading his mind, Jack glanced at his two partners knowing that the same thought was what was in his comrades' minds. With this silent communication, Bond motioned for them to duck and remain low just as two sentries rounded the corner of the nearest building with each fondling an Uzi. Stay tuned... Coming soon to your screen. Haidarwali 20170415938hrs...

One day as I sat daydreaming, I saw myself as an ostrich. Not that one that buries its head in the sand thinking it has hidden its whole body, no! Mine was the newsmedia type that poaches other Ostriches' 'breaking' eggs. I had this long slender neck and as I strolled in the compound, I peaked into my neighbour's backyard. There and then I sighted him digging and as I looked closer and craned my neck, I realised I had caught him burying a dead corpse. And then, just like that I suddenly remembered the rotting corpse in my sitting room and I quickly forgot about my neighbour's and turned to hurriedly go back into my house. As I strode into the house (still as an ostrich), it was then I awoke from my reverie and the first thing I realised was the 'stench' in the room. Such a strange, strange incident... Haidarwali 201704150122hrs

Not everything is what it seems at times reality forcefully blinds and binds array of colors blend black becomes whiter I see façade of mirth blotting Pain's anguish appearances are kept like debtor’s collateral default is unacceptable else the Shylock comes calling amidst the chaos is needle in proverbial haystack and though I gag and mumble pindrop silence pervades the sage’s treadmill. Haidarwali 201704131543hrs

Smiles you see today Voices that echo and reverberate in the moment Will all dissipate Like smoke after a breeze's stampede You will cease. Haidarwali 201704071630hrs

I only show what I want others to see But in reality there's nothing in me I'm like a corpse whose innards are empty Even worse the corpse of a donkey Rotten to the core cloaked in the garb of innocent piety While I scheme with precision and wreak havoc stealthily You are but another victim like a pawn in my chess party I will laugh haughty and bask in my sinister revelry Till the glimpse of truth breaks free Unveiling the real me For now flip this coin and heads it will be For it is Double-face you will always continue to see Haidarwali 201603280704hrs

When cacophony of voices, drowns reason and logic, silence's contrast soothes; comforts until intoxication wanes leading back to 'senses' Haidarwali 201703280726hrs

Love is a good motivator It usu ally serves as a muse; inspirator Push or pull, depending on instigator I often find myself becoming contemplator Wondering at the enigma love; an animator Moving people to lose inhibitor For a fleeting, invisible reactor Switching on or off depending on factor I am still looking for a Love Doctor To mend my heart and give it a suture! Haidarwali 201603300145hrs

Sau dayawa zakuga ana qorafi akan matasa basa yin hobbasa wajen ganin sun gina kansu ko ta hanyar neman ingantaccen ilimi ko sana'a. Duk da cewa wannan abu haka yake, toh amman kamar yarda Hausawa suka ce: Idan bera da sata, daddawa ma da wari'. Shi dai 'matashi' kamar yarda sunan nasa ya nuna 'tasowa' yake yi don haka dole a nusar da shi hanyar da ya kamata ya bi don samun cigaban kanshi da ta al'ummar shi. A saboda haka ne nake ganin babban abunda matasa suke buqata a yau shi ne 'mentoring' watau 'jagoranci'. Kamar yarda makafi suke buqatar Dan-Jagora yake, haka Matasa suke buqatar 'Jagorancin Manya. Shi Babba dole ya dage ya jure yayi wa matashi 'jagora'. Da dadi, babu dadi haka za'a yi ta hakuri tunda 'yi wa wani yiwa kai ne'. Hakannan 'hannunka baya rubewa ka yanke ka yar'! Matasa duk da matsalolin su, suna kokarin abubuwa daidai yanayin da suka sami kansu. Ya rage ga 'Jagorori' su cigaba da dag...

Komai wataran wucewa zaiyi Babu abu madawwami Ko wahala ko jin dadi! Don haka dauki rayuwa da sauki Ka huta ma kanka tararradi Dama duniya shi Zuwa mukai zaman wucin gadi Chan 'Gidan' mukewa tanadi Muna ta kokarin yin guzuri Kafin lokaci yayi mu tattara mu tafi Ba wai neman 'duniya bai da amfani Bal, kar dai ya dauke mana hankali Mu zam tamkar 'bayi' a wurinshi Son zuciyarmu ya zam linzami Ya batar da mu a dokar daji Mas'tada'a shine saiti Dace shine a sami wadatar zuci Ba yabo, ba fallasar asiri Wannan shi zai kaimu ga gachi Allah Ya tabbatar mana da alkhairi! Haidarwali 201703241514hrs TRANSLATION: Everything is for a time Nothing lasts forever Suffering or Bliss So take life easy And be relieved of its pressure This world is a transit point We came for a brief stay It is the other 'Home' we prepare for Awaiting for the time to packup and leave Not to say we should shun this world But let it not distract us And allo...

I remember a luv deep like the oceans it was full to the brim now all that lies in its stead is a vast empty sea of sand unquenching ardor met it's match in the abyss of longing's desert carcass of hope's remains bare, barren and bleak croaking death throes pierce the eerie silence of space and echoes reverberate in confirmation, that I am now alone. Majeamin 201703222140hrs

People suffer in silence, for society has created 'boxes' and typologies to neatly place everyone in their appropriate storage as soon as something happens to anyone. 'Taboos' are covert tools of censorship that muffle and mute everyone into a state of self-deception and pretend-amnesia. We supress into the deepest part of our minds the unpleasantness that life experiences hand to us and unknowingly these later manifest in other ways that cause worse damage than that which we were fleeing from. It is disheartening that for fear of being ostracised, people are silent on issues like rape, marital abuse, sexuality and other taboo topics with individuals preferring to silently carry 'their' burden. But in actual fact it is a 'burden' that is proving to be a collective one. For the scars are what usually lead to much of the unsavoury behaviour we see springing out of nowhere. So no one should be left alone to suffer these psychological scars and we must n...

Sometimes These eyes drip dry Profusely pained Like heartbreak Like loss Like parting Like betrayal Like sadness Like......... These eye cry With no tears Having being lost Eons ago Now desert flourishes In hollowness of heart. Haidarwali 201703180921

Hey you, who do you think you are? you that once wasn't, and one day will not be. Hey you, what do you think you know? you that do not know, what is after death. Hey you, what power do you have? you that must answer, all of Nature's callings. Hey you! YES you You that resides in this most fragile of houses like a ballon whose end is but a prick.  Haidarwali 201702250839hrs

It is small but mighty It can end river of thoughts It can arrest any flow Even small i carries it on the head Three or more Makes a clue to a cue Another is Jay Jr. Who carries it with respect It is a tool for brevity And makes a point in calculations Descended from Greece It has become a polyglot The World Wide Web Cannot survive its absence For all destinations host it And with it having the final say Let me take a bow Right before it enters. Haidarwali 201702250755hrs

To write, is to release Expression leads to peace When you catch that 'bird' in mind Or 'fish' in net or hooking 'line' They'll flit, flutter and flap Seeking to be free from trap Through shutters they might see Or any other way; to flee Some die without a 'fight' Others win and eventually leave Either swimming or taking flight Merging into deep blue seive Ideas become reborn anew. Haidarwali 201702172232hrs

The book - written almost 50 years ago - Limits to Growth (Donella H. Meadows et al), is a documentation of a research into how human activity is exponentially growing at a rate much faster than the Earth's carrying capacity. This means that the Earth's resources would be depleted if the rate of growth remains unchanged. Though the thesis is claimed to be built only on material and physical realities, after I finished reading I was struck by the glaring missing link which is the moral/ethical angle. As a Muslim I am 'unabashedly' a 'moralist' and I found myself appreciating the aptness of the following verse while reading the conclusions of the book Limits to Growth: "Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]." Holy Quran Chapter 30 The Romans (Suratul Rum) Verse 41...

I am lost traveller Stranded in desert No soul's scent in sight On this pitch dark moonless night Dust billows and slaps my face Like angry foe I stumble aimlessly Like compass on magnets My arms flail wildly Like fiery flames Yet I trudge on To avoid being buried By raging sandstorm Amidst this parched sea Amidst the windy waves A distant voice filters As sound draws nearer I standstill With bated breath I await And as heart tastes Sweetness of delicious Hope Coolness of Death's retreat Joy of Safety's embrace Tongue moves along lips And then I swallow A luxury Never will I take for granted. Haidarwali 201702082153hrs

. Eternity is a blink In presence of ardor Neither place nor timing Exists Only thuds and thumps Of beating hearts Rhythmically ticking Like clockwork All is frozen still As if a trance From single glance . Majeamin 201702042238hrs

My eyes, heavy Sleep and tears jostle To claim My heart, heavy Guilt and pain tussle To overpower This stream Of pent up emotion Threatens To drown Annihilate Obliterate Effaced Forgotten is, Even better A mark was once there But like invisible footprints This, is Nothing. Majeamin 201702011737hrs

Rubutu a harshen asali - ba Hausa kawai ba - abu ne mai matukar muhimmanci don ta harshe ne ake yadda al'ada. Shi yasa yawan amfani da yaren aro kamar Turanci zai iya zama tarnaki wajen sadar da asalin 'madara' da 'romon' al'adunmu na gargajiya. Idan abun yayi zurfi ma sai ta kai ga masu amfani da 'yaren aro' sun zama suna kwaikwayon halayya da al'adun mutanen da suka aro 'harshen'. Irin haka ke sa a fara kiran mutum sunaye kamar 'baqin balarabe' ko kuma 'baqin bature'! Ko da yake tasirin yaren Turanci zai iya sa mutum kwaikwayon dabi'u masu kyau kamar riqe alkawari da amana wanda abu ne da za'ayi murna dashi. Sai dai sau da yawa wasu abubuwan ake kwaikwaya basa dacewa da yanayin mu. Irin haka ke sa kaga mutum ya zama tamkar jemage - baka ga tsuntsu, baka ga dabba! Yin rubuta da harshen Hausa yana daga cikin babban abun da ya sa harshen Hausa ya bunqasa ya kuma qara qarfafuwa musamman dayake anyi amfani da shi wajen ...

Regardless of who the first perpetrator of mayhem is, once the authorities do not nip it in the bud by establishing a precedence of justice, there is bound to be repeat/retaliation. When authorities refuse to "do the needful", two things happen: the culprits become emboldened to repeat the atrocity and feel neither remorse nor fear of retribution on one hand. On another hand the victims begin nursing a plan for retaliation which in many cases can extend across generations as 'feuds' are handed down with dire consequences since most 'retaliations' are ever commensurate, inevitably resulting in acting beyond 'limits'. And after that point we are all left in botched-up quagmire of accusations, counter-accusations, insinuations, innuendos, rumours, instigations, hate-mongering, and fear-spreading in the polity. Most times the conversations around ethno-religious crises are framed as 'boxes' of 'me' against 'you' and the maxim is...

Writing in any local language is invaluable because it is thru language that the essence of cultures are transmitted. That is why using 'English' denies us to transmit the unique 'flavors' and 'nuances' of our cultures and we become somewhat sterilized. But in the extreme, using a language other than your mother tongue gradually makes you to adopt the 'foreign' language's cultural identity which is why we have people being referred to as 'oyinbo'. While adopting good traits due to the influence of English language such as 'keeping to time' is a definite advantage, other 'traits' might not fit well with your environment and would make an individual 'confused' and end up being like a 'bat', neither here nor there! 🤣 Taking a look at Hausa language as a case study, I think the writings done in Hausa have been the main things that enabled the language to endure and keep expanding. Being that it used ...

If you do not critically assess your situation and take corrective measures, unfailingly you will be forced to do so under the glare of everyone without an ounce of privacy and dignity, accompanied by the derision and gloating of your detractors. If you refuse to be visionary in charting a collective route for societal rejuvenation, you will be resigned to the fate of scattered debris that the wind tosses and turns and eventually dumps in the random and empty wilderness of time. If you favour the immediate satisfaction of momentary pleasures and selfish abundance of the few and decide to avoid the brief passing pain of rigorous perseverance, refusing to invest towards reaping tomorrow's orchards, preferring to eat today's seeds, you will be bequeathed with flapping, tattered cloths, treeless barren spaces and harvest the dry empty bowls of beggary! I no longer care. I will join you to bemoan the sorry state before I return my head back into the s...

You see when I say I love you like rice and beans, you will not agree! The only Jollof rice that is in my heart! All the Egusi soups and Dage-dage stews bow at your feet! Everytime my heart pumps, sugar cubes form a clot in my veins and so I have to look for hot bitterleaf soup to melt them. Please don't let the chicken wings of my ardor over-roast! The Tsire that pierced my heart; the Kilishi and Balango that wrapped it! I will always always be your Ice-cream and the chocolate cake by your side. Yours sumptuously ever, Baban Tahir. P.S. Even Lipton cannot come between us because without you my Honey, it is not worth it! Haidarwali 201701251514hrs

I remember an evening when Sun was calm and its shadow shone against the ground when leaves of autumn dotted the earth vividly I remember conversing with Me that one day I would write these same words being replayed on screen of my mind's eye then, only a silent snapshot devoid of words stored till this unveiling. . Haidarwali 201701261957hrs

Recently, I saw someone accuse another of promoting the preference of Tech Events over Quranic Recitation competitions and the accuser emphasized the superiority of the religious over the mundane. It made me to wonder why they had to be 'mutually exclusive'. Why can't we have both? Why can't we have private individuals spending on public goods such as schools, hospitals, scholarships, foundations, endowmen ... ts etc., with the same dedication and commitment that is put into the building of mosques and sponsorship of people to Hajj! I don't think the spiritual realm is limited to those aspects of the religion that are Ibadat and therefore we should not limit the activities that will enable gaining salvation to just ritual acts of worship. For even in the mundane there are innumerable opportunities for salvation. A case in point is the woman who was known as a prostitute that was forgiven and granted Paradise for the seemingly 'mundane' and trivial ac...

Fiona Lovatt is an inspiration. She's a testimony that smallness of means is no excuse not to act and that such simple, yet sincere efforts can create ripple-effects that eventually leads to change. She teaches the reality that we mostly have all we need to make a difference, one step at a time. . When I first met her she was living in the inner parts of Kano city just inside the old city walls call 'ganuwa'. Hearing about her 'modest' effort working with the 'Almajirai' (plural of Almajiri) it seemed so surreal that a 'baturiya' (white woman) would travel thousands of kilometers from New Zealand to mentor these young boys. . Yet after meeting her I realized why it was so. Here was a person who saw potential where most of us saw hopelessness. She looked at the 'big picture' and zoomed in on the most critical factor which was to do her own part in making a difference rather than waiting, 'wailing' or walking away, she set out to cr...

In our society today we have a bias that is very evident in the way we pursue 'certificates' at the expense of practicable knowledge. This is what breeds garbage-in-garbage-out and kills the ability to engage in critical reasoning thus denying many from obtaining 'functional knowledge'. I remember hearing Jelani Aliyu (General Motors) say he has never been asked for a certificate to show that he can design! Now imagine the number of unknown gifted 'divergents' we have in our society - people who may not necessarily be on an IQ of 150 but have abundance of creativity. These individuals are resigned to unfulfilled lives simply because we chose to make the basis of success to be how well one person can retain information compared to another. Essentially that is what our education does and for the winners we give them a piece of paper and send them off to a career which is not necessarily even optimal for them! That is why we need a paradigm shift in thinking a...