Quote…

“Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave.”

-Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Let’s tell you a little more about us…

January 4th 2011.

I think a vast majority of Pakistanis are aware of the significance of this date. For many of us, it was the death of a brave man (RIP Salman Taseer). For others, it was the death of a stupid man. For the rest, it was just the death of a man. However, ultimately it was a death that stirred the nation. And 2 weeks ago marked it’s first anniversary.

As expected, my facebook homepage flooded with “RIP Salman Taseer” statuses. Likes, dislikes (in the form of comments) and many arguments thus followed. A silent observer, I kept track of these arguments and read them. It was an enriching experience to say the least. Reading so many different views about this one topic. So many opinions were thrown out, so many questions raised, so many answered and yet so many more were just left unanswered. However, one such argument did catch my eye significantly more than the others.

It wasn’t an argument about whether Salman Taseer was right or wrong but more on whether his approach was right or wrong. In being so vocal was he being brave? Or just plain loud? Could he have done more if he was a little more subtle and a little less vocal? Or would that have ended the same way?

For now let’s assume Salman Taseer was indeed being loud and thus “invited” death (although I for one definitely do not agree with this as a justification for murder!), let’s take another case. How about that of Dr.Baqir Shah? Was he also being loud? As far as I know, he was just a man who was speaking the truth and doing his job. Why did he get killed? What wrong did he do?

All of this ultimately got me thinking, do we- Pakistanis- even know what it is to be courageous anymore? Do we even know what it means to tell the truth? To do our duty and not let anything/anyone sway us towards a different path? Islam is all about being brave and truthful. What kind of an Islamic state are we? What kind of muslims are we?

I can vouch for the Pakistanis I know. But how do I vouch for all the other Pakistanis out there? What has our media ever shown us? A new street murder? Or maybe a theft? Have nothing else to show, why not show political talk shows? Obviously, there are more personal insults hurled at each other and less talk about the actual issue at hand.

And so to counter such thoughts, I created this blog. To show that Pakistanis really do know what it is to be brave. To show that Pakistanis do know what it is to be truthful. To show that Pakistan is an Islamic state and we are true Muslims.

Share your stories! Whether it is telling your parents the truth about your low grades, speaking out against injustice or even just something as simple as helping an old lady cross the street (yes! I know that this blog speaks about courage but doing something right and good is part of being a courageous individual). Let’s show everyone that Pakistan is NOT the most dangerous country in the world and let’s try to make a promise.

From now on, let’s try and do one courageous (or good) deed a day. Let’s just take one small step a day and maybe one day we might have crossed over into the actual “Land of Pure”.

Share your stories with us! Comment below and tell us your stories! Or email them to us at “courageforpak@gmail.com” (we’ll post them on our blog)! Or visit our facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Courage-For-Pakistan/348082495205278) and share your stories there!

Let’s try and become Quaid’s Pakistan!

So signing off here! And hope to see all your stories soon!

And remember, “every drop makes an ocean” so no matter how big or small your deed is, do not forget to give yourself a good pat on the back for it!:)