Quotes from Tehmina Durrani

I found an inner strength to fight for myself. It was clear that nobody else would.

The five basic tenets of Islam continue onto the sixth for me. Huquq-ul-Ibaad, or humanitarianism. That it is not proclaimed as obligatory has deeper meaning; as right or wrong are left to human initiatives, its importance would be lost if forced." -Edhi, A Mirror To The Blind

There will be a great imbalance in our strengths if we fight, because I am prepared to die and you are desperate to live.

The lesson was clear and I learned it well: blind acquiescence was necessary to gain approval; being yourself only earned condemnation.

Looking back, I realized that we were being raised to be schizophrenic; an appearance of perfection was more important than genuine feelings

Pir Sain was a symbol of munafiqat. I was a soldier. This was a jehad.

Love's absence ailed me. I could not imagine loving my husband. He was a superior and I did not know how to love and be subservient together. Nor had he ever thought of me as a human being, let alone a woman. For no reason had he ever softened towards me, I had stirred him that little.

my mind was consumed with the idea of purdah. From behind it no call for help could be heard. An abandoned species was trapped in a forbidden world. Everything corrupt happened under the shroud, when it was off a faceless and nameless woman appeared.

I obeyed, but my crime was that I did not look obedient.

As Yazid, the tyrant of Karbala, never suffered even from a headache, people believed that he was blessed by Allah. But that was a misinterpretation. In reality, Allah had abandoned him completely. He wanted nothing to do with him.

For Sehra who broke the silence of hypocrisy, that Allah consistently says he hates; in the dictionary meaning of Satan out of 3 – 1 is hypocrisy – So – while many misguided people around the world will condemn you – Allah will love you for following his command. I am very proud of you and can assure you that from here on you will find yourself transformed for a greater purpose. My love and prayers.

Pleasing and appeasing our master and God at the same time was impossible.

With brain power that has led man to the moon, we are still unable to decide the issue of war? They research for the cures of killer diseases, without looking towards the one that maims, kills and uproots whole nations? What a contradiction.

My mind became a sanctuary for secret thoughts of escaping from this household.

Change the world with your way of life, one day it will change the direction of the people.

Start small, I always reminded myself. It was in keeping with the respect for labour that my parents had instilled in me. My father had often said, "No labour is an insult, the lowest form is dignified and worthy of respect. Start from the lowest rung." Think big I reminded myself. My father also used to say, "It is important to think without limitations. Confining ideas stunt potential.

My father] would tell me not to listen to too many words. "The strength of words lies in implementation, otherwise they are meaningless." He himself was a man of very few words, but whatever he said was enough to make an impact on me. He explained why, "Too many dialogues scatter and waste, say a little so that your words are remembered.

My mother] would tell me not to doubt God's understanding of His people, "Empty words and long praises do not impress Him. Show Him your faith by deeds, otherwise why should He believe you?

The Pakistani elite has not even observed, leave alone adopted the crucial aspects of modem western culture, whereby eighty percent of their problems were resolved through social welfare. Our people absorb their flair for fashions and their methods of entertainment, whereas the basics by which the West is exemplary remain unnoticed. They should see them plumbing, painting, cooking and struggling very hard to earn a living.

When I noticed a huge barrier declaring me a non believer outside the New Town Mosque, I decided to clarify the allegation and explained politely to the Imam, "What I preach and practice is a good example for the world. Why do you swiftly brand me from another faith and give away credit that belongs to Islam?

Do not go up and come down. A tree grows high from roots deeply embedded beneath the surface of the earth, it does not grow downwards from the sky. Likewise character develops by noting and correcting the smallest flaws in the grind of a laborious struggle. The outcome of that is its future strength.

During childhood,] My friends would laugh at me [at my appearance] as well as for my big plans. They began to call me, Shaikh Chilli, a legendary character with big dreams and no action. They joked, "When all the matter in your head dries up it will shrivel like stale bread. Think a little, about a little. It is better for your future." I was never discouraged and smiled back at them, "l can begin small, but why should I think small.

My father... had told me: Appearance is a distraction, surrendering it develops humility and truth in abundance.

Sehra, Dont ever lay down and die....for NOTHING at all." ~ Tehmina Durrani