Illustration on the 27th of Ramadan - The night of Qadar/ Shab-e-Qadar.

On the night of the 27th of Ramadan, Alina’s mind and heart were conquered by the unavoidable questions and contemplation.

The loudness of the cries clutching solemn prayers, do you feel the strength of it? The friction between the dusty prayer mat and wrinkled foreheads, does the warmth calm down your demons? The echo of the pounding heartbeat, do you hear that language of hope? The piercing glare in the teardrops, does it illuminate your world of senses? The visual of life drifting away, how does that penetrating image resonate to your beautiful world?

While all these thoughts exploded wildly inside Alina’s mind, she anxiously adjusted her headscarf and in the position of qiyaam, she started a dialogue with her Maalik:

Jab kay tere bin koi nahi maujood

Phir yeh hungama Ayy Khuda kia hay?

When you alone, Oh God, Exist,

And no other to love or heed,

Why must humanity so insist

On differing faith, and varying creed?"

- Mirza Ghalib