Rayees Ahmad Kumar
South Kashmir’s Anantnag district is renowned for its mesmerizing natural beauty and its half a dozen enchanting health resorts. Over the years, it has produced scores of litterateurs, politicians, authors, poets, administrators, and philosophers.
A few weeks ago, Kandiwara Sagam village of the Kokernag sub-division remained in the limelight owing to a young and emerging literary voice—Sheeba Ashraf, who achieved a remarkable milestone by authoring a book at the tender age of just fourteen. Her significant feat created quite a buzz across social media platforms, where her story trended widely. A couple of Facebook pages also interviewed her, focusing on her literary journey and the challenges she encountered while compiling the book.
At an age when most students particularly female students struggle to cope with the six core academic subjects taught in schools, this promising and aspiring girl has carved a niche for herself by emerging as the youngest author of the Valley.
Aye Musht-e-Khaak is a collection of essays spanning 112 pages and has been published by the renowned GNK Publications. Dedicating the book to her parents, Sheeba Ashraf writes in its proem that it gives voice to silent cries and offers answers to age-old questions buried deep within the heart. The book is for those who smile in the company of others, yet converse with their tears in profound silence and solitude.
According to her, this book is not merely a book. It is neither a storybook nor a romantic tale. It does not seek to instruct, rather, it is written through breath and lived experience, not merely with ink on paper. To delve into its meaning, a reader must possess not only eyes to read, but a heart to feel.
Insaan ka Wajood, comprising eighteen meticulously composed chapters, opens with this maiden chapter. It vividly portrays the sovereignty and almightiness of the One God, who has created all living beings on this planet, as well as other planets, stars, galaxies, and animals. It is He who sends down rain from the skies and ensures the availability of sustenance for us. He is the most forgiving, granting us pardon despite our disloyalty. If we truly introspect upon our creation, we would emerge as firm believers, remembering Him at all times.
Aye insaan kis baat ka guroor? Pride is strongly discouraged in Islam. In fact, it is clearly stated that a person who harbours even the slightest trace of arrogance in the heart will not be admitted to Jannah. Pride may arise from wealth, intelligence, beauty, or power, yet one must remember that all these attributes are temporary and mortal. They neither define true worth nor endure beyond time. The author aptly points out that all major religions of the world reject the notion of pride, affirming that absolute greatness and supremacy belong exclusively to Allah alone.
Khuda aur mohabbat, ishq-e-haqeeqi dispels the deepest darkness of the heart and illuminates the mind, body, and soul. One who selflessly loves his Lord is the most fortunate of all, for he is bestowed with divine grace beyond measure. In this boundless mercy, even a sinner is forgiven and granted a place in Jannah.
Khak ki Sada, this world is short-lived and mortal. People relentlessly chase fame and wealth, forgetting that both are fleeting and perishable. Man is created from soil, and to soil he ultimately returns. History bears silent witness, Pharaoh, Nimrod, Qarun, Alexander the Great, and Genghis Khan once the mightiest of the mighty now exist only in the pages of history. Those who burned in worldly love Farhad of Shirin, Majnun of Laila, and Heer of Ranjha too lie buried beneath the same earth. Yet saints, philosophers, and poets are shaped from a different, blessed soil one that carries fragrance. Their bodies may return to dust, but their thoughts, words, and light render them immortal long after their passing.
Ishq-e-Haqeeqi (Real or True Love), the ninth chapter of the book, has been artistically woven by the author, encapsulating the essence and supremacy of divine love. When a believer holds Allah dearer than all worldly possessions even more than his own life his worship attains true depth and sincerity. Such a soul remains perpetually immersed in His remembrance, finding purpose, peace, and fulfillment in devotion to the Almighty.
Ruḥ ki Azan, the eleventh chapter of the book, seeks to make readers understand that the soul and conscience reprimand a person for illicit and unlawful acts, while guiding and encouraging them towards righteous deeds. It is this inner moral compass that awakens the sense of right and wrong. Had the human body been devoid of a soul, the very concept of humanity would have remained unknown and meaningless.
Taqdeer ki Thakan, it reflects the profound truth that God has already written our fate. No matter how intensely we strive for goodness or struggle to attain our cherished goals, success ultimately depends on what has been decreed by the Divine. If something is destined for us, we will surely attain it, even through unforeseen paths and if it is not written in our fate, even the most tireless efforts may end in failure. In this chapter, the author beautifully unfolds the concept of destiny, inviting the reader to reflect on the delicate balance between human effort and divine will.
From the write-ups included in this book, it is evident that Sheeba Ashraf is an extraordinary girl who has grasped, at such a tender age, truths that many people fail to understand even in their forties. She is blessed with remarkable wisdom, clearly reflected in her articles. Her ability to convey profound and long-lasting lessons through her writing is truly praiseworthy. Man has evolved from soil and is destined to return to it, therefore, there is no room for pride, unlawful actions, or unfaithfulness to one’s Creator. This book invites readers to introspect, reform, and reconnect with higher moral values. I strongly recommend readers to go through it I hope they will not only enjoy it, but also feel enlightened.
(The author is a freelancer. He hails from Qazigund and can be reached at [email protected])
