The Iqbal, Junoon and Sufi Diaries is a Marriage Made in Heaven

...At least to me!

Music is a controversial topic in Islam. So is Sufism, to some. The poet Iqbal has been classified as blasphemy by others. What does that mean? Islam is solely dependent on a person’s relationship with their creator. A level of consciousness and perspective will vary from person to person and that is a testament to the Creator of itself.

So when era changes, societal norms and boundaries have shifted within paradigms and the application remains consistent proves one thing: the souls must become alive!

For me, that is the fervor of the fusion of Sufi Rock that is Junoon. The blend of culture, tradition in a background of guitar and tabla was the best way to carry a message. The awaam “public” is now awake. A new political party of Tehreek-E-Insaaf (PTI) is in place. To have a Junoon reunion now was only lacking. To see them reunite was EVERYTHING, to all of us, who had been yearning for that lost part of ourselves.

The use of khudi (oneself) and its use by Junoon and Iqbal is synonymous with the spirit as alluded to in the Quran. It is that divine spark present in every human being, and began in the first of humankind and will last until this world ends and will be taken into the next. Self-destruction is when life and its true purpose is not realized. For him, the aim of life is self-realization and self-knowledge.The stages through which the "self" has to pass before finally arriving at its point of perfection, enabling the knower of the "self" to become a vice-regent of God is what he charts as an evolution. Pakistan evolved in its vision and in it understanding of Islam with music.

Iqbal, the "spiritual father" and Junoon the "carrier of the message."  PTI put it all in place. Feed your souls, be visionary and lead by example. Apart from independence ideologies, let’s all be free to explore concepts of submission to Allah and following the path of Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him.

Be an advocate, sip your chai (tea), ghoom (spinb) on after zamanay ke andaaz (the ways of the world) and begin to ab to jaag (to wake up). After all, Pakistanis are some of the most woke folk you will ever find and can be found in any corner of this world.