A beautiful similarity in one of the stories of Quran and Ramayana

 

I wanted to share some interesting insights and beautiful similarities I noted in one of the stories of the holy Quran (Surah Al-Fil, 105:4) and that of the Ramayana (Ram-Setu episode). The connection I am posting about is based on the story of the Ababeel (birds) of the Surah Al-Fil in Quran.

 First, I will talk of that part:

    In that story, there is a tyrant (named Abraha) who wanted to destroy the holy Kaaba and marched along with his mighty army of elephants. At that moment, Abdul-Muttalib, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) prayed to Allah to help protect Kaaba from the attack. At that moment, the sky was filled with a vast flock of Ababeel (birds) that were each carrying specific stones (called Sijjil in the Quran), with each bird carrying one in its beak and two in both its claws, thus fully loaded. Seeming harmless at first, these little stones rained down on the army and had the power to completely destroy the army of Abraha and his elephants and brought about the complete destruction of the tyrant’s army, thus protecting the house of God.

     Let me now talk of the Ramayana episode which bears a familiarity with this. In that story, Rama, in his ardent search for his beloved wife Sita (who was abducted by the tyrant Ravana in his golden palace Lanka), takes help of his army of monkeys (Vanar Sena), who carried stones that were thrown on the sea, and they began to float instead of sinking (due to a divine miracle as they bore the name of Ram written by the Vanar Sena, although some other narratives say that they floated as they were thrown by specific Vanars (Nal and Neel) who had the boon that whatever they threw in water shall never sink). The bridge (called as Ram Setu) was thus built after innumerable stones were carried and thrown on water without sinking, and Ram crossed it with his army and overthrew the tyrant Ravana and saved the prestige of his dynasty (Raghukul) and also brought back his wife, thus upholding Dharma...

Now, I found that the stones which the birds carried were stones of baked clay or pumice (referred to as Sijjil) that are supposedly very light (and that's what makes it possible for birds to carry it), but when thrown from such heights in the sky, they are capable of wreaking havoc...And in this case, pumice stone has air pockets and is actually porous, so if its thrown in water (which was the case in the story of Ramayana) it can actually float (see the photo below and the link with it, where the nature of such stones as in the Surah Al-Fil is described):

Note that the link below only talks about the power of stones in the Ababeel story when they were sent down from a great height but in the sky.

 

Birds and Baked Clay - Amplify Islam

However, the common theme I observed was that the stone used in Ram Setu construction was also same (pumice stone); thus, it was indeed Sijjil (but which was thrown on the water by monkeys) instead of thrown on the ground by birds...But the purpose of both was the same- that is, to uphold the Dharma or sanctity and bring about the destruction of the evil (Abraha in the first and Ravana in the second case). I was awed as I also noted that both six-lettered names (Abraha and Ravana) are mostly similar (67% similar letters), and both were tyrants who were filled with pride (takabbur) and chose the path of adharma...

Interestingly enough, one of the recent missiles Iran launched against Israel in the Iran-US-Israel 2026 war (to uphold the truth and Dharma) was also called "Sijjil" - inspiration deriving from the name of that baked clay stone Sijjil mentioned in the Surah Al-Fil. 

 Moreover, the actual pumice stone (from the holy Hindu site of Rameswaram, South India), is actually sold as originating from the Ram Setu Bridge, and those pilgrims who visit Rameswaram can actually bring similar stones that actually float on water). I had a similar stone that I was so fascinated with in the house once and I was told by my mother in my early childhood that her father got it from Rameswaram when he visited it in one of his pilgrimages...I was so deeply fascinated by that stone that I would drop it in water and it would float, and I always wanted to keep that holy stone...Anyways, now as I look back, there is no stone or any bridge, just flowing water.............

Tu Hai Kamaal Maula & Jise Tu na Mila Use Kuch na Mila- two beautiful Sufi Qawwalis/ songs from Hindi movies

 Sharing two songs (one of them is singing praises of God, while another song is a Sufi song). Both are from Hindi movies. The interesting thing is that the second song (Jise Tu Na Mila) was a song I heard after 16 years, as I was going through some of my old stuffs and actually noted that somewhere I had saved some lyrics of a song and when I heard it back I could recognize it...this Sufi song is one of the deepest poetries ever written in my view..

1.

 First song can be called as a forgotten melody from a very old Hindi movie called Sultanat (1986). 

Link of the song: Tu Hai Kamal Maula Teri Kudrat Kamal The Legendary Suresh Wadekar Saltanat low

Lyrics:

ai maalik-e-do-jahaan terii zamiin teraa aasamaan
tu kyaa soche tu kyaa jaane ye tere bando ko kabar kahaa
tu kyaa soche tu kyaa jaane ye tere bando ko kabar kahaa

are tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
ho tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii saltanat kamaal
are kab kisako kyaa de de
are kab kisako kyaa de de
kab kisase kyaa le le, kab kisase kyaa le le
khel tere bemisaal
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

tere karam kaa nur kahaan kisakii taqadiir jagaaye
kis daaman men phul khile aur kisakaa chaman mahakaaye
chhiine kisii kii hansii kise de kushii koi ye jaane naa
are bandaaparavar mere faisale tere koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

maalik terii qudarat kaa hai ye kyaa ajab tamaashaa
betaa baap baap bete ke kun kaa hai pyaasaa
anahonii kyaa huyi yahaan to koi raaz ye jaane naa
kaisaa chhaayaa junun lahu ko lahu aaj pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

kaise dekhe nazar kisii kii ye gamanaak nazaaraa
baap ke siine men bete ne kanzar aaj utaaraa
vaqt badaa beraham kare kyaa sitam koi ye jaane naa
are kis karanii kaa silaa kise kyaa milaa koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

kyun naa tadape ruh kisii kii aankh na kyun bhar aaye
jab aulaad kii khaatir koi baap yun jaan lutaaye
kyun se qismat likhe tujhe kyaa mile koi ye jaane naa
tu hii jaane kudaa kyaa hai terii razaa koi pahachaane naa
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal
are kab kisako kyaa de de
are kab kisako kyaa de de
kab kisase kyaa le le, khel tere bemisaal
tu hai kamaal maulaa tu hai kamaal terii qudarat kamaal
terii saltanat kamaal

from: Tu Hai Kamaal Maula Teri Saltanat Kamaal - तू है क़माल मौला तेरी सल्तनत क़माल

Interestingly, this song has scenes of the desert and camels. This actually feels nostalgic as I still remember in one of trips to the hot desert area of Rajasthan, India with the born family, in my childhood, I found the only photo where I actually sat on the camel (I think I was very adamant that I wanted to sit on that camel as I was so deeply fascinated as it was walking on the road) and for some reason, I can tell that was true joy on my face, although I do not still know if it came from camel, or the feminine motherly energy (a distant aunt who sat behind me supporting me and holding me) or both . Anyways, I decided to share that old childhood pic:

The reason being the second time I saw a real camel Infront of me (two years ago) was funnily when I was learning horse-riding (as part of some basic lessons I took solely for healing purposes, although the torture of horses and pain I could sense from them made me not want to go to advanced level). Anyways, the camels remind me of the miracle of God who was so merciful that he made the camel as the most amazing design and even presented a she-camel in one of the stories of Quran..

Anyways back to the song:

2. 

the second song from a Bollywood movie Refugee: Refugee Jise Tu Na Mila

Lyrics:

Sab ko duniya se garaj, mujhko tujhse kaam

Sab duniya duniya ratein, main lu tera naam

Teri ek jhalak jo payee hai, ek masti hai jo chhaayee hai... (x2)

Mujhe apna koi hosh nahi, pal bhar ko dil khaamosh nahi

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

O o o duniya mein duniyadaro ko, jhuthi daulat ke yaaro ko

Daulat bhi mili, taaqat bhi mili

Ijjat bhi mili, shaurat bhi mili

Jo cheej inho ne payee hai, paani par likhi likhayee hai

Iss jhuthi shaan-o-shaukhat se, mujhe lena kya mujhe matlab kya

Mere dil gunje yahi sada, jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Tu mohabbat ka ik samandar hai

Tujhame dubu, tujhi mein ghul jaau

Ik najar dekh le jo tu mujhako

Jism se rooh tak main dhul jaau

Mujhe dekh jara pehchaan jara, main tera hu main hu tera... (x3)

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x4)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

O jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Rang mein tu hai, roop mein tu hai

Chhanv mein tu hai, dhoop mein tu hai

Tu hai raaton mein, tu saveron mein

Tu ujaalon mein, tu andheron mein

Tu hi sardi mein, tu hi garmi mein

Tu hi sakhti mein, tu hi narmi mein

Tu hai paani mein, aag mein tu hai

Tu hai geeton mein, raag mein tu hai

Ho tu suron mein hai, taal mein tu hai

Soch mein tu, khayal mein tu hai

Mausamon mein hai tu, ruton mein tu

Mandiron mein hai tu, buto mein tu

Masjidon mein hai tu, azaan mein tu

Tu hi geeta mein hai, Quran mein tu

Mandir ne kaha masjid ne kaha, har rasta hai tera rasta

o o o nahi koi manjil tere siva... (x2)

Mere dil gunje yahi sada... (x3)

Jise tu na mila, use kuchh na mila... (x6)

Ha tu ha tu tu tu tu tu...

lyrics from: Jise Tu Na Mila Lyrics in Hindi, Refugee Jise Tu Na Mila Song Lyrics

Three beautiful Bollywood songs on "Zinda"/ living....an interesting connection...

 Sharing three Hindi Bollywood songs which are all so beautiful and melodious with very deep poetry (which are also some of my favorite songs I have listened to and listen in my life), together as I noted an interesting theme in all of them. All of them have the title of "Zinda" or alive in their titles and talk of the feeling of being alive from the point of the person singing it...(depending on the situation in the respective movie scenes)..The three songs also seems to have a spiritual cord throughout all of them for those on the path of Ishq-e-haqiqi....

        In the first song, the person is questioning that despite the blood flowing in the veins in the body and breathing, the person still feels disconnected from life as that is not truly living, and the lyrics talk of the burning fire and restlessness of the soul making the heart question its own beating, if its indeed really alive?

The second song talks of the person (the forlorn lover) for whom despite being alive (zinda), the life (zindagi) does not feel like a life, simply because of the separation from the Beloved. The eyes keep on searching for that face, and the lover also keeps on asking that lover (likening him to be a tormentor) to come for once and annihilate everything so that it's finished for once....

Finally, in the third song (which is actually from a very beautiful movie Lootera (2013) starring the handsome actor Ranveer Singh based on the story of the Last Leaf by O' Henry), the lover (the actor in the movie), is finally emptied of all desires/ regrets/ lost chance of love and all he wants to be left alone and just live, as he feels that its sufficient and enough for him....He just wants no rivals or outside forces/ persons to interfere or question and had finally accepted his state..

1.

Kya Main Zinda Hoon

Lyrics:

चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

सीने में हैं जलन क्यों
तड़पती रूह हैं क्यों
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

दिल धड़क के पूछता हैं
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

ये सुनि अँधेरी बेक़रारी जाना
पेहचाना ढूंढती हैं क्यों
मिटा हुआ नामोनिशान
पूछती है क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

मचलते आंखों से
छलक जाते हैं आँसू
चीखती हैं बेचैनी
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

चल रही हैं साँसे क्यूँ
बह रहा हैं लहू क्यूँ
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ

सीने में हैं जलन क्यों
तड़पती रूह हैं क्यों
फिर भी क्यों नहीं लगता
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ
क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ"

Kya Main Zinda Hoon Lyrics hindi | क्या मैं ज़िंदा हूँ ज़िंदा lyrics | hindi.lyricsgram.com

2.

Main Zinda hu lekin Full Song | Nisar Ali

(This song is a version of a song that was in a Bollywood movie that was in turn copied (read stolen) originally from a Pakistani song...Not surprisingly, the typical Indians won't love their neighbor but go ahead and steal their compositions without batting an eyelid :))

The lyrics of this song are:

""मुझे फिर तबाह कर

मुझे फिर रुला जा

सितम करने वाले

कहीं से तो आजा

कहीं से तो आजा 

आँखों में तेरी ही सूरत बसी है

तेरी ही तरह तेरा ग़म भी हसीं है

तू जो नहीं है तो कुछ भी नहीं है

ये माना कि महफ़िल जवाँ है, हसीं है

जिधर भी ये देखें,जिधर भी ये जाएँ

तुझे ढूंढती है,ये पागल निगाहें

मैं जिंदा हूँ लेकिन, कहाँ ज़िन्दगी है

मेरी ज़िन्दगी तू कहाँ खो गयी है

तू जो नहीं..."

3.

Zinda Full Video | Lootera | Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha | Amit Trivedi | Amitabh Bhattacharya

Lyrics:

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

हवाओं से जो माँगा हिस्सा मेरा

तो बदले में हवा ने सांस दी

अकेलेपन से छेड़ी जब गुफ़्तगू

मेरे दिल ने आवाज़ दी

मेरे हाथों, हुआ जो किस्सा शुरु

उसे पुरा तो करना है मुझे

कब्र पर मेरे सर उठा के खड़ी हो ज़िन्दगी

ऐसे मरना है मुझे

कुछ माँगना बाक़ी नहीं

कुछ माँगना बाक़ी नहीं

जितना मिला काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

मुझे छोड़ दो मेरे हाल पे

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

ज़िन्दा हूँ यार काफी है

मुझे छोड़ दो.

मुझे छोड़ दो.

मेरे हाल पे

Some melodious songs of praise of Christ....

 

Sharing few divine and beautiful songs of praise of Christ... (these are not Latin chants, but songs)..

(172) Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega Ruth Graham Tribute - YouTube

I Surrender - Hillsong Worship

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong United lyrics

Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) (Lyric Video)

Holy - Delirious

(this song has very deep lyrics)

Photo inside a beautiful church in Southern France (Montpellier), clicked by 

a cherished friend Fadhila (who was a practicing Muslim who was the only person

 I have come across who truly was devoted to her faith :))...

A poem written by me but completed by another- Shayari

 Sharing a Hindi/Urdu poem that I wrote probably 18 years ago. An interesting point about this poem is that I had shared it with a person (who was also my project mentor at one of the internships in India) and he actually added many lines, almost like a reply from another poet. (He himself wrote many beautiful Hindi poems but hasn't really published them). I think I also became a muse for him (:)). This person also helped me get more aware of Krishna consciousness (Hinduism) and I actually received the Bhagwad Gita from one of the professors he followed, which was one of the best gift. Although, that holy book was lost in the house of the born family (just like everything else that has disappeared, pun intended :))

Since the part of the poetry written by him, literally completes it (like two sides of same coin), so I decided to share here, as I cannot include this poem in my book as using half of the poem (written by me), won't do justice, and I cannot include writing of another poet in my own book...

Anyways, here is the poem:

चाहत

मैं कहती हूँ

चरागों से ही रोशनी होती तो

महताब कि चाहत किसे होती?

नहर से ही प्यास बुझती होती

तो सागर कि चाहत किसको होती?

अगर मिल ही जाती इस धरती पर जन्नत 

तो उस पार की चाहत किसे होती?

अगर मिल ही जाती मुकुल में वो सुरभी

तो कमल की चाहत किसे होती?

- शिल्पी 

तुम कहते हो,

अगर महताब से ही घर मुनव्वर होता 

तो चिराग की किसे ज़रुरत होती

अगर खरा समुंदर ही प्यास बुझा सकता

तो एक चुल्लू पानी की प्यास किसे होती

अगर आसमान ही सारे गम ढक सकता

तो नन्हे से अंचल की चाहत किसे होती

उस पार कि जन्नत  ही अगर जन्नत होती

तो जन्नत-ए-ज़िन्दगी की चाहत किसे होती

अगर माज़ी का गम ही मरहम हो सकता

तो आने वाले मसीहा कि चाहत किसे होती

सुरभि को अगर कमल जनम दे सकता

तो फिर मुकुल की चाहत क्यों होती ..

-मुकुल पास्टर