Edhi: A Mirror To The Blind
Tehmina Durrani
Top 10 Best Quotes
“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”
“[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?”
“[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.”
“[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.”
“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.”
“When my friends suggested that we approach a rich man for patronage, explaining, "Today we need him, later when we are established you can change the pattern. We need publicity, credibility and money. Where else will it come from?" I rejected the advice outright, saying what I have never stopped repeating since, "I will not join the social welfare club. I need no false support, no whitewash and no publicity. I'll build credibility, I'll earn money, I'll labour. I'll live the real thing. For that I need the people, those who need my help. Nothing is for free, everything has a price. I will pay them, they will pay me. The people will create their own welfare service, I will help them create it. From here we go alone. There shall be no pillar to lean on. We shall build supports from within. No compromise shall dilute and plague my work. We will begin from the street, from the beginning, not the top, not the middle, but the very bottom.”
“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?”
“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.”
“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... had told me: Appearance is a distraction, surrendering it develops humility and truth in abundance.”
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