What Babar Ahmed taught me...

Feeling a bit sorry for yourself? Well GET OVER IT!

The following should help you "get over it" :)

For years I've been reading about horrific cases of prisoner abuse, indefinite detention and basic human rights being ignored. Sounds depressing, right? HECK YEAH! (If you do not agree please book an appointment with your local psychologist.)

One important message I've learnt, and read from prisoners, is to never let it (whatever 'it' may be) get you down. Babar Ahmed has written a beautiful piece on maintaining that positivity in a prison environment and more importantly in the face of blatant injustice - Words of Wisdom. (Alot is based on religion, but don't let if put you off!) If these men, facing indefinite detention, and some facing it on a land they probably never heard, can maintain their positivity and not recoil into self-helplessness then so can we!!!

Babar Ahmed, some of his injuries sustained during his arrest.

Ibn Taymiyyah once said : "The one imprisoned is the one who is prisoner to his desires. And the one behind bars is the one whose heart is barred from his Lord." How true is this statement! From personal experience, how often do I forget that I have my most basic of needs met - food, warmth and shelter. Yet, I'm not satisfied! I want things I can't afford, I want a better job not realising I'm blessed to have a job at all! I struggle with an eating disorder, yet I forget that its a test of character and strength and rather than dwell in it and the misery it brings I should strive to beat it!

You want to know what keeps me going? I know that when I remember the One who created me, who blew life into me, I feel at ease. There is no doubt in my mind that He would never ever place upon anyone a burden greater than they can bare - its down to us to change our mentality and realise that!

I shall end this post with a piece taken from Words of Wisdom :

 As one scholar said: “True freedom is to live with your head held up high, your forehead raised, with self dignity, each day better than before, tomorrow better than today, no matter what may come to pass."