Dr. Ashraf Zainabi
“In the pursuit of becoming somebody, we often forget to become ourselves.”
A man went to a wise old fellow and asked him a rather unusual question. What is the main purpose of a man’s life? The old fellow thought for a moment and replied, how old are you? Forty-three came the reply. And what have you been doing for forty-three years? The man looked offended. What do you mean? I studied, got a job, earned money, bought a car, built a house, raised a family, and established myself in society. Wonderful! said the old fellow. And what do you intend to do next? The man smiled and said, earn more money, buy a bigger car, build a better house, secure a higher position, and make sure my children do even better than me. The old fellow nodded sympathetically. Then I have one more question. When do you intend to begin living? The man laughed. I have been living all my life! Of course, said the old fellow. That is precisely what worries me. The man left, slightly irritated. He decided the old fellow was probably a philosopher, and philosophers, as everyone knows, have a reputation for making simple things unnecessarily complicated. Besides, the man had important matters to attend to. He had a meeting about increasing his income, a discussion about acquiring a property, and a dinner where he needed to impress people who were themselves busy trying to impress him. There was simply no time to investigate a question that had no immediate financial benefit. Years passed.The man became richer.
His house grew larger, his car more expensive, his wardrobe more fashionable, and his circle of acquaintances more influential. He even acquired a few people who called him sir without knowing his first name.Life was progressing beautifully.There was just one small problem.Every time he acquired something, the satisfaction lasted for a surprisingly short period. The new car was wonderful until his neighbour bought a more expensive one. The house was magnificent until he visited a larger one. His professional achievement was a source of pride until a colleague received a more prestigious appointment.He began to suspect that the world had entered into a conspiracy against his happiness. No sooner had he purchased something than somebody else purchased something better.Even his mobile phone seemed to have joined the conspiracy. Every year, it became obsolete just when he had finished paying for it.He considered buying a new one. Naturally.
Meanwhile, his children grew up. He had spent years providing them with the best education, but they seemed strangely interested in spending time with him rather than merely receiving his advice. His wife occasionally complained that he was physically present but mentally occupied with tomorrow’s earnings. He dismissed these complaints as temporary misunderstandings. After all, everything he did was for his family. He simply had very little time left to enjoy them. One afternoon, he attended a funeral. The deceased had been a wealthy and influential man. His property was considerable, his professional achievements impressive, and his social standing unquestionable. Yet the mourners were discussing something rather unexpected. One remembered the deceased’s kindness. Another recalled how he had helped a struggling family. A third spoke of his honesty in a difficult business transaction. Nobody seemed particularly interested in the size of his house. On the way home, our man became thoughtful. He had attended many meetings in which people discussed wealth, status and success. He had rarely heard anyone discuss what kind of person a man should become. He remembered the old fellow.
“Human life is often spent chasing material success, only for people to realize in old age that true value lies in character rather than acquisitions. Aligning with Erich Fromm’s distinction between having and being and the Islamic emphasis on righteousness, a person’s ultimate purpose is not merely securing a livelihood, but developing a worthy and noble character.”
Annoyingly, the old fellow had asked a question for which time had supplied no answer. He began reading philosophy. He encountered Erich Fromm, who had written about the difference between having and being. From questioned a society that encourages people to define themselves by what they possess rather than by the qualities they develop. The man found the idea interesting. He even told a friend about it over an expensive lunch. His friend listened carefully and asked, where did you buy that book?
The man laughed. Then, unexpectedly, he stopped laughing. Perhaps the problem was not that he had misunderstood the world. Perhaps he had misunderstood what he was supposed to do in it. He thought about the people he admired most. They were not necessarily the richest or most powerful. Some were ordinary people who kept their promises, treated others fairly, admitted their mistakes and helped without keeping accounts. Their lives did not appear spectacular. Yet people trusted them. He wondered whether trust was something money could purchase.
Whether respect could be demanded into existence. Whether a man could become genuinely great by spending his life trying to look great. He remembered that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had placed exceptional importance on good character. The Qur’an declares that the most noble in the sight of Allah are those most righteous (49:13). Suddenly, the question seemed less complicated than the old fellow had made it sound. But one doubt remained. Could a man pursue wealth, professional success and a comfortable life while also becoming a better human being? Of course he could. The problem was never the house, the car, the salary or the position.
The problem was expecting these things to accomplish something they were never designed to accomplish. A house can provide shelter. It cannot provide honesty. Money can purchase a bed. It cannot guarantee peaceful sleep. A title can make people stand when you enter a room. It cannot ensure that they respect you when you leave. The man decided to visit the old fellow again. He found him sitting under a tree, looking as unhurried as ever. I think I understand your question now, the man said.
The old fellow smiled. Excellent. What have you discovered? The man hesitated. That I have spent much of my life trying to become a successful man without asking what it means to be a good one. The old fellow nodded. And what will you do now? The man thought for a moment. I will continue working, earning, building and providing for my family. But I will try not to make these things the whole purpose of my life. Good, said the old fellow. And what will you tell your children? The man smiled. That they should work hard, but also learn to be honest, compassionate, thoughtful and responsible. The old fellow leaned back against the tree. Then perhaps you have finally begun to understand. The man was about to leave when the old fellow called him back. One last thing. What is your biggest achievement? The man paused. For once, he did not mention his salary, house, car or position. I don’t know yet, he replied. The old fellow laughed. Good! At least now you have a chance of getting it right. Perhaps this is the great irony of human life: we spend our childhood learning how to succeed, our youth trying to get ahead, our middle age accumulating the rewards, and sometimes our old age discovering that the most important examination was never about what we had acquired, but about what we had become. Erich From called our attention to the difference between having and being; Islam reminds us that true nobility lies in righteousness and character. Both invite us to look beyond the possessions that decorate our lives towards the qualities that define them. A man’s main mission, then, is not simply to make a living, but to become a human being worth living with.
(The author is Assistant Professor Design Innovation Centre –DIC Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST) Awantipora, J&K. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Kashmir: Taming Winter Fires
Neelofar Shakeel
With the onset of winter, fire incidents across Kashmir have once again brought the issue of fire safety into focus, highlighting the need for greater public awareness, preventive measures and coordinated efforts to protect lives and property during the cold months. As temperatures dip across the Valley, households increasingly depend on heating appliances, traditional heating arrangements, electric blankets, room heaters and other devices to keep indoor spaces warm. While these arrangements provide much-needed relief from the biting cold, improper use, faulty electrical wiring, overloaded sockets and unattended heating equipment can increase the risk of accidental fires.
The winter season also brings additional challenges in densely populated residential areas, particularly where houses are closely built, access lanes are narrow and traditional wooden structures remain common. In such localities, even a small fire can potentially spread rapidly if timely precautions are not taken. However, the growing attention towards fire safety also presents an opportunity to strengthen community preparedness and promote a culture of prevention across the region. Fire safety experts and emergency responders have repeatedly emphasised that many domestic fire emergencies can be prevented through simple precautions, regular inspection of electrical installations and responsible use of heating equipment.
The Jammu and Kashmir Fire and Emergency Services Department has also intensified its public outreach by issuing winter safety advisories, urging residents to exercise caution while using Bukharis, Kangris, LPG heaters, electric blankets and other heating appliances. Such initiatives underline the importance of preventive safety measures as the Valley enters the harsh winter period. An encouraging aspect is that awareness and preventive interventions have already shown positive results in Srinagar. According to figures shared by the Fire and Emergency Services Department in December 2025, the city recorded 468 fire incidents up to November, compared to 720 during the corresponding period of the previous year. The monthly average also declined from around 60 to 42 incidents. Officials attributed the improvement partly to awareness campaigns undertaken by the department.
“Winter fire safety in Kashmir demands shared responsibility through public cooperation, institutional readiness, modern infrastructure, and continuous awareness.”
This reduction demonstrates that sustained public awareness, responsible behaviour and timely intervention can make a meaningful difference. It also underlines the need to extend such initiatives to other districts of Kashmir, particularly rural and remote areas where emergency response may be affected by snowfall, road conditions and difficult terrain.
The role of Fire and Emergency Services personnel remains particularly important during this period. Their timely response, professional training and coordinated operations often prevent localised incidents from turning into major disasters. Strengthening fire stations, ensuring the availability of modern equipment, maintaining emergency vehicles and improving accessibility to densely populated localities can further enhance the department’s response capacity.
Equally important is the participation of local communities. Residents’ welfare associations, market committees, educational institutions and village-level organisations can play a constructive role by organising awareness programmes and familiarising people with basic fire safety practices. Schools and colleges can also introduce fire safety demonstrations to educate students about emergency response and evacuation procedures.
Households, meanwhile, should ensure that electrical wiring is inspected by qualified electricians, avoid overloading sockets, use standard-quality heating appliances and switch off heaters before sleeping or leaving home. Proper ventilation while using fuel-based heating devices is essential. Kangris should be handled carefully and kept away from bedding, curtains and other inflammable materials. Families should also keep staircases and exit routes unobstructed.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department has advised residents to immediately report fire emergencies by dialling the toll-free number 101, enabling fire tenders to reach affected locations without delay.
As Kashmir prepares for another challenging winter, fire safety must become a shared responsibility rather than remain limited to departmental advisories. A combination of public cooperation, institutional preparedness, modern emergency infrastructure and regular awareness campaigns can significantly reduce preventable fire incidents.
The positive trend recorded in Srinagar offers an important lesson: awareness saves lives, preparedness protects property and collective responsibility makes communities safer. With timely precautions and sustained efforts, Kashmir can work towards a safer winter for every household.
(Author is Online Editor at “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
