Sunday, November 20, 2011

From Facebook to God’s Book


 | NOVEMBER 14, 2011 5:00 AM


CourtesySuhaibwebb.com
Many of us have an addictive relationship with Facebook. We check our accounts compulsively, multiple times a day. It is sometimes the last thing many of us do before we sleep and the first thing we do when we wake up; time flies when we’re on it, and it is obsessive.
Yet how many of us have an addictive relationship—have any relationship—with the Qur’an? This is the Book that transformed alcoholic, oppressive, baby-girl-burying people into callers for justice, defenders of the oppressed, soft-hearted, humble worshippers of the Lord of All the Worlds. If what is contained in this Book brought eternal peace to the hearts and freedom to the souls who were chained to the whims of their own desires, it undoubtedly can emancipate us from our own problems, heartaches and stresses. However, its ability to powerfully impact us may go a lifetime unrealized if we continue to decide that other relationships are more important.
Some of us want to establish a relationship with the Qur’an, but may find it… boring, difficult to understand, or simply not fast enough. We’re used to status updates, pictures and vivid virtual conversations. We prefer fun captions and vivacious images. We prefer real people, an interchange of words and tangible friendships—or at least, Facebook friendships. A lot of us don’t even really know the people we add as friends.
In reality, what we prefer is what the Qur`an already offers and more; it’s just up to us to experience the paradigm shift, with God’s help. Here are a few ways we can tangibly work to establish our relationships with the Qur’an and in doing so, elevate ourselves in this life and in the Next, by the will of God.
From Facebook to God’s Book
What is it about Facebook or other forms of social or popular media that makes you come back, over and over, sometimes multiple times a day—at a minimum? Is it the novelty of reading ever-changing statuses or finding new pictures? Is it feeling appreciated when others comment on your posts? Is it the fun of having instantaneous connections? Is it just boredom? Whatever it is, identify why you keep going back. Then, tweak your reasons for that connection and apply it to the Qur’an.
When you read stories about Noah, Moses, Jesus, Mary, Lot—when you read about their struggles or the people who they called to the worship of God, recognize those as the Qur’an’s updates. The conversations that God quotes in the Qur’an, the arguments of the people to their Messengers, those are all comments to posts in the Qur’an’s feed.
Mary `alayha assalaam (peace be upon her) says something, then God Almighty responds. Jesus `alayhi assalaam(peace be upon him) tells his disciples something and they all start tweeting him back. Moses (as) posts on Pharaoh’s wall, Pharaoh responds with his henchman and is finally completely deleted from Facebook—and the world—in its entirety. God’s Book is more intense, exciting and novel than anything on Facebook. We just need to add it and tag it as our Best Friend.
Sometimes we find Facebook addicting because of our ability to interact with our friends. So let’s find the Qur`an addicting because of our ability to interact with God. When reading God’s Book and you want to like something, say alhamdulilah (all praise is to God)! You’ll get rewards and be increased in what’s good (Qur`an 14:7).  When you personally want to respond to a status, put up your hands and make du`a’ (supplication)! Instead of aimlessly commenting, you’ll be strengthening your connection with the One Who can hook it up for you, Who can hear you and will answer you! When you read the descriptions of Paradise and Hell, know that Allah Most High is uploading images for you to focus on and be impacted by; when you’re captivated or horrified by the image, comment through your actions! Do the actions which will include you amongst the chillers in Paradise and keep you from being in the excruciating fire. That type of commenting will bring everlasting results in this life and the Next and, God willing, Allah subahanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) will tag you as His homies in this life and the Hereafter.
Make the Qur`an Our Best Friend
Oftentimes, when we’re sad or lonely, when we’re bursting with joy or excitement, when we’re apathetic or just need some down time, we post it. We let everyone know how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, something that went down in our day or what we wished didn’t go down. We often treat Facebook as a best friend; checking it and reconnecting frequently. Here’s our opportunity to start shifting that connection; let’s start calling Allah’s Book our BEST FRIEND. With ourselves, let’s start using the term, “Best Friend,” for the Qur’an.
If you have a human best friend, think about the way you run to answer their call when you know they’re about to tell you the outcome of a life-changing decision. Think about the way you laugh when you’re chilling together at the beach or having a conversation over dinner. Think about the way that you dial their number before anyone else’s, knowing almost with certainty that they will pick up the phone and be there for your comfort.
Now, apply that same understanding of your best friend relationship to the Qur’an. If you take the Qur’an as your Best Friend, you’ll run to it when you see it near, knowing it’s calling you, ready to listen to whatever it wants to share for your own benefit, guidance and happiness. When you’re distraught, feeling lonely or at loss, you’ll go to your Best Friend, hold it to your heart, open it and begin reading it, reciting from it, reveling in its mind-blowing empathy, its heart-warming sympathy, it’s perfection of wisdom which relates directly to your situations. When you’re excited beyond measure; ready to jump through the roof because you finally got into that school, got that job, regained your health, going to get married to your dream person or had the blessing of your child, you’re going to pick it up and shed tears of joy or words of elation with it, knowing that in reality, you’re going back to the One Who gave you all that you’re excited about in the first place.
Making the Qur’an your best friend begins with a paradigm shift; this is not simply a Holy Book; it’s the pinnacle of your life, it’s your first supporter, your constant companion, your guide, the keeper of your secrets—it’s your Best Friend.
Building Our Relationship
Having taken the Qur’an as a best friend, we must also make a commitment to building our relationship with it. Best friends don’t happen overnight; we become continuously attached to the person we’ve already connected with because of our consistent ability to reconnect and re-align. So too, with the Qur’an. The Qur’an is always there, waiting to be your closest homie! Why? Because when we establish a relationship with the Qur’an, we are, in reality, establishing a relationship with the One Who created us and knows us best. He tells us, “I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed,” (Hadith Qudsi, Bukhari). When we think about God, when we make an effort to draw nearer to Him, He comes to us with speed. Therefore, let us run to Him through our relationship with the Qur’an!
Set a certain amount of Qur’an that we must read, regardless of the circumstances, every day. Make sure this amount is in a language that we understand. If we can read Arabic and understand some of it, then read the Arabic but also read a translation. Allah (swt) revealed the Qur’an in the language of the Arabs for them to understand it so that they can live by and be transformed by it. Thus, read it in a language that will impact your life, and do it daily. From 20 pages to only 1 verse, do whatever amount you can do consistently and stick with it because the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) taught us that the best actions are those that are small, but consistent (Bukhari). Reading the Qur’an daily, year-round, is better than reading a ton only in Ramadan and then disregarding it. How can a relationship flourish to its fullest if it is only maintained once a year?
Facebook can be a great networking tool, but if used obsessively, we can become addicted to a media which often brings minute tangible benefits to our lives. Allah’s Book is an incredible networking tool which will connect us to the Creator of the Universe, the One through Whom we can gain tangible benefit in this life and the eternal hereafter. Let’s go to Allah’s Book—to our Best Friend—to the Qur`an—because the best “like” is when Allah (swt) likes your life.
“… Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him – those are the party of Allah . Unquestionably, the party of Allah – they are the successful.” (Qur`an 58:22)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Work attitude


Japanese attitude for work:

If one can do it, I can do it..
If no one can do it, I must do it.

General attitude for work:

If one can do it, let him do it
If no one can do it, my friend how can I do it?

Saturday, October 1, 2011

A Message to All On Earth







In the name of God the most Merciful and the most Compassionate.

You are reading this message as part of a call by the last Messenger of God (Peace be upon him), 1400 years ago:

“Convey at least one Aayath(Verse) from Qur’an, The Final Revelation”

We are too busy all of us! Too busy that we never get time to think of the reason behind our existence. Some of us discuss everything under the sun but forget or ignore the basic issues related with human life.

We seldom think why we are here in this world? At times we forget that the next moment is not guaranteed! The reality of death!
You may say: ‘In today’s intensively materialistic life style why remind me of death? After all life is for enjoying till death! Life is for life itself!!’

Let me draw your kind attention to have a sheer parallel thinking: -

If man is a noble creature, noble should be the mission behind the creation. For every action there always lies an aim. And the aim always is beyond the action itself. For example to pass the examination is the aim of a student in school. Similarly the aim of a farmer who farms is to harvest. So the aim of life should not be life itself – it has to be something beyond life.

So what after death? (The whole world is there to talk about life, so I hope you excuse me that I start direct with death)

God (Allah in Arabic language), the creator, says in Qur’an “ How can you reject the faith in Allah? Seeing that ye were without life and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die and will again to Him will ye return” (Chapter -2: Verse -28) – YES, MAN WILL RETURN TO HIS CREATOR!

Throughout history clear direction were revealed to mankind from the creator, explaining the mission of life, to all regions and societies. Allah says in Qur’an: “Never did We destroy a population, but had its Warner” (Chapter -26 : Verse -208).

All these messengers were proclaiming the same eternal truth: The Oneness of God and the fact that the whole worship should be to Him only. The different tribes and creeds in mankind are united in this single thread.

See what Allah say about human diversity. “ O Mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you in to nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (NOT THAT YE MAY DESPISE EACH OTHER). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you (Chapter -49: Verse -13)

See how God is introducing Himself in Qur’an:

“He is Allah, the one and only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begettes not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him” (Chapter -112 : Verses – 1 to 4)

“ Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permittes? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the most High, the supreme (in glory)
(Chapter -2 : Verse -255)

Everything in this universe follows the law of this glorious creator!!!

Allah Says “ Do they seek for other than the religion of Allah? While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to its will, and to Him shall they all be brought back” (Chapter -3 : Verse -83)

Man is not a separate entity from universe; rather he is a very special creation in the universe.

Allah Says in Qur’an: “We have honored the sons of Adam (Mankind); provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of our creation” (Chapter -17: Verse -70)

So when man is the honored creation of God, he has a greater responsibility. His nobility should make him know the Creator in the right spirit. Allah did not leave mankind without guidance in this regard, rather as we saw earlier He send messengers throughout history with the right guidance and code of conduct (catalogues) for this noble creation.

Through these catalogues (revelations) he guided mankind to the way of salvation. Allah Says: Have we not made him a tongue and a pair of lips? And show him the two clear (high) ways?” (Chapter -90: Verses – 9 &10). Yes one way leads him to success! and the other of course to curse!!

......And the choice is left to us the individuals.

Allah has decreed that the one who select the true path will get salvation in the eternal life after death. And as a consequence of their own selection of the wrong path the other group shall be given the right punishment.

Allah Says “Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it. And any one who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it” (Chapter -99 : Verses –7 & 8). YES! NO INJUSTICE, THE JUDGMENT WILL BE SO ACCURATE.

Allah Says “ It is He who created the heavens and the earth -------- that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct”. (Chapter -11 : Verse -7)

Yes this life is a trial of who is best. When Allah says He will fulfill the reward on the Day of Judgment it is only justice to punish the wrong doers while the righteous are rewarded.

Now think of a situation of dying without acknowledging or in certain cases rejecting this eternal truth, while we are running behind the mirage of the busy life in this world!

Allah says in Qur’an “All souls shall have the taste of death and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid in full recompense. Only he who is saved from the fire and admitted to the paradise will have attained the object (of life); for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception” (Chapter -3 : Verse -185)

Yes gentleman, when the real eternal life is the life after death what made us forget it? What a real loss it will be if we are lost in the eternal life! The real success in life is in gaining the success in the eternal life.

At the same time don’t misunderstand that Islam, the way of life prescribed by the designer & Creator of us, is asking us to hide away from this world. For Islam spirituality is not something alien to the plain life experiences. Islam bring down spirituality from shrines and saints to the daily routine of human beings, to their busy life. It guides you through your life to salvation.

It is a complete way of life; nothing is left out of its way. Qur’an , the final (Concluding) revelation from God together with the traditions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shows the right path for all activities of mankind in this world. This is the one only true way of life, which leads to ultimate success in the life after death.

So let me invite you in plain, bold and simple terms to this straight path (ISLAM). It only glorifies you, for you are in the path of the Glorious God here. Being in ISLAM You are only reverting to the pure state.

With all prayers.


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As we are not using word to word translation, the quotes from Quran and Hadees in this blog should not be reproduced without verifying with the original texts.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Rise of East (Names, Terminologies....and more)

The other day I was discussing with a western educated, respected figure from my circle. Our discussion were general and it turned to wiki pedia and its sudden growth as a great pool of information! We searched few highly technical terms and found satisfying writeup on each term in wiki.
While we continued I asked him, have you heard about "Khan Academy"? He said no. I told him to search in the google. He did and said, "There is no result for this search". I was surprised and I stood up and looked at his screen. He had typed "Cannes Academy"!
I told him, you are still in the western era. World has moved and the east has risen high up! It is "Khan Academy", not "Cannes Academy". (Many eastern terms are commonly used these days across the world) 

That was just a starter to introduce a totally different academic mission by a dynamic youth who made a difference. Have you heard about Khan Academy? If not, you must know this smart world of education!

Let me quote from the website of Khan Academy: "Our small team is on a mission to deliver a world-class education to anyone anywhere". "What started out as Sal making a few algebra videos for his cousins has grown to over 2,100 videos and 100 self-paced exercises and assessments covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history".

You must visit this link and see how big a difference an individual (or a small effective team) can make!

http://www.khanacademy.org/

Visit the website, make use of it and inform your friends about it.


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Eating fruits : Important to know how and when to eat.



We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for
weight loss and other life activities

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.
Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI
Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE:
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY:
Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.
ORANGE :
Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON:
Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA:
Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!
Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks
HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE':
(THIS IS NOT A JOKE!)
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

Contributed by Br. Abdul Razack TT (By email).

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Six Principles of life

1. No point using limited life to chase unlimited money.
2• No point earning so much money you cannot live to spend it.
3• Money is not yours until you spend it.
4• When you are young, you use your health to chase your wealth; when you are old, you use your wealth to buy back your health. Difference is that, it is too late.
5• How happy a man is, is not how much he has but how little he needs.
6• No point working so hard to provide for the people you have no time to spend with.
Remember this -- We come to this world with nothing, we leave this world with nothing!

This is the proof that you don't have to have money to be happy.

King Abdullah Economic City, has signed a loan agreement worth $1.3bn (SAR 5bn)




Emaar Economic City, the master planner for King Abdullah Economic City, has signed a loan agreement worth $1.3bn (SAR 5bn) with the Saudi Ministry of Finance for the construction of the second phase of the 1,680-hectare mega-project.
The investment consortium’s commercial loan is for ten years with a three-year grace period before repayment, it said, in a statement to investors. The loan will be collateralized by a land area totaling 240-by-7.2 hectares on the project
The KAEC is a $13.33bn (SAR 50bn) development in Rabigh that will provide housing, business locations and industry. It will eventually include a sea port, an educational zone, a central business district with commercial space, retail outlets, resorts and a residential zone.

Construction began in 2006, and the phase one of construction was completed last year. Around 500,000 jobs have been estimated to be created in the construction, which has been scheduled for completion in 2020. The total project has a population target capacity of 2 million.Saudi Oger is among the contractors building the residential zone. It will build four towers that contain 500 apartments each.
The agreement was signed by Ibrahim Al-Asaf, minister of finance and Fahd Al-Rasheed, Emaar EC’s managing director.
Yesterday it was revealed that the investment consortium signed a 30-year lease agreement with Al Rajhi Company for Heavy Industries for the company to develop a steel manufacturing complex in the Industrial Valley area. The total lease space is 400 hectares.
Emaar Economic City shares closed down 1.33% to SAR 7.4 in Riyadh. (26th May 2011)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

UAE construction company Al Jaber Group will open a new office in Saudi Arabia

UAE construction company Al Jaber Group will open a new office in Saudi Arabia, following the succesful launch of a branch in Australia, as the company expands its global operations.
Chief operating officer Fatima Obaid Al Jaber said, "These two countries have a booming construction industry. These are the new markets we are looking at. We are looking at starting legal registration in Saudi Arabia. There are also some major mining projects in Australia."
The company is also bidding for local projects. Al Jaber said they will bid for the Abu Dhabi International Airport expansion project, and the Etihad Rail project.
"A sulphur-handling project in Ruwais has been awarded to us recently," she added
Al Jaber highlighted the company's desire to move to the Gulf's most populous nation in an interview carried by CW last November.
“We are actually working in Qatar and we’re looking at the Saudi Arabian market, but I think we are being quite conservative about this. There are some plans in the pipeline for Saudi. But we’re staying within the GCC,” she toldConstructionWeek.
She also said moving into new markets was not possible without good finanical support and cashflow from banks.
“Financing in this market is tough. It’s not easy,” she explained. “I think the banks are a bit reluctant to support companies. I think they’re trying their best but there are a lot of regulations in place that stop them from doing so. We are trying to work around all of these things, and we have good support from the existing banks that we are working with, but you know, if you want to expand, you need more support.”
Al Jaber said "that by Q1 of next year, we will see more Al Jaber Group projects across the region."
Other construction related firms to open in Riyad include Ramboll Middle East and Jotun Saudi.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Four Popular Myths About Leadership



1. Everyone can be a leader.
Not true. Many executives don't have the self-knowledge or the authenticity necessary for leadership. And self-knowledge and authenticity are only part of the equation. Individuals must also want to be leaders, and many talented employees are not interested in shouldering that responsibility. Others prefer to devote more time to their private lives than to their work. After all, there is more to life than work, and more to work than being the boss.

2. Leaders deliver business results.
Not always. If results were always a matter of good leadership, picking leaders would be easy. In every case, the best strategy would be to go after people in companies with the best results. But clearly, things are not that simple. Businesses in quasi-monopolistic industries can often do very well with competent management rather than great leadership. Equally, some well-led businesses do not necessarily produce results, particularly in the short term.

3. People who get to the top are leaders.
Not necessarily. One of the most persistent misperceptions is that people in leadership positions are leaders. But people who make it to the top may have done so because of political acumen, not necessarily because of true leadership quality. What's more, real leaders are found all over the organization, from the executive suite to the shop floor. By definition, leaders are simply people who have followers, and rank doesn't have much to do with that. Effective military organizations like the U.S. Navy have long realized the importance of developing leaders throughout the organization.

4. Leaders are great coaches.
Rarely. A whole cottage industry has grown up around the teaching that good leaders ought to be good coaches. But that thinking assumes that a single person can both inspire the troops and impart technical skills. Of course, it's possible that great leaders may also be great coaches, but we see that only occasionally. More typical are leaders like Steve Jobs whose distinctive strengths lie in their ability to excite others through their vision rather than through their coaching talents.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Yusuf (Joseph), the most honourable among the mankind

Once prophet Mohammed (SA) was asked. Who is the most honourable among man?
He replied: In the eyes of allah, the most honourable is the one who has Taqwa.

They said: This is known to us. What we mean is in a broder sense.

Then Prophet Mohammed (SA) said: Yusuf (AS) is the most honourable among mankind. He was handsome, perfect in everything and was the son of a prophet, who in turn was the son of prophet, who in turn was the son of a prophet. And he was in power both in spiritual and material terms.

As we all know Yusuf (AS) was a prophet and at the same time a minister in Egypt who handled the treasury!

There is a great lesson in this example from Prophet Mohammed (SA). The greatness is not coming from leading a spiritual life in seclusion. It is associated with those in control of the affairs and who successfully manages them with justice and due respect of evrything that matters.

Prophet Mohammed himself was a wholistic man. He was a Prophet, a ruler, a businessman, a father, a reformer,..............a real leader.

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of the world's great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive..........." From the book : The 100, a Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History by Michael H. Hart.

Yes. For those prophets and leaders religion was not a barrier, but a means to greatness.

Courtsey: The class of br. Abdul Kareem Sullami Edavanna.
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Important note to the reader: Since I am reproducing the class from my memory, the words in this post need not be exactly matching to the words from hadees. I was trying to summarise the message only. So please do not quote without referring the basic Hadees books.

Saudi and Korean firms sign rail bid joint venture

Abdullah AM Al-Khodari Sons has entered a joint venture with Korea’s LOTTE Engineering & Construction Company to pre-qualify for a buildings tender on the North-South rail project launched by Saudi Railway Company.

The Al-Khobar based civil and construction contractor said it would own 55% of the joint venture that will bid for the passenger station, mosque and headquarters package. It would work on the project with LOTTE, which has branches in Abu Dhabi and Libya, if successful, it added.
The upcoming 2,400km North-South rail project will run from the border of Saudi Arabia with Jordan to Riyadh, passing through Jouf, Hail, Qassim and Sudair, connecting the northern region to the Hail region allowing the transportation of phosphates and bauxite to Ras Al Zawr in the north-east, then on to Jubail. Abdullah Al-Khodari has already won a one-year contract from Saudi Arabian Mining Company to supply above- and below-ground pipe work for the aluminium smelter in Ras Al Zawr.
Completion of the initial phase of the North-South Railway was announced by Dr Ibrahim Al-Assaf, finance minister and chairman of the Public Investment Fund on 24 May.
Railway Gazette reported that trial operations on a 1,392km section of the project began last week, with a four-wagon train carrying 200 tonnes of phosphate concentrate from the Ma'aden mine at Al Jalamid to Ras Azzawr port on the Gulf coast. By completion, 155 wagon trains will carry loads of 15,000 tonnes, it added.
The rail project is scheduled to open by 2013, with a link to the border with Jordan at Al Haditha in 2014.
The project is one of many new rail developments to arise across the kingdom. In March Al-Balad Al-Ameen Company for Urban Development said it would launch a tender for an intercity rail network in Makkah in the third quarter. Ahmad Al-Baloushi, executive president, said the company had already carried out a technical study of the project and started a feasibility study. It will eventually link to the $1.9bn Haramain High Speed rail network.
It is the second joint venture announced this month by Al-Khodari after announcing it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Kier Construction to pre-qualify for projects in the Eastern Region.
Al-Khodari’s share price rose 0.3% yesterday in Riyadh and closed at SAR 68.5.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Oppressor and Oppressed

"Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed." Said Prophet Mohammed (SA).

A man asked, "O Allah's Apostle! I will help him if he is oppressed, but if he is an oppressor, how shall I help him?"

The Prophet replied, "By preventing him from oppressing [others], for that is how to help him."


(Sahih Al-Bukhari: Narrated by Anas R.A.)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

THINGS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW YOUR MOBILE PHONE COULD DO

1. International Emergency
a. The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112.
b. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you.
c. Interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

2. Have you locked your keys in the car?
d. If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone.
e. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock.
f. This saves someone from having to drive your keys to you.
g. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

3. Hidden Battery Power
h. Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#
i. Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery.
j. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

4. How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
k. To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone!: * # 0 6 #, a 15 digit code will appear on the screen.
l. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
m. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.


Courtsey: Email from Mr. Ahmed Issam Jaradat

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Present value for a cashflow for a given period (Discounted cash flow)

If you take a loan from the bank you will have to pay an interest. The amount you will have to pay at the end of every year to close the loan in say five or ten years is very clear in your mind.

But the opposit is not easily comprehended.

The term is the present value for a cashflow for a given period. The financial term for this calculation is called discounted cash flow. This calulates the present value for a cashflow (fixed or with varying growth) for a given number of period.

This calculation is usefull for calculating the present value of a company with certain future future projection of business.

I was searching for a reading about this material and I came across a very simple writeup on it and a calculator.

Please click below link to read:

Discounted Cashflow Calculator


I thought of sharing this link here.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Good and evil can not be equal

Good and evil can not be equal.
Knowledge and ignorance can not be equal.
Truth and falseness can not be equal.
Light and darkness can not be equal.
Day and Night can not be equal.
Might and weakness can not be equal.

A good soul and a bad soul can not be equal!


Today there is a great deal of dilution happening to this philosophy.

In old days someone who takes interest were treated as a bad person in the society. Those days, especially among the muslim community, you rarely find respectable people crossing the borders of the teachings of Prophet (SA).

For example:
A true believer shall not take bribe for his services.
A true believer shall not cross the forbiddesn limits (haram) in his earnings.
His body and his family should not be fed with money earned in a prohibited manner.

As per the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SA), nothing except pure will enter paradise. If your body part is fed with food earned in a forbidden manner, that part can not enter paradise!

A believer should be very carefull of such a situation.
A believer should always pray to Allah and recite Salath on Allah's messenger so that he gets the spiritual strength to keep himself away from evil deeds.

A believer should differentiate himself from others with his good deeds!


Courtsey: Highlights from the class of Br. Kareem Sullami tonight in Jeddah.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Rule number one: Life has ups and downs

Rule number one: Life has ups and downs


In the above graph, look at series 1, 2 and 3. If they represent the life of three individuals, you can see that all the three had ups and downs in their life.

Which series you likes for yourself?

Series -2 is person who just managed his life without major falls or major success.

Series -3 represents a person who falls but his ups are not enough. ultimately he ends up a failure.

Series -1 represents a case of success. Each time he fell, he tried hard to push his life up much harder so that ultimately he reached much suucessfull position in life!

Is this not the simple case of life, companies, organizations, parties ......? It is natural that some of our ventures fail. The solution lies in quickly realizing it and make necessary remedial actions immeditely.

If the fall is big you should work very hard to push the graph up. But if you take it easy and leave it for granted or do not work hard enough at critical times, the graph automatically falls down and down!

In malayalam we say "Thaan Paathi Daiwam Paathi". Yes, we have to do our part and then ask for the help from God.

It is not difficult to make a life graph similar Series-1 for a person with dedication, determination and hard work especially at critical stages in life.


Courtsey: Mr. kabeer from Center for Information and Guidance India(CIGI), while he made a presentation in Jeddah recently.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Simple rule of Capitalism

There is a very simple rule in capitalism which allows entreprueners to take big risks.

If your venture is going well, there is no upper limit for the fortune it could bring to you. While if the venture is going bad, you are protected with the limited liability amount of the company!

In bad days you can declare bankruptcy and make yourself clean from the losses. Following this you can again start a new business with a loan from the bank with the same old conditions!

You never go below zero. No one will come to your home to claim the money lost from your venture, but they will only come to the factory or the assets declared under the company.

Good or bad........this is capitalism.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Labour Day Thoughts

I am from Kerala, India but working in KSA.

A labourer in Kerala (Our area) comes for duty at around 8.00AM and goes back home by 1.30PM to 2.00PM!

The same keralite labourer, once he comes out of kerala is ready to work 12 to 18 hours per day! The irony is that the he does so in places like gulf countries for normal salaries like Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month!

The other day I discussed with one of my friend who is working in KSA since 1983. He was comparing the salary for labourers in KSA from 1983 and now. The increase in wages is only in the range of 20% to 30%. Whereas in India the wages of labourers increased from 500% to 800% during this period!!!!

No wonder why it is very hard for low paid Indian labourers to survive and the need for them to work so hard for long hours!!!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Best Word

Assalamu Alaikum

I wanted to use the title "The Best Word" for this blog spot.
But that title is already booked by some one smarter than me earlier. So the name for my new blog "The Better Word".

Kalima Tayyiba ( The good word) is compared to a good tree. A good tree has a root so deep and a shade so spread. It give shade and delivers its fruits in all seasons to all the birds and to all the passerby!