kiya bataoon mujh ko kis aalam main nazar aay woh. pak damani kay dawedaar teray shehar main. sinf-e-nazuk kay biyan par raal tapkatay huway. main nay dekhay zaahid-o-deendaar teray shehar main. Mujh ko apni chaak damani pay 100, 100 naz hain. daikh kar khar masti-e-dastaar teray shehar main.
Three Construction workers are working on the 20th floor of a tall building in Bombay. One is a Mallu, the second is a Bengali and the third is a Sardarji.
Every day all the three meet in the lunch hall and have their lunch together One fine day -- the Mallu opened his lunch box and finds idlis in the box.
He says " I am fed up of eating these idlis daily. If I find idlis in the box tommorow, I will jump from the 20th floor and die".
Next the Bengali opens his lunch box and finds Fish in it and says " If I find fish in my lunch box tommorow, I am going to jump from the 20th floor of this building and die "
Next the Sardarji opens his lunch box and finds Parathas in it and says " Mother promise, if I find parathas in my box tommorow I am also going to jump from the 20th floor"
Next day the three friends meet in the lunch room for lunch. Mallu opens his lunch box and finds Idlis and promptly jumps from the 20th floor and dies.
The Bengali opens his lunch box and finds fish in it and jumps from the 20th floor and dies.
Sardarji opens his box and finds parathas and he also jumps from the 20th floor and dies.
In the combined funeral held for all the three friends by their colleagues, the Mallu's widow says " I did not know he hated idlis so much. If not I would have packed something else for his lunch "
The Bengali's widow says " I did not know he hated fish so much. If not I would have packed something else for his lunch"
The sardarji's widow says " I do not understand what went wrong. My husband always prepared his own lunch....!!!
WHEN BISMILLAH WAS REVEALED ... Sayyidina Jaabir (RA) is reported to have said that when Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem revealed,
the clouds gave way by moving to the East, the winds ceased blowing, the oceans became calm, the creatures prepared themselves to listen, the shaytaan got pelted with fire from the heavens andAllah Ta'ala, swearing an oath by His honour, declared: Anyone who says this name of mine (ie. Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem) upon anything, I will surely impart barakah in that thing, (Durre Manthoor and Ibne Katheer)
BISMILLAH BEFORE WAHEE In Durre Manthoor Sayyidina Ibne Umar (RA) is reported as saying that surely, whenever Jibreel (AS) used to bring wahee to Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam), he used to first recite Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem .
The reason for the above is as follows: in Bismillah there are three names of Allah:
(1) Allah which is His personal name indicating that all projectscan only be initiated by the will and wish of Allah.
(2) Rahmaan (Kind) which is His attributive name indicating that only Allah can keep that project intact and existent (guarding it against destruction).
(3) Raheem(Most Merciful) which is also His attributive name indicating that only Allah can,through His mercy and grace, enable any person to derive benefit from that project.
This clearly proves that any project begun with Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem will be granted barakah and blessings from the beginning till the end.
BISMILLAH BEFORE DOING ANYTHING It is for this reason that Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi- wasallam) used to recite Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem before doing any work. And he (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) also advised the Ummah to do the same. For example, reading it before shutting the door for the night, before putting out the light, before taking meals, before drinking water, before boarding a conveyance, and when alighting any conveyance.
REMEMBERING ALLAH THROUGH HIS THREE THOUSAND NAMES It is mentioned in Tafseer Roohul Bayaan that Allaamah Sayyid Haqqi (RA) said that Allah Ta'ala has three thousand names. He revealed one thousand to the angels, one thousand to the ambiya(AS), three hundred are mentioned in the Toraah, three hundred in the Zaboor, three hundred in the Injeel, and ninety-nine in the Holy Qur'aan. One Name He has kept to Himself; He revealed it to no one. Also, He has condensed all His names into the three names contained in Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem. They are Allah, Rahmaan and Raheem. Any person saying Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem; it is as though he has remembered Allah by all His names.
BISMILLAH - A MEANS OF HIGH STATUS IN THE HEREAFTER Rasoolullah (Sallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) is reported as saying that any du'a which is begun with is not rejected. Because of saying Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem the scales of my Ummah will become heavy on the Day of Qiyaamah. The other people will enquire: "Why is the virtues of the Ummate Muhammadiyyah so heavy?" Their prophets will say: "In the utterances of the Ummate Muhammadiyyah there is such an honourable name of Allah that if it is placed on the one side of the scale, and the sins of the entire creation is put onto the other side then the side with the virtue will be heavier.
A HADEETHE QUDSI Rasoolullah (Saliallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) said that Sayyidina Jibreel made mention of this Hadeeth under oath that he heard it from Sayyidina Mika'il(AS) under oath who in turn heard it from Sayyidina Israfeel (AS) under oath that Allah Ta'ala said: "By my honour, grace and grandeur, whoever reads Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem and Soorah Faatihah jointly once, then you be witness that I shall not burn his tongue and I will save him from the Fire as well as the punishment of the grave and the day of Qiyaamah.
Note: Reading Bismillah and Sooratul Faatihah jointly means to read it as follows: Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem mil hamdu lillaahi rabbil aalameen.....
SAYING BISMILLAH BEFORE WUDHU Rasoolullah (Sallailaahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: "One who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, his wudhu is incomplete." (Tirmizi). It is reported from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (RA) that anyone who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, only the sins committed by the limbs which are washed in wudhu will be washed away; and one who says Bismillah before wudhu, the sins of the entire body will be washed away. (Mishkaat)
SAYING BISMILLAH BEFORE MEALS Sayyidina Umar Ibne Abee Salmah (RA) reports that Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) said to me: "Say Bismillah and eat with your right hand the food that is in front of you." (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi)
Whoever used to eat without saying Bismillah, Rasoolullah(Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) used to hold his hand and urge him to say Bismillah. (Zaadul Ma'aad,Uswah-e-Rasoole Akram).
The Ulama have said that it is preferable to say the Bismillah aloud so that it is a reminder for those who forget. Also, Ibne Habbaan is reported as saying that if Bismillah is said prior to utilising any bounty of Allah and Alhamdu- lillah is said after utilising it, the user will not be asked to the give accountability for that bounty on the Day of Qiyamah.
WHEN UNDRESSING Sayyidina Anas (RA) reports from Rasoolullah (Sallallaa- hu-alayhi-wasallam) that when a person undresses for the purpose of either relieving himself or bathing or having relations with his spouse then the shaytaan interferes and plays with his or her private parts. But if he or she says Bismillah before taking off the clothes, then this serves as a barrier and safety against the shaytaan and jinn. (Tirmizi)
OTHER WONDERS OF BISMILLAH Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) is reported as saying that as long as people keep on saying Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem it will be a means of safeguarding them against sicknesses; a means of granting riches to the destitute; a means of freedom against the Fire; a means of safeguard against being swallowed by the earth; a means of safety against faces becoming distorted; and a means of safety from stones raining down from the heavens. (Ghunyatut Taalibeen Page 157)
Verily my happiness is my iman & verily my iman is in my heart & verily my heart does not belong to anyone but Allah (Asma bint Abu Bakr R.A)
"The power of iman is such that once it fills the heart of a true believing Mu'min it is impossible to be removed." (Sahih Bukhari)
kuch khawab hain jin ko likhna hai Tabeer ki surat deni hai Kuch log hai ujray dil wale Jinhe apni muhabbat deni hai Kuch phool hain jin ko chunana hai Or haar ki surat deni hai Kuch apni neendein baqi hain Jinhe bantna hai kuch logo main Un ko bhi rahtain deni hain Ay umre rawan Ahista chal Abhi khasa karz chukana hai
"I am considering two promises. One is the promise of God, the other is that of Bush. The promise of God is that my land is vast. If you start a journey on God's path, you can reside anywhere on this earth and will be protected... The promise of Bush is that there is no place on earth where you can hide that I cannot find you. We will see which one of these two promises is fulfilled."- Mullah Muhammad Umar
The people who love one another for God's Sake Only
The Prophet(saw) said "Some of God's Servants who are neither prophets nor martyrs shall have on the Day of Judgement a position so close to God that prophets and martyrs would love to have." His companions said: "Messenger of God, will you please tell us who these people are." He said: "They are people who love one another for God's sake only. They have no relation of kinship or business interests with one another. By God, their faces are radiant with light, and they have light. They shall have no fear or sadness when other people are overtaken by fear and sadness." [Related by Abu Dawud.]
“Speech by itself is worthless, unless it is followed by action. Speech and Action by themselves are worthless, unless they have the right intention. And Speech, action and the right intention are worthless unless they agree with the Sunnah.” Abdullah ibn Mas’ood
You are Far More Precious Than Diamonds and Pearls
Taken from the book: "More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes."
"If memory serves me correctly, I was wearing a little white tank top and a short black skirt. I had been raised Orthodox Muslim, so I had never before worn such revealing clothing while in my father's presence. When we finally arrived, the chauffer escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite.
As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them." He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."
A Winner is not only who never fails !!!! But never quits !!!!
Officials rejected a candidate for a news broadcasters post Since his voice was not fit for a news broadcaster. He was also told that with his obnoxiously long name, He would never be famous. He is
In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition For the executives of the Decca Recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, One executive said, " We don't like! Their sound. Groups of guitars are On the way out." The group was called
A small boy--the fifth amongst seven siblings of a poor father, Was selling newspapers in a small village to earn his living. He was not exceptionally smart at school but was fascinated by Religion and rockets.
The first rocket he built crashed. A missile that he built crashed Multiple times And he was made a butt of ridicule. He is the person to have scripted the Space Odyssey of India Single-handedly. He is
In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson Took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in The country.
They all turned him down. In 1947, after 7 long years of rejections, He finally got a tiny company in Rochester, NY, the Haloid Company, To purchase the rights to his invention--an electrostatic Paper-copying process. Haloid became Xerox Corporation.
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A little girl--the 20th of 22 children, Was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, She contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, Which left her with aparalyzed left leg.
At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on And began to Walk without it. By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, Which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every Race she entered, She came in last.
Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she Actually won a race. And then another. >From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl--
Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
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A schoolteacher scolded a boy for not paying attention to his mathematics And for not being able to solve simple problems. She told him that you would not become anybody in life. The boy was
In the past two months two of our top doctors at SKMCH & RC resigned to seek employment abroad, because both felt that Pakistan has no future. The numbers of professionals and businessmen who are being "brain – drained" is increasing at an alarming rate. Most people are losing hope in Pakistan, where a fascist Govt. has gripped all levers of power, and yet is completely ill-equipped to deal with the multi-crises facing the country. The despondency is compounded by the fact that there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. However despite this atmosphere of gloom and doom there are eleven reasons why I still believe that Pakistan has a bright future.
Nation - ready for change 1. My main reason for optimism stems from the fact that today the people of Pakistan are ready for a change. Whether it is the posh dinning rooms or the truck restaurants by the roadside or the tea stalls, everywhere the consensus is that we cannot go on any longer with the current system. While people may differ on what type of change, yet everyone agrees that to survive, change we must. This is extremely encouraging, as it is only matter of time before the winds of change turn into a gale force and sweep away those upholding the status quo. According to the Quran "Never has Allah changed the condition of a people unless they strive for it themselves."
Vast amount of talent 2. Pakistanis are an extremely talented and a vibrant people. Wherever, they have got a level playing field they have excelled. In the past 25 years I have witnessed their talents blossom all over the world. In systems where merit + hardwork are awarded they have become outstanding doctors, engineers, bankers, businessmen, scientists even sportsmen. According to a survey in 1996 amongst all the ethnic groups residing in the USA, academically, Pakistanis were amongst the top two. There was an article in Britains Daily Mail newspaper on 16th October ‘ 98 about "Britains Brightest family". It was about a Pakistani couple all of whose four children were geniuses. Also lets not forget that the late Dr. Abdus Salaam the Nobel Prize winner in physics was a Pakistani. Moreover it was the Pakistani businessmen who took over the textile trade in Manchester, which for decades had been a Jewish Monopoly. In the silicon Valley in the US a number of Pakistani businessmen like Farooq Bajwa + Saifi Qureshi have done extremely well in the computer industry. In international institutions like the U.N, World Bank & IMF. Pakistanis, have reached prominent positions through their hard work and talent. In the late sixties, early 70s it was six or seven Pakistani cricketers who started playing in the English County Cricket. After excelling there, they came back to make Pakistan a cricketing force.So I strongly believe that if we can develop our systems, liberate the people from the corrupt politicians and stifling bureaucracy, award honesty & hard work and allow the potential of our people to develop (especially by investing in education) we can become a proud, independent, self-respecting nation.
Need for change of system 3. The corrupt ruling elite has created great despondency amongst the people by giving the impression that it is hopeless to fight corruption because everyone is corrupt. Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly made statements to this effect "Awa Ka Awa Corrupt Ha". During the past decade both Nawaz Sharif and Bibi defended their personal corruption, not by trying to prove their innocence but by calling the accuser corrupt.I believe a Govt. which has integrity and determination can crush corruption by conducting a ruthless accountability of those who have corrupted the system as opposed to those who have been corrupted by the system. The former are those who have been in power, and who have used their position to make fortunes. The latter, however should be given amnesties. How can the law treat a businessmen who is forced to pay bribes by Govt. depts or for example a Govt. servant with a salary of Rs. 5000 supporting five children, in the same way as a politician who uses his position to loot nationalised banks, development funds, gets commissions and kick backs from money that belongs to the people of this country? Accountability, liberalisation of the economy, alongwith structural changes in our system of governance (like decentralisation, a lean well paid bureaucracy, a conflict of interest law, freedom of information, transparency, independent accountability commission) can rid our society from the curse of corruption. Pakistanis abroad live as law abiding citizens because unlike in Pakistan the systems there ensures that crime does not pay.
Determination to improve the law and order situation 4. I am also confident that a determined Govt. can dramatically improve our law and order situations. Police and judicial reforms will have to be conducted immediately. If in both institution selection is made on merit, free of political interference and have decent salaries, there is no reason why their performance will not dramatically improve. A law commission that includes retired judges, prominent citizens plus Govt. representatives, instead of the law ministry, would be a first step towards the freedom of the judiciary. The judiciary in Singapore in the 60s was as corrupt as in Pakistan, it took one dynamic chief Justice of integrity backed by a visionary head of state, to make it one of the most respected in the world. We may not agree with the Taleban interpretation of Islam but the way they have managed to restore a complete rule of law in an incredibly short time, in a country where every institution had been destroyed by years of war, is extremely commendable. To simply attribute the Taleban’s success to harsh punishments is being naive. The reasons for their success are first and foremost that no one, including the leadership of the Taleban, is above law. Secondly the laws are enforced. Only once the rule of law was established were the Taleban able to disarm the entire country. Why can’t we establish law and order when our task is relatively easier?
Tax collection 5. The root cause of our present economic crisis is our inability to collect enough tax revenues – hence our debt trap. According to various estimates of our tax commissions we barely collect 25% of our tax potential – the rest is evaded. The main reason is that the privileged classes have never paid their share of taxes. Through various tax exemptions that they have provided themselves, the privileged classes have creamed off the wealth of this country. Naturally the majority of the people resist paying taxes, when they see the ruling elite not only evading taxes but also living in luxury on their taxes. Reforming the tax dept, removing all exemptions for the privileged, punishing evaders, having fewer, lower and equitable taxes, can more than double our tax revenues. After all if Uganda could raise its tax revenues by 500%, and Argentina which has high level of corruption, could raise its tax – GDP ratio from 9% to 21% in two years because of President Menem’s determined leadership, then why can’t we raise our tax GDP ratio from 13% to 26% and balance our budget.
Smaller autonomous units 6. Because there is no separation of the executive and legislature and because there is no conflict of interest law, our parliament has degenerated into various mafias whose sole reason for being there is to protect their personal interests. By bribing the legislators with plots, permits, bank loans, development funds, etc., a prime minister can control them, and in doing so, remove all checks and balances on his power. Thus Nawaz Sharif has become a complete dictator. Pakistan can only have real democracy by separating the legislature from the executive and simultaneously developing a system of local Govt. (which is the cornerstone of western democracies). A national debate needs to take place on whether the size of our provinces needs to be reduced. Bear in mind that in terms of population, the size of Pakistani provinces is the largest in the world. Good governance is clearly not possible unless the administrative units are much smaller. Switzerland which has the same population as Lahore has 26 cantons – each having greater autonomy, than even possessed by the states in the US.
Fertile Soil 7. Pakistan is endowed with extremely fertile soil. I was told by an Australian water & soil expert, that the top soil in Australia rarely exceeds six inches. While according to him, in parts of the Indus Basin it as much as six feet deep. By introducing modern farming practices, seed development, providing credit to the small farmers, lining the canals, building farm to market roads and above all by giving incentives to the farmer with a proper pricing policy, we can more than double our agriculture output in a short space of time. If the East Punjab farmer can produce twice the amount from the same quality of land, why can’t we?
Tourists attractions 8. Pakistan is endowed with the most diverse and beautiful countryside in the world. The Northern Areas, the salt range, Hazara and Malakand divisions, the Balouchistan Coastline, Cholistan Desert are all areas that can be developed for tourism and can bring prosperity to the country and especially to the inhabitants of the regions. However, certain steps need to be taken immediately if we are to preserve our beautiful country. Firstly we have to control our population through female literacy and a powerful campaign through the mosques (as has been done in Bangladesh & Egypt).Secondly large areas have to be set aside as national parks where wild life has to be protected and reintroduced. Thirdly proper planning needs to be done where model villages are developed for the inhabitants with all the amenities, rather than sprinkling of homes all over, which ruins the landscape & environment. Above all the people of the area must have an incentive in protecting their forests and environment. They must be made to realize that if they protect their environment than they stand to benefit from both local and foreign tourism.
Overseas Pakistanis - greatest resource 9. If we can develop a just system of governance based on merit and minus the redtapism, than we can tap into our greatest resource — the overseas Pakistanis. According to Shahid Javed Burki, the annual income (GDP) of the estimated 4 million overseas Pakistanis is around $ 60 billion. Their savings are likely to be twice as much. Imagine the impact it will have on Pakistan if a portion of their capital and their talent comes back into the country. The overseas Pakistanis not only understand western systems but also through the information highway, have tremendous awareness about what is going on in their motherland, and therefore cannot be fooled by gimmicks like the Qarza Utaro or Self Reliance Scheme. Yet if they see structural reforms and good governance they will invest heavily in the country — Just as overseas Chinese and Latin Americans invested in their respective countries. If in 7 days the Pakistanis in USA could give $ 400,000 to SKMT, imagine what they can do for their beloved country if they got sufficiently motivated?
Strong family system 10. The breakdown of the family is one of the biggest problems facing the western world. Crime, drug addiction, psychiatric problems, school dropouts, poor academic results are all connected to high divorce rates. Fortunately in Pakistan our family system is still intact. Were it not for the extended family system in Pakistan, we would have had a complete collapse of society by now, with anarchy and bloodshed at a massive scale, given the high level of inflation, unemployment and injustice in the absence of a social security net. Our capability of facing all sort of hardships is due to a strong family system. Hence we have the foundations to build a humane and civilised society.
Unity 11. Finally it is my personal experience that gives me great hope for Pakistan. In cricket I was part of a team that became a world-beater despite there being no organised structure of cricket in the country. However I did find that having talent alone was not enough – we only became a force when we united and played as team, and that is what is needed to make Pakistan a great nation.After cricket I saw another side of our people when the whole country united to build a cancer hospital in Lahore. During the fund raising campaign I was simply astounded and overwhelmed by the generosity of the common man (as opposed to the tight fistedness of our elite). I discovered that our people are deeply spiritual and capable of enormous sacrifices for their fellow human beings. I am convinced that we can set up free health and education system for the poor, just on Zakat—provided the people believe in the credibility of the government. I do not know of any country where a private cancer hospital gives 90% free treatment and which is funded almost entirely by people’s Zakat and donations. The people of this country will unite and give great scarifies behind a leadership that is sincere and just, and once they are mobilised the dream of Quaid-e-Azam of making Pakistan a model Islamic welfare state will be fulfilled.
HOW TO HANDLE A HUSBAND A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on the beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. "What a peaceful & loving couple". The local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage. "Well, it dates back to our honeymoon in America," explained the man.
"We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by horse. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's horse stumbled and she almost fell off. My wife looked down at the horse and quietly said," That's once." "We proceeded a little further and the horse stumbled again, this time causing her to drop her water. Once more my wife quietly said, "That's twice."
We hadn't gone a half-mile when the horse stumbled for a third time. My wife quietly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the horse dead. I shouted at her, "What 's wrong with you, Woman! Why did you shoot the poor animal like that? Are you crazy??" She looked at me, and quietly said, "That's once." "And from that moment... we have lived happily ever after."
The Greeks were one of the first peoples to create myths. They used them to interpret and understand the world around them.
The Greeks combined their mythological tradition with their moral concepts and came up with a set of supreme beings - the gods - to worship.
The conduct of these gods laid out the foundations for the Greeks' understanding of how to live a virtuous life.
Traditionally these myths were passed down through their society's storytellers. One of these was Homer, who wrote the epic poems the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey'. These poems are the source of much of our knowledge of the Greek gods, and the beliefs surrounding them.
Hesiod was also an important ancient writer. His 'Theogony' looks at the origins of the Greek gods and is another significant text when it comes to their study.
The twelve Olympian gods were the best known of these deities. Many regions and even individual villages worshipped their own nymphs or minor gods that were virtually unknown elsewhere.
The Olympians ruled after the overthrow of the Titans. All the Olympians are related in some way, and they are named after their dwelling place, Mount Olympus.
The relationship between the ancient Greeks and their gods was based on a concept of exchange: if men worshipped and made sacrifices to the gods, then the gods would look favourably upon them in return.
Athletes in Ancient Greece
Religious festivals in honour of the gods filled the Greek year. The four best known celebrations were the Isthmian, Nemean, Pythian and Olympic Games. These were collectively known as the Panhellenic festivals.
The Panhellenic festivals were celebrated with processions and sacrifices. They were also a chance for men from all over the Greek speaking world to compete at a number of sporting events.
The Olympic Games were the most prestigious of these games. They were founded in 776 BC in Olympia near the city of Elis, in honour of Zeus, and held every four years.
Women were not allowed to watch the games because Olympia was dedicated to Zeus and was a sacred area for men. They were allowed to watch the chariot racing however, as this was held outside the stadium itself.
Originally, the games lasted for one day only, but later they were extended to five days to allow for three days of sporting events that began and ended with days dedicated to religious rites and sacrifices.
The major events at each of the games were chariot racing, wrestling, boxing, various running races, and the pentathlon (wrestling, running the length of the stadium, long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw). The main event was the foot race of one length of the stadium.
A branch of wild olive was the only official prize, but there were usually some unofficial prizes awarded by the cities that the athletes came from.
It only requires a very simple act, but the meaning behind it is very deep.
You have to believe that there is only one God, Allah, who created the entire universe, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his final messenger on earth.
If you recite this, with total sincerity, in front of two witnesses, you have become a Muslim. It really is as simple as that.
Muslims call this recitation the Shahada, and refer to it as the first Pillar of Islam.
And if you become a Muslim by converting (some Muslims would say "reverting") to Islam your fellow Muslims will accept you as if you had been born a Muslim.
Submitting to God
Becoming a Muslim takes you into a new world.
It's a world in which you are intensely aware of your relationship with Allah, and aware that everything in the world exists because Allah chose that it should.
This gives life a whole new meaning, it lifts many responsibilities, and replaces them with the single aim of living life in the way that Allah wants you to live it.
So when you become a Muslim you have to live Allah's way. Every moment of your life has to follow Allah's will. Every choice you make must be the choice that would please Allah.
This may sound pretty constricting to people brought up in cultures that put more emphasis on the individual and what they want. A Muslim would disagree.
Part of the Family
Muslims think of themselves as members of one family
Muslims think of themselves as members of one family, called the Ummah. It's a family of all Muslims, and not just of all Muslims around the world, but of all Muslims who ever existed.
Constantly in Touch with Allah
Once a Muslim has accepted Allah as the one and only God, they have to establish a constant link with God in their everyday lives - prayer is perhaps the best way to do that, and prayer is the second Pillar of Islam.
If it's possible, a Muslim should pray five times a day, at set times, and facing Mecca. You can pray almost anywhere.
In mosques men and women pray separately; in some mosques this is done with the men at the front and the women behind, in other mosques there are separate rooms for men and women.
Care for Others
Muslims must give 2.5% of their annual savings to charity
Prayer and belief are not enough to make someone a good Muslim. Islam is very concerned about looking after the welfare of poor people, and the Qur'an specifies that all Muslims above the subsistence level must pay up 2.5% of their annual savings to help people in need.
So once a year a Muslim works out 2.5% of everything they own, and hands it to an approved organisation to use for charitable purposes.
Muslims call this Zakat, and it's the third pillar of Islam.
It's not a religious tax, as some people (not Muslims) say; it's an act of worship, and it's something that pleases God: in fact in the Qur'an you'll find that prayer and zakat are frequently spoken of together.
Zakat is an act of worship that goes directly to making the world a better place for people who are up against it.
Paying Zakat also purifies the 97.5% of your wealth that remains, and you can use this as you wish with clear heart. You can use some of it for gifts to charity, but such spontaneous charity is called sadaqah, not Zakat.
Uh, oh Don't ever think of fiddling this calculation in order to pay less.
This isn't like cheating on your income tax, it's cheating on your relationship with God, and you and God will both know about it.
It would be like saying your prayers without meaning them. Or saying your prayers and then doing bad deeds.
Cheating God never, ever works. Not just because all good deeds and bad deeds are assessed at the Day of Judgement, but also because if you cheat on your faith you cheat yourself of everything that being a good Muslim means.
Being Poor and Hungry
If you're a Muslim it's not enough just to give money for the poor; you're expected to understand what it feels like to be poor and hungry, and to go without food and drink.
So once a year, for a month called Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sunset; abstaining from food, drink, sex, and smoking.
This fasting not only helps a Muslim understand the needy, it's a sort of ritual purification of themselves.
Giving Things Up
It's not just at Ramadan that Muslims abstain. When you become a Muslim you have to give up certain things like alcohol - khamr - and, of course, drugs for ever.
And Muslims don't go to places where alcohol is served - so if you want to discuss Islam with a Muslim friend, the pub is not the place to suggest.
You'll find that Muslims manage to have just as good a time without them as most people do with them - In fact they have a much better time.
Tobacco isn't banned in the Qur'an, but the Qur'anic principles suggest that smoking is not a good thing.
The most beautiful experiment in physics, according to a poll of Physics World readers, is the interference of single electrons in a Young's double slit. Robert P Crease reports.
When I asked readers earlier this year to submit candidates for the "most beautiful experiment in physics", I was pleased to receive more than 200 replies. The responses covered a broad spectrum, ranging from actual experiments to thought experiments, and from proposed experiments to proofs, theorems and models. However, one experiment - the double-slit experiment with electrons - was cited more often than any other, receiving a total of 20 votes.
Others in the top 10 included Galileo's experiments with falling bodies, Millikan's oil-drop experiment and Newton's separation of sunlight with a prism. Young's original double-slit interference experiment with light also appeared in the list (see box).
Aspects of beauty
Readers offered a variety of reasons for their selections. One was the transformative power of the experiment - its ability to change thinking and behaviour. "You'll never think the same way about light," commented one reader who proposed a photoelectric-effect experiment.
A fan of Millikan's oil-drop experiment, meanwhile, observed that repeating the experiment can leave no-one in doubt that electrical charge is quantized and that modern physics is real, observable and true. "When I did the experiment in a junior physics lab many years ago," he said, "I literally sat staring at the spreadsheet, dumbfounded at how perfect and elegant the whole thing was. I redid the analysis just for the fun of seeing it come out again."
Experiments can transform our thinking and behaviour, no matter how prepared we may be for the result. Using phrases like "the only experiment I remember after so many years", readers described experiments they recalled from high school involving beach balls floating in air currents (illustrating the Bernoulli principle), ripple tanks (waves and interference), crushed metal cans (vacuum and air pressure), and skateboard antics (mass and inertia). A few mentioned the Apollo "feather-drop" experiment on the Moon - a recreation of Galileo's falling-bodies experiment - although they admitted that the location helped to make it unforgettable and possibly the "most watched experiment" of all time.
Readers also defined beautiful experiments in terms of "economy" - in other words how efficiently and dramatically the experiment made an important result stand out. Economy might refer to either the experimental equipment itself or how it presented a significant result, or to both. Someone recalled seeing the gyroscopic principle demonstrated via a bicycle wheel suspended from the ceiling with a rope tied to the axle nut, and observed that - without gyroscopic precession - "there would be no rockets, no global-positioning system (GPS), no advanced aircraft and no Segway [GPS-controlled one-man bikes] and, of course, no bicycles!".
Another cited a measurement of the time intervals between the drips of a simple tap to illustrate principles of chaos and nonlinear systems and to show how information is transmitted from small scales to large.
Fair play
There were several people who mentioned economical reductio ad absurdum arguments. These included Stephen Hawking's proof that the universe has not existed forever - or, as one respondent commented, "it's true because if it were not, all things would be the same temperature". Others cited Olbers' paradox that the sky is not uniformly bright even though it contains - to all intents and purposes - an infinite number of stars. (The paradox is resolved by the fact that the universe is expanding, which means that distant light has not yet reached us.)
Still others cited the beauty of certain scientific instruments that used little beyond ingenuity to open up vast new domains for exploration. Examples that fell into this category included Charles Wilson's cloud chamber, the X-ray interferometer, the scanning tunnelling microscope and the Cosmotron at Brookhaven.
A final aspect of beauty that was often cited by readers might be called "deep play". This is the sense that we are actively engaged with something outside ourselves that is responding to us - rather than watching a game of our own construction or watching nature from a detached distance. Readers found beauty in small-scale play with simple things like balls, waves, sounds and coins - allowing order in apparently random and contradictory events to show itself. Other readers found beauty in much larger play - such as Roemer's observations of Jupiter's moon Io to determine the speed of light or Eddington's measurement of the bending of starlight. These astronomical observations turn the entire solar system - and even the galaxy and beyond - into a vast playing field for experiment.
Slashdot discussion
My original article was also mentioned on Slashdot.org, an extremely active website. Although Slashdot bills itself as "news for nerds", its audience evidently includes a large number of science-history aficionados. A discussion with more than 500 comments ensued, many dissecting the merits of particular experiments. Here too the double-slit electron-interference experiment topped the list. One participant remarked that this and other experiments illustrating quantum-mechanical principles "even seem to reveal something about ourselves", noting that "philosophers and cranks are attracted to the results like moths".
Other Slashdot participants proposed many of the same experiments as Physics World readers - and often for similar reasons. However, they also came up with an imaginative variety of examples of deep play. These included fun things like putting discarded CDs into microwave ovens, firing potatoes using lengths of pipe and cans of hairspray, and synchronizing coloured lasers to the music of Pink Floyd.
One of the contributors described watching small plastic bags circulating in wind pockets, commenting that "sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I just can't take it". Another mentioned the fact that a hunter firing at a falling monkey always hits the monkey no matter how far away it is, even though it drops just as the hunter fires. One person even cited sitting outside a hospital to hear the Doppler effect, with the comment: "Anytime an ambulance passes me, I'm amazed."
One Slashdot participant described a method of producing a fractal using a coin, marker and tape measure, claiming to have nearly cried the first time they saw it. Another described an impromptu game that he and classmates had invented at the end of a lab class, in which a liquid-nitrogen-filled styrofoam cup with holes in the bottom can be made to glide pleasingly around the floor when kicked about as the gas leaks out.
The beauty of the double-slit experiment
The double-slit experiment exemplifies the wave-particle duality of light, as well as quantum physics itself. It demonstrates that light interferes with itself in passing through a pair of slits. It also shows that even single electrons - proceeding one by one - interfere. Richard Feynman is said to have remarked that it contains everything you need to know about quantum mechanics.
The double-slit experiment with electrons possesses all of the aspects of beauty most frequently mentioned by readers - although, unlike all of the other experiments in the top 10, it does not have anyone's name attached to it. It is transformative, being able to convince even the most die-hard sceptics of the truth of quantum mechanics. "Before seeing it," one respondent wrote, "I didn't believe a single word of 'modern' physics." It is economical: the equipment is readily obtained and the concepts are readily understandable, despite its revolutionary result. It is also deep play: the experiment stages a performance that does not occur in nature, but unfolds only in a special situation set up by human beings. In doing so, it dramatically reveals - before our very eyes - something more than was put into it.
"I saw it during an optics course at Edinburgh University," wrote respondent Alison Campbell, an astronomer at St Andrews University. "The prof didn't tell us what was going to happen, and the impact was tremendous. I cannot remember the experimental details any more - I just remember the distribution of points that I suddenly saw were arranged in a diffraction pattern. Seeing the two-slit experiment is like watching a total solar eclipse for the first time: a primitive thrill passes through you and the little hairs on your arms stand up. You think this particle-wave thing is really true and the foundations of your knowledge shift and sway."
Beauty and the experimental process
I was a little disturbed, however, by the ease with which many people seemed to think that the experiments that they were proposing had been conceived, or could be carried out and understood. This seemed a function, in part, of the way that these experiments are often taught. Demonstrations can vastly simplify the experimental process through the use of modern equipment constructed with the "right answer" in view. Textbooks and Web simulations - which exist for most of the experiments on the top 10 list - can involve far greater simplifications. That is true even when, as in the case of some Millikan oil-drop simulations, "dirty" drops that cannot be fitted to the right result are deliberately included along with clean ones in an attempt to promote verisimilitude.
These demonstrations and simulations, I think, diminish the experience of beauty in science by misrepresenting the experimental process. Even when a scientific experiment points to a simple fact or relationship - as Frederic Holmes writes in his book Meselson, Stahl, and the Replication of DNA: A History of the Most Beautiful Experiment in Biology - it usually has been extracted from a "matrix of complexity", and introduces new complexities into science. Despite its simplicity, he says, "the [Meselson-Stahl] experiment originated in complexity, was surrounded by complexity and directed the way toward the discovery of future complexities."
And it hardly needs saying that the various experiments demonstrating quantum-mechanical principles were not born simply, and have not made the world simpler. Demonstrations and simulations can misrepresent by encouraging the sense that a scientific experiment is just an illustration of an already formulated lesson - turning the experiment into a paint-by-numbers masterpiece, as it were - rather than a process by which a hitherto unknown truth becomes disclosed for the first time.
One Slashdot contributor touched on this after describing an experiment in which he measured the acceleration of gravity using a pin, a switch, a timer and a shuttlecock. "The most beautiful thing wasn't learning that gravity is 9.8 ms-2," he wrote, "but in showing us that from a fairly simple set-up we could quantitatively measure something important in physics."
The critical point
Beauty, Plato wrote, is not easy to define, but something that "slips through and evades us". For this reason, many logic-oriented philosophical approaches tend to divorce and even oppose truth and beauty. "The question of truth", wrote logician Gottlob Frege in one of his most influential works, "would cause us to abandon aesthetic delight for an attitude of scientific investigation."
I'm far more sympathetic to those philosophical traditions that view truth as involving, most fundamentally, the disclosure of something rather than accurate representation. These traditions allow us to see an intimate connection between scientific inquiry and beauty. At any given time, the scientific frontier is ambiguous and confusing, and requires the skilful planning and performing of experimental actions to sort out and bring clarity.
It is natural to call beautiful those that captivate and transform our thinking, that make the result stand out clearly and economically and not abstractly as a lesson but in a materially embodied way, and that reveal that we are actively engaging with something beyond us. To speak about beauty in science as belonging solely to the province of theory or equations is to misunderstand both beauty and science.
The quantum-mechanical world is likely to remain counterintuitive to human beings, no matter how well-versed or confident we are in the theory. The double-slit electron-interference experiment brings its reality before our eyes in a dramatic, economical and materially embodied way. It is therefore likely to remain in the pantheon of beautiful experiments for a long time to come.
The list below shows the top 10 most frequently mentioned experiments by readers of Physics World.
Top 10 beautiful experiments
1 Young's double-slit experiment applied to the interference of single electrons
2 Galileo's experiment on falling bodies (1600s)
3 Millikan's oil-drop experiment (1910s)
4 Newton's decomposition of sunlight with a prism (1665-1666)
5 Young's light-interference experiment (1801)
6 Cavendish's torsion-bar experiment (1798)
7 Eratosthenes' measurement of the Earth's circumference (3rd century BC)
8 Galileo's experiments with rolling balls down inclined planes (1600s)
9 Rutherford's discovery of the nucleus (1911)
10 Foucault's pendulum (1851)
Others experiments that were cited included:
Archimedes' experiment on hydrostatics
Roemer's observations of the speed of light
Joule's paddle-wheel heat experiments
Reynolds's pipe flow experiment
Mach & Salcher's acoustic shock wave
Michelson-Morley measurement of the null effect of the ether
Röntgen's detection of Maxwell's displacement current
Oersted's discovery of electromagnetism
The Braggs' X-ray diffraction of salt crystals
Eddington's measurement of the bending of starlight
Stern-Gerlach demonstration of space quantization
Schrödinger's cat thought experiment
Trinity test of nuclear chain reaction
Wu et al.'s measurement of parity violation
Goldhaber's study of neutrino helicity
Feynman dipping an O-ring in water
About the author
Robert P Crease is in the Department of Philosophy, State University of New York at Stony Brook, historian at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, and in 2002-2003 a senior fellow at the Dibnes Institute for Science and Technology, US, email rcrease@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Question: My friend thinks it is ok to have a fiancé and go out on dates with him. She says that if you get married without knowing him you?ll have to live with him for the rest of your life. So you have to know the person before marrying and should talk to him. I think she also thinks it is ok to like a guy, which is obviously pre-marital relationship (zina). My question is can you please give me an answer that talks about all of the above proving it wrong, the punishment for doing this and backed by Quran and hadeeth. And if you feel, also add other things about this topic to clarify more. I want to show her your answer.
Answer: At the outset, we wish to advise that every type of pre-marital relationship is Haraam (strictly prohibited). The concept of fiancé and fiancée has no basis in Islam. Refer below our standard reply to similar queries. and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai FATWA DEPT.
It is rather unfortunate that sin and evil has become so rife nowadays that people don't even regard sin as sin anymore and
how true are the words of our beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), 'A time will dawn upon man that Zina (adultery) will become so widespread that the most pious man in this world will be that person who witnesses two people doing evil on the street pavement. This person would go up to them and say to them that go and do your action behind a tree, he will not stop them from the evil rather he would tell them that instead of doing it in front of everybody, go and do your actions behind a tree. The person who tells them this will be the most pious person.
Today, we are presently experiencing the above adultery is being done openly, everywhere without any prohibition or obstruction.' (Islahi Khutubaat, Mufti Taqi Usmani vol.7 pg.32)
In an Aayat of the noble Qur'aan, Allah Ta'ala commands the believers, 'Say (O' Muhammad) unto the believers lower your gazes and protect your private parts. That is more pure for you. Verily, Allah is all informed of what you are doing.' (Surah Nur).
Evil glances is to look at any Ghayr Mahram especially with desire or to attain pleasure whether the person is alive or it is a picture. Both situations are totally Haraam. The greatest hindrance for the reformation and purification of the innerself is the sin of evil glances.
Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) explained in a Hadith, 'Evil glances is a poisonous arrow from the arrows of Iblees.' (Majmauz Zawaaid vol.8 pg.63) In another Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned, '. The Zina of the eyes is in evil glances and Zina of the ears is by listening (to evil) and Zina of the tongue speaking (about evil) and Zina of the hands is in touching (forbidden) and Zina of feet is in walking (towards evil) and the heart desires and hopes (in evil) and thereafter the private parts accepts that (acts upon it) or rejects it.' (Mishkaat pg.20)
Therefore, according to Shari'ah, to look, speak, listen, etc. to any Ghayr Mahram except at the time of extreme necessity is Haraam and impermissible. In an Aayat of the noble Qur'aan, Allah Ta'ala says, 'And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' Although the reason for revelation is a specific incident and the wives of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) are specifically mentioned but this is general for the entire Ummah, i.e. if the woman wants to get something from the men, e.g. utensils, clothing, etc. thus, she not come in front of him, rather ask for it from behind a veil. (Ma'aariful Qur'aan vol.7 pg.200; Idaaratul Ma'aarif)
In another Aayat, Allah Ta'ala says, 'And stay in your homes and do not display yourselves, like that at the time of ignorance.' (Surah Ahzaab 33 vol.33). Therefore, the command unto women is to stay at home and only come out at the time of a necessity which is sanctioned by the Shari'ah, should a need arise, total Shar'ee Hijaab should be adhered to.
By a person fighting his Nafs and saving himself from sinning, he will attain the sweetness of Imaan. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'A thought comes into a person to cast evil glances and who is that person who doesn't get these thoughts and his heart is also encouraging him to just take a look! But he fears Allah and saves himself by not casting an evil glance. This will cause a great burden but Allah Ta'ala will grant such sweetness of Imaan that he won't even consider looking in future.' (Ahmad vol.5 pg.264)
It is, therefore, imperative that awareness should be created amongst the Muslim students to both male and female regarding the importance and laws of Shari'ah especially with regards to Hijaab and intermingling of the sexes. The administration of MSA should be encouraged to adhere to the laws of Shari'ah, contextually, the laws of Hijaab.
Since Norman Vincent Peale's book "The Power of Positive Thinking" was first published in the 1950s, belief in the clout of excessive optimism has almost become a modern religion. If only people can believe in themselves, their abilities and how great their future is going to be, everything will work out just fine, the argument goes. It's how you "perceive" life and how hopeful you are that supposedly defines your success.
It's time somebody exploded the wilder of these myths.
Here are some examples of some dangerous positive thoughts that are probably very common:
Sure other people have had problems with drugs, but I'm stronger than them. I'm sure I can take this for fun and be just fine afterwards.
It's not necessary for me to put too much effort into my studies. I'm already a special and brilliant person, so it's a waste of time to work too hard.
There's no problem with me putting this holiday on my credit card. I'll just work harder and save harder next month to pay it off.
The road rules don't apply to me like they do other drivers. I'm an excellent driver, so nothing could possibly go wrong.
I'm sure with a bit of thought you can come up with some examples of your own. Once you come to terms with the seemingly heretical fact that excessive optimism can be dangerous, you can draw a mental picture of the damage that the cult of positive thinking is doing to society.
It's what you do that defines you and creates success. How optimistic you are is virtually irrelevant.
In fact, it can be negative. Someone who believes their abilities are sub-par will put in much more effort than someone who thinks they're a genius who doesn't need to work.
Research has proven this fact, with American secondary students performing poorly in international comparisons, despite having the strongest self-belief. Asian students, who had a much lower belief in their own abilities, actually performed better.
Having good information and knowledge about the world is what powers the best decisions. This is true in business, love, art and all other aspects of life. The belief that we can achieve better results by lying to ourselves about our own excellence and the certainty that everything will work out goes against this golden principle.
Take a realistic view of your own ability and prospects. Then work to improve them.
This is a much better principle than that the power of self-belief can cure all ills.
We're bombarded every day with people trying to convince us this or that is right and true. With so much information coming our way from so many different sources, how are we to decide what's credible and what's not?
Here are some well established techniques for spotting a bad argument presented in what I hope is a more entertaining way than usual. I've given each my own name, but I've also put the common technical term in brackets afterwards in case you want to do further research on this topic. All of these are well worth understanding if you aim to become a better thinker.
One final note before I get started. Please don't use the below to become an argument-nerd. If you catch yourself putting on a nasally voice and saying something like "You've just committed argumentum ad baculum my good chap", then you're taking this stuff way too seriously.
Instead, use them to make up your own mind about the truth of various statements. In our effort to save time, we all commit the offenses below more often than we probably should.
You're an idiot, so you must be wrong (ad hominem) This is the "playing the man not the ball argument", where you attack the speaker and not what he's saying. If someone has to resort to this technique, you'll often find they haven't thought through their position very well. This form of argument goes on all the time in political circles.
Example: "Senator Morris used to be a member of the Communist Party, so no idea he puts forward about how to fix the nation's economic problems can be taken seriously".
The Bible says it's true, so it must be true (argumentum ad verecundiam ) This is also known as an "appeal to authority" and is very common. Just because a statement supposedly comes from a credible source, doesn't mean it's true.
Most of us rely on this one more often than we probably should. We're unlikely to investigate too thoroughly whether what a doctor says about our health is true, for example. He's a doctor, so we just assume he's right.
Because this is such a powerful form of poor argument, it's often used to trick people into believing something that may be false. Advertisers use scientific terms to sell their products, for example.
You can usually spot someone who's using this to cover up a weak position by pushing them to provide some evidence other than the authority to back up their claims.
Example: "My friend is a top programmer at Google, and this is the way he builds his systems, so it must be the best way".
All models are tall, Sally is tall, therefore Sally must be a model (affirming the consequent) This is when you say an assumption works in both directions, even if there's no reason to believe so. Just because X means Y, doesn't mean Y means X, in other words. This can be a very subtle argument to catch out.
Example: "If my business partner was stealing from me, he'd probably buy himself a fancy car. He just bought a Mercedes, so he's probably stealing from me."
Evolution says men come from baboons - only an idiot would believe something like that! (straw man) This is a very common form of poor argument. It involves misrepresenting your opponent's position, by pretending it's something that sounds similar but is easy to refute. This is used a lot in political or religious arguments.
Example: "The only reason you want to stop companies offshoring jobs to India is because you're a racist. No decent person can take such an argument seriously".
Britney Spears is the most popular singer in the world, so she must be very talented (argumentum ad populum ) This is the appeal to the majority argument. If enough people believe something to be true, then it must be, in other words. The problem is, history is full of examples of sincere majority beliefs eventually being proven false. Just because a lot of people think something, doesn't make it right.
Example: "Everyone thinks this is the best time to buy a house, so you should do it as soon as possible."
It's hot and the crime rate is up - therefore heat causes crime (correlation implies causation ) This is an easy one to catch people out with. Just because two things happen at the same time or in the same place, doesn't mean there's any kind of cause and effect going on. It may just be coincidence.
Example: "Every time Frank is on duty in the store something goes missing. That guy must be a thief".
Killing is wrong, therefore abortion is wrong (petitio principii) This is a type of circular argument. Basically, it takes the form of putting the proof of your argument into one of the assumptions. The conclusion appears at the beginning and the end of the argument, so nothing of any substance is really created. It basically says X is true, because X is true. It can also take the form X is true because Y is true, and Y is true because X is true.
Example: "Only a loving God could have created such a wonderful world, therefore our world was created by a loving God".
Note: None of the above examples are intended to show any of the points of view presented are wrong, or belittle any religious or political belief. Please concentrate on the structure of the argument rather than the subject matter. I could just have easily have presented a false argument from the opposite position.
ISLAMABAD: The government said on Thursday Pakistan is poised to attract the highest ever 36 billion US dollars investment in diversified fields over the next five years.
Minister of State for Privatization and Investment Umar Ahmad Ghuman said the planned investment include the London Taxi of the UK equipped with modern gadgets such as satellite tracking will be plying the roads of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad by the next month. The minister admitted that the London Taxi International (LTI) was shrinking its business in the UK due to heavy cost.
The government has allowed duty-free import of 300 taxis (CBUs), while the Prime Transport Limited, a company owned by a US-based Pakistani will invest one billion US dollars for the setting up of an assembly plant of LTI at Gharo in Sindh, he told a press conference. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister of State for Finance Umar Ayub Khan, Minister of State for Environment, Malik Amin Aslam, MNAs, Donia Aziz and Waqas Akram were also present on the occasion.
Mr Ghumman said that President General Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate the London Taxi terminal at Karachi Airport by the end of next month, while Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will perform the ground breaking of LTI assembly plant at Gharo, for which 300 acres of land have been allocated.
He said the company would provide affordable fare (Rs 11.20 per kilometer).
Mr Ghuman said that LTI plant will assemble 18,000 taxi cabs every year in Pakistan, out of which 9,000 taxi cabs would be exported. The export of 9000 taxi-cabs will fetch $2.8 billion every year, he added.
The 2400 cc (2.4 liters diesel engine) London Tax priced at 42,000 pounds in the UK will be available at around 20,000 pounds in Pakistan, he added. He said that Dubai World (DW) of the UAE, Daimler Chrysler, Dubai Islamic Bank, and certain other organizations of international repute will invest in Pakistan. The total volume of investment will touch around 36 billion US dollars in the next five years.
DW will construct new modern cities at Clifton Beach, Sandspit & Manora and Hawkesbay & Cape Mount in Karachi with the investment of $15 billion.
He said the DW will build housing units in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad which will not only overcome the six million shortfall of housing units in the country, but will also help check property prices. He said Daimler Chrysler of the USA will establish its assembly plant near Sheikhupura for the production of Mercedes-Benz trucks, buses and cars.
Mr Ghuman said Volkswagen, Renault and Jetta will set up their car manufacturing plants in Pakistan with investment of billions of dollars.
Zehal-e miskin makun taghaful, duraye naina banaye batiyan; ki taab-e hijran nadaram ay jaan, na leho kaahe lagaye chhatiyan. Shaban-e hijran daraz chun zulf wa roz-e waslat cho umr kotah; Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan. Yakayak az dil do chashm-e jadoo basad farebam baburd taskin; Kise pari hai jo jaa sunaave piyare pi ko hamaari batiyan. Cho sham’a sozan cho zarra hairan hamesha giryan be ishq aan meh; Na neend naina na ang chaina na aap aaven na bhejen patiyan. Bahaqq-e roz-e wisal-e dilbar ki daad mara ghareeb Khusrau; Sapet man ke waraaye raakhun jo jaaye paaon piya ke khatiyan
English Translation
Do not overlook my misery by blandishing your eyes, and weaving tales; My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart, why do you not take me to your bosom. Long like curls in the night of separation, short like life on the day of our union; My dear, how will I pass the dark dungeon night without your face before. Suddenly, using a thousand tricks, the enchanting eyes robbed me of my tranquil mind; Who would care to go and report this matter to my darling? Tossed and bewildered, like a flickering candle, I roam about in the fire of love; Sleepless eyes, restless body, neither comes she, nor any message. In honour of the day I meet my beloved who has lured me so long, O Khusro; I shall keep my heart suppressed, if ever I get a chance to get to her trick
How Too Many Long Hours Can Be Bad for Your Career
By Hunkar Ozyasar http://www.careerjournal.com/columnists/perspective/20050623-fmp.html
Approximately 2,500 years ago, Confucius told his students: "To go too far is as bad as to fall short." Excessive work, he said, is as undesirable as laziness. As simple as this advice may sound, most of us still fail to grasp it, thinking that the only downsides of overwork are fatigue and burnout. In reality, the side effects can be much more serious. Especially for managers, hard work can become toxic at extreme doses and "poison" a career.
First, working excessively long hours can mask weaknesses. These may surface too late, when problems are no longer easily fixed. Consider the manager who routinely does the work of her assistant because she failed to recruit the right person and train him properly. Her superiors may not notice the problem if she's willing to work hard enough. The individual may not even grasp the extent of her problem, as she will probably be busy praising herself for working harder than anyone else.
Consequently, this executive who needs urgent training in human management, instead, can be put in charge of a five-person team. This is when all hell breaks loose. Hard work can't make up for the inefficiencies she creates for five employees. After all, there are only so many hours in a day.
If this manager weren't willing to work insane hours, the problem would have been exposed earlier and addressed before her promotion. In the end, she would go much further in her career. If, however, the problem surfaces as a result of a failure, the manager will have not only a long-term weakness to address but also a fiasco to explain.
Another problem with working long hours is that such a lifestyle is extremely difficult to sustain. An analogy is a company that relies exclusively on price cuts to gain market share. Charging $1 for a product that costs 98 cents to manufacture is not a sensible strategy, because it leaves no room for error. The first labor strike or product recall can easily drive the corporation into bankruptcy.
Similarly, a manager who is working as much as humanly possible has little time to handle common life challenges -- a sick parent, a new baby or a new home purchase. Any additional time required for these things usually must come from working less, as there is often nothing else in such a person's life to cut back on. The ability to outwork others declines as the years go by. As you age, your body, too, will start to protest those all-nighters and refuse to run properly on pizza and Diet Coke.
A third reason why working long hours isn't a sound career strategy is the ease with which it can be copied. It is difficult for a competitor to come out of nowhere and know your customers as well as you do or match the rapport you have developed with top management. But someone can, and often does, appear out of the blue and send more e-mails, prepare more presentations and return more phone calls. To put it in consulting jargon, hard work isn't a "sustainable competitive advantage."
You might ask: "How do I know if I am working too hard?" Here are three ways to tell:
1. Compare your hours to your peers'. Keep an eye on how much time they're spending in the office and try to achieve similar or better results with fewer than average hours. If your hours are above average and your performance isn't, you're probably compensating for some kind of shortcoming.
2. Listen to how people define your strengths. Adjectives such as "hardworking," "dedicated," or "committed" shouldn't show up among your top three qualities. These are copied easily and can't differentiate you as you advance in your career. If you have doubts, pick up a copy of a business publication and read a profile of any top manager. You rarely will find those qualities among their strengths. The list may include "visionary," "bold," "good communicator" and other descriptors, but probably not "hard worker."
3. Finally, ask yourself how much harder you could be working if you really wanted to. If the answer is, "Not much harder," you're in trouble. Should your boss present you with an excellent opportunity and ask you to try harder in return, you'll likely fail to rise to the challenge. You are already trying as hard as possible and can't do any better.
If, on the other hand, you have room to crank up the hours when needed, you can dig into your reserves when the race heats up. This will enable you to perform at your best when it matters the most -- a key quality that differentiates the stars from the rest.
-- Mr. Ozyasar is a former high-yield bond strategist for an investment bank in New York. This article is excerpted from the book he is writing: "When Time Management Fails."
I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a female driver cut right in front of a pickup truck, causing him to have to drive on the shoulder. This evidently pissed the driver off enough that he hung out his window and flipped the woman off. "Man, that guy is stupid" I thought to myself. I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner whenever a female does anything to me in traffic and here's why.
I drive 38 miles each way, every day, to work. That's 76 miles, of these, 16 each way is bumper-to-bumper. Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8 lane highway. So, if you just look at the 7 lanes I am not in, that means I pass something like a new car every 40 feet per lane. That's 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles. That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars. Even though the rest of the 34 miles is not bumper-to-bumper. I figure I pass at least another 4000 cars. That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars I pass every day. Statistically half of these are driven by females, that's 18,000. In any given group of females, 1 in 28 are having the worst day of their period. That is 642.
According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love life as dissatisfying or unrewarding, that's 449. According to the National Institutes of Health, 22% of all females have seriously considered suicide or homicide, that's 98. And, 34% describe men as their biggest problem, that's 33. According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of all females carry weapons, and the number is increasing.
That means, that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at least one female that has a lousy love life, thinks men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered suicide or homicide, is having the worst day of her period, and is armed.
No matter what she does in traffic, I wouldn't DREAM of flipping her off.
