Clarifying expectations is to create shared vision and agreement about what is to be done up front. This is one of those behaviours that people rarely pay enough attention to. It is the behaviour of prevention because if you focus on this one up front, you will avoid heartaches and headaches later on. Clarifying expectations can be challenging. We each bring our own meaning to language and experience. Meaning is not in things; it's not even necessarily in words. Meaning is in people. So even if

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) - Chapter 22: Verse 34 (partial) "Herald (the good news) to those who humble themselves." Humility is one of the precursors of the state of serenity; it is the inception of safety from reversal and hesitation. It consists of three levels: The first level is having virtuousness overcome desire, willpower staving off carelessness and the quest winning over coziness. The second level consists in not having any cause diminish one's willpower, any incident alienat

Lack of sleep has led me to make many bad decisions: I've fumbled at work, eaten an extra meal, forgotten important events and on more than one occassion, worked through a terrible headache. I never attributed these mistakes to lack of sleep until recently when I rediscovered its true value. Sleep makes people happy, productive and more energetic. But the lack of it can contribute to a string of health problems: weight-loss, high blood pressure, lower immunity and low productivity. Accordi

Al-Furqan (The Criterion) - Chapter 25: Verses 75, 76 "These will be rewarded for all their patient endurance [in life” with a high station in heaven, and will be met there with a greeting of welcome and peace, and there they shall abide; how goodly an abode and how high a station." The Arabic text uses the term al-ghurfah, which is translated here as ‘a high station in heaven’. The term may be taken to mean in this context either heaven, or a special place in heaven. Linguistically speak

Some foods are better than others for providing a superior source of antioxidants and essential nutrients. These "superfoods" are whole foods that pack a lot of punch for theirweight as far as nutrition goes. Here are ten superfoods that are readily available for most of the year, and which should be incorporated into your diet on a daily or weekly basis. Try to eat as many of them organic and unprocessed as possible.   Green Leafy vegetablesGreen leafy vegetables are so readily a

Understanding the Prophet's Life  Just in Love Our love for the Prophet should encourage us toward love for humanity, kindness, and forgiveness. It should never be an excuse to foment hatred, which can lead to violence against other people. Whether we are living as a minority community or make up the majority in any country, Muslims must never fall into the deadly habit of collective blame for crimes. In specific, we must never generalize and harm our neighbours who may share the faith of t

Indian Republic Day is an event that commemorates the date, 26 January 1950 on which the “Constitution of India” came to existence by replacing Government of India Act 1935. This day is very significant in Indian history as on this day India became republic from the ‘British Dominion’. Every year this day is celebrated with much enthusiasm throughout India. A massive parade is organized to showcase the growth of Indian from every aspect. Origin Though India had got its freedom from the han

With more and more government functions going online, we feel it is important for our readers to know how to use the different tools that are now available. After all, it is now possible to file an RTI, apply for a passport, apply for a PAN card or download a copy of your Aadhaar card, all from the comfort of your own home. Nearly everyone who's employed has also probably quit a job at some point. Changing jobs involves enough paperwork to make your head spin. One of the most irksome bits of

Children fed healthy diets in early age may have a slightly higher IQ, while those on heavier junk fooddiets may have a slightly reduced IQ, according to new research from the University of Adelaide. The study -- led by University of Adelaide Publichealth researcher Dr Lisa Smithers -- looked at the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and two years, and their IQ at eight years of age. The study of more than 7,000 children compared a range of dietary patterns

The following sayings of Jesus (peace be upon him) from traditional Arabic sources are excerpted from Walk on Water, a forthcoming book by Hamza Yusuf:  According to Ahmad, Jesus peace be upon him was known to have said, "Virtuous action does not consist in doing good to someone who has done good to you -that is merely returning a favor. Virtuous action consists in doing good to those who have wronged you." (Ahmad)  According to Malik  b. Anas, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "Do not speak m

By Shafaat Shahbandari: [caption id="attachment_72267" align="alignleft" width="154"] Shafaat Shabandri[/caption] Great Scientist Albert Einstein once said: “education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think." Adding a line to that I would say it is also the nurturing of the heart to care for your surroundings. Education can be divided into two parts, one that provides skills to help make a living and the other that transforms a person into a human being.

Here are ten foods that make you feel good: Honey: Honey contains kaempferol and quercetin, which helps to prevent depression by reducing inflammation in the brain. It can be considered as a sweet natural defense which helps you feel better. Honey also helps in boosting energy production in the brain. Cherries: They can actually work like painkillers and make you feel relaxed. They're low in calories and high on fibre. Cherries are a great source of melatonin a hormone that helps you sleep

The detailed account of the death of Jesus Christ (Prophet Eesa, peace by upon him) is provided in detail by the Noble Quran along with an account of his birth, miracles, and his ascent to the heavens before his alleged crucifixion. The following are excerpts from the book ‘Jesus – The Prophet Who didn’t Die that provides some of the details related to Jesus (peace by upon him), Mary, Bible, and Jesus’ disciples as mentioned in the Quran and related by prophet Muhammad (S. A. W. S.) Surah Mary

By Shafaat Shahbandari : [caption id="attachment_72267" align="alignleft" width="154"] Shafaat Shahbandri[/caption] Materialism - the biggest bane of modern world - has swept our society in all its ugly pervasiveness. Cities it had invaded long before, but the extent of its penetration in the countryside and in semi-urban places like Bhatkal over the last decade is astonishing. Young and old, men and women, educated and uneducated, all have fallen for it. Possession of material wealt

Al-Isra (The Night Journey) - Chapter 17: Verse 106 "We have divided the Quran into parts so that you may recite it to people with deliberation. We have indeed bestowed it from on high step by step." The Quran was revealed in order to educate a community and establish for it a system and code of life. This community would then carry it to all the corners of the earth in order to educate humanity on the basis of this perfect system. Hence the Quran was revealed one part at a time, accordi

A good meal can comfort you and bring back pleasant memories. But are there any superfoods that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face? In Proust's Remembrance of Things Past, the narrator depicts the "powerful joy" that a tea-soaked madeleine awakes in him when he is "dispirited after a dreary day, with the prospect of a depressing morrow". It isn't so much that the sweet cake tastes lovely, but that it transports him to his innocent youth, when his aunt in the country would feed him the

Imaam Ahmad said that the one who does not pray because of laziness is a kaafir. This is the more correct view and is that indicated by the evidence of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and by the words of the Salaf and the proper understanding. (Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ ‘ala Zaad al-Mustanqi’, 2/26). Anyone who examines the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah will see that they indicate that the one who neglects the prayer is guilty of Kufr Akbar (major kufr) which puts him bey

The vast majority of diseases are related to our diet and the Islamic lifestyle as prescribed by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is an ideal course of prevention for many diseases, including those of the heart. The Prophet disliked excessive eating. He lived with a flat belly and he died with a flat belly. He is reported to have said: "No man fills a vessel worse than his stomach. A few morsels are enough for the son of Adam (human being) to keep his back upright. But if he m