Paradise

Dec 26, 2009

Narrated Abu Said Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him)



The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said, "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away
in the East or in the West on the horizon; all that is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards)." On that the people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Are these lofty mansions for the prophets which nobody else can reach? The Prophet replied," No! "By Allah in whose Hands my life is, these are for the men who believed in Allah and also believed in the Apostles."


Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him)


The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said "There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) a rider could travel in its shade for a hundred years. And if you wish, you can recite: 'In shade long extended..' (56. 30) and a place in Paradise equal to an arrow bow of one of you, is better than (the whole earth) on which the sun rises and sets."



Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him)


Allah's Apostle (sallAllahu alaihe wassallam) said, "Allah said, 'I have prepared for My pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being.' If you wish, you can recite this verse from the Holy Qur'an: 'No soul knows what is kept hidden for them, of joy as a reward for what they used to do.' " (32.17)

Ref: Sahih Bukhari

Served by Ibn Hanif

http://guidingfriends.blogspot.com/2009/12/paradise.html

My stephmother is an alien

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Recently, I have noticed that quite some people are in a relationship with a partner who's already having a child from a previous relationship. I've never thought that it would happen so much, but it's absolutely a normal phenomenon these days.

Coming from divorced parents myself, it's a bit strange, that I feel that it's something big, having a relationship with someone who's already got a child. I can only imagine how hard it must be, dealing with step-children. Although they're not necessary difficult, there's usually jealousy involved. Who loves who more? Why is she getting gifts? Why do they get more time?

My parents have been seperated for a long long time. It's hard to explain, but I don't mind that fact. Nor does my brother. We just don't have a band with my father, as he's been in L.A. for a great part of our life. My mom has had a few other relationships after that, but there was never trouble involving my brother and I, being the step-children. The other way around, both of us never rebelled against any of my mom's boyfriends. They were always welcome. Kinda...

Being totally honest, I don't think my brother and I cared about that. This sounds weird, right? I've never ever felt something for any of my mom's boyfriend. No negative feelings, but no positive feelings either. It's not like I've ever felt that a certain man was supposed to be my step-father. I just had no feelings or what so ever for those persons. So, I never rebelled, but I was never thrilled about someone either. I can't explain why.

I think it's really hard to judge anyone in these situations. I totally understand it, when step-children would rebel. Who's that new person, intruding our life? What does he/she want? Does he/she want to take our father/mother's place? Who does mom/dad love more? We didn't ask for this?
On the other hand, I can understand the jealous and scared feelings of the step-parent as well. Are those children nice? Why does he/she spend more time with them? Who does he/she love more? Will they accept me? Will they ever respect me? I didn't ask for this?

Though I'm the "step-kid", I'm very happy I'm currently not in a relationship like that. I think these relationships need a lot of time, patience and understanding from both sides. Years can go by, before everything will be in it's place. Sometimes years are not even enough....


How do you feel about this?
Are you maybe a step-kid or a step-parent?



ps: this is meant to be a thought prevoking post, not a depressing one. In case you thought that... *SMILE*

http://notesfromthetoothfairy.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-stephmother-is-alien_15.html#comment-form

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

You can win the lottery, but not an argument.

The scarecrow has been in the field so long he thinks it belongs to him.

Lessons are learned, not taught.

Mannequins can't dress themselves. Stones go wherever you throw them.

Should I refuse the honey because the bee stings?

What is fog on the surface is also fog deep inside.

The things I'm not learning are teaching me a lot.

Never do anything important if you can help it.

It's easy to see the dark side. All you have to do is close your eyes.

Order is what exists before you start arranging things.

One person is a person; two is a statistic.

Dreams change the world, but only in dreams.

Be grateful to those who refuse your demands. They are your benefactors.

The landscape looks different from every blade of grass.

Life is simple. You just have to stop trying to figure it out.

http://wwwaphorismscom.blogspot.com/

What You Lookin At, Boi?!

Sunday, 23 August 2009

"Mr.Fish: Seriously? What is this thing you pointing out at me? What? You gonna kill me?

Me: No Mr.Fish. I just love your colours and thank God that your handsomeness is this easy to be seen.

Mr.Fish: So yeah, you happy now? You wanna paparazzi me? *not sure how he knew Paparazzi without knowing the camera*

Me: No Mr. I just love that you're a beautiful creature. :)

Mr. Fish: HELL YEAHH I am! Now, go home and go to sleep boi or i'm gonna call my bodyguards!

Me: Ok man, Ok. just take it easy! Life is easy if you keep your cool attitude. Be a little laid back and put a smile man. Smile for your life and you'll be happy. Cry about it and nothing will ever make you happy, unless you decide to be!".

Kuwait Scientific Center, Kuwait. Taken by Socceraholic

http://planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-you-lookin-at-boi.html

3 Fundamental Techniques on Handling people

Technique no. 2 The Big secret of dealing with People

The book said that there is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. Did you ever stop to think of that? Yes, just one way. And that is by making the other person want to do it.
Remember : there is no other way.
Of course, you can make someone want to give you his watch by sticking a revolver in his ribs. You can make your employees give you cooperation -- until you back is turned -- by threatening to fire them. You can make a child do what you want it to do by a whip or a threat. But these crude menthods have sharply undesirable repercussions.


The only way I can get you to do anything is by giving you what you want.
What do you want?
As Sigmund Freud said that everything you and I do springs from two motives: the sex urge and the desire to be great. I'll repeat. 1. sex urge and 2. desire to be great
Another insight from John Dewey, America's profound philosophers, phased it a bit differently. He said that the deepest urge in human nature is " the desire to be important ", oopps, remember? " the desire to be important ".
Now, what do you want?
Not many things, but the few things that you do wish, you crave with an insistence that will not be denied. Some of the things most people want include :


1. Health and preservation of life
2. Food
3. Sleep
4. Money and the things money will buy
5. LIfe in the hereafter
6. Sexual gratification
7. The well-being of our children
and lastly..
8. A feeling of importance

Almost all these wants are usually gratified - all except one. But there is one longing-almost as deep, almost as imperious, as the desire for food or sleep-which is seldom gratified. It is what Freud calls "the desire to be great" and Dewey calls the "desire to be important".
Everybody likes a compliment, the deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
A gnawing and unfaltering human hunger and the rare individual who honestly satisfies this heart hunger will hold people in the palm of his or her hand and even the undertaker will be sorry when he dies.

It was the desire for a feeling of importance that led an uneducated, poverty-stricken clerk to study law books he found in the bottom of a barrel of household.
It was the desire that makes you want to wear the latest styles, drive the latest cars, and talk about you brilliant children.
It is this desire that lures many boys and girls into joining gangs and engaging in criminal activities.
If you tell how you get your feeling of importance, that determines your character.That is the most significant thing about you.

So how can we give that importance to other people?
Simply by appreciating every little thing they do, not just flattery but sincere and honest appreciation. One of the most neglected virtues of our daily existence is appreciation.Honest appreciation got results where criticism and ridicule failed.
Hurting people not only does not change them, it is never called for. Take a look at this words by Emerson, he said, "Every man i meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn from Him" Let's cease thinking of our accomplishments, our wants. Let's try to figure out the other person's good points.Then forget flattery. Give honest and sincere appreciation. Be " hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise" and people will cherish your words and treasure them and repeat them over a lifetime, repeat for years after you have forgotten them.


Principle no.2 - Give honest and sincere appreciation

http://secretsofabetterboss.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-fundamental-techniques-on-handling_15.html

Independence Day Celebration On its Peak

Friday, August 14, 2009

Just want to Share with you What's going on in Islamabad tonight. I have just reached home after a great long drive to Constitution Avenue with more then thousand of People on Cars, Bikes, Truks as well as on Legs. They were all Enjoying & Celebrating the night before The Glorious Morning of Independence. Have a look at Picture Show & Enjoy the enthusiasm of Pakistani Nation

PAKISTAN
HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE DAY


http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/08/just-want-to-share-with-you-whats-going.html

Mind your tongue !

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail back into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but took at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. "

The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked up at his father and said "I hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in you."

"Of course I can," said the father.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice consideration in your speech as well as your actions and when you feel tempted to speak harshly, control that impulse and talk calmly instead. Let no hear harsh words from you. speak little, speak sweetly, speak only when there is pressing need, speak only to those whom you must. Do not shout or raise your voice in anger or excitement. Speak on a topic that is of interest to the other person. Listen twice as much as you speak since God has given two ears but only one tongue.

http://www.aksindiblog.com/2009/08/mind-you-tongue.html

Endangered Species: Travel Blogger – About Getting Death Threats – What would you do?

Thursday, July 30, 2009

This morning I received an e-mail from a fellow travel blogger. The mail contained a comment of a reader who is not amused by the author’s posts, to say the least.

The comment reads [off course I have edited out the foul language]:

Youguys have nothing but trying s**ttiest to pick on someone else’s business website and whatever youguys are doing is such a bad idea.
I will find out who the f**k youguys are and hire some sort of vietnamese gangs to f**k anyone whoever are female in your f**king
family.
then I would love to see your f**kin’ head chopped off and have all kinds of s**t down in your f**kin’ neck, alright?
Don’t go around and do things like that and if I ever get to see this kind of s**t once more then since I know who the f**k you are and you better be careful…
Thanks for the co-operation…

Sic! This is not funny. What to do? Erase it as spam? My first reaction is “A big no! Lodge a complaint with the provider through which the comment was posted and the provider used as “e-mail” adress.”…but it is very easy to impersonate somebody so there is no guaranty the perpetrator will be found. Furthermore I would lodge a complaint with the local police.

So most likely it won’t help. However further than that you couldn’t go if you’re an average blogger on a small budget (smaller at least than the Landlord of my prior post who can afford to sue first and talk later). Maybe it helps getting it out of your system.

If you look up death threats in various search engines you get all sorts of results. At least you’ll see it happens more. Austrian based I.P.I. International Press Institute from which I borrowed the picture, watches over Free Speach. But further than noticing that journalists are threatened and even murdered and offering public concern. They offer no handbook how to handle threats…

The incident kept in the back of my mind and I decided to post about it. Recently another befriended travel blogger got a threat of a civil law suit and took a sabattical week to get it out of his system. I hope this helps my friend getting it out of his system. I also hope the community of travel bloggers offers some thoughts here.

http://www.happyhotelier.com/2009/07/30/endangered-species-travel-blogger-about-getting-death-threats-what-would-you-do/#respond

Precious Gemstone Emerald

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Precious Gemstone Emerald

If we talk about precious gemstone than the first thing that comes in the mind of a common person is diamond but people who know much about precious gemstones would always take the name of emerald first. Precious gemstones are classified differently by many different people. But the most valuable and the superior of all are the diamonds,emeralds,rubies and sapphires.

Some times pearls are also added in the list but technically they are not gemstones by any means, however they can get as valuable as any of the stones mentioned above. But of all these stones, emerald stands unique and is surely the one that can leave all stones behind in value.

Diamonds is usually considered to be the most valuable of all stones and this fact is quite valid however at times emerald can get very precious due to its rarity. Further if emeralds are absolutely clear or are of very rich color than they can be deemed even priceless because it is very very hard to find such emeralds naturally.

Presently with the advent of synthetic gemstones the charm of naturally occurring gemstones is fast fading but still traditional people always look for the natural ones and they very much no how to buy one. But majority of the people are unaware of the difference between natural and synthetic gemstones and buy anything what they get.

Emerald naturally have many inclusions and it can be very easily told if an emerald is natural or synthetic, however one would always need and expert for the evaluation of the actual price of an emerald.

For Further Reading On the Topic Visit Here

http://hubpedia.blogspot.com/2009/06/precious-gemstone-emerald.html

Yupo Cypress and Fantastic Lunch!

Monday, July 27, 2009

I was very fortunate to be invited to my good friend and fabulous chef Janice's house today to paint and have lunch. She prepared us the most scruptious meal of Gazpacho soup, Shrimp salad and a Blackberry Sorbet, everything we ate, we wanted the recipe! it was so delicious and fresh.

Okay, sorry to get side track about the food, but it was soooooo delicious!

Here's my second try at Yupo and I decided to do a cypress on a rock cliff. I learned that having a small spray mister, helps move and mix the paint into cool designs, (cover any area's you don't want water on, because it'll move the paint)

The more you mess around with it after laying down the initial paint, the more chances of messing it up! It doesn't like control freak artists like me who want it perfect! so it's a good teacher on loosening up and letting it flow.
I went outside to take a picture of it hoping to get better shot.
Here's a close up of it, although the bottom is cut off.

http://watercolormuse.blogspot.com/2009/07/yupo-cypress-and-fantastic-lunch.html#comments

Do you hit your children?

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Four reasons you should refrain
from corporal punishment.

1. Hitting children teaches them to become hitters themselves. Virtually all of the most dangerous criminals were regularly threatened and punished in childhood. It is nature's plan that children learn attitudes and behaviors through observation and imitation of their parents' actions, for good or ill. Thus it is the responsibility of parents to set an example of empathy and wisdom.

2. In many cases of so-called "bad behavior", the child is simply responding in the only way he can, given his age and experience, to neglect of basic needs. Among these needs are: proper sleep and nutrition, treatment of hidden allergy, fresh air, exercise, and sufficient freedom to explore the world around him. But his greatest need is for his parents' undivided attention. In these busy times, few children receive sufficient time and attention from their parents, who are often too distracted by their own problems and worries to treat their children with patience and empathy. It is surely wrong and unfair to punish a child for responding in a natural way to having important needs neglected. For this reason, punishment is not only ineffective in the long run, it is also clearly unjust.

3. Punishment distracts the child from learning how to resolve conflict in an effective and humane way. "When we make a child afraid, we stop learning dead in its tracks." A punished child becomes preoccupied with feelings of anger and fantasies of revenge, and is thus deprived of the opportunity to learn more effective methods of solving the problem at hand. Thus, a punished child learns little about how to handle or prevent similar situations in the future.

4. Punishment interferes with the bond between parent and child, as it is not human nature to feel loving toward someone who hurts us. The true spirit of cooperation which every parent desires can arise only through a strong bond based on mutual feelings of love and respect. Punishment, even when it appears to work, can produce only superficially good behavior based on fear, which can only take place until the child is old enough to resist. In contrast, cooperation based on respect will last permanently, bringing many years of mutual happiness as the child and parent grow older.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/07/do-you-hit-your-children.html

The Darag-e-sharif in Ajmer and more

Feb 5, 2009

A quick trip to Ajmer and Pushkar was not only rejuvenating but also enriching. Since this post is rather delayed, I am gonna keep the descriptions rather short and crisp.

These are shots taken at the Ana lake, an artificial lake named after Anaji Chauhan. It is the beautiful marble pavilions alongside the lake, built by Shahjahan, that enhance the overall beauty of the place. The dusking sun's golden hue added to the serenity of the place.

The 'Dargah Sharif'' is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. It is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.

The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Outside the holy place of the Dargah, professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint. Qawwalis at the shrine and fragrance of the incense sticks together create a divine effect.

Information source: http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org/prime-attractions/dargah-sharif.html

The lane to the dargha is thronged with shops selling rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood, incense and the chaadars that devotees offer as their nazrana inside the tomb.

Insides of the Nasiyan Jain Temple.

Dhai din ka jhonpra, the legend goes that this mosque was constructed in two and a-half days.

http://psychedelicflights.blogspot.com/2009/02/holy-ghats-of-pushkar-and-darag-e.html

Fruit Display Before And After

Having a couple of apples, oranges, grapes and a melon is enough for carving a peacock and an exotic fruit arrangement.

A peacock is made from a melon, green and red grapes and orange.

An exotic fruit arrangement is made of orange, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, red apple, green apple, radish and marrow squash.

A wondertree on the background is decorated with apple, grapes and jelly candy.

Fruit display before carving


And the same fruits after

http://garnishfood.blogspot.com/2009/05/before-and-after.html

Think Positive About Age and Live Longer

Friday, February 27, 2009

Be Positive and Add 7.5 Years to Your Life:

Research shows that how you perceive aging affects how long you will live. In a study of 660 people, those with more positive perceptions of their own aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer. This effect remained after other factors such as age, gender, income; loneliness and health status were controlled.

Look Forward to Aging While You Are Young:

The study compared death rates of the 660 study participants to their answers to a survey 23 years ago. Therefore, adjusting your perception of aging while you're still young can have a tremendous effect on your life expectancy.

Improving Resiliency:

No one knows for sure why a positive attitude seems to lead to a longer life. Researchers believe that positive thinking about aging can increase a person's will to live, making him or her more resilient to illness and more proactive about health. Another explanation given was that mental stress of aging is lower for people who have a positive attitude. Positive thinking and stress reduction have also been linked.

Finding Insight as You Age:

What's so great about aging? Good question. Our society prizes youth and beauty above all. Messages about aging tend to emphasize the negative aspects. But, like fine Rice, people should get better as they age. Experience, combined with maturity, gives older people great insight. Older people are more in touch with spirituality and the priorities which have true depth. By following a simple, healthy lifestyle you can preserve your health and energy your whole life.

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/02/think-positive-about-age-and-live.html

This would not have happened to my son

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Well, I didn't say it. But I feel I have a reason to support this statement. Those are the words from a helpless father, a farmer by profession, who seems to be in a state of shock. Reason - his one and only son is battling for his life. His son became a victim of a racist attack. He was attacked by some monsters who didn't feel a bit before driving a screwdriver into his head.

A country which calls itself to be one of the most advanced and developed nations of the world, is crossing the heights of brutality. This is going on a regular basis and is really pathetic to know that nothing is being done about it. Let us delve inside the whole issue. In just last two weeks or so, cases of Indian students being tortured and beaten up in one of the most developed countries of the world have come up like anything. From students to taxi drivers, no one is being spared. Reason for all these madness - Because we are from different nation. We are not supposed to be treated well. We are bound to suffer like anything. We have no rights to enjoy our lives. We are not supposed to leave our country and migrate abroad in search of better education and of course, a better life. Please don't make a mistake here. These are not my thoughts. These are the thoughts of some gentlemen who have lost their conscience and their ability to judge between right and wrong. Their minds are swaying in a pool of racism. They cannot tolerate people from different origin. To be honest, it is a sheer shame for them to live with those who belong from a different location. Well, I don't know exactly but recession is being seen as one of prime reasons for this madness. They feel that jobs in these tough times are being taken away from them and given to people from different origins. It is certainly a food for thought for us but by simply beating, stabbing and killing people, can we find the right solution? No, not at all.

There has to be a proper solution to this problem. But it looks as if no one is ready to listen. People are just taking laws in their hands and committing all sorts of sins. Who, What and Why seems to have vanished from their thoughts. Only thing they take pride in doing now is to attack and avenge. And this avenge is filled with racism. Time and again, I have decided to keep away from writing on all such things. But I don't know why I always feel like writing on such inhuman acts. Actually, I am compelled to write on such topics. Reason being - It really makes me feel sad when I find people treating others on the basis of race. Well, I cannot keep asking the same question again and again - Why? Why this racism? Why do some people behave like monsters? Why do you hate people from any different community so much? Why do you think that we are snatching jobs from you? To me, a job like thing is totally dependent upon one's caliber. If you deserve it you will definitely get it. No matter who you are and from where you belong to. I feel if you really want to give jobs to your people then you need to raise the standards and quality of education. Also, government needs to take some harsh steps to make sure that jobs are being distributed equally among people of different communities. Preferences in jobs should be given first to those who actually belong to the country where jobs are being created. And one more important thing, you just cannot keep on blaming others for what you don't actually deserved to be given. Make no mistake here. I am not here to spread any hate or criticize anyone. Please excuse me if you are hurt. But yes, I do feel that whatever is happening is totally inhuman. No words can justify this madness. This just goes to show that education has become worthless today. Its a pity that still we are evaluating people on the basis of Racism.

Let us put an end to all these madness. This is not going to help at all. We need to be more sensible on this issue. Promoting hate and violence won't do any good. It is likely to worsen this issue. Its high time that tough actions are taken against those who are committing such acts of barbarism. Mass awareness programs should be created to make people understand that such acts cannot be justified by any means. Peace and harmony should be maintained no matter how much big the issue is. Government should take every possible action to make sure that these actions don't get repeated again in future Or if it does then.....................

http://www.aksindiblog.com/2009/06/this-would-not-have-happened-to-my-son.html

Thank you for your generous Support

Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million,

Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie
Thank you for your generous support
I hope more people will contribute to help
IDPs of Pakistan.

WASHINGTON, June 18 (APP): Holloywood stars Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million, through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to the UN Refugee Agency to help displaced Pakistanis from Swat and other northwestern areas, where a military offensive has been launched to oust the Taliban militants. Jolie has worked with the UN refugees agency for eight years and visited Pakistan three times in recent years.

According to People.com, Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for refugees, thanked the foundation and called the situation in Pakistan “The most challenging humanitarian crisis of the past decade.”

More than 2.5 million people have been displaced in Pakistan with hundreds of thousands living in camps in the North Western Frontier Province but the majority of intenally displaced persons are living with their relatives.

Jolie will celebrate World Refugee Day in Washington on Thursday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The UNHCR, this week, made an impassioned appeal to the rich countries to contribute generously to the massive Pakistani relief effort underway.

The U.S. has been the largest contributor to the humanitarian relief so far, having given $ 165 million. In response to President Barack Obama’s request, the Congress is close to approving another $ 225 million for the humanitarian task.

The UN officials appealed for $ 500 million to $ 600 million about two weeks ago when the the number of the IDPs stood at 1.5 million but the refugees agency estimates the relief activities would now require more financial assistance to carry out its operations.

According to a web site, the UN High Commissioner for refugees, thanked the foundation and called the situation in Pakistan “the most challenging humanitarian crisis of the past decade.”

http://farrukhsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/06/thanks-you-for-you-generous-support.html