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Online Investments for Making Best Use of Your Money
Online Investments for Making Best Use of Your Money
Author:Bondan Hermanto
In this posting we talk about on the web investments but prior to that we discuss about the which means of an investment and a investment corporation. In uncomplicated, investment suggests acquire of an asset or some other issue that will give benefit in phrases of revenue. The provider dealing in securities and make use of funds obtained from offering shares is regarded as investment firm.
Bisnis Investasi Online
Online investing is a new service and its scope is escalating day-by-day. On-line investment indicates producing investment with the support of Online. There are distinctive stock markets, credit score union web pages or banking institutions that give on the net investing solutions. With the support of online investing you can purchase shares or bonds on your behalf. Numbers of investors are making the most of the benefits of like quickly and easy service.
The consumers investing on the net are acknowledged as on the internet traders but it is also significant to know that in which category of investors you come. The on the web investors falls beneath 6 classes: Uncertain newcomer, moderate energetic trader, lively day trader, fund supporter, extended-term retirement planner and a hand in each pot.
Cashback Tertinggi
Uncertain newcomer is a new investor, which do not have any expertise and target. Prolonged-phrase retirement planner doesn\'t deal in particular person stocks and he is continually interested in very long-term investments. Reasonably energetic trader can maintain stocks for only couple of days or months. Lively day trader is a single who stands at this placement for shorter time and would make a number of specials everyday. Some traders place their hands in all kinds of investments to make a lot more income. Fund addict style of investor primarily offers in complex and challenging solutions than other stocks.
There are range of advantages of creating investments on the net. The first a single is painless entry. You are ready to make very best use of your money anywhere. The preference is yours regardless of whether you want to select a banking institution or personal stock markets. Through on the internet investment you can adequately deal with your money, as on line access is offered 24/seven. Individuals who want to manage separate accounts from their banks, can go for on line brokerage firms.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/online-investments-for-making-best-use-of-your-money-4203394.html
About the Authorsenuke
Out Patient Insurance Cover Now More Important Than Ever
Out Patient Insurance Cover Now More Important Than Ever
Author:Pallas Globalhealth
Mounting pressure to keep runaway hospitalisation costs under control, combined with improved technology and facilities, has resulted in a rapid increase in the frequency of outpatient surgeries and procedures being conducted.
While this has resulted in reducing the amount of hospital-base recuperation stays, it has also caught numerous people short whose company or private medical insurance has not covered outpatient procedures.
'Outpatient diagnostic procedures and surgeries are now being performed in three types of facilities -- doctors\' offices, outpatient departments in hospitals, and freestanding ambulatory care centres,' notes Mr. Joseph Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Hong Kong based GlobalHealth International Group. 'Such procedures and surgeries do not require an overnight hospital stay and patients return home after time spent in a recovery room in these outpatient facilities.'
When a medical service or treatment requires you to stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, it is usually covered by medical insurance as an inpatient or hospitalization benefit. Any visit that is less than 24 hours, even at a hospital emergency services or outpatient area, are generally considered as an outpatient benefit.
Unfortunately, many standard personal health insurance policies offered over the years do not cover outpatient treatments and services. Today, however, you will find an abundance of private medical insurance policies that either automatically include outpatient benefits or give you the option of having these included.
For instance, the Pallas GlobalHealth comprehensive global medical insurance plan from GlobalHealth Asia provides full outpatient coverage, above your self-selected deductible amount, for all major medical costs incurred anywhere in the world. The Pallas GlobalHealth plan also provides for free medical second opinions from leading medical centres around the world.'
Benefits of outpatient coverage
Outpatient benefits can include a wide range of medical services including consultations, diagnostic procedures and test, treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation. Depending on the policy and cover you select, outpatient benefits may or may not cover chronic conditions, prenatal and postnatal services, or mental health conditions such as autism or sleep disorders. It is well worth your time to research the options available to you and to select cover most suited to your lifestyle, genetic and family medical history, and financial situation.
Typical benefits of outpatient coverage include:
* Routine health checks
* Doctor and specialist fees
* Prescription medicines
* Alternative treatments such as chiropractor and Osteopath
* Diagnostic tests, including blood work, ECG, scans and x-rays
* Home Nursing
* Vaccinations
Some innovative private health insurance plans, such as those offered by GlobalHealth Asia, also provide options for inclusion of traditional Chinese medicines, acupuncture, and other forms of treatment.
Rehabilitation therapy, including occupational, speech, and physical therapy sessions, are an important component of a comprehensive outpatient private health insurance plan. This is particularly important when one realizes that most rehabilitation processes require months and months of on-going treatments. Such on-going care can be financially draining if not covered under a private medical insurance plan.
As GlobalHealth International\'s Mr. Griffin points out, 'there is a noticeable trend for the increased use of outpatient facilities and services, particularly since many advanced medical techniques today reduce recovery times and negate the need for postoperative hospital stays.'
With this in mind, having a personal health insurance plan that includes outpatient cover is now more important than ever, for both you and all your family members.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/out-patient-insurance-cover-now-more-important-than-ever-4203356.html
About the AuthorPallas GlobalHealth is a private health insurance plan with extraordinary high coverage and the greatest freedom of personal choice. With unequaled global coverage and superior benefits, health insurance premiums, Pallas GlobalHealth provides you with the highest annual maximum coverage against major medical expenses – anywhere in the world, any time.
Watch The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 15 Online
Watch The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 15 Online
Author:blairflocker
Watch The Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 15 online and enjoy tons of funny scenes that will surely make you laugh.The Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 15 is titled The Benefactor Factor and the new episode airs February 10 at 8 PM.
'These soon to be millionaires nerdy characters of The Big Bang Theory TV series are such a lovely, funny and laughable bunch of very intelligent human beings. Simply click on the Watch Here Now button below to watch The Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 15 and enjoy another round of geeky comedy at its best.
The Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 15 captioned the Benefactor Factor is written by Bill Prady, Lee Aronsohn and Dave Goetsch while teleplay was done by Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan & Steve Holland. This episode was directed by Mark Cendrowski. Watch out for the airing date of The Big Bang Theory season 4 episode 15 The Benefactor Factor on February 10, 2011 over the CBS TV Network. If you can\'t watch it due to some reason, all you have to do is go online and watch the episode tonight. Relax, laugh and enjoy and watch your favorite TV series.
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Who have ever thought that the word genius and fun could be in the same sentence? Well, our geniuses from the Big Bang Theory simply manage to make the smart sexy and the boring intellectual discussion to hilariously fun situation. If you want your dose of wit, intellect, laughter and sexiness then, you have to watch The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 15: The Benefactor Factor.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/television-articles/watch-the-big-bang-theory-season-4-episode-15-online-4203368.html
About the AuthorIs the Black Stone an Idol? & Is Pilgrimage a Pagan Rite?
Is the Black Stone an Idol? & Is Pilgrimage a Pagan Rite?
Author:The Islam Show
By: Abdus-Samad Sharafuddin
Let us examine closely the square-structured Ka\'bah (The Holy House) at Makkah, in Arabia, wherein in its Eastern corner lies the Black Stone set up chest-high. Every pilgrim in Makkah tries to kiss and caress it fondly, the first thing upon arrival there. This action marks the start of the act of Tawaf. The word 'Tawaf' is an arabic infinitive noun which means to circle, compass or move around something. A pilgrim has to circle the Ka\'bah seven times, to complete Tawaf. Each one of the seven rounds begins by kissing or caressing if possible, or by simply pointing at the Black Stone. The Black Stone thus, serves to mark the start of each round. Tawaf is one of the integral parts of Pilgrimage (Hajj), which is also performed, as a separate act of worship at any time. Thus we find the Ka\'bah continually being circled by people day and night.
THE REAL IMPORTANCE OF TAWAF
Circumumbulating the Ka\'bah and kissing the stone are in fact considered the Tawaf\'s outer aspects, apart from its inner significance. They resemble something like the standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting postures observed in the daily Islamic prayers. Yet, the prayer postures, as well as the circling around the Ka\'bah coupled with kissing, both form the outward shell of the chaff, which preserves the grain. The grain of the Tawaf lies in the lofty meanings of the Pilgrim\'s recitation and prayers, in the soul-stirring emotions surging in his heart - such as his extreme love for Allah, his awe of Him, and his high hopes in Him. Examine, for instance, the words brimful of God\'s oneness, which the pilgrim utters. It is his regular formula, at the start of each round of the Tawaf, as he kisses, caresses, or points at the Black Stone, declaring: '(I begin) in the Name of Allah who is Most Great. O Allah! (I perform) believing in thee, confirming Thy Book, fulfilling Thy Pledge, and following the Way of Thy Prophet, Muhammad - Blessing and peace upon him!' As such, the Tawaf around the Ka\'bah is done solely in the Name of the One Supreme Allah, and that it is never done in the name of any other deity, nor for the Black Stone itself, as others allege. The operation of Tawaf is in compliance with the Holy promise the pilgrim has committed with His Lord. He does it as a believer in the One God, not as an idolater, but as a conformer of Allah\'s revealed Books, and as a follower of His Prophet (Peace be upon him). Far from worshipping the Stone, the Pilgrim is kissing it, or pointing at it, just as was done by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in his time.
GLORIFYING THE ONE GOD
Find out, how the pilgrim goes on glorifying Allah the most High, while performing the rounds, with these noble hymns: 'Glory be to Allah! All Praise be to Allah! There is no deity save God. Allah is Most Great! There is no handling, nor power, save by Allah\'s Help.' A Monotheist (One-God worshipper) holds these sublime prayers far more valuable than the earth\'s entire riches. With these, he praises his One and Only Lord, as he circles a spot made Holy by the presence of His House. Is there any remotest trace of Polytheism (multi-god worship) or Idolatry in such an act?
A SELECT PRAYER
As he has left all his worldly affairs behind, the pilgrim, besides praising Allah, also goes on praying for his worldly betterment, in between. Here is his all-embracing prayer to Allah, the Benevolent: 'O Allah! make me content with my appointed lot, and bless me therein. And make good to me all, my losses and needs.'
THE TWO-WORLD PRAYER
Unlike unbelievers, the pilgrim has a living faith in the coming, eternal hereafter. He does not fail here, therefore, to say the best possible prayer man could ever ask. It is from the Qur\'an itself, and combines both the good of this world and the world to come in his supplication as follows: ' O Lord! Bestow upon us the good in this world and the good in the hereafter. And save us from the torment of the fire' Holy Qur\'an 12:201.
COULD A STONE BE GOD?
Although so reverently kissed and caressed during the Tawaf, the Black stone, in one of the corners of the Ka\'bah, is no graven image for the pilgrims to worship. That is the last thing any One-God worshipper could ever imagine. For a stone is just a mere stone after all. It has no power whatsoever to do good or inflict harm to any one, apart from Allah, the Sole Deity of mankind. That is a thing cherished either knowingly, ignorantly or figuratively - by those who take to stone-worship instead of God-worship, a belief and practice as unholy as it is senseless. This is why the Black Stone becomes a mystery to such people, and so, some out of ignorance openly charge that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) did break every Idol in Islam except one - meaning the Ka\'bah, or the Black Stone. Why, even unwitting Muslims get easily confused about the Black Stone. It was hence that \'Umar the second Caliph, did well to remove this hidden doubt from the mind. So when he came to kiss the Stone, he cried out publicly to it: Narrated ‘Abis bin Rabi\'a: ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, 'No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can either harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allah\'s Messenger (Peace be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you. Summarized Sahi Al-Bukhari, Al-Hajj, page 396 No. 808 on the Black Stone..
TRUE STORY OF THE BLACK STONE
More than five thousand years ago today, the father of the prophets, prophet Ibraham (Peace be upon him) the Upright (Haneef), had built the present structure of the Ka\'bah under Allah\'s own orders. He (Peace be upon him) had built it along with his youthful son, Ishmael (Peace be upon him), forefather of the Arabs. This is how the Qur\'an describes their building it together: 'And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma\'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka\'bah) at Makkah, ( saying), ‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, all Knower.\'' ( Qur\'an 2:127). The father and the son, true Monotheists (Muslims), were thus raising the foundations with trembling hearts, for the Muslims are Allah\'s most devoted servants, ever fearful of his displeasure. While building the Ka\'bah, therefore, both of them were afraid that Allah may not accept their humble service, hence that prayer of theirs. How touching of such fidelity, how moving of such humility towards Allah the Great! It is the essence of Monotheism, the ideal pattern of Faith and Actions great and small for all Muslims to follow. When raised to a certain height, Ibraham (Peace be upon him) ordered his son to choose a piece of stone to mark the main cornerpoint. Even as the lad was searching for it, the Archangel Gabriel appeared with the Black Stone from Heaven. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'The Black stone descended from heaven, when it was whiter than Milk, but people\'s sins have blackened it'. Tirmidhi, Kitab Al-Hajj, the Black stone,
Abraham (Peace be upon him) took it up and fitted it in, and there it stands up to this day. It is a heavenly stone, then, and not an earthly one. It was selected by Allah for His Holy House (the Ka\'bah).
TEACHING THE PILGRIMAGE RITES
The building thus finished, this is how Ibraham and Ihmail (Peace be upon them) went on further praying to Allah, in the next Verse; 'Our Lord! And make us submissive unto you and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of Pilgrimage - Hajj and Umrah etc.) and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.' ( Qur\'an 2:128). Thereupon Allah taught them through revelation the pilgrimage rites, which includes the Tawaf.
IS KISSING ESSENTIAL?
We have known the working procedure of the Tawaf, it consists of circling around the Ka\'bah seven times. Each circle begins by kissing the Black Stone, or by caressing it, which is its normal procedure. But Tawaf is not a one-man business, hundreds, even thousands, are circling the Ka\'bah at one and the same time. How could each person kiss the Black Stone separately? Naturally, when so over-crowded, the kissing will have to be dispensed with by some or many of them. At such times it is quite enough therefore, to face the Black Stone from any distance, and only point at it by one\'s right hand, at the start of each round. The pilgrim then recites his formula and proceeds on.
HISTORY UNFOLDS A RARE ASPECT
Assuming that the Black Stone is missing for one reason or another, does it render the Tawaf and Pilgrimage invalid and void on such account? Absolutely not. This is exactly what has already happened in the history of Islam. The Karamathians (Arabic: al-Qaramitah), the most un-islamic sect in Islam, had removed the Black Stone during their mad merrymaking in the year 317 AH/980 AD. They carried it away with them to their territory in Al-Ahsa (in the Arabian Gulf). After keeping it there for twenty years, they had returned it back to Makkah in the year 339 AH (see shorter Encyclopedia Leiden 1953, P. 219). In such an event, the Shariah (Law) maintains that the pilgrim shall perform his Tawaf without the Black stone. Instead of the Black Stone, the pilgrim shall touch its place at the corner of the Ka\'bah, or point at its spot, and continue his Tawaf. Thus the total absence of the Stone itself makes no difference in the validity of the Tawaf and the Pilgrimage. This shows how tiny a part is being played by this stone. How ignorant of others and how childish, therefore, sounds the charge that it is the 'most Precious Idol preserved by Islam'!
DOES KISSING MEAN WORSHIPPING?
Kissing a stone is not a sign of its worship at all. Kissing the Black Stone cannot be twisted into an idol worship, for the stone is no image, just as mere kissing is not worshipping by a mere imagination. Anyone might allege that Muslims do worship a certain ‘idol\'. But the fact remains that they do not worship anything save God, the One. The idol and its worship simply do not exist. The Bible is kissed in lawcourts; does that mean then that it is worshipped? Moreover, parents kiss their children lovingly, without any trace of worship in it at all. A big question-mark that should come to one\'s mind are the pre-Islamic Arab idolaters who had held the Ka\'bah. With all their polytheism and idolatry, they too used to circle the Ka\'bah and kiss the Black Stone. Had their kissing been an act of idol- worship, why then was there still a need for them-despite the presence of the 'almighty' Black Stone-to install three hundred and sixty idols therein? This proves beyond a shadow of doubt that it is one thing to kiss the Black Stone under Divine Orders, and quite another to worship a stone or an idol. Most notable, perhaps, is the fact that One-God worshippers do nothing beyond simply kissing the Black Stone. They neither venerate it with folded hands, nor kneel down, nor prostrate themselves, nor squat before it. For all these is done only by idol-worshippers before their idols.
IS THE PILGRIMAGE A PAGAN RITE?
Some non-Muslims think or are made to believe that the Pilgrimage to Ka\'bah is purely a pagan rite or one form of idol-worship. That it was being practiced by the Arab idolaters before Islam, and that Islam borrowed it from them. This assumption is further aided by the fact that the Ka\'bah itself had been a temple housing no less than three hundred and sixty idols. Nevertheless, this is a pure conjecture belying facts and figures. For it was not the idolaters of Makkah, but prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), who had initiated and established the holy Pilgrimage thereof, ages ago. On the contrary, it was these very idolaters, the degenerate descendants of Abraham and Ishmael (Peace be upon them), who had defiled Allah\'s Holy Ka\'bah into a huge pantheon. It was these rank idolaters who had injected pagan rites into the purely Islamic Pilgrimage laid down by prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), one of the greatest worshippers of God. All honour is due to prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the seal of the prophets and the last of Abraham\'s (Peace be upon him) line of Prophethood, who first swept clean the Holy Ka\'bah from its heathen idols. It was he again who restored the original pilgrimage to its pristine purity. The Muslims, are in fact the true followers of the Religion of prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), the grand-father of prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him), where pilgrimage to Makkah is a notable heritage as well as an important fixture of the religion. How different could these facts be from the Non-muslims\' random conjecture?
BUILDING THE HOUSE AND PROCLAIMING THE HAJJ
This is how Allah declared to prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him) regarding his Sacred House after showing him the site thereof: ' And Remember when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the Holy House (the Ka\'bah) at Makkah saying : Associate not anything in worship with Me, [La Ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah - Islamic Monotheism], and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up for prayer, and those who bow and submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration in prayer.' Qur\'an 22:26. Abraham (Peace be upon him) is being himself ordained in this verse to keep perfectly away from idolatry. He is being told, as well, to sanctify the House of God from all kinds of impurities, especially from that of idol-worship. Then follows the two-fold purpose for which that House was being built. First, is its being the center of Tawaf for those who compass it round, and its being the prayer-place for those who pray therein their daily Prayers second. This is as much as to say that the Tawaf and the Pilgrimage do depend upon the house of God, as much as do the prayers. For this reason all those who pray all the world over do turn in the one direction of the Ka\'bah at Makkah. After being ordained to build and sanctify God\'s Ka\'bah, prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him) receives in the next verse the command to proclaim the Pilgrimage to the Ka\'bah, in this manner: 'And proclaim to mankind the Hajj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant wide mountain highway to perform Hajj.' Qur\'an 22:27. That definitely proves that it was Abraham (Peace be upon him) who built the Ka\'bah, and that it was also he who proclaimed the Pilgrimage, facts that should equally refute the oft-repeated allegation put forth that pilgrimage was some pagan rite invented by the heathen idolaters, and retained by Islam.
HIGHLIGHT OF PILGRIMAGE
Initiated by Abraham (Peace be upon him), and reflected by the Seal of the Prophets, Pilgrimage to the House of God is a unique experience to every true Muslim. For a 'Muslim' is essentially the one who shifts from the false to the true Religion - from disbelief to Belief in God, and from multi-god to One-God worship. This trait made Abraham (Peace be upon him) a 'Perfect' Muslim when he entered the Pantheon at Babylon, and smashed the idols therein to pieces. Allah entrusted him with building His House at Makkah, and tasked him to proclaim the Pilgrimage to it. Henceforth, Pilgrimage to the House of God becomes the most predominant trait of being a Muslim. A haven of absolute freedom, and a sanctuary of perfect peace and security, this Holy Mosque is the only spot on earth set up by Allah for one and all the people alike, without any distinction. It is the House of God wherein all men are equal, none being entitled to own it exclusively. This is told in these words of Allah: '...and from Al-Masjid-al-Haram at Makkah which We have made open to all men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country.... '(Qur\'an 22:25) The message of this Surah 22, verses 26-27 named 'The Pilgrimage' itself, is describing the construction of the Ka\'bah and its sanctification, it being the focal point of Tawaf as well as the center of Prayers. Thus, the incumbency of Pilgrimage to this 'first house of One-God worship', etc. Verses 28-37, do contain the basic elements of the Monotheistic religion of prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), wherein one of the main objectives emphasized is the need to celebrate the Name of Allah Alone over the animal-whether ordinarily slaughtered, or offered as sacrifices to Allah, as against those offered to the idolaters\' idols, as evidenced particularly by verses 28, 30, 34, 36 and 37. 'Avoiding the abomination of idols', and 'neglecting the word that is false' (telling and witnessing falsehood), these two cardinal sins, have been specially prohibited in Verse 30. But the crowning message of unparalleled importance is the commandment: 'Hunafa\' Lillah (i.e. to worship none but Allah), not associating partners (in worship, etc.) unto Him...', which is the soul and the heart of Monotheism (one-God worship), and the annihilator of all Polytheism (multi-god worship). This last, but not the least message, is the essence of Pilgrimage, as also the topmost concern and happiness of every Muslim. The Makkahn idolaters too, used to perform the Pilgrimage, calling themselves thereby as 'Haneefs' (followers of Abraham). And therefore, Muslims are being told to perform the Pilgrimage, and call themselves as 'Haneefs' but with this difference: 'Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to Him'. Thus the sublime Truths, the essence of the creed: 'There is no deity save God', seem to be beyond the comprehension of idol-worshippers, all over the world, and in all ages.
THE FIVE-TIME PRAYERS
This performance of the Pilgrimage --- a colossal feat of Monotheism, is closely knit around the Ka\'bah and its surrounding environment. It occurs only once a year, but far more important and surpassing is the performance of prayers in Islam, which are equally connected with the Ka\'bah. Prayers are an obligatory duty upon every Muslim. This is why every Muslim anywhere around the world turns towards Allah, facing in the direction of the Ka\'bah five times daily. Of course, the Ka\'bah is for outward direction to face in one\'s prayers, though inwardly, one faces his entire heart, to the Lord of the Worlds Himself. In this manner, Muslims are so intimately related to the Ka\'bah through their Pilgrimage and Prayers, till the last moment of their lives. Not only this, but every Muslim is made to face the direction of the Ka\'bah when breathing his last. Nay, even after death he is buried in his last resting place, i.e. in the grave, so that he faces the same direction of the Ka\'bah.
PRAYERS AND SACRIFICE
Both the Pilgrimage and the Prayers are equally connected with the Ka\'bah. And offering an animal and the Prayers are major Hajj ceremonies, where both the Prayer and sacrifice are special tokens of the single worship of Allah, with both being jointly dedicated to Him. It is a most sublime dedication the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was asked to offer in the following words: ' Say [O Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him)]: ‘Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the \'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists), He has no partner, And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.)' (Qur\'an 162-163). And this forms the only straight path, that is the religion of our father Abraham (Peace be upon him), which is referred to in the preceding verse: 'Say [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)] 'Truly, my Lord has guided me to a Straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham). Qur\'an 6:161.
INTERNATIONAL GATHERING
On the whole, the Hajj is a unique annual gathering of its own kind. Herein, true Muslims from all over the world come together on the basis of one-God worship, that is pure Monotheism and true Islam. Forgetting their mutual differences of caste, color and social status, they assemble in this international city of Makkah to glorify the One Lord of all creation. Incidentally, they get a rare opportunity here to discuss together all sorts of communal, religious, economic, social and political problems on an all-world scale, after which no better or more beneficial gathering could be imagined. Such a high, all-embracing congregation has been held every year in the House of Allah for thousands of years now. All these manifold benefits are hinted at in the words: '......That they may witness things that are of benefit to them..' Qur\'an 22:28. Pilgrimage, therefore, is never a pagan rite, but rather the fulfillment of an incumbent duty concerning One-God worship!
INVITATION TO NON-MUSLIMS
This is the legacy left behind by prophet Ibraham (Peace be upon him) for all posterity to accept and follow, and no people of any country or nation, are an exception to that posterity. Instead of regarding the Pilgrimage duty as a pagan rite, people ought to reflect upon their own age-old idolatry, and accept and follow the religion of our father Abraham (Peace be upon him). The hour has come for these very people to proclaim of their own accord: 'There is no God Worthy of worship except Allah!' May they perform the Pilgrimage to the House of God at Makkah! And may they offer their Prayers regularly facing towards that same House! Ameen…
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/is-the-black-stone-an-idol-is-pilgrimage-a-pagan-rite-4173436.html
About the AuthorNasir Pasha, 36 Years, B.E Electrical and Electronic, Loving Father, Husband, Author, Thinker, Reader, strongly believe peace is the only way to solve all problems of the world.
A Whimsical and Illustrative, If Impractical, Approach To Solving The Health Care Crisis
A Whimsical and Illustrative, If Impractical, Approach To Solving The Health Care Crisis
Author:Bruno Korschek
It has always been the view of many thoughtful Americans that Obama Care and the politicians that wrote the voluminous and unreadable 2000 page legislation got it all wrong. They assumed that the problem was escalating health care costs and then wrote legislation to treat this symptom, not the underlying root causes. High costs are an outcome because of other factors.
It is as if the political class is treating a cough but do not understand whether the cough is caused by allergies, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, cancer, strep throat, etc. Unless you know what the underlying disease is, if you treat only the symptom, in this case high and escalating health care costs, the chances of success are quite low.
If you look at the literature on the health state of most Americans, you find a consistent pattern:
- Americans smoke too much.
- Americans eat too much.
- Americans eat too much of the wrong kind of foods.
- Americans do not get enough exercise.
- Americans in general are getting older.
They also did not understand that forcing a human being to do something is never the best way to get something done. If you can make someone want to and like to do something from a behavior perspective, they are 1) more likely to do it, 2 ) do it with more conviction and 3) do it for a longer period of time. Forcing an American to do anything just gets their ire up and robs them of the freedom of choice, something a government should rarely, if ever, do in a democracy.
This is where some creativity and originality may have been a much better approach, in conjunction with modifying behavior relative to good health habits. We got none of this creative thinking from those in charge of Obama Care, it was the same old overbearing, freedom robbing, inefficient government control approach. Maybe they should have looked at a specific YouTube video for some of that refreshing new thinking. This video can be viewed by going to the YouTube website and searching for 'odenplan, sweden, stairs, escalator, piano.'
This video covers an interesting experiment that was done in Odenplan, Sweden. The video opens with a shot of what looks like a subway area with abutting stairs and an 'Up' escalator. In the first part of the video, the overwhelming percentage of travelers take the escalator to get up to street level, very few take the 20-30 stairs up. It is then that a bunch of engineers and others get involved. They transform the stairs into a simulated piano keyboard, with both black and white keys. When someone steps on the stairs, a piano note is generated so that by walking up the stairs it is as if you are playing the piano.
After the installation of the musical steps are completed, the majority of travelers opt now for the keyboard stairs and not the easier escalator. According to the video, the usage of the steps increased 66 Using the steps is obviously a better health option but a healthier option that people chose of their own free will, not one forced on them.
If Obama, Reid, and Pelosi were in charge of the situation, they would have shut down the escalator, forced people to use the stairs, written a 2,000 page manual on the proper way to use steps and charged citizens a fee or tax to do so. The stairs would not make any sound since the government bureaucracy in charge of implementing the musical stairs would have been bogged down in red tape and never got around to the job.
Now, is it feasible to convert every set of steps in the country to musical steps? Obviously not. However, in a whimsical sort of way it would be cool to do so. Americans would gladly use the musical steps even though it was healthier for them, they would still be free to chose but by using some creativity, the right behavior would occur without new government regulations, without a loss of freedom, without coercion, and without new taxes.
This would have been such a refreshingly new approach: guide, not force, people to the right behavior to address and eliminate the underlying causes of high health care costs. If you reduce the demand for health care services because of musical steps or other innovative behavior modification, simple economics would drive down the costs, assuming the supply of medical services was constant.
That is why when you correctly view the issue of high health care costs as a behavior modification issue and not a government bureaucracy and tax issue you see that the solution should be executed from a public health viewpoint. How can you find a way to make good health behavior the right and freely chosen behavior to do? That would have been the creative, innovative, and liberty-wise right approach. It is not the type of behavior we can expect from our political class. We have not had our political class solve any issue from a creative, innovative, or freedom perspective for a very long time.
How might this positive public health approach be accomplished? On way would be to put together a panel of very smart Americans, sans politicians and lobbyists, in the mode of the successful Manhattan Project, the Apollo space program, the Military Base Closing Commission, and the Grace Commission on reducing government costs. Let the experts go about defining the true underlying causes to the problem and let the smart members of the panel come up with piano steps-like public health initiatives that modify behavior, address the underlying root causes, allow us to not lose our freedom of choice, not create mega-new bureaucracies, and not waste our tax dollars.
Now, as mentioned above, even if you modify all of the bad American eating and exercising habits, you are still left with the simple fact that Americans are getting older and in all likelihood will need more health care. We need to funnel resources into solving some of the biggest cancer killers of our time and vigorously attack the problem of dementia and Alzheimer\'s disease. These are the health care cost causers that will cripple the nation\'s financial viability unless we can find a way to solve these health issues.
Over time, better eating and exercise habits might mitigate the cancer and Alzheimer\'s impact but that would happen down the road. With thousands of Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, we must find a way to attack and conquer these diseases to mitigate the impact on health care costs. Obama Care does not make this approach a priority, which is a shame because if you do not solve these aging disease factors, it does not matter what you do from a taxation, government control, and bureaucracy perspective. The sheer number of Baby Boomers will overwhelm the system from a cancer and dementia perspective.
Thus, as you go through your day, think about using the stairs once in a while and imagine a piano playing every time you take a step. It will invigorate your body with the healthy stair option and maybe invigorate your mind, possibly staving off dementia, if you can imagine the piano steps playing a song as you go up. This will certainly make a bigger contribution to a healthy America than anything in the Obama Care legislation.
As the video says, 'Fun can obviously change behavior for the better.'
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/a-whimsical-and-illustrative-if-impractical-approach-to-solving-the-health-care-crisis-4173438.html
About the Author
Walter 'Bruno' Korschek is the author of the book, 'Love My Country, Loathe My Government. - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom and Destroying The American Political Class,' which is available at www.loathemygovernment.com and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Our daily dialog on freedom in American can be joined at www.loathemygovernment.blogspot.,com.