better light a candle than curse darkness

from the editor

Living on the Professional Edge – I

A lot of Muslim candidates apply and appear for interviews in my company. Being a panelist in the interviews, at times it is a real pain to observe the abysmal and disarrayed conditions of the average Muslim applicants. As per my personal observation, average Muslim candidates (specifically fresh graduates) require a lot of professional grooming for interviews and general professional conduct after their recruitment and induction. I take this opportunity to list a few tips for them here, with a promise to continue in the next issue, Insha Allah.

We, as interviewers, would normally reject candidates if we do not find specific traits in them. A list of do’s and don’ts for interviews:

1. Analyze the Job Profile: Do not buzz off to any interview call that might come across. Although job search can be imperatively challenging and testing at times, analyze your skill sets and compatibilities with the job profile before applying for a job or appearing for an interview. Understand the job profile and frame a mental map of what might be expected out of you in discharging the requisite job responsibilities.

2. Analyze the Organization: Always make it a point to visit the company website and gain a brief overview of the company’s areas of operations, history and background, vision and mission, and other corporate details. Your initiative in acquiring prior knowledge about the prospective company leaves a very strong mark on the interviewers. It also demonstrates that you are eager and interested in the company and the profile.

3. Exhibit General Professionalism Etiquettes: An interview is generally a conversation between two or more people. Take it the same way.
a. Maintain a calm and friendly tone, while maintaining the decency of the professional set up.
b. While entering the room, ensure that the door has been closed properly. Greet the interviewers cheerfully, while maintaining eye contact. This helps build up your self-confidence and also leaves a good impression with the interviewers.
c. Ensure that you are able to justify/prove whatever you say. Do not try to fake up any information, which you might not be able to substantiate.
d. If you are already working somewhere, give logical and plausible reasons for change. Employers do not appreciate job hoppers and candidates who are ready to change just for the sake of increased remuneration.

4. Maintain a Cogent Body Language: Remember that complimenting your speech with the correct body language is a MUST. Do not sit cross-legged, or with folded hands [these body actions signal a very bad and dominating impression on the interviewers]. Avoid placing your hands on the table. At the best, maintain a decent sitting posture with your hands elegantly placed on your thighs.

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5. Be Normal: Demonstrate creativeness, assertiveness, and confidence; but to the extent that is required. Do not act over smart; what YOU ARE NOT. Be as normal as you can. A slightest hint of over smartness is easily gauged by the interviewers, and might at times overturn the entire decision in a split second.

6. Maintain Your Composure: Never overreact to anything during the interview. The interviewers might cut across with provoking questions/situations to judge your attitude towards adversities.

7. Demonstrate Good Listening Skills: As a candidate, you might be prompted to think that you would fare better if you speak more. Not always! Being a good listener is equally important at interviews. Never interrupt the interviewers or cut across before she/he has completed his/her part of the conversation.

8. Uphold a Positive Attitude: The interviewers generally also analyze your positive attitude and compatibility with working under pressure and limited resources. Therefore, always maintain a positive attitude and demonstrate your willingness to work in the positive manner. However, do not over do anything, without proper thinking and analysis. Demonstrate your interest in the organization and profile by asking questions about the organization’s development plans and your career path in the organization.

9. Be Informed and Demonstrate Agility: Acquaint yourself with the latest developments and newsmakers before appearing an interview. Be ready to present your undeterred opinion on any issue, if asked. Be ready with the self analysis of your strengths and weaknesses, and how you plan to overcome them. Demonstrate awareness of your leisure activities as well.

10. Do Not Discuss Remuneration Till the Formal Job Offer is Made: Many candidates tend to assume that the present interview round would be the last one; and ask about remuneration when the interviewers request them for any questions that the candidates might have.
a. Never start a discussion on remuneration in any other round, except in the final HR round.
b. When you are discussing the remuneration, do so only after you have been formally offered by the HR, and after making a detailed analysis of the offer. Be open to negotiation.
c. Fresh graduates must focus on their professional growth and career path rather than on the remuneration or the monetary rewards.
d. If you have once accepted and closed the negotiation on remuneration, do not reopen it at a later stage before joining; in most cases it would signal your unstable candidature, which is not appreciated by employers. At times, it could also lead to the withdrawal of the offer made.
e. Communicate any change in the joining date well in advance. Remember that modification in the joining date is not appreciated; therefore, change the joining date only if very necessary.

Sharjeel Ahmad, sharjeel.ahmad@gmail.com


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Dawah – Are We Wasting Our Precious Resources on It? Part-3

by Shakeel Ahmad, shakeeluae@gmail.com

In part-1 of this article, our investigations revealed that we are losing the race even in Dawah activities, perhaps the only activity that we are somehow undertaking. We also concluded that the level to which Muslim institutions are involved in welfare activities is grossly insufficient, and that may possibly be the main cause for losing the race even in dawah activities, in comparison with the Christians. In part-2, we argued that without taking care of the welfare of the people we invite towards Islam, and without improving our brand image, all our efforts on dawah activities may simply be a waste of time and resources. Aggressively undertaking welfare activities (we are a religion that cares for the entire humanity, so walk the talk), because actions speak much louder the words, could be the only way to make people believe in what we preach. Practice before we preach! What should we practice, along with our best efforts to purify ourselves by following the five pillars of Islam?

Allah says, "Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves". And, in the same ayah, Allah immediately warns those who do not follow this advice on trying to change the condition of people, "But once Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect." (Quran: Surah Ar-Rad, Chapter #13, Verse #11)

Our actions must signal to the people we invite towards Islam that we obey the God absolutely, by practicing (not just preaching) completely His operations manual (Quran) in its letter and spirit. First and foremost, we would need to stop accusing them for our miseries. If we tell them they are so powerful they can cause our miseries, how can we invite them to a territory wherein they would become powerless by joining a group which has its destiny in the hands of the "other" side. As long as we keep clamouring about our locus of control being with "them", why would they decide to lose that control over "us"?

Those who invite "others" towards Islam must be the brand ambassadors of Islam; this is not an option, but as appointed representatives (khalifa, vicegerents, heirs, inheritors), we have to justify our role as the "best of the nations, raised for the benefit of mankind" (Quran, 3:110). As appointed leaders of the entire mankind, we must lead by example, particularly when "Allah subjected to you everything that the heavens and the earth contain" (Quran, 45:13). It is well-known human psychology that we seek role models, in our leaders. The role of trend-setters, and successful examples from them become far more important when someone wishes to get out of the comfort zone, to tread into unchartered territories (the situation that a non-Muslim faces when he is urged to abandon his or her comfort zone and accept the religion he or she is being invited into). Can we have examples that "others" could follow rather than carry dread on our shoulders?

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
- Catherine Aird

If the invitee peeps into the new "territory" and finds no truth of what is being preached but abundance of insensitivity and callousness, no role models but only hypocrites, will our dawah carry any impact? One poorly-served customer can pull away a hundred other potential customers, that is what we are told by the marketing wizards! We must set examples of whatever is perceived as the best; we must work very hard to raise our attractiveness index; we must become the true khalifa (appointed vicegerent) that Allah wants us to become.

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." (Quran, 2:30)

It is He Who hath made you (His) khalifa, inheritors of the earth …. (Quran, 6:165)

Your Lord will destroy your enemies, and make you khalifa (vicegerents) in this land; and He may try you by your deeds. (Quran, 7:129)

Your Lord will destroy your enemies, and make you khalifa (vicegerents) in this land; and He may try you by your deeds. (Quran, 7:129)

We made you khalifa in the land, after them, to see how you would behave! . (Quran, 10:14)

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Most importantly, we would need to know the characteristics of a khalifa. First of these attributes of a khalifa is faith in Allah and His prophets – being a momin (true believer). A Muslim role model must first be a true believer, a true Msulim. Who is a believer (momin)? Let us examine the Quran, Allah's Book, for an answer. The following verses of Quran lay down the minimum requirements (specifications) for a momin to be characterized as such – this may mean that no one is a momin if any one of these characteristics is absent in him or her.

(1) Quran, Surah Al Anaam (The Cattle, chapter-6), verse-162: Whose Salat (prayer), whose sacrifice, whose living, and whose dying are all for Allah alone, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

(2) Quran, Surah Tauba (chapter-9), Verse-112: (2.1) Those who turn back to Allah over and over again; (2.2) those who worship Him, (2.3) those who sing hymns in His praise, (2.4) those who move about in the land for His sake, (2.5) those who bow down and prostrate before Him, (2.6) those who enjoin virtue and forbid evil and strictly observe the limits prescribed by Allah.

(3) Quran, Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers, chapter-23), first 11 verses: (3.1) who perform their Salat with humility; (3.2) who refrain from vain talks; (3.3) Who are active in deeds of charity; (3.4) Who abstain from sex, except with their wives and those women who are legally in their possession, (3.5) who are true to their trusts and their promises, and (3.6) who strictly guard their Prayers.

(4) Quran, Surah Al-Noor (chapter-24), Verses 30 and 31: (4.1) Men who lower their gaze and guard their modesty (guard their private parts). (4.2) Women who lower their gaze and guard their modesty (guard their private parts); and do not display their adornment, except that which is displayed of itself, and (4.3) who draw their veils over their bosoms and do not display their adornment except before their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons and the sons of their husbands (from other wives), their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their female associates and those in their possession and male attendants incapable of sex desire and those boys who have not yet attained knowledge of sex matters concerning women; (4.4) who do not stamp their feet on the ground lest their hidden ornaments should be displayed; who turn all together towards Allah

(5) Quran, Surah Ash-Shura (Council, Consultation, chapter-42), Verses 36 to 38: (5.1) those who have believed and put their trust in their Lord. (5.2) Who refrain from gross sins and indecencies. (5.3) Who, when they are angry, forgive. (5.4) Who obey their Lord, (5.5) establish the Salat, and (5.6) conduct their affairs by mutual consultation. (5.7) Who spend out of what We have given them as sustenance. (5.8) Who, when they are oppressed, help and defend themselves.

We will continue exploring other characteristics of a khalifa, in the next part (part-4), insha-Allah.

Send your views to bakhabar@biharanjuman.org.


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Sharjeel Ahmad, New Delhi

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Md.Shameem Ahmad, New Delhi

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A Letter to a Student Seeking Truth

by Najmul Hoda

Teaching is an interesting profession, and a challenging one too. There is a greater reflection upon our (Muslim teachers’) personal belief systems and values by others in this profession as compared to any other profession. Our personal beliefs, values and religious practices (explicit ones like Salah, Saum, etc) are watched more very closely by the students. The letter that I am sharing with you is a reply to some queries raised by a student of a B-school (Business school) where I taught. While going through the reply, you would be able to conjecture how each aspect of our lives affect non-Muslims. And I hope every reader who practices Islam as ordained, must have, at some point of time, come across a few such inquisitive people who are seeking truth. The Islamic practices that we observe instantly pulls attract them towards us, because each act prescribed in Islam is in perfect accord with our Fitrah (nature).

[Editor’s Note: Brother Najmul Hoda has demonstrated a unique and appreciated approach and attitude towards Dawah. This letter contains numerous cues for us to seek and present the message of Allah in the best possible way. To ensure the originality of this message, the following letter has been retained unedited in its original form.]

Dear Arnab,
It's perfectly alright on your part to have raised questions on the religion and the differences present. As a human being we all have a right to discuss amicably everything that is present and then leave it to our conscience to decide what is wrong and right. And it is very essential more essential than trivial career decisions, as here the person has to reap the results of his deeds in an eternal life. This result can not be shown here in this world. God has made the truth vivid and it manifests itself in His creations. The man may reflect upon and believe that if all that He says in the Book are true and proved beyond an iota of doubt even on scientific and intellectual bases, then indeed the facts about the unseen must also be true.

Dharma or religion is nothing but a system. Now, what is a system? Is it man made? Or is it created by the Creator Himself? To answer this let me state firstly that one can not force an opinion on any one in terms of understanding and that the truth would itself stand apart from falsehood. Quraan says that "La Fiqriddeen", there is no force in religion. There is no point in forcing something on anyone for "Wa qul Ja al Haqqa wa zahaqal baatil" (Al Quraan). Whenever the falsehood confronts with the truth the truth stands apart.

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We are talking of a system! Every system that is prevalent in the solar system that can be perceived by human mind, though there are galaxies beyond the perceptions of mankind. Look at the minutest of matter, the atom, how is it constituted and what system does it follow, and ponder on the cosmic system. The preciseness with which they follow the system has a lot of understanding for human if they have the correct reasoning. Almost all the religions agree on these basic issues. But then comes the point of human beings. What is a man? The sun, the moon, the stars, the animals are all created to follow a system. You will never see the sun rising from the west no matter what the condition is. It shows that it does not have a will of its own. Quraan and other religious scriptures depict man as the superior of all creations. And how is he so. Because he has been given a will to choose. That is why you, out of your will, decided to discuss this topic and others did not. And I out of will decided to answer.

Then comes the question that why this all creation, the created, the system, is there any purpose. Thinkers pondered.... used their intellect, but it was God Himself who defined everything in clear terms. This is a test. We do many things but there's a definite result. Go to any literature and you would see there's a mention of the evil forces, the Satan, the demons who work upon the man so that he decides wrongly and hence fails this test.

God is one. Vedas say "Ekam advaityam" that God is one. Quran says Qul hu wallahu ahad that say he is one. Go to any literature and you would find that God has been said to be One, the Supreme of all. The life is a test, that's the purpose. There is one correct path and anything unnatural is always resisted by the conscience, but man, out of his desires, chooses mostly the wrong ones. Why? Because an enemy keeps working round the clock?

God has created a system for mankind too. The only difference is that here there is no orbit, around which all the mankind will revolve and rotate out of force, rather the choice has been given. In this temporary life and a very uncertain life, one who understands and follows the correct system sees how perfect and harmonious his life becomes. But the result is reserved for the day of Judgment. The results unfold when the reality of death is near and man has no choice but to leave. That day he wishes to go back and mend his mistakes and unable to do so because his term would be over. Human intellect would never understand the complexities of this universe. So, how can he create a system for living when he does not even fully understand the universe and the creations therein. When God has set a system for the other creatures, He has also set a system for the Human beings. And he made this system clear to all through His Messengers in all ages.

God sent Messengers and revealed the system to the mankind in all the ages. This was done to show the correct way and leave it to the will of the human to decide. One thing common in all religions is that they have been dissuaded by the vested forces to read their scriptures, the scriptures that they are told to follow. They are cited verses and quotes but no one ever encourages the masses to read and understand the Scriptures themselves. If something goes against the human nature, he is dissuaded from asking questions. God Has challenged in the Quran that reflect upon this book (understand its meaning) so that you discover the truth yourself. You do not need a priest, a Mullah, a Pundit to see what God has decided for you as religion and a system of life. Quran is the only book that gives a comprehensive and the most detailed structure of the life to be lead so that one attains success in both the worlds. And God repeatedly challenges the people to bring even a verse alike if at all he is truthful.

Read this Quran to find the answers yourself. This is the way of Life. It is just that we have categorized and branded religions so that we can guard ourselves in the cocoon. Let us try to discover the truth. I am pretty sure that today not just non Muslims but even the Muslims do not understand what the Almighty instructs the mankind. There's the life and death and there's the beginning and the end, the marriage and the funeral, the rights of the mankind, the trade and the dealings, the punishments and the rewards, everything given in clear and concrete terms.

I'll end here. I'd advise that before further discussions, you must read this and other Scriptures first, because mine are words of a sinner and a person of low intellect. Quraan would be an eye opener for you, God willing. Read the book and then it is up to the Almighty to lead you to wherever He wishes.

But let me tell you there's no place for animosity on grounds of one’s understanding. It is Allah who'd decide what to do with people who don't understand His words (as clearly mentioned in the Book). It is not for the men to discriminate. We are just supposed to convey the messages and help the fellow brother towards righteous path so that he does not suffer the pains and tribulations of the hereafter. Quran instructs all the Believers to respect others and have kindness and mercy towards all. There are no different laws for our relationship with Muslims and non-Muslims. For a teacher, all the students are equal. Quran directs us to be just in our actions.

Finally, I would just like to say that it is just the ego that a man does not come out of. If it is said that Allah created everything, is there anything wrong? If it is said that do not worship anyone but Allah, is there anything wrong? If it is said that do not associate partners with him for how can the creator be two or three or more, is there anything wrong? There is one god, only god to be worshipped, no other God beside him. I don't know how this becomes so difficult for humans to accept. This is what Islam (Arabic for peace or submission) is. We have all got entangled in the names. There's nothing in the name. Open the hearts for all and see what is in store. Go through the Book and if anything contradicts the human logic or science therein, this book would not be from god. But if it is, then how can one reject it and invite the wrath mentioned therein.

I pray that God Bless you with wisdom to find the truth. The followers of Islam are to be fully blamed for the misunderstandings among non-Muslims for their practices do not conform to the Commandments. We must all pray that Allah provides correct guidance to us and show us the path to salvation.

Yours sincerely
Najmul Hoda


Send your views to bakhabar@biharanjuman.org.


Hajj: Pilgirm Guide


Hajj is a last pillar of Islam which is required to be done once in life-time. It is mistakenly understood that it is an action to be done at the last stage of life. In fact, it becomes obligatory upon an adult Muslim immediately if he can afford to perform it. Any delay is sinful and comes within the definition of disobedience to Allah Almighty. Hajj is a 5-day physical performance. Hence, recitation and supplication during Hajj remain non-obligatory.
In order for Hajji to easily understand the Hajj rituals a 2-page description in table format is being given as follows:-


Hajj Guide


In order for Hajji to easily understand the Hajj rituals a 2-page description in table format is being given as follows:-

Hajj Guide


Some Common Views:
Haj (Fard once in life), Supplication at seeing Ka'ba (Masnoon), Istelam & kissing one's hands (Masnoon), Ascending to Safa & Marwa (Sunnah), Stay in Mina & 5 prayers (Sunnah), Stay in Arafat (Rukn), Time Duration of stay in Arafat (Zawal to next morning), Departure from Muzdalafah (even for ladies, olds & children) before 3rd part of night passed (Not possible), Rami (Wajib), Allah-O-Akbar during Rami at each pebbles (Sunnah), Sacrifice of animal except for Mufrid (Wajib), Head shaving or cutting (Wajib), Rami Timing during Tashreeq (from afternoon), Tawaf Ifada (Rukn), Walking fast between 2 pillars during Sa'i (Sunnah).

Some Unlawful in Ehram:
Covering feet with shoe or sock or the like, using scent, covering face & using gloves (for ladies), anything that eggs on sexual desire, kissing women, committing indecencies, fighting & quarreling, cutting or removing hair & nail, covering head (for gents), wearing stitched clothes.
** (Few Malikis say it is Wajib, while few Hanbalis say it is undesirable)

Gheyas S. Mahfoz Hashmi/ Jeddah
hgheyas@savola.com
(Pls. remember me in your Dua)


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