No god but God

Reza Aslan’s book, ‘No god But God’, is a comprehensive telling of the story and the history of one of the major religions in the world today. Going through the 352 pages of the book, even a person who had no knowledge of Arabia’s pre-Islamic history, no familiarity with Islamic rise, and no previous comprehension of the various teachings and philosophical factors, is a great experience of exploration in the world of Islam and the Muslim way of thought. What makes this book unique is that it connects many of what is going on in the Islamic world with the latest events concerning terrorism and militant Islamic groups in different places of the world. Knowing that Aslan is a Muslim who earned different degrees in Religions and Arts in the United States gives us an idea about the amount of information that each reader can obtain. Throughout the book, the reader is being guided by an insider who is knowledgeable in what concerns all the related elements. And, from the other side, this can be another component in highlighting the fact that the book is written in a way that is easy to understand and that is completely comprehendible. CONTENTS AND THOUGHTS The author of the book begins by explaining the reasons that led him to write the book and to create such a volume about Islam. He explains that the main reason is not to go through the history and present conflicts within the religion, but to attempt to foresee its future and how it will evolve. â€Å"This book is not just a critical reexamination of the origins and evolution of Islam, nor is it merely an account of the current struggle among Muslims to define the future of this magnificent yet misunderstood faith. This book is, above all else, an argument for reform†Ã‚  Ã‚   (Prologue). The book is divided into ten distinct sections; each one goes through a certain stage of the birth and development of the religion. And in many of these chapters, many direct references and explanations are made concerning events that we see today and their origin and impact on the Muslim world of today in relation to a variety of subjects. The first section of the book ‘The clash of monotheisms’, is an introductory part in which the author states the reasons that led him to writing the book. He states that Islam is not, as some claim, a violent religion that cannot co-exist with modern values of democracy and human rights. â€Å"A few well-respected academics carried this argument further by suggesting that the failure of democracy to emerge in the Muslim world was due in large part to Muslim culture, which they claimed was intrinsically incompatible with Enlightenment values such as liberalism, pluralism, individualism, and human rights. It was therefore simply a matter of time before these two great civilizations, which have such conflicting ideologies, clashed with each other in some catastrophic way. And what better example do we need of this inevitability than September 11?† (Prologue). He claims, instead, that certain circumstances were the reason why the Muslim world is so much behind in these fields. In the first chapter of the book, ‘The sanctuary in the desert: pre-Islamic Arabia’, the reader can virtually live through the conditions and events that were taking place in Arabia before the emergence of the religion. Here we find many indications to the fact that, contrary to the reality of today, the Arabian Peninsula was populated by the followers of many religions: Jews, Christians, and others. â€Å"It is here, inside the cramped interior of the sanctuary, that the gods of pre-Islamic Arabia reside: Hubal, the Syrian god of the moon; al-Uzza, the powerful goddess the Egyptians knew as Isis and the Greeks called Aphrodite; al-Kutba, the Nabataean god of writing and divination; Jesus, the incarnate god of the Christians, and his holy mother, Mary† (Aslan 3). And in reference to the Jewish community the author states: â€Å"The Jewish presence in the Arabian Peninsula can, in theory, be traced to the Babylonian Exile a thousand years earlier, though subsequent migrations may have taken place in 70 C.E., after Rome's sacking of the Temple in Jerusalem, and again in 132 C.E., after the messianic uprising of Simon Bar Kochba. For the most part, the Jews were a thriving and highly influential diaspora whose culture and traditions had been thoroughly integrated into the social and religious milieu of pre-Islamic Arabia† (9). The following three chapters, ‘The keeper of the keys: Muhammad in Mecca’, ‘The city of the prophet: the first Muslims’, and ‘Fight in the way of God: the meaning of Jihad’, give the reader an in-depth clarification about how Islam came to life, from the beginning of the story of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, his life before recognizing the mission that he was set to accomplish and the various events that shaped the era of the beginning of the new religion and how the Muslim believers, including the prophet himself, were treated by the people of their tribe and all the conditions that led the Islamic state to be established in Medina instead of Mecca, the original city of the prophet. What is interesting in this book is that it makes, during the telling of the story, references to many things that we see today in the Muslim world. One of the examples of this is the reference made to the story of the Hijab or the Islamic clothes and head cover of Muslim women, which has became an identifying characteristic of Muslim women today. It is surprising to find out that the whole idea is not even brought by the Quran or the original Islamic teachings: â€Å"Although long seen as the most distinctive emblem of Islam, the veil is, surprisingly, not enjoined upon Muslim women anywhere in the Quran. The tradition of veiling and seclusion (known together as hijab) was introduced into Arabia long before Muhammad, primarily through Arab contacts with Syria and Iran, where the hijab was a sign of social status. After all, only a woman who need not work in the fields could afford to remain secluded and veiled†¦ the veil was neither compulsory, nor for that matter, widely adopted until generations after Muhammad’s death, when a large body of male scriptural and legal scholars began using their religious and political authority to regain the dominance they had lost in society as a result of the Prophet’s egalitarian reforms† (65-66). The next chapter, ‘The rightly guided ones: the successors to Muhammad’, goes through the events that took place after the death of the prophet, and how conflicts appeared on the succession in what concerns the position of Islamic leader of Caliph, or successor. The sixth chapter, ‘This religion is a science: the development of Islamic theology and law’, is the one that contains most of the information about the teachings, the myths, the different philosophical views, and the various rituals that make up the religion. Here, the reader will have an idea about the different schools of thought. The following chapter, ‘In the footsteps of martyrs: from Shi’ism to Khomeinism’, presents the story of how the Shi’ite Muslim sect appeared as a result of the killing of Ali, the fourth Caliph after Muhammad and the political and religious consequences of this appearance that we can see in our world today. It relates the new factors of faith that were introduced into Islam by the Shi’ite sect and how those factors were always being used according to desires and wishes of the leaders, such as Kommeini in what concerns modern Iran. Next, the chapter ‘Stain your prayer rug with wine: the Sufi way’ is a description of another sect of Islam, which is Sufism. It goes through many of the different concepts that Sufis use and believe in which are completely different than those of mainstream Islam and Shi’ite Islam. The ninth chapter, ‘An awakening in the east: the response to colonialism’, talks about the effects of European colonialism on Muslim countries and the way that it was faced: â€Å"the nationalists sought to battle European colonialism through a secular countermovement that would replace the Salafiyyah's aspiration of religious unity with the more pragmatic goal of racial unity: in other words, Pan-Arabism† (Aslan 233) The final chapter, ‘Slouching toward Medina: the Islamic reformation’, discusses the establishment of the Muslim states after the end of colonialism. An interesting idea that the author presents in this chapter is the comparison between the reforms that took place within the Christian history which led Christian societies to move towards democracy, human rights, and pluralism and the conditions that are being shaped today within Islamic societies. And he states that Islamic societies may need to go through violent and extremely shaky conditions before reaching the final desired destination that others in the Western world reached. According to the author, there is an ongoing struggle taking place in the Muslim world between the forces of traditional religious beliefs and those that want to move their societies into the modern foundations of democracy and human right. He states that â€Å"in the developing capitals of the Muslim world – Tehran, Cairo, Damascus, and Jakarta – and in the cosmopolitan capitals of Europe and the United States – New York, London, Paris, and Berlin – where that message is being redefined by scores of first and second generation Muslim immigrants. By merging the Islamic values of their ancestors with the democratic ideals of their new homes, these Muslims have formed†¦ a ‘mobilizing force’ for a Muslim reformation that, after centuries of stony sleep, has finally awoken and is now slouching toward Medina to be born† (Aslan 254). In many parts of the book, there is a mentioning of terrorism and the reasons that led to its creation. Ben Laden is mentioned several times, even though the concepts that the author wants to express are not presented in the level that a reader expects. Aslan states that Ben Laden’s concept of Islam is wrong and that it is not the conception of the majority of Muslims: â€Å"Muslims may share bin Laden's grievances against the Western powers, [but] they do not share his interpretation of Jihad† (87). CONCLUSION The book is a rich source of information about the history of Islam and the about the Muslim societies of today. It gives the reader a full, even though not detailed, description of everything that led the reality of those societies into what is being seen today. The writer tried to show the true face of Islam and to explain to everyone that what extremists stand for today is something that has nothing to do with religion, and that they have their own version and interpretation of the Quran. The author, to a certain extent, succeeded in clearing many points about the religion and to underline the idea that Islam is originally a peaceful religion. The book was certainly worth writing and publishing especially in this time when everyone should know more about the other in order to avoid and prevent further confrontation. Works Cited Aslan, Reza. No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. New York: Random   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   House, 2005.   

Mobile Number Portability Essay

Introduction Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another. MNP (Mobile number portability) is implemented in different ways across the globe. In India the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) implemented the MNP facility firstly in Haryana in November 2010 and then extended to all parts of the country in January 2011. The facility is available for both pre paid and post paid customers across mobile operators with in the same telecom circle. Vodafone India, formerly Vodafone Essar and Hutchison Essar, is the second largest mobile network operator in India after Airtel. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra and which operates nationally. It has approximately 146.84 million customers as of November 2011. In terms of active subscriber base in Kerala Vodafone is the second largest player with a market share of 19.8%. Kerala is one of slowest growing market with high proportion of MNP requests. By March 2012, Kerala registered 2,066,487 Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests, resulting into churn rate of 6.08% which is one of the highest in India. This study is an attempt to understand the customers’ response towards MNP facility with special reference to Vodafone customers in Pookottumpadam. Pookottumpadam is one of the growing villages in Nilambur taluk of Malappuram district Comment [a2]: Heading font size 14 and body text 12 Comment [a3]: In this paragraph introduce about your topic Comment [a4]: Here introduce about your special reference product or organisation Comment [a5]: Here introduce about what you are going to do with this project Significance of the study Active wireless subscriber base in Kerala is 72.67% resulting in 24.72 million active mobile users. Vodafone is the second largest mobile operator in terms of active subscriber base and fastest growing wireless operator in Kerala. By March 2012, Kerala registered 2,066,487 Mobile Number Portability (MNP) requests, resulting into churn rate of 6.08% which is one of the highest in India. Vodafone is one of the companies which benefitted from the MNP service. So this study highly relevant and will be useful to mobile operators as well as to mobile subscribers for making informed decision regarding porting from one operator to other. Comment [a6]: State why your study is relevant and how it will useful to various interested groups Statement of the Problem Mobile Number Portability is a powerful tool in the hands of customers to bargain from their existing mobile operators for better quality in services and fare tariff for services. Under MNP, if the subscribers are not satisfied with the services of their service provider, they can change their service provider while retaining the existing phone number. But in India this facility has got poor response comparing to other countries because of very little pent up demand for it when compared to other countries. So this study will reveal awareness level, opinion and use of MNP facility among Vodafone subscribers in Pookottumpadam. Comment [a7]: State your hypothesis here. Hypothesis is your assumption that you are going to prove through this study Objectives of the study To know the awareness level of MNP facility among Vodafone subscribers To examine the factors influencing the porting decision of mobile users To analyse customers satisfaction after availing MNP facility Comment [a8]: Write two or three specific objectives of the study. Methodology and Data Collection a. Scope of the study This study will be conducted among Vodafone customers in Pookottumpadam village, Nimambur taluk, Malappuram district Comment [a9]: Scope means the area of coverage. Ie the geographical area where you are conducting your study b. Sampling Plan 30 Vodafone customers will be randomly choosen for the purpose of study. The data will be collected through structured questionnaire. Comment [a10]: Mention about the number of samples and methods of sampling c. Methodology This study will be based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data will be collected through questionnaire specially designed for this survey. And secondary data will be gathered from the relevant journals, web sites and other sources. Comment [a11]: Here mention about the sources of data and methods of collecting data Chapterisation The study will be presented through the following chapter schemes 1. 2. 3. 4. Introduction Review of Literature Analysis and Interpretations Finding, Suggestions and Conclusions Comment [a12]: The important chapter in your project Limitations of the study 1. The shortage of time and money will limit the number of samples in to minimum 2. The advanced statistical tools not used for analysis Comment [a13]: Mention two or three factors that will limit the quality of your study Reference http://www.boneless.in/2012/05/kerala-wireless-telecom-market-2012.html www.vodafone.in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_number_portability Comment [a14]: Quote the material you referred while drafting synopsis preferably books

Analyse the Telecom Industry and Analyse also the company 3 mobile Essay

Analyse the Telecom Industry and Analyse also the company 3 mobile - Essay Example Depending on the supply chain and logistics of operation within the telecommunication industry, the analysis gives possible factors that have led to the flourishing of the industry in one way or another. The macro-economic factors are essential and each company ought to consider them in its strategies (Mithas, Tafti & Mitchell 2013, p 511). Beginning with the Political factors, it is worth noting that the telecommunication industry faces a number of government interventions, depending on the telecommunication laws of each country. Some of the areas where government policies play a primary role include the media, mobile telephony, and internet services. A country’s political system can determine the macro-environment under which the telecommunication companies will operate (Peng & Nunes 2007, p 230). Any fluctuation in the Economic factors can significantly affect the industry. For instance, change in interest rates, economic growth of countries, and inflation can either spell doom for some telecommunication companies or even signify abnormal profits. It all depends on a company’s strategy within the telecommunication industry, considering that economic factors are unpredictable are bound to change according to other factors beyond control by any company or country. In this regard, global recessions may lead to increase in the prices of telecommunication products by some companies. Other companies will attempt to gain competitive edge by limiting their distribution of the latest mobile devices to some countries only, just as Apple Inc. has done (Peng & Nunes 2007, p 231). Social factors are fundamental macro-environmental factors within the telecommunication industry, considering the diverse attitudes and preferences within the industry. Safety while operating or working with telecommunication equipment and network is

Securing Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Systems Assignment

Securing Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Systems - Assignment Example rrespondence to securing our cyberspace will eventually affect how safe and secure we are as a country and the benefits our country will reap from this digital era. Infrastructure control systems face risks because of system vulnerabilities, cyber threats and grave probable effect of attacks as displayed by reported incidents. Cyber threats can be targeted or untargeted, intentional or not and come from numerous places. Control systems are nowadays more vulnerable to cyber-attacks because of numerous reasons, counting the increased connectivity of systems through the internet. From evidences of past control attacks, it is clear that effect on critical infrastructure is vast. In 2003 for instance, a computer virus shut down the train signaling system all through the East Coast. In 2006, a foreign hacker planted malicious software that had the ability of affecting a water treatment plant’s operations. Infrastructure owners face organizational and technical challenges to securing control systems. Technical challenges include restricted processing abilities, design constraints and real-time operations all of which deter the owner’s ability to implement information technology security processes. Organizational defies which include difficulty in coming up with convincing business case for capitalizing in security and contradictory priorities of information security personnel and engineers. Numerous private sector acts such as standard setting associations and trade associations are putting up efforts to aid in securing control systems. The efforts put forth by the private sector entities include, providing guidance to members, developing standards and hosting workshops on security of control systems. For instance, the electricity industry recently advanced standards for the cyber security of their control systems and a trade association (gas) is in the process of developing gu idance to members to use encryption as a security measure to protect control

Hatshepsut Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hatshepsut - Research Paper Example III. Analysis of Hatshepsut A. The World Scene 1. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about twenty-two years from 1479 to 1458 B.C 2. Hatshepsut faced problems related to gender discrimination in leadership positions, and typical feminine representations. 3. Several factors around Hatshepsut facilitated her reign and success as an Egyptian pharaoh, such as the death of Thomose I, absence of appropriate successor, and Egypt’s wealth as well as peace. B. Actions of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut is renowned as a prolific builder because of her spectacular Egyptian monuments and temples featured in ancient Egyptian history. 2. Hatshepsut attained significant achievements in trade and military expeditions. C. Impact of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut provides an affirmative perspective on women leadership 2. Hatshepsut revealed the need for women to stand against discriminative policies and rules. 3. Hatshepsut’s made exceptional contributions to politics 4. Hatshepsut made contributions in arch itectural designs through her creative concepts embedded in monuments as well as temples. IV. Conclusion A. Hatshepsut was an influential leader whose actions and decisions affect the history of the world, especially Egypt. B. Historical figures make great history Hatshepsut’s Historical Contributions Introduction Historical figures are significant contributors of world History. The apparition of their intellect, exquisiteness of their art, their divine inspiration as well as leadership prowess results to enhancement of the world’s history. Some historians argue that societal, economic, and technological aspects are more imperative to history compared to individuals’ actions and decisions. However, historical figures or great men are credited for various essential developments in the past that significantly feature in contemporary recorded history. This paper will analyze Hatshepsut’s contributions during her reign as an Egyptian pharaoh with respect to t he Great Man theory by Thomas Carlyle, and it will also attempt to reveal the importance of historical figures’ actions and decisions in history. Analysis of Hatshepsut Background Hatshepsut was Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose’s eldest daughter, wife to Thutmose II, mother to Neferure. Hatshepsut was one of the renowned, triumphant pharaohs as well as famous female-ruler in history, whose time in power superseded those of other women in the native Egyptian dynasty. The name Hatshepsut refers to the â€Å"most noble of noble ladies† signifying her unprecedented power attainment among ancient Egyptian women, and eventual crowning as pharaoh during the eighteenth dynasty. Hatshepsut initially acted as a co-regent to her stepson; Thutmose III, but she became pharaoh after about seven years. This marked Hatshepsut’s desertion of Queen’s roles as well as titles with the commencement of her reign as a female and conventional pharaoh. Hatshepsut reputation as a remarkable pharaoh is associated with various outstanding activities that took place during her reign. These included her participation in trade as well as armies expeditions, construction of some of the greatest Egyptian monuments, and acquisition of male roles in her leadership as pharaoh. Furthermore, Hatshepsut remained in power as pharaoh for twenty-two years before the reign of her successor, Thutmose III (Hill 3). The World Scene Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about

Supporting parents through the experience of their childs cancer Dissertation

Supporting parents through the experience of their childs cancer treatment - Dissertation Example In this case, the study focuses on the support rendered to the parents of a child with cancer, which according to numerous researches they normally undergo both disheartening and distressful experiences (Boman, Bjork & Lindahl, 2003). This is especially when they watch their children experience painful incidences on daily basis with little knowledge on how to alleviate it or help them (Kars et al. 2008). Consequently, in this situation parents end up experiencing depression, stress and shock (Boman, Bjork & Lindahl, 2003). The latter (shock) characterizes parents of newly diagnosed children with cancer, which persists almost throughout the entire treatment period though there are strategies by varied entities meant to help them. These encompass instituting support mechanisms for both the parents and children during the long-term treatment period (Yun-Shan & Verklan, 2008). They embrace availing adequate information to the parents or the guardians, supporting their coping strategies/m echanisms (like fellowshipping together) and intervening where possible with the necessary support (Ferrandis et al. 2008). Availing adequate information to the parents goes beyond imparting them with literature about cancer but equipping them with the necessary knowledge regarding what is affecting their children (Rogers, 2011). Therefore, this entails effective parent-clinician communication intended to give caregivers psychological peace (Clarke & Neil, 2010). However, due to certain factors in the medical institutions, this has somehow failed. This is evident with confusions that the parents have experienced when dealing with diverse pediatricians handling their children cases, whereby they seem to have contradicting ideas concerning their children’s cancer predicaments. Consequently, this leaves parents with doubt regarding the expertise of the oncologists tackling their child’s health predicament (Boman, Bjork & Lindahl, 2003). This study seeks to highlight exper iences of parents having a child with cancer, how they react to stress (based on gender), their coping mechanisms and effectiveness of varied strategies meant to support parents through the treatment period. Rationale The topic is essential in relation to my field as a pediatrician whereby its core focus entails highlighting the epidemic of child cancer and what their parents experience. Mostly, this encompasses support mechanisms so far instituted by varied related authorities aimed at helping parent manage child cancer as well as granting them the necessary psychological peace (Wills, 2009). The recent aspect that has prompted me to contact this study was to ascertain; the state of parent-clinician communication in the medical field and forms implement to impart parent with the necessary information (Clarke & Neil, 2010). The latter encompass developments, which pediatricians have devised and stated as effective in their quest to impart parents with adequate knowledge regarding ca ncer, which is through leaflets besides utilizing electronic media (Rogers, 2011). Relevance of the Study The topic, which is about support given to parents during their child’s long-term treatment, is among numerous duties that are within the area of my specialization. Definitions The study utilizes the word â€Å"ailing† instead of â€Å"suffering†. Since, the latter has a wide scope of definitions and implications compared to â€Å"

Managing Employee Relations in Contemporary Organisations Essay - 2

Managing Employee Relations in Contemporary Organisations - Essay Example 201). The modern approach to employee relations is people management. The employees to the organization were employed based on their skill and as part of a team that would meet the requirements of the organization (Kessler and Purcell, 2003, p. 28). Human management as a style that is used by the ACME organization concentrates on the skills that an individual brings into the company (Legge, 2005, p.102). Prior to securing a job with the company, it is important that what the employee brings to the table is analyzed and this is part of the enrolment (Purcell, 1987, p. 29). The company has stringent policies on which employees it employs, a fact that is expressed in different settings such as when referring to family, (Legge, 1995, p. 99), i.e. potentially some members may feel offended if they cannot get their friends/family in but so be it. We will never compromise the arrangement that we will go for the best person for the job. But with 500 people there are going to be individuals, but relatively few, we wouldn't recruit again. If one of these few recommended friends/family we would look, but look very carefully. The company has also adopted a structure that is based on personal and team responsibilities within the organization, which differ from any trade union system of operation. The organisation’s policy on performance and pay states that, If somebody is not performing they get told about it. We have annual appraisal and salary is directly linked to contribution across a number of factors, so people get a message both financially and otherwise across the table from the manager at the appraisal, if not at other times of the year, which does not include any responsibilities to any party or individual outside the organisation. The system used is analytical based on the quality an individual brings to the company (Salamom, 2000, p. 291). The approach to management takes on a modern management style that gives employees roles, responsibilities as well as a supervisor to answer to in the course of their employment. The approach means that individual contributions to the company are looked into during the running of ACME. The management considers the goals set by management, in terms of economics, finances, growth, marketing and advertising among others (Williams and Adam-Smith, 2009, p. 102). Although the system makes use of preset performance requirements, the company ensures that it appreciates the efforts put in by the employees at any one given time in every position as it is stated by the company as directly linked to a number of factors contributing to outcomes in the financial and other concepts. 2. Critically discuss why they use this approach (cite evidence from both the case study and academic literature to justify this discussion). The performance of employees in the organisation is an important goal and objective driven element of analysis. The chosen employee management style in relations allows the management to keep t rack of the growth of the organisation on an overall state as well as in the personal concept. The style emphasizes the fact that individual workers are the unit by which the ACME organisation operates. By choosing the individualistic approach to employee relations, the organisation