MAN BECOMES WHAT HE INTEND

By: Abdullah R. Sirad


It was a humdrum noontime break, so drowsy but fragmentary works still won’t allow time for napping. Breaking off drowsiness is a chit chat, a sort of discussing about life and its jesting part. Outburst of laughter echoed in the room every time a funny experience is shared. Out of the blue that the group touched on the varied reasons of leaving love ones in the country and chose to work abroad. Some look so dramatically pathetic while narrating all those reasons behind. Gentle voice at the back broke the discussion while mentioning one of the noblest statements in a Hadith (Sayings from the prophet of Islam PBUH) which goes “

(It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu'minin, Abu Hafs 'Umar bin al-Khattab, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, say:

“Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”)
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

It freeze up the flippant experiential sharing and everyone lend an ear when this colleague, Saidali Lomondot (an Ulama who had completed his Islamic Study at Libya), delve further on this Hadith. He quoted that man becomes what he intend. If a man intention is to get closer with his Creator then he would meet Him but when a man thinks of the worldly things, he would have them. He calls it Niyyah which our actions are being judged for. We may not plan to work as far as KSA but God heard our intention to have work that would sufficiently cope up our financial need, he said.

I was then moved by what he had said and realized that sincere intention is a very powerful tool of pursuing what we want in life for God sees what’s in on the bottom of our heart. If we want to succeed in all endeavors that we are taking, we have to inculcate to our heart that these are possible through our perseverance and at God’s will. However, though men were given freewill to choose what he wants to happen in their life, intentions are supposed to be entirely honorable. We must be able to distinguish who or what the action is done for. Like to whom are we doing this particular action? Is this for the benefits of everyone or just for your self interest? What this action is all about? Is this for good or bad?. In other word, we need to check our intention of anything that we are going to take, do or get involve with.

Many people aim positively before an act is done. That if their intention is granted they would share it to those who need it. However, people tend to forget their good intentions once they have already what they wished for. They become selfish and rude that they don’t even recognize those people who helped them in attaining such success. It is therefore important to remember that our intention changes constantly thus it must be consistently renewed as well.
Our intention should serve as our long-range objective in life to motivate and stimulate our deep affection toward our struggling existence. Setting our day to day intention can brighten our spirit, cheer up those we love, and make the days that come smoother, happier, and more successful because we are being sacredly guided. So let’s think positively everyday for we shall become what we think about. InshaALLAH!

BOXING IS IMMORAL

By: Abdullah R. Sirad

I am not against sport...

A week before the scheduled “Fire Power” match between Manny “Pacman” Paquiao and Miguel Cotto at MGM Las Vegas Nevada, our neighbors knocked our door late at night soliciting some amount as contribution for the Pay-Per-View over TFC for that much awaited fight. It was actually a moment among Filipinos not only here in abroad but the entire Philippines as well to cheer with Pacman who was considered Hero in the field of Boxing. Out of camaraderie that I took some amount in my pocket as my share just not to disappoint my friends and housemates who are an avid fan of Pacman. It’s not that I don’t like to watch Boxing as most people did but I just can’t dare to see the fighters bathing in their own blood by intensely cracking each other’s face.

How people afford to cheer boxers who are intentionally hurting one another for prize and fame?

People might not agree with me of considering boxing as barbaric kind of sport. It’s a violent and ruthless sport as I see it and must be forbidden. For me, I don’t even consider it as sport but a gambling of a kind. Boxers fight not because of the spirit of sport but because of the prize that waits. Because of the stunning millions of US Dollars that they can earn out of the fight makes them dared to intensely crack their opponent face, head and body. Worse of all, Supporters and fans used to lay bets hoping that they will earn as well. I had watched and read over TV and news papers about it. Some of my friends are doing it as well.

They said event like this, especially when famous boxers are on match, reduces street crimes and incidents because people choose to stay at home or in some theatres to spend an hours watching it, that this event unites people amidst various disparity and animosity.

If breaking one another’s face and head brings peace, then statisticians must be wrong of saying that “peace and violence is mutually exclusive”. It would then mean that people must go over the boxing arena and fight everyday to maintain peace as once quoted by the current Champion in the field of boxing in one of his interviews. Alas, this is purely stupid statement as I believe. Do these people ever think of its moral implications?

Both Catholic and Islam agreed in the same breath that boxing is merciless, immoral and must be forbidden. Try to realize the intent of the boxers. At its very essence, boxers aim to severely hit an opponent on his face or body with great destruction to knock him down and take the belt (and the monetary reward as well) and proudly shout to the world that he is the great man ever!. Prior to the fight, both the fighters and supporters are exchanging word of destruction trying to refute one another’s reputation. Catholic Church believes that when someone is intentionally hurting and inflicting harm to someone else, it is immoral. In Islam, The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said that “If somebody fights (or beat animal) then he should avoid the face”. Boxing therefore, in the light of this proverb, is forbidden.

Alongside with this, there are many famous boxers who ended up pity and inept in their life due to severe injury like brain damage and paralysis. Michael Watson, Gerald McClennan, and Mohammad Ali who were bowed to their superb in boxing are now being pitied for the paralysis and brain damage that they got from boxing. The same fate was also experienced among Filipino boxers like Pretty Boy Lucas and Z Gorres who was recently rushed out to hospital for severe brain damage after fight with Mendez of Columbia. They are only some of those many boxers who suffered physical and mental injury.

I am not refuting the fact that sports definitely bring more advantages to both mental and physical condition. Engaging one’s self to sport is a way of keeping away from bad temptations like going through drug addiction, fornication and gambling. It’s a natural sort of exercise that unwinds our mind, body and soul from stress and complexity.

However, I do believe that not all kind of sports bring the same benefits as most people expect. While it is true that sports develop mental and physical condition, we must consider as well the spiritual implication of sports that we are engaging with or watching for. Any sport that intentionally causes physical and mental havoc like boxing is not worthy to be practice or watch for. ...It is immoral.

PRISONER OF THE MOMENT

By: Abdullah R. Sirad

In life mired with intricacies
One and all engaged in worldly deeds
Stunning ascent to triumph kinks life

Worldly service tuned the present time
Chattels’ quest makes one’s world round
Walks of life relied upon fancy things on earth

Men, regarded life logically
Ponder worldly earned knowledge
as vital to the emergence of the modern era.

Education heads men’s vanguard
Maids even walk off from their shells
Chasing lucrative profession to savor living

Some weren’t propitious enough
Maladies were their status of living
Engaged in ubiquitous illicit drudgery

Real point of life gone with the wind
Grimy feat and creepy expressions’ wild
Genuine service to God is hardly ever practiced

Structures and technology rose sky-high
While morality and spirituality deeply sunk
Earthly growth is men’s concept of real progress

Alas, men were deceived by their own desires
of incessantly hounding world’s dithering prosperity
Insensible of endless life in the hereafter, despite clerics’ efforts

Beware! The world is just an impermanent place, it has end
All things in it are forge and deceitful, distorting men’s sacred path
Wake up! Appraise yourself. Don’t be a prisoner of your own moment.

BEYOND THE SERENITY OF SHUMAISSY

By: Abdullah R. Sirad


Al Base Vie-Shumaissy, home of diversity
Its bungalows mushroomed in various sizes
Sheltered men of Phil, Ind, Pak, Bang, Mor, Leban…

Its scenic vicinity spells glamour & blur passions
among men full of dreams and fortitudes amidst desolation
Like a soldiers’ camp in a deserted place, tells men’s vigor and flaws

Along its hot and cool ambiance at day and night
Expresses the hot and cool sensations of everyone
Like a music that goes with the air, touches one’s heart deeply

Beyond its serenity at night
People loiter at its different parts
Conveying feelings in various ways and means

Some are solitarily stayed at its dramatic places
Staring at a far away horizon, flashing back memories
Throwing pebbles in a distance while tears fall down insensibly

Some are seen to its dim corner paradoxically
Chatting to love one on phone with joys & sorrows
Sometime ended up with outburst of laughing or howling

With its bungalow’s super-cold aircon
Some rolled themselves in blanket as if trembling
But in the bounds of it is someone shivering in weeping.

Its bungalows façade offer advantages
Some built Barber Shoppe therein to divert misery
Some spread mat somewhere, chatting ‘bout odd or vital things

At its segmented refectory
Bizarre foods are served in eat-all-you-can
Men flooded in it though it taste nauseating sometime

Over its open-air court
Some flock mockingly held tournament
Basketball, crickets and sackers among few

Men of assumingly hunk
Hang out on its smashing gym for minutes
Sacrificing to push, pull and jug on its archaic tools

On its terminal yard parked buses
Filthy as it is, men rush out one another to get in
Just to be transported to their desired destinations

This is Al Base Vie-Shumaissy
Homed men of both cozy and cantankerous
Alwyas convivial of fulfilling its men’s dreams.

SHOUT OUT LOUD

By: Abdullah R. Sirad


How can you expect a manager to impact effectiveness in the organization if he himself doesn’t know when, where and how to start solving a problem?

It’s very ironic. I had observed some managers who are too proud of themselves as manager and yet they only know about their position but never their functions. When they caught in a problem, they call people in odd names, shout at them and pass blame to someone else. When their subordinates tried to defend their selves, they are told to keep their mouth shut or otherwise they will be kicked out in the organization. Some managers are too selfish that they use their power to reject favor asked by their subordinates. They failed to realize that they were designated to their position because they are expected to be independently responsible for managing people in the organization in a harmonious ways. They are supposed to First Understand subordinates, then to be understood.

I learned from my management class that the best problem-solving technique is to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. And this is possible by not getting upset in whatever situation you would have. But this is opposite to what is commonly observed in some organization. Problems relating to personnel matters are inevitable. For instance, subordinate asks for equipment because it is required in his job or he applied for a service request because he is entitled to such as per contract statement. On the other hand, the manager perceived that this request could not be granted at this time because the organization is keeping a lid on cost. However, the responsible manager failed to address the situation because he blazed up in anger instead of explaining the reasons of not granting the request at date. He starts telling that he is the manager and thus he can dishonor any request at his will. He seems to let people understand that he is the manager who have all the powers to cancel or reject favors. See, you would perhaps think that these managers are imposing the other-way-type of management. “Management by shouting” is the best way to call it. The louder you shout the power you are. It’s a stupid kind of relationship but this really happened in real situation. In fact, it becomes an expression of all people in the organization. Even janitors and clerks absorbed from site acted like a big boss for they can shout louder as managers did. Managers, who are supposed to maintain proper decorum, are involving their selves in the problem than taking a part in providing solution to the problem. They become emotionally charged and become rude the whole day.

What compelled them to behave like that? When I was a student, my management professor taught us about temperament and its importance. I learned from him that terrorism in a certain organization does not imply smartness but dullness of one’s responsibility. Shouting is an option for those managers who do not know their functions.

I know it’s normal to flare up in a difficult situation especially when it deals decision between the organization and employees interest. But arguing with employees just because you want to let them know that you have all the powers and not listening to what they truly need is just like putting one self or the organization itself in danger. Manager failed to realize that the organization exist because of its employees. If employees continuously feel rejection from their manager, they will become disinterested in performing their respective job. This will curtail achievement or will result into rapid labor relinquishment, losing qualified employees.

Being a manager is just like being a father in a certain family. Successful fathers understand their children in all aspect of their life. They establish harmonious relationship with their children, especially among boys, by being friend with them. Successful fathers don’t spank or shout at their children whenever they make mistakes or every time they ask for something. They don’t scold at them in front of other people because they value their children’s sensitivities. In other word, fathers understand their children’s physiological and behavioral needs. Likewise, fathers always make sure that their children understand their rules. Whenever their rule is violated, they give punishment but in such a way that it doesn’t causes embarrassment. That is by doing it privately and by explaining afterward why such castigation had been imposed. Much with these, encouragement as to career development and values inclination is a constant motivation among fathers to their children. This is what I learned in my management class as paternalistic management. Although there are other types of management style, paternalistic management is one of the best management styles especially when you are managing or supervising people of different ethnicities.
Managers should not feel being effective when they can shout louder to people below at their level. They must remember that every time they flared during a malady situation, it insinuate that there’s something wrong in their management. Employees will never bring problem in the organization if they were understood of their sensations and sentiments. They will never complain if they were used to understand with the organization’s rules and regulations. Likewise, if a manager knows his functions and responsibilities, he will not tend to shout or become rude the whole day. Indeed, employees’ ineffectiveness reflects managers’ ineffectiveness as well in carrying out his responsibilities. They must realize that the way they deal with problem is a reflection of their real personality.

That Elusive Respect

By: Abdullah R. Sirad

Sometime in 2006, one of the housemates in the very popular reality show Pinoy Big Brother of Philippines biggest Network ABS-CBN confronted with her housemate and uttered a very remarkable statement at the climax of their argumentation when she said “Beatrice… Respect is not being imposed, it is being earned”! The other lady was claiming she was not being respected the way she likes to be respected thus she was responded with the latter statement.

Respect is a very elusive word. Everyone wants to be treated dominantly over anyone else. Some even dictates the way they would like to be respected. When they feel they were not treated accordingly, they tend to outburst as if they were a victim. Influential people, like those that are in positions, usually impose respect to those people below at their level. They live largely in hypocrisy wherein ordinary people were not almost given fair treatments and or due rights.

In a multi-business organization in which a large number of diversified employees are seen, misunderstanding caused by gap among managers and rank-and-file employees is very observable. Usually, people in middle management (managers) are too strict that they tend to disrespect justifications from their subordinates and sometimes their behavior leads to premature assumptions. This premature and erroneous assumption hinders management and employee morale for the reasons that intimidation is gradually created. Gap exists between them and as consequence; subordinates perform poorly for they perceive that their efforts are futile by not considering their justifications.
Respect is a much exploited term but why it is very elusive to actualize it? Nasser Diampuan, document controller in a multi-level company, when asked of his perception about the term respect he remarked “show me first respectful manner and my respect will follow”. Very clear. His perception about respect falls under the golden rule which says “Do not do unto others what you don’t want do unto you”. Most people are too vacuous that they don’t feel the pains of other people. They don’t care if others are getting hurt for as long as they get what they like. This behavior causes conflict, if not violence, because people are not being heard to their due rights. Those people in position did not try to absorb others feelings and even forbid their social rights. Being inconsiderate to others is a form of alienation and a sense of deprivation and ultimately outrage is the seed of it in the organization. Perhaps this is because disrespect breeds disrespect in response. On the other hand, accommodating and absorbing subordinates or ordinary employees in the organization are essential for social harmony and stability.
I remembered an informal conversation with my Pakistani colleague named Nawaz Ilyaz who shared to me his perception about respect toward colleague coming from other religion, a Christian so to speak. He saw his colleague’s tears falls down repeatedly when he greeted him a “Merry Christmas”. Nawaz said that was a tear of joy for it was his colleague’s first time to receive greetings from a Muslim friend in his long stay in Saudi. Nawaz said respect is to accept someone of whoever he is. That was a very reflecting experience. With that simple gesture, his friend realized he was considered as a member of the family. In return, his friend used to strengthen his respect to Islamic practices.

This insinuates that respect has to be accorded to anyone regardless of your disagreement. It is essential for anyone (especially managers) to separate the person from the behavior or religious affiliation for that matter. Someone has to consider that people in the organization come from different backgrounds, upbringings and environments that have shaped and molded them. People are all continually changing and evolving. When anyone (manager) respect people’s culture, tradition and beliefs or even a simple idea they will become the most loyal employees, co-workers or friend you will ever have. This is true empowerment.

Speak with positive expectation believing the best. Stating your feelings with positive expectation pulls people to the level of performance you desire. For example, say something like, "Abdul, you've always done a great job of giving your all in every account. As of late, however, you seem to not quite be yourself. Is there anything I can do to help? I want to see you succeed and be your personal best. Know I am fully committed to you as you are to this company." Affirming a person and your expectations of their success will endear people to you and cause them to want to live up to your wishes because they feel that their shortcomings are being respected.

Don't take what others say for truth. Instead, go to the source and have an open conversation. Get things out in the open and speak face-to-face respectfully.
Maintain a sense of humor and unconditional acceptance. Don’t always see only one side of the coin. Try to consider the other sides. In such a way, you are not being selfish for you are being open for possibilities. You don't have to always resolve your disagreements and conflicts to thrive. Otherwise, it will diminish the success that you are expecting. Sometimes, you have to accept people as they are, realizing they may never change.

Indeed, mutual respect begets mutual peace.

Stupid

Suppose you were once thrown to jail by people for massive cheating you have committed against them, do you still have face to beg people to serve them again?am pointing out Erap...He is just making a fool of himself of declaring his plan for the upcoming presidentil race. Stupid!

Cheating Overtime

CHEATING OVERTIME
By: Abdullah R. Sirad


We are living in this world of material deception where everyone seeks living in a simplest and easiest ways and means. Men, being too materialistic, intentionally distort truth to take advantage of what he desired. Cheating is a common ways and means exploited by most men to advance their living.

Wikipedia define Cheating' as an act of lying, deception, fraud, trickery, imposture, or imposition. Cheating characteristically is employed to create an unfair advantage, usually in one's own interest, and often at the expense of others. In Islam, cheating is a heinous sin, a source of shame to the one guilty of committing them, both in this world and the next.

Based on the given definitions, it is obvious that cheating is wrong. It implies that it is an intentional act of taking advantage of something. Why men are so selfish that they still do it while knowing that this does not accord to both man and divine law?

I am not an excuse to this. I, myself, had cheated in different ways and means. Everyone cheated in different ways and means. Perhaps, it is because men are fallible in nature thus committing mistakes are inevitable. However, should we tend to regard our distorted deeds as common mistake caused mainly by our being human when we are doing it intentionally to take advantage of something? We are rational enough to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. People are just too ambitious, they want to take instantly what they want in life.

Cheating is present in different field of works such as cheating in the election, in which candidate uses different tricks to manipulate votes just to be elected in a certain position. Cheating during exams among students to earn higher grades or remarks, cheating spouses, cheating time at work places, etc. to mention a few.

Let me elaborate further about cheating in the work place. It has been said that an employee should do the job for what he is paid for without any deception or cheating. In fact, every company oriented its manpower on its rules and regulations to let them know of the Do’s and Don’ts of the company and even imparted to them a “Code of Ethics” to morally guide and incline manpower to values worthy of emulation. In spite of these, many employees, especially those in the sub-offices, are taking undue advantage in the company. “Under-timing” and “over valuation of spent overtime” are some classic example of it. For example, employees are suppose to report at 6:00 AM but had reported at 7:00AM. Some are declaring false number of hours spent at overtime like equating lunch hour as overtime when he does not actually work or when someone declared he had worked until 7:00PM but the reality is he is somewhere else outside the office. Some also delayed their work so they can have reasons to spend overtime even if the work can be done in just one working day. This is very rampant in a segmented departments. It is very ironic but it happens in reality.

What compelled employees to cheat when they are rational enough to know that anything they can get out of cheating is a heinous sin?

I do not know why sinful deeds make people happier and satisfied. Everyone has reasons of his own doing but I have some ideas why people do such thing. Maybe some cheat because it is the easier way to take something rather than to exert much effort. Some cheats to acquire things they otherwise would not be able to have in order to advance their economic gain. This is (maybe) the reason why employees cheated reporting hour (at work place) or over valued overtime so that they can earn much amount in their pay slip. Some people cheat simply because they cannot resist the temptation to take what they want. In other word, cheating or stealing was been on their nerves. In addition, others cheat because they are earning minimal salary and because they want to please their family or to attain high income in order to satisfy the economic needs of their family thus they were tempted to do it. Worst of all, cheating happens because managers allowed cheating to exist in the company. Managers are so lax that they don’t spend some time to do ocular inspection or scrutinize work activities performed by their people.

Whatever reasons, everyone should remember that cheating is stealing. Everyone should consider that life is not about money. Earning minimal salary but earned through honesty, sincerity, straightforwardness and fairness is like earning vast blessings from Almighty GOD. We may not see its profits in this material world but we will definitely reap its essence in the hereafter.

(This case in point I had experienced in my almost two years of service in a multi level company in Saudi with large number of diversified colleagues.)

Noynoy Aquino's presidential plan

It has been a headline news that Noynoy Aquino is running for presidency in the upcoming election in Philippines. People may have deeper loyalty for his parents for the martyrdom they have done for democracy but Noynoy’s popularity out of people’s sympathy is different from being ready to get involve in the presidential race. Noynoy should humble himself by sticking to his present political status. He has to exert extra awareness…he is being used by some ambitious TRAPOs.

eye opener

there are things around us that are not seen, voices not heard, minds not spoken, emotions not felt and conflicts not resolved...unless we open our eyes to truth, so shall our senses understand these complexities in life..