Start From The End

Start from The End

a reflection in the end of year 2012

When you read the title of this article maybe you will think its strange and unusual, but trust me its true and happen in reality. In fact, most of success person do it even its work not only for the person but also for an organization, company, and even country. Why? If you ask me that question, I will answer: “because if you want to achieve a goal, you must be have already consider, choose and decide what the goal is”. Then, no matter you write the goal on a paper or not I believe that you will automatically think about this question on your mind after that: How to achieve that goals?, What resources should I have?,What step I have to choose to go to the goal? Etc.

 Lets make it clear. One day, a taxi driver called by the passenger. The taxi come closer to the person who calling the driver and the conversation both of the driver and passenger happen as follows:

 Driver                    : Hi, thank you for your trust to use our taxi service.

Passenger           : You’re welcome

Driver                    : Ok, please get in to the car.

Passenger           : Ok, thanks.

Driver                    : Then, now, tell me where you want to go?
Passenger           : Hm, actually, I don’t know where?

Driver                    : ???

Now, imagine this situation happen to you (as a taxi driver). What will you say to the passenger? Will you carying the passenger to your taxi? I’m not sure you will doing that. And maybe better for you to leave the passenger if he/she still not tell you where to he want to go.

In case of the success of an individual, organization, company, and country totally depend on the what goal (vision) it have. In other words, many people call it as the power of dream. Like we know, a goal stateand decide in the first step of the journey. And its start from the conceptual ideas on our mind. Then, we realize that ideas into the reality with an action. So, the “Start from the end” sentence is not strange anymore for us, isn’t it?

Now, have you ever take several hours or just a minute in your life to think what is the end of our life journey? Have you ever think about where we will go after life? For all people on earth, this questions should have be the consideration for their life. Because it is the starting point and the thing that will make life meaningful. So that, at least there are three kind of question must people answer as a starting point to plan his/her life. The questions are: Where are we come from? For what we are create on earth? To where we will go after life?

                To answer three question above, I will recite surah from quran:

Qoran surah Al Insan (76 : 1)
“Has there not been over the man a period of time, when he was not a thing worth mentioning?”

 Qoran surah Adh Dhariyat (51 : 56)

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)

Qoran surah Al Jathiyah (45 : 15)

“Whosoever does a good deed, it is for his ownself, and whosoever does evil, it is against (his ownself). Then to your Lord you will be made to return.

               

Allah create all the things in heavens and earth must be without a waste objective. Especially in creating of man as the most perfect creation ever create by Allah. Important for us to understand our creation history for the more meaningful and better life and no regret in the end of our life.

Qoran surah Ash Shams (91 : 8)
“Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him.”

                In the end of the article, lets evaluate our life journey especially the goal we want to achieve. If everything created by Allah and its all will back to Allah, what about us? What kind of ‘amal have we done? Which one heavier, good ‘amal or bad ‘amal? Of course we hope good amal heavier than bad ‘amal. We pray to Allah, may Allah collect us as a muttaqiin and collect us with shalihiin in heaven later. Amin Ya Allah Ya Rabbal ‘Alamiin…

(Dwinto, 14/12/2012)


check related article "animal submit to God"

Animal Submit To God

Al Shaddad Bin Aous has quoted this tradition of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)

“God calls for mercy in everything, so be merciful when you kill and when you

slaughter, sharpen your blade to relieveits pain”.

One of the meanings of Islam is submission to God (Allah). In this video clip we will see an animal is fully submitted to their Lord when the name of Allah is spoken.

I've held down a sheep being slaughtered for Eid al Adha. It wasn’t greatly distressed, and went very quickly. But subhanallah, first I saw this video I was like WOW, I never seen this before. My experience was I must held down the sheep – sometimes need additional person too – to prevent that sheep from escape, but in this video the man who slaughter was like effortless and he didn’t need other man to help him. The sheep like in a state of total surrender.

Maybe that is one of the reasons why Halal meat tastes better, is because the animal was certainly a lot less distressed. At glance, islamic slaughter seems very graphic and cruel. In the other hand western way of slaughter seems like more humane and less painful to the animal. But actually from one research it shows the opposite, see detail.

So, Enjoy the video and tell me what is your comment if you want.

Co Branding Leveraging Product's Brand Image

Distinguishing the goods or services (writer: Products) to each other in the bombardment of the production of products from its competitors in the same industry can be a very difficult thing for the customers. Perhaps consumers will be confused to choose the products or services which are to be chosen. But on the other hand, the question arises, why there are many products sold in the market but not least also products that do not sell at the market? Why is there a product that is so loved and remembered by the people but there are also products that are not known by the people?

In the marketing world we are familiar with a term called brand. Brand is what gives the name, characteristics, distinctiveness, symbols, and designs or a combination of all of them to a product. Thus brand become a differentiator and makes products easy for people to remember by the name, characteristics, symbol, design or from all of them. Then, if you ask isn’t most of the product at the present time have a brand? But why does it all not work well? The answer for the first question is "Yes! Almost all products have a brand ". But to answer the second question we need to analyze from several variables. In this article the author will only explain from the point of Product Brand Image and Co-Branding as a key to strengthening the memory of consumers to our products.

Let us look at the case of Islamic banking in recent years more and more popping up both in Indonesia and in various countries around the world. Islamic Bank as a product that provides a service to the community, not just competing with other Islamic bank but also competes with existing conventional banks. With such tight competition in the banking industry, as well as other banks an Islamic bank should be able to provide excellent service and quality should also be able to well-known and powerful by the public as a reliable bank and be chosen by the public. In the subsequent discussion the ability we call as Product Brand Image. Certainly not an easy thing to answer this challenge.

As a product that comes after the existing products, build trust and strong recognition in the minds of consumers is very necessary. One of many ways to do instantly is the Co-Branding strategy. In simple terms this strategy combine two or more brands in a marketing activities together. In this article the author will provide examples of cases that occurred in Bank Muamalat Indonesia (BMI). Although as a first bank established by Islamic principles but does not necessarily make it known as a bank have strong recognition in people's minds and become the people's choice. BMI Product successfully increased its brand image in the early days of its inception by co-branding with one of the leading conventional banks that existed at the time (BCA) and several other partners.

With the co-branding strategy allows BMI to use some of the services that exist in the BCA at no charge to customers. One example is the use of BCA ATM anywhere and anytime for cash withdrawal transactions by customers BMI is not charged. At that time BCA known as a bank that has a network of ATMs in various places. Surely this is an advantage for customers because BMI given the ease of transactions. Even aside with BCA, BMI also co-branded with many other banks in the use of its ATM services at no charge. This further adds to excellence as well as BMI and Product boost its brand image in the face of society.

For all readers who hopefully blessed by God and have an interest in the world of practical marketing, co-branding could be one alternative strategy that can be used to improve the product's brand image in the market in which you compete. Everything we do in business, the main thing of course, should always be considered is as described in the following Ayat (verse):

“Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: “Trade is like usury,” but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the Fire; they will abide therein (for ever).” (Al Baqarah : 275)

So, I hope this article will be useful and keep working with the totality of devotion.

(Dwinto, 13/10/2012)

Source:

Noble Qur’an

Dwinto, The Impact of Co-Branding towards Brand Equity, 2009


Check related article "Why we have to change?"

Why we have to CHANGE?

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Rahiim

Have you ever felt guilty, have you ever regret something you’ve done? The guilt is so big that you cannot forgive yourself. If you ask me, then yes I have. It happens more than once to me, but this time I just want to tell you about one story. Generally speaking, we suffer this condition if we’ve done something sometimes things that we thought is good but ended bad and causing damage to ourselves, others or to someone we love.

Baam!! That is the sound of my 2 years old daughter fall in to the floor on the back of his head. How can that happen, I let her to walk to the kitchen to my wife but she ran, slip and fall so hard because the floor has just been mop and it’s still slippery. My daughter of course cried as hard as she can and God knows how pain she suffered at that time.

After that incident I suffered a feeling that I’ve mentioned, a never ending regret. But what the use, I could never turn back the time and undo the condition. I tried to calm myself by saying everything must be happen for a reason including that incident. So, what lesson I could take from it that is the most important one.

Beside to never repeat my mistake in that case again, my mind suddenly remembered about lesson I have heard and learned from tafseer Surah At-Takatsur from Brother Nouman Ali Khan. The lesson is don’t be like the disbeliever in that Surah. They convict and submit after they see the hell fire in the next life, by then all will be already too late.

[Takasur 102:1] The craving for excess wealth kept you people neglectful.

[Takasur 102:2] Until you confronted the graves.

[Takasur 102:3] Yes certainly, you will soon realise!

[Takasur 102:4] Again, yes certainly, you will soon realise!

[Takasur 102:5] Yes certainly, if you had believed with certainty, you would not have craved for wealth.

[Takasur 102:6] Indeed you will see hell.

[Takasur 102:7] Again, indeed you will see it with certainty.

[Takasur 102:8] Then, on that day, you will surely be questioned regarding the favours.

Don’t do the things that we will regret in the future especially in the “real future” which is Akhirat or the next life. Other than that don’t make sin, unuseful things that eventually destructs us. Indirectly if we destruct and cannot save ourselves from hellfire, how can we save our family and all the one we love?

In line with this is Surah Al-Ashr, Allah tells us to change ourselves and the time to change is RIGHT NOW not when we get old, not when we feel like it or any other excuse. Because in that Surah Allah describes to us that basically we are running out of time and we are in the state of loss constantly. So, NEVER do the things that we will regret, ALWAYS think what the consequences in the hereafter and CHANGE yourself to a better person & make repentance (Taubah) RIGHT NOW!!

The Real Terrorist

Who is the real terrorist, maybe they are the one who accuse others are terrorist. I dont know, but what I know is I have a good clip from a movie which showed a debate beetween Muslim & non-Muslim. I'm sure it's worth seeing and at least it is something to reflects.

TOP 10 MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ISLAM (Part 2)

The attacks on Islam Image especially on the monumental 9/11 event has been causing a quite significant impact until now. In one side causing a ‘problem’ but at the sametime causing a somewhat ‘positive’ impact on Islam it self. Maybe this is why we always said “God works in mysterious ways” or something like “Blessing in disguise”.

An article from USATODAY.COM shows us that Islam and Muslim have a big growth in America. This growth is refering to the number of adherents, growth rate of mosques and even in the spreading troughout many counties in US.

So, with that as a fact I will post this article about the last 5 from 10 misconception of Islam (see first article).

 

MISCONCEPTION #5: 
All Muslims are Arabs

The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith. Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States.

MISCONCEPTION #6: 
The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group.

Islam and the so called "Nation of Islam'" are two different religions. NOI is more of a political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims consider this group to be 
just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own gain. 
The only thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both. "The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the name of its propogator, Louis Farrakhan. 

Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan followers believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore superior, while in Islam there is no
racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight of God, the only difference being in one's piety. There are many other theological examples that show the 'Nation's teachings have little to do with true Islam. There are many groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents Muslims. 

Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam. The only two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1. the Quran and 2. authentic or sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and their religion Islam. such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact Bahaism is not
Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.



MISCONCEPTION #7: 
All Muslim men marry four wives.

The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted,
according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into this kind of marriage if they do not wish it, and they also have the right to exclude it in their marriage contract. 

Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but merely permitted. Images of "sheikhs with harems" are not consistent with Islam, as a man is only allowed at most four wives only if he can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly and providing each with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not associated with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion toward widows and orphans. It was the Quran that limited and put conditions on the practice of polygamy among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and considered them "property". 

It is both honest and accurate to say that it is Islam that regulated this practice, limited it, made it more humane, and instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the Qur'anic decrees amount to,
taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and not polygamy. It is a very tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the world. However, permission to practice limited polygamy is only consistent with Islam's realistic view of the nature of man and woman and of various social needs, problems and cultural
variations. 

The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank and straightforward approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than requiring hypocritical
and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems of individuals and societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions which are far more beneficial than would be the case if they
were ignored. There is no doubt that the second wife legally married and treated kindly is better off than a mistress without any legal rights or expermanence.



MISCONCEPTION #8: 
Muslims are a barbaric, backward people.

Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (pbuh), 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. 

The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. 
Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated
instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps. 



MISCONCEPTION #9: 
Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.

Muhammad(pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew
up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. 
The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. 

It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad(pbuh) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23 years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. 

This event, the Hijra 'migration', in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet saw dies at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. He died with less than 5 possessions to his name. 

While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the "founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam.
Muslims revere and honor him (pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. "O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp."(33:45-6)



MISCONCEPTION #10: 
Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets. 

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:

"Behold!" the Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47) 

Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: " I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad (pbuh) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. 

In the Quran Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: 
"Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari).

Some more Misconceptions on Islam - good info page

Sources:

(Islam: A Brief Introduction, Islamic Circle of North America, Jamaica, New York)

(Understanding Islam and the Muslims, The Islamic Affairs Department The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, 1989.)

(Badawi, Jamal, Polygamy in Islamic Law, The Muslim Students' Association of the United States & Canada,)

(Islam and Farrakhanism Compared, The Institute of Islamic Information and Education, Chicago, Illinois)

(Jihad Explained, The Institute of Islamic Information & Education, Chicago, Illinois)