The relationship between God and human beings, use the example of Rabia al-Adawiyya and al-Hallaj Essays

The relationship between God and human beings, use the example of Rabia al-Adawiyya and al-Hallaj Essays The relationship between God and human beings, use the example of Rabia al-Adawiyya and al-Hallaj Paper The relationship between God and human beings, use the example of Rabia al-Adawiyya and al-Hallaj Paper Essay Topic: Religion Mysticism, according to Evelyn Underhill is The great spiritual current that goes through all religions1. Mysticism seeks to understand the nature and relationship of the human soul and God. The mystical aspect of Islam is known as Sufism (tasawwuf) and in practice is the seeking of an intimate relationship with God through meditative practice or the behaviour of self-denial, the ultimate aim, to achieve union with God. Sufis want to know God in the heart, as a lover and a friend and, as God is an immaterial entity the union can only be achieved emotionally. In the mystical idea, humans gain knowledge of God not through rational thought or religion but with the fusing of the soul to the divine world. Thirteenth century prophet, Jalal al-Din Rumi explains, All the hopes, desires, loves, and affections that people have for different things fathers, mothers, friends, heavens, the earth, gardens, palaces, sciences, works, food, drink he saint knows that these are desires for God and all those things are veils. When men leave this world and see the King without these veils, then they will know that all were veils and coverings, that the object of their desire was in reality that One Thing They will see all things face to face. 2 In order to embrace the love of God, Sufis must disregard the material world that the rest of us so readily and unquestioningly inhabit. The Sufi mystical path has several stages and is open to each and every Muslim who wishes to connect their soul with the divine. The whole of life is spiritually one in its source, goal, beginning and end, with the divine manifest in all our souls (though the soul was created before, and is separated from the body). The attempt to attain unity with God is all the more desirable when earthly matter is deemed evil; no incentive is left, other than for anything other than mystical behaviour. Sufis take the For man was created weak3 aspect of the Quran seriously; scripture like it proves to Sufis the evil status of matter. There are contradictions though in other parts of the Quran: Thy Lord said to the angels: I will create a vicegerent on earth4. Although this is an inconsistency within the Quran, rather than within Sufism itself, it doesnt give Sufis a clear textual backing. We might bear in mind though that if this is the case for Sufis then it will be the case for the Orthodox Muslims too. So, bearing this in mind, a key understanding for the mystics may be that We are nearer to him than the jugular vein5 Such revelations are of great importance to Sufis in giving them an insight into their relationship with God, though they too are also good at expressing themselves: thirteenth century mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi explains that, All the hopes, desires, loves, and affections that people have for different things fathers, mothers, friends, heavens, the earth, gardens, palaces, sciences, works, food, drink the saint knows that these are desires for God and all those things are veils. When men leave this world and see the King without these veils, then they will know that all were veils and coverings, that the object of their desire was in reality that One Thing They will see all things face to face. Our earthly desires are fanciful yet are always seeking a truth that is God. Sufi mystics are highly regarded and specially remembered and revered long after their deaths. Rabia Al-Adawiyya and Al-Hallaj provide us with very interesting examples of how mystical experience had so overcome them that to Sufisms logical extent, existence came to have no meaning for them. Their experience explains a lot about the ideas and ideology of the mystical tradition. Commentaries on Rabbia and her works have been passed down through devotees, historians, translators and commentators for almost thirteen centuries. Our picture of her is created by these scholars and coupled with the passage of thirteen centuries; the picture may well be an accordingly anachronistic one. Her work that was not already poetry seems, through these mediums and the refinement of re-telling 6 to have become such. In this instance however, we might suggest that the accounts of how talented or prolific she was as a writer are greater affected than our understanding of the mystical path which she followed, it being easier to alter what she left us than what she did. Our understanding of Rabbia doesnt suffer through our appreciation of her relative poetic merits but it does if she didnt write them. For our purposes it is necessary to take what we know of Rabbia subjectively and in doing this, we might come to recognise her as a brilliant proponent of Sufi mysticism. Through her poetry, ethic of self-discipline and emotional devotion to Allah she created in herself an icon of Sufi devotion, highly regarded throughout Islam. Islam has embraced Rabia, despite frowning on, not so much the fact that she was a woman, but unmarried life and withdrawal from society as a path to God. Rabbia was a slave who, was seen by her master praying one night (after a hard days work, at the expense of her sleep) and who saw a bright light above her head, so the story goes. He released her immediately and she, in turn, moved to the desert. As people became aware of her and her holiness, they began beating a path to her door in search of spiritual direction. She was the recipient of numerous marriage proposals. Upon receiving one of them she replied, Im not interested, really, in possessing all you own, Nor in making you my slave, Nor in having my attention distracted from God even for a split second. 7 Even love on earth was incomparable to the love she shared with God. The love expressed in her verse, whether it existed or not (why should we be disinclined to believe her? ) is the essence of this mysticism. If I die for love, before completing satisfaction, Alas, for my anxiety in the world, alas for my distress, O Healer (of souls) the heart feeds upon its desire, The striving after union with Thee has healed my soul8 The love and devotion expressed in this verse is the essence of the mystical. There is no rational or formal relationship with God, just love. Love rarely reconciles itself with rational thought and interestingly, in his incomprehensible nature, neither does God. It is romantic for us to think of this (unconventional female) mystic completely absorbed in her love for God, and expressing this through beautiful poetry. Poetry is one of the most highly esteemed vehicles for expressing emotion, what better way for Rabia to get her message across? Rabia helps us see that the Sufi tradition is not about the regularity with which Muslims pray or how closely they follow the rules extracted from the Quran, but is about the raw emotion Sufis feel for God. Al-Hallaj, another prominent Sufi was killed for his devotion to the mystic quest. Louis Massignon gives us an authoritative account of Al-Hallaj in his book of the same name. He was one of Islams most controversial writers and teachers. Because he was the embodiment of the Muslim experience, Mansurs life and death represent to many, a reference point in Islamic history. Al-Hallaj was fascinated with the ascetic way of life, in his teens he memorized the Quran and began retreating from the world to gather with other like minds to study Islamic mysticism. He travelled and soon apprentices began to follow him. The situation in which al-Hallaj taught and wrote was shaped by social, economic, political, and religious stress, which eventually led to his arrest. Sufism was new at the time, and provoked extensive opposition from the Muslim orthodoxy. Sufi masters considered his sharing the beauty of mystical experience with the masses undisciplined at best, disobedient at worst. It wasnt long before the political leaders made a case against him. Al-Hallaj was considered an intoxicated Sufi, who became so enraptured in ecstasy by the presence of the Divine that he was prone to losing his personal identity, blurring the lines between the Divine and the Man. During his arrest he experienced one of these breaks and uttered: Ana al-haqq, or I am the Truth (or God). An inappropriate statement to make in the Islamic tradition. He spent 11 years in confinement in Baghdad, before being brutally tortured and crucified. Witnesses were believed to have stated that al-Hallaj was strangely serene while being tortured, and sincerely forgave his persecutors. He is referred to as Loves Prophet. Al-Hallaj is one of the most influential Sufi writers and an important character in Islamic history. I saw my Lord with the eye of the heart. I said: Who art Thou? He answered: Thou. 9 By proclaiming, I am the truth he had achieved the Sufi goal in that he felt himself to be God incarnate in the world10. He was so overcome with his mystical existence that he felt, to the logical Sufi extreme that he was God. There has been a certain tendency for Christians to view Sufism as an Islamic derivative of Christian mysticism. Islam appears to be sensual, physical an d practical these aspects all being manifest in Islamic law. How can Sufism reconcile itself with this? The Christians seemed to think that it couldnt and mysticism within Islam could trace itself back to the sophisticated Christian tradition and the Holy Ghost. 11 This may be true in certain instances, Al-Muhasibi, for example, has been shown to have borrowed heavily on the new testament for various sayings and commendations of the Sufi life the practice of wearing woollen garments is said to have been done in imitation of Christian hermits, though how recognition and borrowing of ideas can make a religion inferior to the lender is odd. The examples we have looked at of Rabbia and al-Hallaj serve to discredit this idea, in fact the Sufi idea stands up very well on its own: In a human being is such a love, a pain, an itch, a desire that, even if he were to possess a hundred thousand worlds, he would not rest or find peace. People work variously at all sorts of callings, crafts, and professions, and they learn astrology and medicine, and so forth, but they are not at peace because what they are seeking cannot be found. The beloved is called dilaram because the heart finds peace through the beloved. How then can it find peace through anything else? 12 To treat Sufism as a derivative of Christianity deprives Islam of an integral part of its spiritual nature. Sufi practice seeks to achieve a goal of oneness and absorption into God. They seek to attain the state humanity was in before creation13. To achieve this as Rabbia and Al-Hallaj claimed they did, it is necessary to regard emotion, love and spirituality as all-important and all else irrelevant. Few, if any people will deny the existence of emotion despite its un-quantifiable nature and its defiance of physical definition. Many people, regardless of their religion believe that God is emotion or our collective spirit, in that idea and especially in the examples we have looked at, the heart and love are the keys to understanding, despite their un physical nature For the reality that is the goal of the mystic, and is ineffable, cannot be understood or explained by any normal mode of perception; neither philosophy nor reason can reveal it. Only the wisdom of the heart, gnosis, may give insight into some of its aspects. 14 To share in the love of God and to attain existence on a spiritual plane where it is possible to interact with him, the role of the heart is obviously crucial. Another important point to remember is that in the world, of evil matter, all that is then not evil, is emotion. Perhaps the legacy that Rabia and Al Halaj have left us with, is of love and emotion. They did not teach us practical lessons or how to do our best, but simply, how to feel; perhaps this is why they are still so well regarded. Our hearts and souls are individually and collectively the sources of our love. By feeling their relationship with God emotionally, at the expense of all else, the Sufis are quite radical in their approach to him. It is a kind of religious anarchism; the only necessities are the heart and the soul, whilst nothing else matters. Sufis use their hearts to direct their emotions towards God; its importance is not partial but total.

How to Pronounce Mobile

How to Pronounce Mobile How to Pronounce Mobile How to Pronounce Mobile By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders about the American pronunciation of the word mobile: When Americans refer to the thing that all of us carry around as our personal digital appendage, they rhyme it with â€Å"bill.† The rest of the world (i.e., where I live) pronounce it to rhyme it with â€Å"bile.† Im not talking about the adjective â€Å"mobile,† but the noun â€Å"mobile,† short for â€Å"mobile phone.† Does this have to do anything with the gas company which sounds the same? The word mobile functions as both an adjective and as a noun: Adjective The  mobile technology  may be a lot different in terms of the Internet platform, but they basically share a common medium: the Web. - Americans pronounce the adjective mobile to rhyme with noble. Noun Sallie bought a darling Winnie-the-Pooh mobile to hang above the babys bed. - Americans pronounce the noun mobile to rhyme with toe-heel (MOH-beel). The city in Alabama is usually pronounced MOH-beel. Sometimes it is pronounced moh-BEEL. The petroleum company spells its name Mobil and pronounces it MOH-bil. Its progenitor, Mobilgas, was founded in the 1920s; Americans were already pronouncing mobile to rhyme with noble. So, when did those wretched Americans start mispronouncing mobile? They didn’t. British speakers shifted their pronunciation of words ending in -ile from a short vowel sound to a long one. OED lexicographer R. W. Burchfield noted, â€Å"The division didn’t become clear-cut until about 1900.† This is how Charles Elster (The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations) puts it: throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, both British and American speakers pronounced -ile either with a short i (as in pill) or an obscure/silent i (as in fossil). For example, the English elocutionist John Walker, whose Critical Pronouncing Dictionary (1791) had a profound influence on both sides of the Atlantic well into the 19th century, favored the short i in nearly all -ile words, including juvenile, mercantile, and puerile, citing only chamomile, infantile, and reconcile as long i exceptions. In the 20th century, Americans were less consistent in their customary preference than the British were in their newfound preference, and the long i made some inroads in American speech. In regard to the question that prompted this post, Americans call those â€Å"personal digital appendages† neither MOH-biles nor MOH-bils. We call them cell phones. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of Adjectives"Latter," not "Ladder"Dissatisfied vs. Unsatisfied

Social policy- policy analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Social policy- policy analysis - Essay Example It does this by critically analyzing various laws which were enacted and periodically amended to ensure that there are no cases of child abuse in the country. The paper also goes ahead to evaluate how effective these legislations were and the extent to which they safeguarded children. According to the latest statistics from the police department, there were a total of 21,493 reported cases of child sexual abuse offences in 2011/12. In England alone, the figures for child rapes were estimated at 4,991 during the same period (Owen, 2007). However, the total number of rape cases and rape attempts in Scotland stood at 505 during the same period. Based on this statistics, Scotland seems to be having the highest number of sexual offenses as compared to other regions such as Wales, Northern Ireland and England. This might be attributed to inefficient policy implementations and inability of the parents, guardians and child care givers to create adequate time to provide children with the necessary protection. Its sexual offenses rates are 3.3 cases out of every 1,000 children under the age of 16. In Northern Ireland, it stands at 2.5 persons per every 1,000 children under the age of 18. Moreover, in Wales and England, only 1.6 cases are recorded for every 1,000 children u nder the age of 16 (Jeff, 2003). The above analysis clearly indicates that child abuse is still a major issue of concern in the UK. Although the statistics is about sexual abuses, a lot of cases have been witnessed in which several children have been physically abused and neglected by their parents and care givers. It is for this reason that such children have been offered safeguarding services such as child line, frank line, guidance and counseling by different bodies and agencies in the nation (Turton, 2008). It is only through the provision of safeguard services that the

The artist M.C. Escher Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The artist M.C. Escher - Research Paper Example In some of his works, he created polytypes that cannot be constructed in real world and can be explained using mathematics knowledge. His study on mathematics began with George Polya’s academic paper about plane symmetry groups. What he studied inspired him to study the concept of 17 wallpapers (Math Explorer Club, 2009). By using this mathematical concept, he manage to create a periodic tilings made up of 43 colored drawings of different types of symmetry. This was the point where he started developing mathematical approach to expressions of symmetry shapes in his drawings. He was being viewed as a research mathematician during that time when he documented his findings in a book wrote about asymmetry polygons. He researched about color based division and he came up with a system of classifying combinations of shape, color and symmetrical properties (Math Explorer Club, 2009). He also developed several interlocking figures that appear to be mathematically incorrect. With the use of black and white color, he manages to develop different dimensions to make the impossible mathematics look possible. He normally combines 2 and 3 dimensional images to a single print. In his works entitled ‘reptiles’ he drew pictures where reptiles come out of tessellation, move around, and go back into 2 dimensional forms. To create certain linear perspectives, he picked a point on the drawings such that all the lines in the work will converge together at one point. In this way, he used mathematics to develop a certain perception from the audience, without using any special mathematic tool. Escher circle limit III contains tessellations that he drew with a free hand and they are mathematically correct (Abrams, 1995). In 1956, he analyzed the concept of representing infinity on 2 dimensional planes. His wood carvings circle limit I-IV shows the infinity concept. In 1959, he explained further about infinity using his construction (Abrams, 1995). The

Uses of Nursing Theory Essay Example for Free

Uses of Nursing Theory Essay I was fascinated by the quote above for in general, we can never go wrong in a practice that is based on a tested knowledge and guided by theory. Recorded history of Greece first developed its special uses; from Pythagoras to Aristotle, up to present, uses of theory still remains important. Nursing science, like any other field, is a melting pot of care and healing that has been moulded and preserved since the dawn of time. (Octaviano and Balita, 2008) Theory strives to explain the science and art of nursing. Nursing is as varied as the people who practice it, and is dynamic and diverse as kaleidoscope of ethnic, cultural and religious manifestations of people who receive nursing care. It is important that nursing is grounded on accepted scientific truths and principles in order to give safe and quality nursing care. (Octaviano and Balita, 2008) Implied as highly dynamic and undergoes change, as further research and studies are done and as they are enriched by practice, theory can change overtime. However, there are also theories that remain valid despites the passage of time. It is very important that theory guides and improves nursing practice, research and nursing education. Decision making, independent, dependent and interdependent functions, leadership, as well as further education for specializations are only few of vast spectrum nursing concepts that make up nursing theory. Considering my little experience, I would like to illustrate the use of Patricia Benner’s Theory of Skill Acquisition in Nursing. (I considered my current experience/skill as Advance Beginner. ) (Novice) When I was a student nurse on my senior year, I was assigned to take care and monitor newborn undergoing phototherapy. I was instructed by our clinical instructor to monitor the time and frequency the newborn is exposed to photolight, covered baby’s eyes and genitals, assess patient’s hydration by weighing diapers, monitor vital signs, check IV insertions and perform other activities with close supervision from clinical instructor. (Advance Beginner) After graduated, I took the licensure exam and became a registered nurse. I volunteered in a community hospital and Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (BEMONC) and was hired by DOH-CHD as RN Heals nurse trainee. Months from now, I will be a DR Nurse in a provincial hospital, will be working hard and will aspire to be promoted (LOL) . I will attend seminars and trainings to enhance my skills and knowledge. (Proficient) I will be competent in the clinical area and academe because (two to three years from now), I already finished master’s degree in nursing. (Expert) Seven to eight years from now, I have finished my doctoral degree and will be a chief nurse and a part time professor in a university. (LOL) Theory encourages us to be inquisitive to investigate and explore what more should we know.

Shakespeares Titus Andronicus - A Powerful Tragedy Essay -- Titus And

Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus - A Powerful Tragedy Titus Andronicus is a play marked by acts of horrific violence and littered with death and the destruction of others. Each violent act, however, serves to explain and sometimes encourage the motives of the play's memorable characters and impart a very tightly knotted plot. The structure of the play employs well-defined heroes and villains. Revenge is their key motivating factor. All of these elements combine to form a cohesive plot and contribute to the overall success of the story. Shakespeare's sources for the play are quite clear. He makes it no secret that the rape of Lavinia is analogous to the rape of Philomela in Ovid's Metamorphosis. In this tale, The daughter of the King of Athens, Procne, marries the King of Thrace, Tereus, and the two of them have a son, Itys. After a number of years, Procne desperately wishes to see her sister, Philomela, and sends Tereus back to Athens to bring her to Thrace. When Tereus sees Philomela, he becomes obsessed with her and carries her into the forest, rapes her and cuts out her tongue to prevent her from telling anyone. Upon returning to Thrace, he informs his wife that Philomela is dead. In the meantime, Philomela weaves her story into a cloth and sends it to Procne. Procne becomes so enraged by this knowledge that she and Philomela plot and kill Itys, cook his flesh and serve it to Tereus. He discovers their ploy and tries to kill them, but Philomela is changed into a nightingale, Procne a swallow and Tereus a hoopoe (Bullough, vi. 48-58). This exhibits a very distinct parallel. Demetrius and Chiron used the same measures to prevent Lavinia from disclosing their deeds, though Shakespeare (always improving on his sources) to... ... to become wrapped up in his evil schemes. Also, like Richard III, the character of Aaron the Moor has a great deal of staying power, and we continue to see characters like him four-hundred years later. Titus Andronicus is very successful as a tragedy. Second guessing of the character's actions is held to a minimum because most of the tragedy is imposed by the other characters' revenge tactics. The notable characters are easily distinguishable because of their very distinct personalities. Titus and Aaron are a prime example of this type of opposition. The solid plot, memorable characters and striking depiction of violence combine to make Titus Andronicus one of Shakespeare's best works. Works Cited Bullough, Geoffrey. Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare , 8 vols. (1964-75) Waith, Eugene M. ed. Titus Andronicus. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1984.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-five

Eddard He found Littlefinger in the brothel's common room, chatting amiably with a tall, elegant woman who wore a feathered gown over skin as black as ink. By the hearth, Heward and a buxom wench were playing at forfeits. From the look of it, he'd lost his belt, his cloak, his mail shirt, and his right boot so far, while the girl had been forced to unbutton her shift to the waist. Jory Cassel stood beside a rain-streaked window with a wry smile on his face, watching Heward turn over tiles and enjoying the view. Ned paused at the foot of the stair and pulled on his gloves. â€Å"It's time we took our leave. My business here is done.† Heward lurched to his feet, hurriedly gathering up his things. â€Å"As you will, my lord,† Jory said. â€Å"I'll help Wyl bring round the horses.† He strode to the door. Littlefinger took his time saying his farewells. He kissed the black woman's hand, whispered some joke that made her laugh aloud, and sauntered over to Ned. â€Å"Your business,† he said lightly, â€Å"or Robert's? They say the Hand dreams the king's dreams, speaks with the king's voice, and rules with the king's sword. Does that also mean you fuck with the king's—† â€Å"Lord Baelish,† Ned interrupted, â€Å"you presume too much. I am not ungrateful for your help. It might have taken us years to find this brothel without you. That does not mean I intend to endure your mockery. And I am no longer the King's Hand.† â€Å"The direwolf must be a prickly beast,† said Littlefinger with a sharp twist of his mouth. A warm rain was pelting down from a starless black sky as they walked to the stables. Ned drew up the hood of his cloak. Jory brought out his horse. Young Wyl came right behind him, leading Littlefinger's mare with one hand while the other fumbled with his belt and the lacings of his trousers. A barefoot whore leaned out of the stable door, giggling at him. â€Å"Will we be going back to the castle now, my lord?† Jory asked. Ned nodded and swung into the saddle. Littlefinger mounted up beside him. Jory and the others followed. â€Å"Chataya runs a choice establishment,† Littlefinger said as they rode. â€Å"I've half a mind to buy it. Brothels are a much sounder investment than ships, I've found. Whores seldom sink, and when they are boarded by pirates, why, the pirates pay good coin like everyone else.† Lord Petyr chuckled at his own wit. Ned let him prattle on. After a time, he quieted and they rode in silence. The streets of King's Landing were dark and deserted. The rain had driven everyone under their roofs. It beat down on Ned's head, warm as blood and relentless as old guilts. Fat drops of water ran down his face. â€Å"Robert will never keep to one bed,† Lyanna had told him at Winterfell, on the night long ago when their father had promised her hand to the young Lord of Storm's End. â€Å"I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale.† Ned had held the babe in his arms; he could scarcely deny her, nor would he lie to his sister, but he had assured her that what Robert did before their betrothal was of no matter, that he was a good man and true who would love her with all his heart. Lyanna had only smiled. â€Å"Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man's nature.† The girl had been so young Ned had not dared to ask her age. No doubt she'd been a virgin; the better brothels could always find a virgin, if the purse was fat enough. She had light red hair and a powdering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, and when she slipped free a breast to give her nipple to the babe, he saw that her bosom was freckled as well. â€Å"I named her Barra,† she said as the child nursed. â€Å"She looks so like him, does she not, milord? She has his nose, and his hair . . . â€Å" â€Å"She does.† Eddard Stark had touched the baby's fine, dark hair. It flowed through his fingers like black silk. Robert's firstborn had had the same fine hair, he seemed to recall. â€Å"Tell him that when you see him, milord, as it . . . as it please you. Tell him how beautiful she is.† â€Å"I will,† Ned had promised her. That was his curse. Robert would swear undying love and forget them before evenfall, but Ned Stark kept his vows. He thought of the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them. â€Å"And tell him I've not been with no one else. I swear it, milord, by the old gods and new. Chataya said I could have half a year, for the baby, and for hoping he'd come back. So you'll tell him I'm waiting, won't you? I don't want no jewels or nothing, just him. He was always good to me, truly.† Good to you, Ned thought hollowly. â€Å"I will tell him, child, and I promise you, Barra shall not go wanting.† She had smiled then, a smile so tremulous and sweet that it cut the heart out of him. Riding through the rainy night, Ned saw Jon Snow's face in front of him, so like a younger version of his own. If the gods frowned so on bastards, he thought dully, why did they fill men with such lusts? â€Å"Lord Baelish, what do you know of Robert's bastards?† â€Å"Well, he has more than you, for a start.† â€Å"How many?† Littlefinger shrugged. Rivulets of moisture twisted down the back of his cloak. â€Å"Does it matter? If you bed enough women, some will give you presents, and His Grace has never been shy on that count. I know he's acknowledged that boy at Storm's End, the one he fathered the night Lord Stannis wed. He could hardly do otherwise. The mother was a Florent, niece to the Lady Selyse, one of her bedmaids. Renly says that Robert carried the girl upstairs during the feast, and broke in the wedding bed while Stannis and his bride were still dancing. Lord Stannis seemed to think that was a blot on the honor of his wife's House, so when the boy was born, he shipped him off to Renly.† He gave Ned a sideways glance. â€Å"I've also heard whispers that Robert got a pair of twins on a serving wench at Casterly Rock, three years ago when he went west for Lord Tywin's tourney. Cersei had the babes killed, and sold the mother to a passing slaver. Too much an affront to Lannister pride, that close to home.† Ned Stark grimaced. Ugly tales like that were told of every great lord in the realm. He could believe it of Cersei Lannister readily enough . . . but would the king stand by and let it happen? The Robert he had known would not have, but the Robert he had known had never been so practiced at shutting his eyes to things he did not wish to see. â€Å"Why would Jon Arryn take a sudden interest in the king's baseborn children?† The short man gave a sodden shrug. â€Å"He was the King's Hand. Doubtless Robert asked him to see that they were provided for.† Ned was soaked through to the bone, and his soul had grown cold. â€Å"It had to be more than that, or why kill him?† Littlefinger shook the rain from his hair and laughed. â€Å"Now I see. Lord Arryn learned that His Grace had filled the bellies of some whores and fishwives, and for that he had to be silenced. Small wonder. Allow a man like that to live, and next he's like to blurt out that the sun rises in the east.† There was no answer Ned Stark could give to that but a frown. For the first time in years, he found himself remembering Rhaegar Targaryen. He wondered if Rhaegar had frequented brothels; somehow he thought not. The rain was falling harder now, stinging the eyes and drumming against the ground. Rivers of black water were running down the hill when Jory called out, â€Å"My lord,† his voice hoarse with alarm. And in an instant, the street was full of soldiers. Ned glimpsed ringmail over leather, gauntlets and greaves, steel helms with golden lions on the crests. Their cloaks clung to their backs, sodden with rain. He had no time to count, but there were ten at least, a line of them, on foot, blocking the street, with longswords and iron-tipped spears. â€Å"Behind!† he heard Wyl cry, and when he turned his horse, there were more in back of them, cutting off their retreat. Jory's sword came singing from its scabbard. â€Å"Make way or die!† â€Å"The wolves are howling,† their leader said. Ned could see rain running down his face. â€Å"Such a small pack, though.† Littlefinger walked his horse forward, step by careful step. â€Å"What is the meaning of this? This is the Hand of the King.† â€Å"He was the Hand of the King.† The mud muffled the hooves of the blood bay stallion. The line parted before him. On a golden breastplate, the lion of Lannister roared its defiance. â€Å"Now, if truth be told, I'm not sure what he is.† â€Å"Lannister, this is madness,† Littlefinger said. â€Å"Let us pass. We are expected back at the castle. What do you think you're doing?† â€Å"He knows what he's doing,† Ned said calmly. Jaime Lannister smiled. â€Å"Quite true. I'm looking for my brother. You remember my brother, don't you, Lord Stark? He was with us at Winterfell. Fair-haired, mismatched eyes, sharp of tongue. A short man.† â€Å"I remember him well,† Ned replied. â€Å"It would seem he has met some trouble on the road. My lord father is quite vexed. You would not perchance have any notion of who might have wished my brother ill, would you?† â€Å"Your brother has been taken at my command, to answer for his crimes,† Ned Stark said. Littlefinger groaned in dismay. â€Å"My lords—† Ser Jaime ripped his longsword from its sheath and urged his stallion forward. â€Å"Show me your steel, Lord Eddard. I'll butcher you like Aerys if I must, but I'd sooner you died with a blade in your hand.† He gave Littlefinger a cool, contemptuous glance. â€Å"Lord Baelish, I'd leave here in some haste if I did not care to get bloodstains on my costly clothing.† Littlefinger did not need to be urged. â€Å"I will bring the City Watch,† he promised Ned. The Lannister line parted to let him through, and closed behind him. Littlefinger put his heels to his mare and vanished around a corner. Ned's men had drawn their swords, but they were three against twenty. Eyes watched from nearby windows and doors, but no one was about to intervene. His party was mounted, the Lannisters on foot save for Jaime himself. A charge might win them free, but it seemed to Eddard Stark that they had a surer, safer tactic. â€Å"Kill me,† he warned the Kingslayer, â€Å"and Catelyn will most certainly slay Tyrion.† Jaime Lannister poked at Ned's chest with the gilded sword that had sipped the blood of the last of the Dragonkings. â€Å"Would she? The noble Catelyn Tully of Riverrun murder a hostage? I think . . . not.† He sighed. â€Å"But I am not willing to chance my brother's life on a woman's honor.† Jaime slid the golden sword into its sheath. â€Å"So I suppose I'll let you run back to Robert to tell him how I frightened you. I wonder if he'll care.† Jaime pushed his wet hair back with his fingers and wheeled his horse around. When he was beyond the line of swordsmen, he glanced back at his captain. â€Å"Tregar, see that no harm comes to Lord Stark.† â€Å"As you say, m'lord.† â€Å"Still . . . we wouldn't want him to leave here entirely unchastened, so†Ã¢â‚¬â€through the night and the rain, he glimpsed the white of Jaime's smile—†kill his men.† â€Å"No!† Ned Stark screamed, clawing for his sword. Jaime was already cantering off down the street as he heard Wyl shout. Men closed from both sides. Ned rode one down, cutting at phantoms in red cloaks who gave way before him. Jory Cassel put his heels into his mount and charged. A steel-shod hoof caught a Lannister guardsman in the face with a sickening crunch. A second man reeled away and for an instant Jory was free. Wyl cursed as they pulled him off his dying horse, swords slashing in the rain. Ned galloped to him, bringing his longsword down on Tregar's helm. The jolt of impact made him grit his teeth. Tregar stumbled to his knees, his lion crest sheared in half, blood running down his face. Heward was hacking at the hands that had seized his bridle when a spear caught him in the belly. Suddenly Jory was back among them, a red rain flying from his sword. â€Å"No!† Ned shouted. â€Å"Jory, away!† Ned's horse slipped under him and came crashing down in th e mud. There was a moment of blinding pain and the taste of blood in his mouth. He saw them cut the legs from Jory's mount and drag him to the earth, swords rising and failing as they closed in around him. When Ned's horse lurched back to its feet, he tried to rise, only to fall again, choking on his scream. He could see the splintered bone poking through his calf. It was the last thing he saw for a time. The rain came down and down and down. When he opened his eyes again, Lord Eddard Stark was alone with his dead. His horse moved closer, caught the rank scent of blood, and galloped away. Ned began to drag himself through the mud, gritting his teeth at the agony in his leg. It seemed to take years. Faces watched from candlelit windows, and people began to emerge from alleys and doors, but no one moved to help. Littlefinger and the City Watch found him there in the street, cradling Jory Cassel's body in his arms. Somewhere the gold cloaks found a litter, but the trip back to the castle was a blur of agony, and Ned lost consciousness more than once. He remembered seeing the Red Keep looming ahead of him in the first grey light of dawn. The rain had darkened the pale pink stone of the massive walls to the color of blood. Then Grand Maester Pycelle was looming over him, holding a cup, whispering, â€Å"Drink, my lord. Here. The milk of the poppy, for your pain.† He remembered swallowing, and Pycelle was telling someone to heat the wine to boiling and fetch him clean silk, and that was the last he knew.

A Medium of Exchange and a Unit of Account Versus Money

These Short Essays are partial fulfillment of Paper IE1001 of Part 1 of Certified Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP) [DRAFT V0. 5] INCEIF Student Name: Mustafa Aydemir Student ID: 1200279 IE1001 Assignment in Islamic Economics – Short Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. 5. doc -1- Bismillahirrahmanirrahim Essay No. (3) Money and Islam – A Medium of Exchange and a Unit of Account versus Money as a Commodity Everybody is using money. Most of us want it; we work for it and think how to get more of it. Therefore, it is vital to ask what money is, where it comes from, and what money is worth.Economics is an academic discipline that tries to answer those questions. It would be to long and lengthy to discuss about money creation and growth from A-Z but in the following paragraphs the subject matter is elaborated from the conventional as well as the Islamic worldviews. Money in the conventional sense is a commodity people use in exchange for goods and servi ces. Before money was used as a medium of exchange, barter trade was practiced whereby people trade goods and services in exchange for other goods and services.However, barter trade was considered not so practical as weighing, transporting and dividing goods was difficult. It was the lack of transferability and inefficiencies that created the need for better ways of exchange. The concept of money was born. There are different types of money that developed over time, which should be presented briefly. Commodity money is defined as valuable goods, which were used as an underlying for a currency, such as gold, silver, coffee or even tobacco. The biggest advantage of this kind of currency was its portability and easy storage.Another example of commodity money is the U. S. currency before 1971, which was backed by gold (Investopia). Fiat money is the paper money currently circulating in our world that is not convertible in any other type of money. It is used in our daily life where we bu y and sell goods and services. Fiat money is basically not backed by any commodity but by a government that guarantees its value and creates a perception and faith in people that it is worth it. It is simply needed because gold is IE1001 Assignment in Islamic Economics – Short Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. . doc -2- rare on this planet. The perception created is, that the stronger the economy, the stronger is the value of its money. It is important to understand, that money is valuable because we want it, but we want it only because it can get us a desired product or service. Money is generated by a kind of an uninterrupted collaboration between physical things, our elusive desire for them, and our theoretical trust in what has value. That is why printing fresh money will not enrich a nation. Another type of money is named credit money.Investopia defines credit money as â€Å"Any future monetary claim against an individual that can be used to buy go ods and services†. There are many forms of credit money, such as IOUs, bonds and money market accounts. Virtually any form of financial instrument that cannot be repaid immediately is considered credit money. Economists measure money in M1, M2 and M3 defined as follows. M1 money includes all coins and currency that is physically available, travellers checks, demand deposits, checking accounts that is used to make payments.M2 money is all the money in M1 plus saving accounts, timelinked deposits and non-institutional money-market funds. M3 money is all the money in M2 plus all large time-deposits, liquid assets, institutional money-market funds, and short-term repurchase agreements. M1+M2+M3 together is the total supply of money in an economy, the â€Å"broad money† Money fulfills the three main functions. It is used as a medium of exchange. Furthermore, money is a unit of account that is a numerical unit of measurement for transactions, goods and services.IE1001 Assignm ent in Islamic Economics – Short Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. 5. doc -3- Lastly, money is used to store value that can be retrieved and used again. In Islam money is not a commodity, which makes all the difference. It is not considered as a commodity that should be used for a price, but rather as a medium of exchange in business transactions Money as a commodity concept is prohibited, because it contradicts Islamic principles that does not recognize money as a tool to make profit. Money is only a medium of exchange, a way of defining the value of a thing; it has no value in itself, and therefore should not be allowed to give rise to more money, via fixed interest payments, simply by being put in a bank or lent to someone else. † (INCEIF Lecture Notes p. 81). Money used as a commodity would presumably divide the society into the poor and the rich, even countries into categories rich and poor economies neglecting their national debt levels. Peop le or nations in need for cash, deficit units, borrow money from people or nations with additional cash, surplus units.They are required to pay a fixed interest payment for their loans. This is riba and is clearly illegal according to Shariah law because it enriches surplus units without any contribution to the real economy. Consequently, people in need for money would take a high risk of becoming even poorer. Compound interest is the big problem that creates money out of thin air. Moreover, the so-called fractional banking system that creates 100. 000 USD out of a 10. 000 USD deposit, 90. 000 USD can be considered fictional money. 1Title: Concept of Money from Islamic Perspective; Class: Islamic Economics [IE1001]; Prof: Dr. Magda Ismail Abdel Mohsin; Institution: INCEIF; Date: 8/16/2006 # Of Pages: 44 IE1001 Assignment in Islamic Economics – Short Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. 5. doc -4- The rich is getting richer relatively faster than involvement into the real economy, because money creates more money without work required and Many countries fall into the trap of borrowing money from the International Monetary Funds, in particular Muslim states.The weaknesses of money as a commodity, hit those countries with all its evil as borrowed money doubles, multiplies and compounds. Consequently future generations are affected. The current generation is living in exaggerated prosperity on the cost of many future generations. Money is Islam should not be hoarded and kept in the bank savings account. Instead, money is required to circulate within the economy freely to benefit frequently, continuously, proactively and directly the society at large. This leads to the basic principle of interest prohibition and replaces this Riba system with that of Al-Bay.A system that is very different from Riba. The principle paradigm is risk sharing to allow borrowers and lenders to share rewards. The process of wealth accumulation and distribution in the economy is fair and just and fits the spending (infaq) criteria of Al-Bay suggested by the following verses. â€Å"Those who eat Riba (usury) will not stand on the Day of Resurrection except like the standing of a person beaten by Satan leading him to insanity. That is because they say: â€Å"Al-Bay is only like Riba,† whereas Allah has permitted Al-Bay’ and forbidden Riba.So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Riba], such are the dwellers of the Fire – they will abide therein. † (2-275) The verse (2-261) states the incentive of spending in the way of Allah swt by counting the great reward and the blessing that an individual get from one single transaction: Then the following verse (2-262) puts the conditions for infaq to be accepted, and that is for Infaq not to be followedIE1001 Assignment in Islamic Economics – Shor t Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. 5. doc -5- by Riya (show-off) or by harming anyone or harming the society as a whole. Even if the spending is based on charitable purposes mentioned in verse (2-263), no reminding of it and no harm should be resulted from spending process. Indeed, a kind speech and asking for forgiveness would have better impact. So infaq has to be fully for the sake of Allah swt. (2-264). The consequences of Infaq being not for the sake of Allah are serious as there would be neither Baraka nor growth.Verse (2-265) shapes the objective of spending and is to be for the sake of Allah and his reward so the profile of gain and loss in Infaq is different from the ordinary thinking. In conclusion, the definition of money and the way wealth is accumulated and spend draw a fine line in the distinction of both the conventional versus the Islamic economic system. As money is a medium of exchange, savings does not yield interest income but instead requi re business transactions.Al-Bay as the system of exchange that is based on the concept of spending (Infaq) and risk sharing for any single transaction between parties of exchange. It is notable that Tijarah and Bay are of two different meanings. Tijarah is for the individuals that are setting up the business that has the aspect of long term. It becomes clear that lots of efforts have to be spending in education, elucidation and clarification of the consequences by a simple definition of money. 2 2 This meaning can be clarified by looking verse: (2-282) â€Å"And do not be too weary to write it, whether it is small or arge, for its specified term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is a Tijarah which you conduct among yourselves. †So we can understand from this verse that Tijarah is among some people that the conduct it among themselves. (61-10) â€Å"O you who have believed, shall I gu ide you to a Tijarah that will save you from a painful punishment? † So, we can sense the longterm involvement in this transaction as Allah swt stated that for in the following 3 verses 11,12 &13. 1 â€Å"It is that you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. †12 â€Å"He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. † 13 â€Å"And you will obtain another favor that you love – victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers. † IE1001 Assignment in Islamic Economics – Short Essay No 3 by Mustafa Aydemir – DRAFT Version 0. 5. doc -6-

Defining Omitted Variables Bias

Defining Omitted Variables Bias Omitted variables bias (or sometimes omitted variable bias) is a standard expression for the bias that appears in an estimate of a parameter if the regression run does not have the appropriate form and data for other parameters. For example, many regressions that have wage or income as the dependent variable suffer from omitted variables bias because there is often no practical way to add in a workers innate ability or motivation as an explanatory variable. As a result, the estimated coefficients on variables such as education as likely to be biased because of the correlation between educational attainment and unobserved ability. If the correlation between education and unobserved ability is positive, omitted variables bias will occur in an upward direction. Conversely, if the correlation between an explanatory variable and an unobserved relevant variable is negative, omitted variables bias will occur in a downward direction.

Conjugating the Verb Emmener (to Take) in French

Conjugating the Verb Emmener (to Take) in French Similar to the verb,  amener  (to take or bring),  emmener  also means to take in French. This may be a simple verb, but conjugating it to the past, present, or future tense can be a little complicated. There are a few things to watch out for, which well examine in a short French lesson. Conjugating the French Verb  Emmener When a verb ends with  -e_er  like  emmener, the spelling needs to be changed for some of the conjugations. These are called  stem-changing verbs  and in many cases, the second E changes to an accented à ¨. While this may not make much difference in the pronunciation, it certainly does when youre writing it. If you pay attention to that small detail, the rest of the conjugations are easy. The infinitive endings that are attached to the verb stem are similar to those found in regular -er  verbs, which make up the majority in the French language. If you have a few of those memorized, simply apply those endings to  emmener. To conjugate  emmener  to mean taking, will take, or took,  match the subject pronoun to the appropriate tense. For instance, I am taking is jemmà ¨ne while we will take is nous emmà ¨nerons. Practicing each of these in sample sentences will help you memorize them. Subject Present Future Imperfect j' emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerai emmenais tu emmà ¨nes emmà ¨neras emmenais il emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nera emmenait nous emmenons emmà ¨nerons emmenions vous emmenez emmà ¨nerez emmeniez ils emmà ¨nent emmà ¨neront emmenaient The Present Participle of  Emmener For  emmener, the  present participle  is  emmenant. There is no change to the verb stem, instead we simply add the ending -ant.  Not only is this a verb, it may be used as an adjective, gerund, or noun as well. The Past Participle and Passà © Composà © The past tense can be formed using either the imperfect or the  passà © composà ©. To construct the latter, conjugate the  auxiliary verb  avoir, then attach the  past participle  emmenà ©. As an example, I took is jai emmenà © and we took is nous avons emmenà ©. More Simple  Emmener  Conjugations There are a few more common conjugations of  emmener  that you may need to know. However, those discussed above should be a priority in your studies. When the verbs action is not guaranteed, you might use the subjunctive verb mood. Similarly, the conditional verb mood is used when something else needs to occur in order for the taking to happen. In formal writing, you might also encounter the passà © simple or the imperfect subjunctive. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Passà © Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j' emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerais emmenai emmenasse tu emmà ¨nes emmà ¨nerais emmenas emmenasses il emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerait emmena emmenà ¢t nous emmenions emmà ¨nerions emmenà ¢mes emmenassions vous emmeniez emmà ¨neriez emmenà ¢tes emmenassiez ils emmà ¨nent emmà ¨neraient emmenà ¨rent emmenassent The imperative verb form is used for  requests  and demands. When using it, keep things short and sweet and drop the subject pronoun: use emmà ¨ne rather than tu emmà ¨ne. Imperative (tu) emmà ¨ne (nous) emmenons (vous) emmenez

Mexican immigration into USA Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mexican immigration into USA - Assignment Example Currently, a significant portion of the American population is either Mexican or Mexican American following constant immigration of the Mexican citizens into the Unites states of America. Most of the immigrants have found a safe haven in the US after receiving a warm welcome by the American citizens (Borjas 8). However, public opinion in the US has judged some illegal immigrants harshly, many of whom Mexico is their native country. This has been especially so for illegal immigrants. Recent census suggests that over 12 million Mexican emigrants reside in the US, indigenous Mexicans excluded. Nevertheless, the current Mexican immigration rate in the US is near zero as more Mexicans leave the US than those that come in. Although this trend has ensued due to a number of factors, there are notable differences between current and past Mexican immigrants into the US. In the 19th century over 300,000 Mexican citizens settled in the US following the grisly Mexican American war that ended with a treaty in the year 1848. This incident saw many Mexican citizens migrate from the war Zones to safer places (Borjas 16). This immigration however, extended unrestrictedly into the late 20th century. Back then, most of the Mexican citizens who immigrated into the US Came looking for employment in the construction industry like the railway line. This service was especially important for the American labor market so the Mexicans easily crossed the border into the USA (Borjas 20). A k ey dissimilarity is that today, some Mexican citizens through the US green card lottery. This was the case in 2011 where the US government granted over 140,000 Mexican citizens the green card to live and work in the US.... How popular sentiment in the 20th century affected Mexican immigration into the US Prior to World War II, Mexicans freely crossed the border to become laborers for American citizens as the Europeans faced restrictions of immigrating into the US (Borjas 89). From the 19th century to mid-20th century, the US experienced an influx of Mexican immigrants, a factor that was biting into their economy and affecting their wellbeing. After encountering the effects of the World War II and the return of American citizens that had immigrated into Europe and other countries, some of the American nativists and anti-immigration activists felt that the number of immigrants was too high (Borjas 108). This was especially so as far as the Mexican immigrants were concerned. Most of the Mexican immigrants had now started to naturalize, an issue that the American nativists blamed for their lack of employment and increased economic hardships. According to Borjas, many sentimentalists piled pressure on the U S government to review the immigration laws and take the necessary step in repatriating unwarranted Mexican immigrants back to their country (Borjas 112). This idea was a conceptualization that anchored its reasoning on the fact that, if all illegal non-Americans went back to their country, the financial difficulties in the US at the time would vaporize. This move led to the Congress passing a number of bills that would see the suspension of any immigration act into the US and possible repatriation of non-American citizens perceived to be experiencing financial difficulties (Borjas 117). Although some would have termed the move as being undemocratic and discriminatory, it produced some positive results as