PAPER

Finance

2009-07-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

The field of finance refers to the concepts of time, money and risk and how they are interrelated. Banks are the main facilitators of funding through the provision of credit, although private equity, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other organizations have become important. Financial assets, known as investments, are financially managed with careful attention to financial risk management to control financial risk. Financial instruments allow many forms of securitized assets to be traded on securities exchanges such as stock exchanges, including debt bonds as well as equity in publicly-traded corporations.

The main techniques and sectors of the financial industry

such as

An entity whose income exceeds their expenditure can lend or invest the excess income. On the other hand, an entity whose income is less than its expenditure can raise capital by borrowing or selling equity claims, decreasing its expenses, or increasing its income. The lender can find a borrower, a financial intermediary such as a bank, or buy notes or bonds in the bond market. The lender receives interest, the borrower pays a higher interest than the lender receives, and the financial intermediary pockets the difference.

A bank aggregates the activities of many borrowers and lenders. A bank accepts deposits from lenders, on which it pays the interest. The bank then lends these deposits to borrowers. Banks allow borrowers and lenders, of different sizes, to coordinate their activity. Banks are thus compensators of money flows in space.

A specific example of corporate finance is the sale of stock by a company to institutional investors like investment banks, who in turn generally sell it to the public. The stock gives whoever owns it part ownership in that company. If you buy one share of XYZ Inc, and they have 100 shares outstanding (held by investors), you are 1/100 owner of that company. Of course, in return for the stock, the company receives cash, which it uses to expand its business; this process is known as "equity financing". Equity financing mixed with the sale of bonds (or any other debt financing) is called the company's capital structure.

Finance is used by individuals (personal finance), by governments (public finance), by businesses (corporate finance), as well as by a wide variety of organizations including schools and non-profit organizations. In general, the goals of each of the above activities are achieved through the use of appropriate financial instruments and methodologies, with consideration to their institutional setting.

Finance is one of the most important aspects of business management. Without proper financial planning a new enterprise is unlikely to be successful. Managing money (a liquid asset) is essential to ensure a secure future, both for the individual and an organization.

Personal finance

Questions in personal finance revolve around

How much money will be needed by an individual (or by a family), and when?
Where will this money come from, and how?
How can people protect themselves against unforeseen personal events, as well as those in the external economy?
How can family assets best be transferred across generations (bequests and inheritance)?
How does tax policy (tax subsidies or penalties) affect personal financial decisions?
How does credit affect an individual's financial standing?
How can one plan for a secure financial future in an environment of economic instability?

Personal financial decisions may involve paying for education, financing durable goods such as real estate and cars, buying insurance, e.g. health and property insurance, investing and saving for retirement.

Personal financial decisions may also involve paying for a loan, or debt obligations.

Corporate finance

Managerial or corporate finance is the task of providing the funds for a corporation's activities. For small business, this is referred to as SME finance. It generally involves balancing risk and profitability, while attempting to maximize an entity's wealth and the value of its stock.

Long term funds are provided by ownership equity and long-term credit, often in the form of bonds. The balance between these forms the company's capital structure. Short-term funding or working capital is mostly provided by banks extending a line of credit.

Another business decision concerning finance is investment, or fund management. An investment is an acquisition of an asset in the hope that it will maintain or increase its value. In investment management – in choosing a portfolio – one has to decide what, how much and when to invest. To do this, a company must:

Identify relevant objectives and constraints: institution or individual goals, time horizon, risk aversion and tax considerations;
Identify the appropriate strategy: active v. passive – hedging strategy
Measure the portfolio performance

Financial management is duplicate with the financial function of the Accounting profession. However, financial accounting is more concerned with the reporting of historical financial information, while the financial decision is directed toward the future of the firm.

Capital

Capital, in the financial sense, is the money that gives the business the power to buy goods to be used in the production of other goods or the offering of a service.

The desirability of budgeting

Budget is a document which documents the plan of the business. This may include the objective of business, targets set, and results in financial terms, e.g., the target set for sale, resulting cost, growth, required investment to achieve the planned sales, and financing source for the investment. Also budget may be long term or short term. Long term budgets have a time horizon of 5–10 years giving a vision to the company; short term is an annual budget which is drawn to control and operate in that particular year.

Capital budget

This concerns proposed fixed asset requirements and how these expenditures will be financed. Capital budgets are often adjusted annually and should be part of a longer-term Capital Improvements Plan.

Cash budget

Working capital requirements of a business should be monitored at all times to ensure that there are sufficient funds available to meet short-term expenses.

The cash budget is basically a detailed plan that shows all expected sources and uses of cash. The cash budget has the following six main sections:

Beginning Cash Balance - contains the last period's closing cash balance.
Cash collections - includes all expected cash receipts (all sources of cash for the period considered, mainly sales)
Cash disbursements - lists all planned cash outflows for the period, excluding interest payments on short-term loans, which appear in the financing section. All expenses that do not affect cash flow are excluded from this list (e.g. depreciation, amortisation, etc)
Cash excess or deficiency - a function of the cash needs and cash available. Cash needs are determined by the total cash disbursements plus the minimum cash balance required by company policy. If total cash available is less than cash needs, a deficiency exists.
Financing - discloses the planned borrowings and repayments, including interest.
Ending Cash balance - simply reveals the planned ending cash balance.

Management of current assets

Credit policy

Credit gives the customer the opportunity to buy goods and services, and pay for them at a later date.

Advantages of credit trade

Usually results in more customers than cash trade.
Can charge more for goods to cover the risk of bad debt.
Gain goodwill and loyalty of customers.
People can buy goods and pay for them at a later date.
Farmers can buy seeds and implements, and pay for them only after the harvest.
Stimulates agricultural and industrial production and commerce.
Can be used as a promotional tool.
Increase the sales.
Modest rates to be filled.

Disadvantages of credit trade

Risk of bad debt.
High administration expenses.
People can buy more than they can afford.
More working capital needed.
Risk of Bankruptcy.

Forms of credit

Suppliers credit:
Credit on ordinary open account
Installment sales
Bills of exchange
Credit cards
Contractor's credit
Factoring of debtors
Cash credit
Cpf credits

Factors which influence credit conditions

Nature of the business's activities
Financial position
Product durability
Length of production process
Competition and competitors' credit conditions
Country's economic position
Conditions at financial institutions
Discount for early payment
Debtor's type of business and financial positions

Credit collection

Overdue accounts

Attach a notice of overdue account to statement.
Send a letter asking for settlement of debt.
Send a second or third letter if first is ineffectual.
Threaten legal action.

Effective credit control

Increases sales
Reduces bad debts
Increases profits
Builds customer loyalty
Builds confidence of financial industry
increase company capitlisation

Sources of information on creditworthiness

Business references
Bank references
credit agencies
Chambers of commerce
Employers
Credit application forms

Duties of the credit department

Legal action
Taking necessary steps to ensure settlement of account
Knowing the credit policy and procedures for credit control
Setting credit limits
Ensuring that statements of account are sent out
Ensuring that thorough checks are carried out on credit customers
Keeping records of all amounts owing
Ensuring that debts are settled promptly
Timely reporting to the upper level of management for better management.

Stock

Purpose of stock control

Ensures that enough stock is on hand to satisfy demand.
Protects and monitors theft.
Safeguards against having to stockpile.
Allows for control over selling and cost price.


Stockpiling

This refers to the purchase of stock at the right time, at the right price and in the right quantities.

There are several advantages to the stockpiling, the following are some of the examples:

Losses due to price fluctuations and stock loss kept to a minimum
Ensures that goods reach customers timeously; better service
Saves space and storage cost
Investment of working capital kept to minimum
No loss in production due to delays

There are several disadvantages to the stockpiling, the following are some of the examples:

Obsolescence
Danger of fire and theft
Initial working capital investment is very large
Losses due to price fluctuation

Rate of stock turnover

This refers to the number of times per year that the average level of stock is sold. It may be worked out by dividing the cost price of goods sold by the cost price of the average stock level.

Determining optimum stock levels

Maximum stock level refers to the maximum stock level that may be maintained to ensure cost effectiveness.
Minimum stock level refers to the point below which the stock level may not go.
Standard order refers to the amount of stock generally ordered.
Order level refers to the stock level which calls for an order to be made.

Cash

Reasons for keeping cash

Cash is usually referred to as the "king" in finance, as it is the most liquid asset.
The transaction motive refers to the money kept available to pay expenses.
The precautionary motive refers to the money kept aside for unforeseen expenses.
The speculative motive refers to the money kept aside to take advantage of suddenly arising opportunities.

Advantages of sufficient cash

Current liabilties may be catered for.
Cash discounts are given for cash payments.
Production is kept moving
Surplus cash may be invested on a short-term basis.
The business is able to pay its accounts timeously, allowing for easily-obtained credit.
Liquidity

Management of fixed assets

Depreciation

Depreciation is the decrease in the value of an asset due to wear and tear or obsolescence. It is calculated yearly to enforce the matching principle.

Insurance

Insurance is the undertaking of one party to indemnify another, in exchange for a premium, against a certain eventuality.

Uninsured risks

Bad debt
Changes in fashion
Time lapses between ordering and delivery
New machinery or technology
Different prices at different places

Requirements of an insurance contract

Insurable interest
- The insured must derive a real financial gain from that which he is insuring, or stand to lose if it is destroyed or lost.
- The item must belong to the insured.
- One person may take out insurance on the life of another if the second party owes the first money.
- Must be some person or item which can, legally, be insured.
- The insured must have a legal claim to that which he is insuring.
Good faith
- Uberrimae fidei refers to absolute honesty and must characterise the dealings of both the insurer and the insured.

Shared Services

There is currently a move towards converging and consolidating Finance provisions into shared services within an organization. Rather than an organization having a number of separate Finance departments performing the same tasks from different locations a more centralized version can be created.

Finance of states

Country, state, county, city or municipality finance is called public finance. It is concerned with

Identification of required expenditure of a public sector entity
Source(s) of that entity's revenue
The budgeting process
Debt issuance (municipal bonds) for public works projects

Financial economics

Financial economics is the branch of economics studying the interrelation of financial variables, such as prices, interest rates and shares, as opposed to those concerning the real economy. Financial economics concentrates on influences of real economic variables on financial ones, in contrast to pure finance.

It studies:

Valuation - Determination of the fair value of an asset
- How risky is the asset? (identification of the asset appropriate discount rate)
- What cash flows will it produce? (discounting of relevant cash flows)
- How does the market price compare to similar assets? (relative valuation)
- Are the cash flows dependent on some other asset or event? (derivatives, contingent claim valuation)

Financial markets and instruments
- Commodities - topics
- Stocks - topics
- Bonds - topics
- Money market instruments- topics
- Derivatives - topics

Financial institutions and regulation

Financial Econometrics is the branch of Financial Economics that uses econometric techniques to parameterise the relationships.

Financial mathematics

Financial mathematics is a main branch of applied mathematics concerned with the financial markets. Financial mathematics is the study of financial data with the tools of mathematics, mainly statistics. Such data can be movements of securities—stocks and bonds etc.—and their relations. Another large subfield is insurance mathematics.

Experimental finance

Experimental finance aims to establish different market settings and environments to observe experimentally and provide a lens through which science can analyze agents' behavior and the resulting characteristics of trading flows, information diffusion and aggregation, price setting mechanisms, and returns processes. Researchers in experimental finance can study to what extent existing financial economics theory makes valid predictions, and attempt to discover new principles on which such theory can be extended. Research may proceed by conducting trading simulations or by establishing and studying the behaviour of people in artificial competitive market-like settings.

Behavioral finance

Behavioral Finance studies how the psychology of investors or managers affects financial decisions and markets. Behavioral finance has grown over the last few decades to become central to finance.

Behavioral finance includes such topics as:

Empirical studies that demonstrate significant deviations from classical theories.
Models of how psychology affects trading and prices
Forecasting based on these methods.
Studies of experimental asset markets and use of models to forecast experiments.

A strand of behavioral finance has been dubbed Quantitative Behavioral Finance, which uses mathematical and statistical methodology to understand behavioral biases in conjunction with valuation. Some of this endeavor has been lead by Gunduz Caginalp (Professor of Mathematics and Editor of Journal of Behavioral Finance during 2001-2004) and collaborators including Vernon Smith (2002 Nobel Laureate in Economics), David Porter, Don Balenovich, Vladimira Ilieva, Ahmet Duran, Huseyin Merdan). Studies by Jeff Madura, Ray Sturm and others have demonstrated significant behavioral effects in stocks and exchange traded funds. Among other topics, quantitative behavioral finance studies behavioral effects together with the non-classical assumption of the finiteness of assets.

Intangible Asset Finance

Intangible asset finance is the area of finance that deals with intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, goodwill, reputation, etc.

Related professional qualifications

There are several related professional qualifications in finance, that can lead to the field:

Accountancy:
- Qualified accountant: Chartered Accountant (ACA - UK certification / CA - certification in Commonwealth countries), Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA, UK certification), Certified Public Accountant (CPA, US certification)
- Non-statutory qualifications: Chartered Cost Accountant CCA Designation from AAFM
Business qualifications: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), Master of Commerce (M.Comm), Master of Science in Management (MSM), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Generalist Finance qualifications:
- Degrees: Masters degree in Finance (MSF), Master of Financial Economics, Master Financial Manager (MFM), Master of Financial Administration (MFA)
- Certifications: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA), Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT), Certified Market Analyst Corporate Finance Qualification (CF) (CMA/FAD) Dual Designation,
Quantitative Finance qualifications: Master of Science in Financial Engineering Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF), Master of Computational Finance (MCF), Master of Financial Mathematics (MFM) (MSFE)

reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finance

Loan

2009-07-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower.

In a loan, the borrower initially receives or borrows an amount of money, called the principal, from the lender, and is obligated to pay back or repay an equal amount of money to the lender at a later time. Typically, the money is paid back in regular installments, or partial repayments; in an annuity, each installment is the same amount. The loan is generally provided at a cost, referred to as interest on the debt, which provides an incentive for the lender to engage in the loan. In a legal loan, each of these obligations and restrictions is enforced by contract, which can also place the borrower under additional restrictions known as loan covenants. Although this article focuses on monetary loans, in practice any material object might be lent.

Acting as a provider of loans is one of the principal tasks for financial institutions. For other institutions, issuing of debt contracts such as bonds is a typical source of funding.

Types of loans

Secured

A secured loan is a loan in which the borrower pledges some asset (e.g. a car or property) as collateral for the loan.

A mortgage loan is a very common type of debt instrument, used by many individuals to purchase housing. In this arrangement, the money is used to purchase the property. The financial institution, however, is given security — a lien on the title to the house — until the mortgage is paid off in full. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the bank would have the legal right to repossess the house and sell it, to recover sums owing to it.

In some instances, a loan taken out to purchase a new or used car may be secured by the car, in much the same way as a mortgage is secured by housing. The duration of the loan period is considerably shorter — often corresponding to the useful life of the car. There are two types of auto loans, direct and indirect. A direct auto loan is where a bank gives the loan directly to a consumer. An indirect auto loan is where a car dealership acts as an intermediary between the bank or financial institution and the consumer.

A type of loan especially used in limited partnership agreements is the recourse note.

A stock hedge loan is a special type of securities lending whereby the stock of a borrower is hedged by the lender against loss, using options or other hedging strategies to reduce lender risk.

A pre-settlement loan is a non-recourse debt, this is when a monetary loan is given based on the merit and awardable amount in a lawsuit case. Only certain types of lawsuit cases are eligible for a pre-settlement loan. This is considered a secured non-recourse debt due to the fact if the case reaches a verdict in favor of the defendant the loan is forgiven.

Unsecured

Unsecured loans are monetary loans that are not secured against the borrower's assets. These may be available from financial institutions under many different guises or marketing packages:

credit card debt
personal loans
bank overdrafts
credit facilities or lines of credit
corporate bonds

The interest rates applicable to these different forms may vary depending on the lender and the borrower. These may or may not be regulated by law. In the United Kingdom, when applied to individuals, these may come under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Abuses in lending

Predatory lending is one form of abuse in the granting of loans. It usually involves granting a loan in order to put the borrower in a position that one can gain advantage over him or her. Where the moneylender is not authorised, it could be considered a loan shark.

Usury is a different form of abuse, where the lender charges excessive interest. In different time periods and cultures the acceptable interest rate has varied, from no interest at all to unlimited interest rates. Credit card companies in some countries have been accused by consumer organisations of lending at usurious interest rates and making money out of frivolous "extra charges". [1]

Abuses can also take place in the form of the customer abusing the lender by not repaying the loan or with an intent to defraud the lender.

United States taxes

Most of the basic rules governing how loans are handled for tax purposes in the United States are uncodified by both Congress (the Internal Revenue Code) and the Treasury Department (Treasury Regulations — another set of rules that interpret the Internal Revenue Code).[2] Yet such rules are universally accepted.[3]

1. A loan is not gross income to the borrower.[4] Since the borrower has the obligation to repay the loan, the borrower has no accession to wealth.[5]

2. The lender may not deduct the amount of the loan.[6] The rationale here is that one asset (the cash) has been converted into a different asset (a promise of repayment).[7] Deductions are not typically available when an outlay serves to create a new or different asset.[8]

3. The amount paid to satisfy the loan obligation is not deductible by the borrower.[9]

4. Repayment of the loan is not gross income to the lender.[10] In effect, the promise of repayment is converted back to cash, with no accession to wealth by the lender.[11]

5. Interest paid to the lender is included in the lender’s gross income.[12] Interest paid represents compensation for the use of the lender’s money or property and thus represents profit or an accession to wealth to the lender.[13] Interest income can be attributed to lenders even if the lender doesn’t charge a minimum amount of interest.[14]

6. Interest paid to the lender may be deductible by the borrower.[15] In general, interest paid in connection with the borrower’s business activity is deductible, while interest paid on personal loans are not deductible.[16] The major exception here is interest paid on a home mortgage.[17]

4. Income from discharge of indebtedness

Although a loan does not start out as income to the borrower, it becomes income to the borrower if the borrower is discharged of indebtedness. [18] Thus, if a debt is discharged, then the borrower essentially has received income equal to the amount of the indebtedness. The Internal Revenue Code lists “Income from Discharge of Indebtedness” in Section 62(a)(12) as a source of gross income.

Example: X owes Y $50,000. If Y discharges the indebtedness, then X no longer owes Y $50,000. For purposes of calculating income, this should be treated the same way as if Y gave X $50,000.

For a more detailed description of the “discharge of indebtedness”, look at Section 108 (Cancellation of Debt (COD) Income) of the Internal Revenue Code.[19]

Rerefence

^ Credit card holders pay Rs 6,000 cr 'extra' May 03, 2007
^ Samuel A. Donaldson, Federal Income Taxation of Individuals: Cases, Problems and Materials, 2nd Ed. 111 (2007).
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id. See Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426 (1955)(giving the three-prong standard for what is "income" for tax purposes: (1) accession to wealth, (2) clearly realized, (3) over which the taxpayer has complete dominion).
^ Donaldson, at 111.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.; 26 U.S.C. 61(a)(4)(2007).
^ Id.
^ Id. at 112.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.
^ Id.; 26 U.S.C. 61(a)(12)(2007).
^ Id.; 26 U.S.C. 108(2007).

REAL ENGLISH IDIOMS [2]

2009-06-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

Laugh all the way to the bank. To make more money than most people, especially suddenly.

Lead foot. A "heavy foot" that presses too hard on the accelerator. A fast driver.

Lemon. A poorly manufactured product that breaks down a lot more than it should.

Life passes before your eyes. A rapid review of one's history prior to death, said to happen when one is about to die, as in an accident.

Live it up. To have a good time.

Live to see tomorrow. To continue living.

Long arm of the law. The power and influence of law enforcement.

Look forward to. To anticipate something pleasurable.

Look in the eye. To look at someone directly and/or without fear.

Look like a million dollars. To look fantastic and richly dressed.

Make (someone's) day. To allow or cause something exciting and memorable to happen to someone.

Make money. To earn money.

Man! An expression about a feeling, similar to wow!

Meet your maker. To die.

Mess up. To ruin; to harm.

Miss the boat. To be too late; to lose a chance.

My head is spinning. I have too much information to think about.

Neighborhood specialists. Ones who know a specific neighborhood well.

No strings attached. Without secondary expectations or complications.

Nose to the grindstone. Working very hard.

Not long for this world. Having little time before one's death.

Off the top of one's head. Expressed without much forethought or research.

Online. On the Internet.

On your feet. Out of bed; not sick.

On your last legs. Worn out; close to death.

Open house. A time when a house or apartment is "open" for prospective buyers to visit.

Open up. To click on a message so that it can be read.

Out of it. Not thinking clearly; not paying attention.

Out of nowhere. Unexpected; with unknown origins.

Pack. To carry a weapon.

Package deal. Several things that come together for one price.

Paint the town red. To have fun and do a lot of things for evening entertainment.

Pass out. To lose consciousness temporarily.

Pay through the nose. To pay a lot for something.

Pile of work. A lot of work to do.

Priced out of the market. Not having enough money.

Pride of ownership. Home ownership that causes people to care for a home.

Pull over. To stop one's car along the side of the road.

Push the envelope. To push something beyond what is expected; to go to the limit.

Put your nose to the grindstone. To work tediously and with much effort.

Rain or shine. Steady; Regardless of obstacles.

Recharge. To revitalize oneself.

Rip off. To pay more than is necessary for something of low value.

Rise to the top. To become the most popular or most qualified.

Roll around. To arrive, as with a particular time.

Rule out. To exclude or eliminate.

Scene of the crime. The place a crime was committed or where something wrong was done.

Secondhand store. A store that sells used products, especially clothing or books.

Seeing someone. Dating someone.

Serve a purpose. To be useful.

Shades. Sunglasses.

Shoot the breeze. To pass the time by talking about nothing in particular.

Shopaholic. Someone who can't stop spending money.

Shopping spree. Outing in which one buys a lot of things all at one time.

Skyrocket. To go up in value quickly.

Slow motion. Movement that appears slower than normal, as in a slow-motion film.

Smooth operator. Someone who knows how to get what he or she wants through manipulation.

Snail mail. "Regular" mail, not e-mail.

Sort out. To go through and organize one's problems until some resolution begins to occur.

Spam. Unsolicited e-mail.

Spill the beans. To tell all that you know, usually about a secret or surprise.

Squeak out. To speak in an unnaturally high-pitched voice.

Stamp of approval. Approval from someone more knowledgeable or more experienced.

Stand a chance. Have a good possibility.

Stand to reason. To be reasonable.

Stars in your eyes. Idealization of someone or something.

Stars. Famous movie personalities; actors that are very popular.

Stay on someone's mind. To remain thought about.

Steal. Inexpensive, very cheap price.

Stick it out. To continue doing something that is difficult or uninteresting.

Stick to. To follow through on something without wasting time.

Stop by. To visit, especially for a short while.

Straighten up. To improve, especially behavior.

Surf the net. To look at different Web sites for pleasure.

Swamped. Having too much work.

Sweat buckets. To be very nervous.

Sweet talk. Flattery used to get what is wanted.

Take (someone's) advice. To listen to someone.

Take it easy. To relax.

Take my advice. To accept someone's suggestion.

Take one's time. Not to rush to finish something.

Take the bull by the horns. To take care of things in an assertive or determined fashion.

Take your breath away. Experiencing something so fast and exciting that breathing momentarily stops.

TGIF. Thank God it's Friday.

The big cheese. The most important person.

The cream of the crop. The best of a group.

The works. Everything. All of the optional extra features or ingredients.

This is your cup of tea. Something is especially suitable or enjoyable for you.

Throw one's hat in the ring. To join other candidates trying for the same position.

Throw the book at someone. To give someone the greatest punishment possible.

Ticket. A traffic citation.

Time to kill. Extra time.

To learn by heart. To memorize.

Too close for comfort. In a place where an accident almost happens.

Under the gun. Under time pressure.

Under the table. Not reported to the IRS in order to avoid paying taxes, as with money.

Upgrade. To improve with higher-quality products.

Use your noodle. To think.

Vintage store. A secondhand store that sells antique clothing.

Want in the worst way. To desire something very much.

What a deal! What a good price!

Win by a landslide. To win by a large majority.

Won't cut it. Not good enough.

Work one's tail off. To work very hard.

You're the picture of health. You look like you're healthy.

Zone out. To stare into space; to waste time doing nothing.

REAL ENGLISH IDIOMS [1]

2009-06-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

All over with. Finished, finalized.

All over. Everywhere.

All stressed out. Nervous; feeling stress.

All thumbs. Clumsy or awkward.

All-time low. A situation that has never been worse.

Apple of someone's eye. An adored person, most often one's child.

As fresh as a daisy. Well rested; new looking.

At death's door. Close to death.

Axe to fall (To wait for the...). To expect to lose one's position.

Bad egg. One bad thing among others that are good.

Bargain basement. A store featuring inexpensive products, often on sale.

Bargain rack An area of a store devoted to reduced prices; cheaper products.

Bear market. A stock market that is not performing well; pessimism about the market.

Birds of a feather flock together. People who have similar ideas, feelings, and behaviors are more likely to become friends.

Blast. A lot of fun.

Blog. A forum on the Internet for sharing one's views. A "Web log"

Boot up. To start a computer.

Boxed in. Trapped on all sides.

Bread. Money.

Break away. To take a break from hard work. To remove oneself from stress.

Break in. To use something until it begins to operate smoothly.

Break laws. To violate laws.

Breathe down someone's neck. To pressure someone to work.

Bring home the bacon. To bring home one's salary to pay for a family's living.

Buckle up. To wear a seat belt.

Build. A person's physique.

Bull market. A stock market that is performing well; optimism about the stock market.

Bursting with pride. Feeling very full of pride.

Chat room. A special "space" on the Internet for conversing or sharing opinions.

Check out. To look at something carefully.

Chew the fat. To make conversation or small talk.

Clean bill of health. A pronouncement of good health, made by a doctor.

Close call. A near-accident, an accident that was barely avoided.

Cool as a cucumber. Calm and relaxed.

Crash. To stop working, said of a computer.

Crash. To fall asleep suddenly and anywhere; to lose energy.

Crazy. Wild, different from the majority. Also, insane.

Cruise along. To drive in a relaxed manner.

Cry all the way to the bank. To be without money and in need of a loan.

Cubicle farm. Office space made of cubicles; semi-private work spaces separated by partitions.

Cut out for. Naturally suited to do something.

Do all your homework. To study something carefully in advance.

Dough. Money.

Down on one's luck. In a difficult financial situation.

Downsize. To cut back on employees.

Dressed to kill. Dressed very well and looking good.

Drop a line. To write a short letter or note to someone.

Eat humble pie. To have to admit one is wrong.

Egghead. One who is extremely intelligent; an exceptional student.

End up. To finally result in.

False alarm. Expected danger that does not happen.

Feel two inches shorter. To lose confidence.

Filthy rich. Extremely rich.

Fix up. To repair; to make better or more livable.

Fixer-upper. A property in need of repairs.

Flame. To send an angry or hostile e-mail message.

Forages. For a very long time.

Freak out To become upset and agitated.

Geek. An often disliked intellectual; a person who knows a lot about computers.

Get blood from a stone. To work someone more than they are capable.

Get hitched. To get married.

Get into. To become involved or interested in.

Get it. To understand.

Get to talking. To begin talking about something.

Get out of here/there. To leave.

Get worse before something gets better. Things will not improve immediately, and they may get worse.

Give it away. To sell for a very low price.

Glow. To look healthy; to look good.

Go all out. To do something with intensity or enthusiasm.

Go blank. To momentarily be unable to recall something.

Go broke. To run out of money.

Go bust. To lose all one's money.

Go down. When the computer network one is using is not working or can't be accessed.

Go out of one's mind. To go crazy because of some problem.

Go postal. To act rashly.

Going out. Dating.

go over someone's head. To go higher in the chain of command.

Good catch. Better than average.

Goof off. To relax; to play.

Hacker. Someone who illegally breaks into a computer system.

Hang out. To spend time together, socializing informally.

Have a nervous breakdown. To lose control of oneself.

Have a night on the town. To go out for an evening of entertainment.

Have what it takes. Have the necessary qualities for something.

Heart sinks to one's feet. A sudden feeling of fear or worry.

Helper unit. A rental house or apartment in back of a main house that helps pay the bills when rented.

High-end. Higher-priced.

Highway robbery. Profits derived from items that are extremely expensive or overpriced.

Hit the books. To study.

Home sweet home. Your own home.

Hot date. A date with someone exciting.

In a nutshell. In a few words.

In ages. In a long time.

In love with. Having strong feelings for someone or something.

In shock. Surprised; a state the body goes into to protect itself after an accident or tragic or frightening event.

In the black. Making money.

In the pink. In good health; having rosy colored skin.

Keep in touch. To communicate from time to time.

Keep it up. To continue doing something.

Keep one's cool. To remain calm.

Kick back. To relax.

Kick up one's heels. To let go of inhibitions and have fun.

Knockout. A gorgeous woman.

REAL ENGLISH [8]

2009-06-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

18. Keep Your Cool!

Have you ever been in a car accident? Everything seems to happen in slow motion. Your life passes before your eyes when you think you're at death's door and not long for this world. When it's all over, it's really hard to keep your cool because that accident was just too close for comfort you’re probably in shock so you're kind of out of it even if you don't pass out from fright. So take my advice, if you want to live to see tomorrow, buckle up and slow down next time you're on the highway or it might not be a close call.

19. Shooting the Breeze

The other day, I was hanging out with my neighbor, shooting the breeze. Well, you know how it is, birds of a feather flock together, and so we got to talking about a mutual friend of ours, Mimi, whom I haven't seen for ages because we just haven't kept in touch much lately. Well, Mimi's son, who's the apple of her eye and a real egghead, is studying to be a doctor. He really needed some R&R, so he went to Miami just to hang out at the beach for a while. Well, it turns out that Mimi's sons ended up going out on a blind date are falling for this gal. Mimi was really happy about that because he and the girl he'd been seeing had just broken up. It turns out he and his new girlfriend are just like two peas in a pod — they're so much alike. And now they're getting hitched. Mimi must be bursting with pride, so now I'll just have to drop a line to congratulate her on her son's good luck!

REAL ENGLISH [7]

2009-06-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

15. She's a Real Knockout!

It's Friday, T. G. /. F. day and man am I looking forward to the weekend! I work so hard during the week that when Friday rolls around I'm ready to kick up my heels and have a night on the town. Tonight I've got a hot date with a woman that I'm in love with. She's a real knockout!. I'm getting dressed to kill, taking her to the best restaurant around, and then we'll go out and paint the town red, you know, the works / we’re really gonna go all out. I just know it's gonna be a blast!

16. I Really Work My Tail Off!

I've really been swamped at work lately. I've got a stack of papers on my desk, and I'm really under the gun to get through them all. My boss has been breathing down my neck. It's not like I'm zoning out or surfing the net all day, either. I really work my tail off. There's just too much work to do, and if my company keeps downsizing, they may be in the black, but all of us employees will go out of our minds! You can't get blood from a stone, after all. We're stretched too thin as it is, and it looks like things will only get worse before they get any better. On top of our having too much work, employee morale is at an all-time low. Everyone's waiting for the axe to fall, wondering if they're next.

I need to get out of there. I need a long vacation, time off to recharge and put some distance between me and this cubicle farm. But who am I kidding? After a vacation there would be an even bigger pile of work waiting for me!

17. You're the Picture of Health!

Why, I haven't seen you in ages! Oh, my, you look absolutely marvelous. You are positively glowing... the picture of health! What happened? The last time I saw you, you looked like you were on your last legs. I thought it was only a matter of time before you would meet your maker. I mean, really, you looked like you were at death's door. But look at you now. I mean my head is positively spinning! You look as fresh as a daisy, and in the pink! And you're on your feet, too. What did you do? Did you take it easy? Has your doctor given you a clean bill of health? Whatever happened, keep it up because you look like a million dollars.

REAL ENGLISH [6]

2009-06-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

12. Does She Have What It Takes?

Everyone knows that Betty Cam prey will not rule out a run for the presidency. But is she cut out for the most important job in the land? Does she have what it takes'! No matter what people think, all this speculation about her run serves a purpose. She gets a lot of attention, and she stays on people's minds. It stands to reason, though, that she wants the job, since she has hinted at it before. Right now, she stands as much of a chance as any of the other candidates for the presidency. She really has what it takes. But she needs to be careful. If she doesn't make a firm decision soon she may miss the boat. She has to take the bull by the horns and throw her hat in the ring. If she does that, she may well quickly rise to the top and win by a landslide.

13. Real Estate

Come to Casa Especial Realty, your neighborhood specialists. No matter what your tastes and budget may be, for pride of ownership we've got the place for you. Here's a great little fixer-upper with curb appeal. It's a 2 on 1 so live in one and rent the other. Let the helper unit pay your mortgage. If you've got the time and energy to fix something up, this one's a steal. It just needs a little upgrading to make it home sweet home. So give us a call for more details. Or stop by our open house on Tuesday, the 11^th.

14. Life on Campus

Being a college student is hard work. I don't have a lot of time to kill when I can just kick back and relax. I always have to hit the books. And finals week begins on Monday, so I really have to stick to my books. If I goof off too much I’ll miss the boat. So I'm going to take my time to prepare for the tests. I'll learn as much as I can by heart. If I don't get it I can't just guess off the top of my head. I'll go blank during the test! But once the test is over, I'll be free for another week. That's when I'll crash.

Real English [5]

2009-06-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

9. YOUR ISLAND GETAWAY

If you're all stressed out because you've got your nose to the grindstone and you're up to your ears in work, don't have a nervous breakdown. Why not break away? Take a trip to an island paradise. You can take it easy while living it up. You'll find the water warm and soothing, and the views will absolutely take your breath away. So come on, why not check it out? See you there.

10. A Day at the Races

Have you ever been to the horse races? Well, I have, and it's a blast! But watching the people can be more fun than watching the horses. A lot of people go dressed to kill! Man, they look like a million dollars. On opening day, they actually compete to see who can wear the most interesting or craziest hat. And if you've got stars in your eyes, here's one place you might see some stars ... movie stars, that is. Seeing a star there could make your day.

Oh, and if you like watching fast horses, those horses will take your breath away. If you're careful and don't bet too much money on the horses, going to the races can be a fun and entertaining experience that won't cost you an arm and a leg. So go on, live it up! Co check out the horse races!

11. Life Online

Man! My computer crashed again! And I really needed to get some messages out. I couldn't send them through the U.S. Postal Service because snail mail just won't cut it.

My whole day's been like this. When I booted up my computer again I had to wade through all the spam before I could read my e-mail. Then just as I was about to open up a message, the network went down. I guess some hacker had gotten into the company server and messed things up. Later, when I finally went online again, I took care of my e-mail, but then I decided to visit a chat room. I guess not everyone agreed with my opinions, because I really got flamed! I know I'm no computer geek, but, hey, I do enjoy a little chatting, emailing and blogging from time to time.

REAL ENGLISH [4]

2009-06-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

7. Keeping in Touch with Friendly Advice

I could really use a friend's advice now. I'm feeling really boxed in at work right now, like I have no choice, and I may need to quit my job. I know that work and stress are often a package deal, but things are really getting tough, and I think I may go postal if I don't sort things out soon! I've got a new boss, and it's not like I need a stamp of approval for everything I do, but with this guy, it seems like nothing is right! I mean, rain or shine, there's something I do that he complains about every day. Just the other day I made a suggestion in a meeting, and I thought I was really pushing the envelope but he just looked at me like I was crazy. I don't want to go over his head and complain to the general manager, but I might have to. Well, anyway, drop me a line when you get a chance and let me know what you'd do. Let's keep in touch. I can always use your advice!

8. YOU'RE BUSTED!

Have you ever gotten a ticket? I don't just mean a parking ticket. I mean a real driving citation. If you have, then you know how it feels. You're driving down the freeway, feeling good, cruising along, when out of nowhere you see that black-and-white sedan in your rear view mirror. Your heart sinks to your feet."'Is it me? Is he after me?" You start sweating buckets as you try to lift that lead foot off the accelerator to slow down. Then your suspicions grow because you see that red light flashing. You might as well start pulling over because next you're going to hear that big bullhorn telling you to "PULL OVER. PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PULL OVER, NOW!" So you pull over, breaking two or three more traffic laws as you cross the freeway to get to the other side.

What is it about police officer that freaks us out? Could it be their build? Maybe it's the uniforms, or the shades, or maybe it's the gun they're packing. Or maybe it's just an encounter with the long arm of the law. Whatever it is, it's difficult to look the officer in the eye and say, "did I do something wrong, officer?" in a clear, strong voice. Once you've squeaked out that you've never had a ticket before, he looks at you and says, "can I see your license and registration, please?"Then it's so hard to pull your license out of your wallet, because you're all thumbs.

Once it's all over with and the cop has thrown the book at you in the form of a $500 ticket and told you to straighten up, he tells you that you can go. You try to wait until the officer leaves the scene of the crime first, but he usually has paperwork to do. So, ever so carefully, you ease back onto the freeway, feeling about two inches shorter and driving at least 20 MPH slower than before.

REAL ENGLISH [3]

2009-06-16T01:20:00.000-07:00

5. Shop Till You Drop)

You know? I'm a confirmed shopaholic. I shop at bargain basements and buy clothes off the bargain rack because I can save so much money. Wow! Look at this dress! Only $35! It's a steal. I just have to have it. It's so cheap.

I usually try to stay out of the high-end departments though. If I see something I like, I want it in the worst way. I can't resist buying it even though I think the prices they charge are highway robbery.

Some days I wake up in the morning and just have to go on a shopping spree. I even love to go to vintage stores. They have really cute clothes from the '60s, and even earlier. Sometimes I even shop at secondhand stores. In fact, the other day I was in one and I saw a dress I'd given away last month. It was only 50 cents! So I bought it back. It was so cheap; they were practically giving it away / What a deal!

6. I Need Some New Wheels!

You just have to have a car, don't you? Well, so does everyone else. Whatever you do, be sure to check each car out carefully before you decide to buy one. If you don't, you could be lucky enough to find a good catch at a great price, but you also might get a lemon. If you get a lemon, you'll have to pay through the nose for repairs, so it's not worth it.

If you go to a used car lot you may get a salesman who'll rip you off because he's such a smooth operator. He'll sweet talk you into buying a car you don't want at a price you can't afford.

Take my advice, go to the Blue Book to find out how much a car is worth and check out the consumer reports to find out which are the best and worst rated cars. But be careful, because once you've done all your homework you may find yourself getting into a used car instead of breaking in a new one.

REAL ENGLISH [2]

2009-06-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

3. Put Your Nose to the Grindstone

What do you do? Has anyone ever asked you this question? It means, "What’s your job or profession?" Although work can be very fulfilling, it can also be stressful, so as Monday approaches, Americans might say it's blue Monday, meaning it's a day to feel depressed because you have to go back to work. After all, on Monday you have to put your nose to the grindstone, or get down to business. You've got to stick it out for the entire week! After your coffee break, or rest time, you might say to your coworkers let's get back to work. But work also involves socializing and cooperation, so you might ask a coworker to give you a hand or help you out on a project. Then when Friday finally comes around, everyone's dressed down in casual clothes and ready for the weekend, so you might say TGIF! Or "Thank Cod it's Friday!"

4. In the Black

During the dot.com era, stocks skyrocketed in a bull market, making a lot of people filthy rich. Money making was so easy and people had so much dough that they were laughing all the way to the bank! But a short time later, the bubble burst and the bull market became a bear market. Companies were priced right out of the market and began to go bust. Suddenly a lot of people were down on their luck because their companies went broke and couldn't afford to keep them on. It got so bad that some people could only get jobs where they were paid under the table so that their employers didn't have to pay the extra bucks in taxes. Everyone was in the red.

REAL ENGLISH [1]

2009-06-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

1. See you later!

Saying "good-bye!" is only one way to end a conversation. There are a lot of idiomatic expressions that people use when a conversation is over or when they have to leave. Here are some important ones, listed from most to least formal: Have a good day. Take care. Take it easy. (I'll) See you later. (I'll) See you around. See ya! Catch you later. Gotta go. Note that these expressions are often preceded with Well. Well, have a nice day!

2. Hold On!

Just about everyone knows that the expressions hello and good-bye are used to begin and end phone conversations in the United States. Here are some other expressions that are commonly used on the phone.

If you need to leave the phone momentarily but don't want to end the conversation, you can say, don't go away, hang on, stay on the line, hold on a minute, or hold the line. In business settings, where there is a hold button on the phone, you can say let me put you on hold, please. This is often followed with I’ll be right with you.

If a receptionist is very busy, instead of answering the phone and waiting for a response, he or she may say right away please hold or we'll be right with you. And then you'll be put on hold.

FLUENT ENGLISH

2009-06-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

Fluent English is a high intermediate-/advanced-level course in English as a second or foreign language. It is designed to meet the needs of the intermediate-level student in vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, idiomatic usage, and pronunciation. It offers a great deal of practice in each of these areas, through both written exercises and recorded materials. The language used in this course is realistic and practical, and the situations in each of its twenty lessons offer a cultural context that will be recognizable and relevant to most intermediate-level students of English.

The course is divided into twenty lessons covering a range of topics from small talk and social situations, to telephones and business meetings, to computers, politics, and the Internet. Each lesson offers essential vocabulary related to its topic, as well as important phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions that are typically challenging to the intermediate level student. The lessons are divided into ten sections, each of which focuses on a different English language skill:

· Say It Clearly! The first section of each lesson is a recorded pronunciation and intonation warm-up. These sections focus on aspects of pronunciation and intonation that are typically challenging for intermediate students of English — consonant clusters, linking, reduced English, challenging sounds, etc.

· English at Work. The second section of each lesson features English in realistic contexts, ranging from dialogues to recorded messages to readings. The English at Work section is the cornerstone of each lesson, where the important grammatical structures and vocabulary are demonstrated. These sections are all recorded, giving the student an opportunity to hear and model native speakers.

· Build Your Vocabulary. The vocabulary section of each lesson includes certain vocabulary from the English at Work section as well as other general vocabulary related to the topic of the lesson. Each word or expression is defined in simple English, and an example is given to show realistic usage.

· English under the Hood. Each lesson focuses on three important grammatical structures. Explanations are complete and straightforward, and plenty of examples are given to demonstrate each construction in context. Each grammatical point is also followed by a practice drill, giving the student a chance to practice and check comprehension.

· Phrasal Verbs. Each lesson includes a list of important and common phrasal verbs centered either on a common base verb, such as take or get, or a particular theme. Each phrasal verb is clearly defined, and examples of usage follow each definition.

· Real English. Important idiomatic expressions related to the topic or themes of each lesson are included in the Real English section. This section is in the form of short paragraph, where idiomatic expressions are used in context. The student should be able to understand the meaning of each expression from context, but each idiom is also defined in an appendix at the back of the book.

· Bring it All Together. Each lesson also includes five comprehensive review exercises. The first exercise focuses on the vocabulary from the lesson, the next three focus on the grammar and structure, and the last one focuses on the phrasal verbs introduced in that lesson.

· Listen Up! Each lesson includes a recorded listening comprehension exercise. The student is directed to listen to a short article or dialogue on a topic related to the lesson, and then to answer questions written in the book. The Listen Up sections are designed to use both vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to the theme of the lesson.

· Why Do They Do That? Each lesson includes a culture note that explains an aspect of American culture related to the lesson's topic. These aspects of culture range from table manners to home ownership to driving habits to proper behavior while being pulled over for speeding. The culture notes are designed to be both interesting and relevant to the student's experiences.

· Answer Key. Each lesson also includes a key to all exercises.

Why moslems pray 5 times a day?

2009-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Its one of the five pillars of Islam.

1. Morning Prayer (Fajr).Two rakahs:

Begins about one hour and twenty minutes before sunrise and ends about ten minutes before sunrise. It is recited out loud

2. Noon Prayer (Zuhr). Four rakahs:

Begins when the sun passes the meridian and ends about two and a half hours afterwards. It is recited in silence

3. Afternoon Prayer (Asr). Four rakahs:

Begins from the time the noon prayer time ends and ends about 10 minutes before sunset. It is recited in silcence.

4. Sunset Prayer (Maghrib). Three rakahs:

Begins soon after sunset and ends before darkness approaches. The first two rakahs are recited out loud, and the third is recited in silence.

5. Night Prayer (Isha). Four rakahs:

Begins from the time the sunset prayer ends and extends till just before the morning prayer. The first two rakahs are recited out loud, and the last two recited in silence.

The five pillars are:

1. Shahada: testimony and declaration of faith.

2. Salah: prayer 5 times a day.

3. Zakat: percentage of salary to poor/charity

4. Saum: Fasting during Ramadan

5. Hajj: pilgrimage to mecca once in lifetime

source: (s)

http://www.dawanet.com/newmuslim/manual/description.asp

Yusuf Islam - A' Is For Allah (alif Is For Allah) - lyric

2009-01-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

A' is for Allah, nothing but Allah;
Ba is the beginning of Bismillah;
Ta is for Taqwa, bewaring of Allah;and Tha is for Thawab, a reward;
Ja is for Janna, the Garden of Paradise;
Ha is for Hajj, the blessed pilgrimage;
Kha is for Khaatem, the seal of the prophethood given to the Prophet, Muhammed (SAW);
Da is for Deen, Al-Islam, religion with Allah since time began;
Dha is for dhikr, remembering Allah;and Ra is for the month of Ramadhan, ohh Ramadhan;
Za is for Zakat to pure our greed, when we give our money to those in need;
Sa is for Salamu alaikum, peace be with you wa'alaikum assalam;
Sha is for shams, the shining sun, which Allah placed for everyone;
and Sua is for salat, for when we pray facing him, everyday, facing him, till we meet ourlord;
Allah there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger. Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;
Dua is for duha, the morning light, the sun has turned from red to white;
Tua is for tareeq, the path to walk upon;
and Dhua is for dhil, a shadow;
and Aa is for ilm, the thing to know, to make our knowledge grow, in Islam;
Gha is for ghaib, a world unseen and that we know is not a dream;
Fa is for, the Opening, Al-Fatiha;
and Qua for the Qur'an, the book of God;
and Ka is for kalima, a word we're taught to teach us what is good and what is not;
and La is for the beginning of La ilaha illa'allah;
Ma is for the Messenger Muhammed-ur-Rasoolillah.
La ilaha illa'allah, Muhammed-ur-Rasulilllah;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger.
Allah, la ilaha illa'allah;Na is for nawm, the sleep God gave to give us rest after the day;
Ha is for the Hijra, the journey that, the Prophet made;
and Wa for wudu before we pray to help us wash our sins away;
and Ya for Yawm-mid-Deen;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;Allah, there's only one God and Jesus was his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;Allah, there's only one God and Moses was his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;Allah, there's only one God and Abraham was his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;Allah, there's only one God and Noah was his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah;Allah, there's only one God and he created Adam, and we are the children of Adam.
Allah,La ilaha illa'allah;
Allah, there's only one God and Muhammed is his Messenger.
Allah, La ilaha illa'allah.

Dragon Force

2009-01-13T12:52:00.000-08:00

[download] 1. Heroes of Our Time

[download] 2. The Fire Still Burns

[download] 3. Reasons to Live

[download] 4. Heartbreak Armageddon

[download] 5. The Last Journey Home

[download] 6. A Flame for Freedom

[download] 7. Inside the Winter Storm

[download] 8. The Warrior Inside

THE LEGEND OF BATU KUKUMBUNG

2009-01-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

King Siliwangi had a son named Kean Santang. Since he was a child Kean Santang was interested in supernatural power. When King Siliwangi practiced his supernatural power skill, Kean Santang often peeped at him. Even, he followed his father’s movements.

After some time, King Siliwangi ordered several fighters to teach Kean Santang. The royal fighters did the kings order. They taught Kean Santang everyday with various supernatural power skills. Kean Santang could absorb all the supernatural power lesson which was taught by his teachers quickly. He became a very powerful young man.

Kean Santang roamed over Pajajaran kingdom. He wanted to seek after a higher skilled teacher. He visited every institution and fought the leaders. But all of the institutions leaders could be defeated by him easily. Kean Santang became very disappointed. He often pondered alone.

Kean Santang heard the news that in a country named Mekah there was a king who had great supernatural power. His name Baginda Ali. So, Kean Santang went to Mekah. He met Baginda Ali there, who was in disguise as an old man. Old man, do you know where does Baginda Ali live? Kean Santang asked the old man.

Young man, if you want to meet Baginda Ali, you must be able to pull this stick out! Said the old man while he was sticking in his stick in the sand. Heap, Kean Santang tried to pull the stick out. How surprise he was because the stick could not be pulled out. Kean Santang exerted all of his supernatural power, until the sweat of his body mixed with blood. But, the stick still stuck in the sand firmly.

Kean Santang, I am Baginda Ali. If you want to pull this stick out, you must say the Islam profession of faith and practice Islam! So, Kean Santang yielded to Baginda Ali. He said the Islam profession of faith and practiced Islam. Since then, Kean Santang studied with Baginda Ali.

After studying with Baginda Ali, Kean Santang returned to Pajajaran. He meant to propagate Islam in his country. Kean Santang asked King Siliwangi to adhere to Islam right away. But, King Siliwangi categorically refused him. Even, he became very angry and expelled Kean Santang out of pajajaran.

Because Kean Santang insisted to Islamize King Siliwangi, he was about to be caught by the royal troops. But, the royal troops could be defeated very easly by him. King Siliwangi did not want to fight Kean Santang. He left Pajajaran palace and disappeared right away.

Kean Santang kept searching for King Siliwangi. He could find his father on the cost of Jayanti Beach, Cianjur. He forced King Siliwangi to be circumcised. King Siliwangi revolted. He set his right foot down at a stone chair till it was broken, then he jumped far way.

Father, don’t go away! Kean Santang yelled. He was trying to chase him but it was useless. King Siliwangi was gone swallowed by the earth. The place to circumcise King Siliwangi was named Batu Kukumbung. Batu Kukumbung means rocks which were piled in circle to fence something.

After King Siliwangi has gone a strange thing happened. The Pajajaran palace suddenly disappeared and changed to forest named Leuweung Sancang. Leuweung means forest and Sancang is the name of one kind of tiger. So, Leuweung Sancang means the forest where tiger lives.

When Kean Santang saw all this he was very touched. But, he insisted to propagate Islam in Pajajaran. Finally one by of Pajajaran people practical Islam. Kean Santang taught them how to read Koran and to perform five times daily prayers.

THE LEGEND OF SITU BAGENDIT

2009-01-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

Far away in an isolated village there was a young rich woman. The house that she had living in was very big. Her wealth was plentiful. The young woman lived by herself. She didn’t have any friend at all.

“Wouw, I am very rich! Ha…ha…ha, I am the richest woman in this village!” said the young woman while she was looking at her gold and jewelries. It was so pity, that the young woman was very miserly. Her plentiful wealth never been used to help others.

“All of the wealth is mine, isn’t it? So what am I give it all to other for?” The young woman thought. However, many of villagers were poor. They lived in less condition. Sometimes some villagers were hunger, and didn’t get any food for days.

Because of the young woman miserly, the villagers called her Bagenda Endit. Bagenda Endit meant the miserly rich person. “Bagenda Endit, have mercy on me! My child has not eaten for few days”, said an old woman sadly.

“Hi, you crazy old woman! Get away from me!” yelled Bagenda Endit threw the old woman away. Because the old woman didn’t want to go, Bagenda Endit splashed her with water. Splash!, and all over the old woman body and her baby became wet.

Bagenda Endit was a feeling less woman. She didn’t even have a little bit mercy to the old woman and her baby. She even got more angry. After that, she asked the old woman to get out of her house yard. And then, she was dragging her out of the yard.

Although Bagenda Endit was very miserly, the village people kept coming in. The came for the water wheel. “No, I won’t let you to take away the water from my wheel! The water in the wheel is mine!” Bagenda Endit yelled angrily.

“Ha…ha…ha…you’re all stupid! You think you just can take the water from my wheel!” Bagenda Endit said while she was watching the thirst villagers outside the fence. Suddenly, a decrepit man was standing in Bagenda Endit house yard. He was walking tottery to the wheel while holding his stick.

When the old man was trying to take the water, Bagenda Endit saw it. Then, she hit the old man with a founder. “Have mercy on me Bagenda Endit! I want to take the water just for a drink”, said the old man when he was trying to get up.

Bagenda Endit kept beating the old man. And then, an astonishing thing happened. Suddenly the old man got up with a healthy body. He walked closer to Bagenda Endit. He pointed his stick at the cruel rich woman’s nose.

“Hi, Bagenda Endit, take the punishment from me!” said the old man loudly. Then he pointed at the wheel with his stick. Wus…byuur, the wheel was sprinkling the water swiftly. Not long enough, the water was flooding up. Bagenda Endit couldn’t save herself. She drawn with all of her wealth.

The village was disappeared. The thing that left was a wide and deep lake. The lake was named Situ Bagendit. Situ means a wide lake. It was named Situ Bagendit, because the wide lake came from a wheel that belongs to Bagenda Endit.

STONE FLOWER

2009-01-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

People in the Kingdom of Wanakerta have been worried. The Queen Dewi Kalasekti has been ill for a long time. Traditional healers and shamans have been ordered to come, but no one could cure the queen. When the priest of the kingdom was meditating, devoutly he hard a voice echoed. “The only medicine for the Queen in ‘the stone flower’. It has no leaf, no stem. Its color is white. It grows on the stone hill in the same direction of the sunset.”

The meeting was soon been held. Tumenggung Arungbinang was chosen to search for the flower. “I am willing to sacrifice anything to get the medicine for Queen Dewi Kalasekti”, he promised. Tumenggung Arungbinang was brave, honest and loyal. He left the castle carrying a heavy task. He had very determined will. The medicine for the queen must be found.

Arungbinang arrived at one village on a downhill. He asked the village girls he met, “Are there any of you who know where the stone flower grows?” “We’re sorry. We’ve never heard of it before”, they answered. Arungbinang asked the village elder has never heard of it either, moreover has seen it before.
In front of him was the steep slope. Without any doubt, Arungbinang climbed it up. Very slowly he climbed up higher and hunger. Because of his determined will and strong courage, finally he reached the hilltop. He searched the stone flower with thoroughly and carefully. But, it was a pity that he could not find it there. The hilltop was soon left.

Arungbinang kept walking to the west side. Tens of villages and forests were passed by, teens of hills were climbed, but the stone flower was still not found. He did not pay attention to the tiredness he felt all over the body. He kept walking and walking to the west side. He did not forget to pray, asked for God’s help.

Suddenly Arungbinang stopped walking. There stood a long stone hill extended out into the South Sea in front of him. Arungbinang then started to climb it up. The force of his arms and legs removed his body hunger. Suddenly he felt as if something had slammed his body. The grip was released and he slid down, rolled over and fell down unconscious.

Like a dream, Arungbinang saw a beautiful princess took care of the wounds on his body. With gently, she fed him with hot soup. The same dreams kept coming to him, nobody knew for how many times it happened. When he regained consciousness he was really amazed. A beautiful girl was sitting near him. It was a real one and she was very beautiful. She fed him a spoon of liquid.

Like a baby, just the same with what he had seen in his dreams, Arungbinang obeyed being fed the delicious warm liquid. The beautiful girl smiled and said, “Are you already awake? You’ll recover soon!” While keeping feeding him, she said, “it’s been a long time since I waited for the first man who come to Bunga Batu Garden. He would be my mate! I’m Dewi Tisnawati, the garden guard fairy”. Arungbinang was surprised and choked.

“Don’t be surprised, Kangmas. It’s God’s will! Don’t you have promised to sacrifice anything to get the stone flower?” she asked gently. “How do you know all this?” he asked amazingly. “I’m a fairy, and you’ve been talking in your sleep…” “How long I have been fainted here?” he asked. “A whole day and night, Kangmas! Never mind, just eat this stone flower soup so that you’ll be really healthy and strong again!”.

Bunga Batu actually was swallow nest which stuck on caves’ walls at Karangbolong hill. The nest was made by bird saliva while it was sleeping. Arungbinang wanted to pick up the “stone flower” soon. But the guard said, “Stone flower can only be picked by my prospective husband! And it is a fate! Will you be my husband?” Arungbinang promised to be her husband, when his task has accomplished and worked well.

Arungbinang had to fast then meditate at night. The next morning he was allowed to climb the caves’ walls and picked up the stone flower. Arungbinang took leave the fairy and promised to comeback. He walked fast and finally reached the Wanakerta castke. The “stone flower” was made into soup and given to Dewi Kalasekti. The queen became healthier. The queen was touched by Arungbinang’s story.

Dewi Kalasekti conferred a gift to Tumenggung Arungbinang. He requested for having the south beach area, from Parangtritis to Karangbolong so that be could keep his promise to the fairy. “Promise must to be fulfilled not to be forgotten. For me, promise is a debt that I have to pay for”, he said. The meeting was suddenly turned to be a quiet one, because everyone was touched and admired the nobleness of Tumenggung Arungbinang.

PHILOSOPHY RESEARCH MODELS IN ISLAM

2009-01-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

DEFINITION AND RESEARCH OF ISLAM PHILOSOPHY

Of language facet, Philosophy word come from word of Philo with the meaning love, and word of sophos with the meaning is science or positive effect. There by languagely philosophy mean love to science of positive effect. Word of Islam come from Arabic word aslama, yuslimu, Islaman meaning is obedient, submission, safe and also request to secure.

M. Amin Abdullah take method research of bibliography which is have descriptive pattern. Here in after, seen from its approach facet of him, he take approach of figure study by comparation study.

Otto Harrassowittz conduct research to all idea of philosophy of Islam coming from figures of philosophy classic century. Its research is including research qualitative, its source of book study, its method of analytical descriptive, while its historical approach and figure.

Majid Fahry research use mixture that is besides using historical approach also approach of area, even approach of substance.

Harun Nasution also conduct research of Philosophy by using approach of historical approach and figure, its descriptive research form, there by its research have the character of qualitative.

Method research Anwar Fuad al-Ahwani is research of bibliography. Nature of and its pattern is descriptive research qualitative, while its approach is approach having the character of mixture, that is historical approach, approach of figure and area.

PRAYERS

2009-01-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

I. Introduction

Prayer is the second fundamental of Islam. It is the next in importance to the deklaration of faith (i.e. bearing witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). It is considered a link between Allah and His servents who turn to Allah and commune with him humbly, feeling their nearness to Him. During prayer, a muslim feels that’s Allah is with him: He hears him, responds to him, and accept this prayer and good deeds. This would, elevate his spirit to perdection. He would contemplate the implications and aims of prayer and the verses that are recited in it. This would move him to comply with their injuctions and commandments. He would feel the power of Allah dominating him as the whole universe. This would make him humble and cause him to abstain from wronging or trepassing againtst others. When he acquires such traits, he will become the incaranation of mercy, love dan guidance. He becomes a man of manners and refinement, in control of his desires and whims. He also becomes able to channel all his drives and sentiments in the night contructive direction. That was the secret behind the standard of superiority achieved by the Muslim Society at the zenith of its prosperity, progress and civilization.

Prayer purifies the soul of error and of the goominess of sins as water purifies and refreshes the body. This idea is expressed in the words of the prophet Muhammad (belssings and peace of Allah be upon him) narrated by Abu Hurairah on the authority of Muslims reading :

“Just see, can anything of filthiness remaind (on the body of) any one of you if there were a river at his door in which he washed himself five times a day? The said : nothing of his filthiness will remain (on his body). He saids that is the like of the five prayers by wich Allah obliterates sins”

Prayer is a school at which mon exercises order and unity, and equality is realized while discrimination is abolishes. Therefore, it has been ordained as an individual obligation on every sensible Muslim who has reached the age of puberty. Those who perform prayer in the night way sha;; find their way to salvation and success, whereas thos who give it up shall deserve the wrath of Allah and find their way to punisment in the hereafter. Shunning prayer out of denial or infidelity and error and eternal misery.

II. Discussion

A. Definition of Prayer

In its lexical meaning, prayer denotes ‘suplication’. In its technical (terminologi) sense, it signifies words and in a specific mode started with Takbir (i.e. with ‘Allah Akbar’, meaning “Allah is greatest”) and concluded with salutation (i.e. “As-Salamu’alaikum Warahmatullah” meaning “peace and mercy of Allah be upon you”).[1] Prayer in Islam is not the same as is Christianity as it “does not mean the conversation of the heart with God”.[2] But resembles rather public worship tih readings from the Qur’an, already commited to heart, commencing with the “Fatihah”, followed by other short verses and the confession of faith (sahadah) and of the benediction or petition for the prophet, and of brief praises. At prescribed moments in the prayer (salah) there is room for personal invocation of God’s aid and His guidance in what the Muslim call du’a.[3]

B. Conditions and Prerequisites of Prayer

There are essential conditions and requerements for the performance and acceptability of prayer. They are as follows :

1. Being Muslim

2. Ritual cleanliness

3. Being clean and free from filth. This cleanness applies to the body, clothes and place on which the worshipper stands while in prayer

4. Commencement of due time for each prayer

5. Facing the direction of the holy house in Makkah

6. Concealment of private parts and those parts of the body not allowed to be exposed during prayer. They are called “Aura” and incluce, for men, the part of the body from the navel down to the knee, amd for women the whole body except for the face and hands.[4]

As for the steps od ablution are as follows :

a. Say “in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful”, or the Arabic Pronounciation :

بٍسْــــمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَــنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

(Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim)

and wash your hand (3 times), starting with the night hand

b. Rinse your mounth and nostrils with the right hand (3 times) and clear them (the nostrils) with your left hand.

Rinsing of mounth and nostrils may preferably be carried out with the same handful of water each time (الإســـتـنـشاق)

c. Wash your face (3 times) keeping in mind the intention of performance ablution.

d. Wash your hands and arms up to the elbows (starting with the night arm)

e. Wipe your head (prefenably all head) with wet hand

f. Wipe the inside and outside of your ears with wett fingers

g. Wash your feet up to the ankles (3 times), right foot first

h. Say “I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is this servant dan messenger. O Allah, make me among the penitents, and make me among those who seek punification.

Or the Arabic Proniunciation :

أَشْـــهَدُ أَنْ لاَ اِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ، وَ أَشْـــهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدً ارَسُــوْ لُ اللهِ

أَللَّهُـمَّ اجْـعَلْنِي مِنَ الـتَّوَّا بِيْنَ وَ اجْـعَلْنِي مِـنَ الْمُتَـطَهِّرِيـْنَ

The factors invalidating ablution :

· Relieving onself or breaking wind

· Sleep, except in sitting position, sleepiness does not affect ablution

· Unconsciousness due to drunkenness, disease, lunacy, or fainting

· Touching, with desire, a wife or a women whom he is legally allowed to marry (i.e. not too closely related to marry)

· Touching sexual organs with the exposed palm of the hand

C. Obligatory and Description

There are five (5) obligatory prayers every day :

1. Fajr (dawn) prayer :

Two (2) rak’as (A rak’as is a unit or part of the prayer consisting of acts and words, such as takbir, standing, bowing, and protrations). It is time begins at dawn and lasts until sunrise.

2. Dhur (noon) prayer :

Four (4) rak’as. Time : from noon, when the sun declines from the zenith of the sky, until 2 person’s shadow becomes double his real height.

3. ‘Asr (afternoon) prayer :

four (4) rak’as. Time : from the end of noon prayer until sunset.

4. Maghrib (sunset) prayer :

Three (30 rak’as. Time : from sunset until the disappearance of twilight.

5. ‘Isha (evening) prayer :

Four (4) rak’as. Time : from the disappearance of twilight until the break of dawn.

Desciption of prayer :

1- Stan erect (unless you are unable to do so). This condition is essential in obligatory prayers; and can be dropped in vountry prayers

2- Face the direction of Ka’ba

3- Retice Takbir (i.e. Allahu Akbar) to commence your prayer, bearing in mind the type of prayer, wheter obligatory or voluntry, noon prayer, afternoon prayer, or other prayers, while raising your hands as high as your ears or shoulders, with palms turned forward

4- Place your right hand over the left hand and recite the opening supplication as follows :

سُـــبْحَانَـكَ اَللَّهُــمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَـعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَـهَ غَيْرُكَ

An alternative opening supplication is :

وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَاْلأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي ِللهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Means :

“I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I ascribe partners to Allah. My prayer and my service of sacrifice, My life and my death, are all for Allah, the cherisher of the worlds. He has no partner. This am I commanded and I am one of those who bow to his will”.

Then you are required to recite the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an (i.e. al-Fatiha). And then such as chapter (or sura). Any sura on number of verses from Qur’an will do.

5- Having reciteed the verses, say : “Allahu Akbar”. It would be desirable as well to raise your hands as high as your ears during Takbir. Thrn bow down and say : “Subhana Rabbiya al-Adhimi” (i,e, Glory be to my great lord!) 3 times.

6- Rise upright (preferably raising you hands up as on bowing), saying, “Sami’a Allahu Liman Hamidah” (i.e. Allah listens to him who praises Him! Having stood upright, you respond :

“Rabbana wa lakal-hamd” i.e. Our lord! To you belongs praise.

7- Then, saruing : Allahi Ahkbar postrate yourself, your knees going doen first, then your face, so that your forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes touch the ground, while lying postrate say :

(Subhana Rabbiya –A’la) i.e. Glory be to my lord, the most high.

8- Raise your head from prostrtion, saying (Allahu Akbar) and sit on your left foot, lying it flat on the ground and keeping your right foot in an upright position. Then say : (Rabbighfir Li warhamni) it means, ‘O Lord! Forgive me and have mency on me’

9- Saying “Allahu Akbar”, you fall prostrated again as you have done in the first time and nacite the same supplications.

10- Then you stand up again to perform the second ral’a.

You recite the opening chapter (al-Fatiha) and some verses from the Qur’an. Then you bow down and perform prostration as you have done in the first rak’a. having raised your head from the second prostration thereby completing the second rak’a, you sit down to recite the tashhud supplication.

اَلتَّحِــيَّاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّـبَاتُ ِللهِ، السَّـــلاَ مُ عَلَيْكَ اَيـُّهَاالنَّبِيُّ وَرَ حْمَـةُ اللهِ وَبَرَ كَاتُهُ. السَّــلاَ مُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ. أَشْـــهَدُ أَنْ لاَ اِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ، وَ أَشْـــهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُـوْ لُـهُ.

You will preferably complete the afore-said Tashahhud supplication with the blessing supplication, saying :

اَ للَّهُـمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَاصَـلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَابَـارَكْتَ عَلَة إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إٍبْرَا هِيْمَ فيِ الْعَـالَمِيْنَ إِنَّـكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ.

11- You turn your face to the right, saying :

الســــلا م عليكم ورحمة الله

(peace and marcy of Allah be upom you)

Then you turn your face to the left saying the same salutation, thereby coneluding your prayer.

D. Recomendable Prayers

(1) Taraweeh Prayer

It is also called night prayer of ramadan .it consists of twenty ral’as as a maximum, and eight rak’as as a minimum.

It is recommended to perform this prayer incongregation in succession of two rak’as, after evening (Isha’) prayer and before al-Witre prayer everyday in the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Its time continuous throughout the night. However, it may performed individuality.

It is deemed as the optional night prayer of ramadhan, which is a season of wordhip, devotion and good deeds during which muslims meet at Mosques every night to perform this secred ceremony.

(2) The Prayer of the Two Eids

The prayer of the two Eids was on established practice during life of the prophet and is recommended to every Muslim for whom Friday prayer is obligatory. It is one of the destinctive ceremonies and features of Islam.

The time of Eid prayers starts a little (about half an hour) after sunrise and lastd up to midday (a little before noon prayer).

(3) Prayer of Greeting on Entering a Mosque

It is desirable to perform two rak’as as a greeting to the Mosque on entering it and before sitting down. Any prayer performed on entering the Mosque will do, such as obligatory prayers or supererogatory prayers preceding obligatory prayers. He will get the reward of this prayer of greeting if the intends it in his mind along with that obligatory prayer.

Abu Qotada (2 companion of the Gracious Prophet) reported that the Messenger of Allah (belssing and peace of Allah be upon him) said :

“When any one of you enters the Mosque, he sould observe two ral’as (of voluntary prayer) berfore sitting”

(narrated by Mukhori and Muslim)

Greeting of the Holy Mosque in Makkah can be fulfilled by Tawaf (i.e. circumambulation of Ka’ba). A Muslim is recommended to make seven circuits of Ka’ba and then perform two rak’as of Tawaf. A person who wants to sit down due to his inability to perform tawaf may perform two rak’as as a greeting to the Holy Mosque, just like any other Mosque.

(4) Witre Prayer

Three ral’as are strongly recommended after the performance of Eveming prayer and the two voluntrary rak’as associated with it. It’s name “witre” incicates the odd number of this component rak’as. However, it is independent from evening prayer. It can be performed in one of three way :

a. Exactly like sunset prayer

b. Two ral’as concluded with salutation, then one odd rak’a concluded also with salutation

c. Three consequent rak’as without interruption in between.

One raka’a, however, will do.

E. Lightness in Prayers

1. Prayer of the Sick

Sick people and the like, such as prisoners who are kept up or in fetters may perform their prayers in the manner they can afford. If a sick person is unable to stand up by himself, he may use a stick. If that is impossible for him, he may perform prayer bowing and prostating himself in a sitting position.

In case he cannot sit up, he may pray lying down on his side facing Qibla (i.e. the direction of Ka’ba); Otherwise, the Qibla. In case he cannot afford to bow, he may qesture with his head for the bows and prostrations. In case of inability to prostrate himself, he may also qesture with should be lower for the prostrations than for the bows. If he cannot qesture with the head, he may qesture with his eyes intending prayer in his mind. A Muslim cannot be exampted from prayer as long as he enjoys conciousness, according to the glorious Qur’an :

لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا

“On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear”.

(The Qur’an 2:286).

2. Prayer During Travel

Islam, therefore, allows a Muslim, when travelling from one place another, to join two prayers together at one time, such as Zuhur and ‘Asr at the time Zuhur or ‘Asr. But if a Muslim decides to join two prayers together at the letter time, he sould have the intention during the time of the first of joining the two prayers later.

In order to make it simpler for a muslim to perform his prayer duties, it is permission to offer Zuhur and ‘Asr, each of two ral’as intead of four, and also the night prayer, Isha’. These are the ordinary cases in which islam allows us to shorten prayers and join them together. But in some other cases permission is also given to join two prayers together, such as illnes or when heavy rain prevents people from getting to the Mosque as usual, or when there is excessive heat. These are sufficient reasons.

The previous permission to join prayers together and to shorten them has been taken from the verse of the Holy Qur’a which says :

وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي اْلأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُبِينًا (النساء : 101)

“When you travel throughout the world, there is no blome attached to you is you shorten your prayer for fear that the unbeliever may attack you, for the unbeliever are born enemies into you”.[5]

III. Conclusion

This brief essay is no place detailed information on the information on the aforementioned prayers. They will, Allah willing, be described in detail in a more elaborate book. The close of our call will be : praise be to Allah, the cherisher and sustainer of the worlds!

REFERENCE

Caesar E. Farah, Ph.D., Islam Belief and Observances, Baron’s, New York, 1987.

Djamaluddin Darwis, MA., English for Islamis Studies, Presented by PT. Raja Grafindo Persada Cooperation with IAIN Walisongo Press, Jakarta, 2001.

Ghalib Ahmad Masri, A Muslim’s Companion, al-Huda Bookshop and Hazm Pub, House, Lebanon, 1994.

Tor Andrea, Mohammed : The Man and His Faith, trans, Theophil Menzel, New York : Harper Torch Book Series, 1960.

[1] Ghalib Ahmad Masri, A Muslim’s Companion, al-Huda Bookshop and Hazm Pub. House, (Lebanon, 1994), p. 10

[2] Tor Andrea, Mohammed : The Man and His Faith, trans, Theophil Menzel (New York : Harper Torch Book Series, 1960), p. 80

[3] Caesar E. Farah, Ph.D., Islam Belief and Observances, Baron’s (New York, 1987), p. 135

[4] Ibid., p. 11

[5] Djamaluddin Darwis, MA., English for Islamis Studies, Presented by PT. Raja Grafindo Persada Cooperation with IAIN Walisongo Press, (Jakarta, 2001), p. 126

Mosque Development

2009-01-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

In our countryside stand up a mosque loading a few/little people. Later;then the religion figure gather to converse planned by new mosque of that mosque able to load many people. Faced by constraint is financing problem, what represent classic problem in a mosque development specially in countryside of such as our place. Later;then entire/all citizen gather to study source of fund of the mosque development. Finally the citizen agree fund of the mosque development come from self-supporting socialize and look for donor. Little by little the development walk. Fund of from gathered to society reach 20 milion.

So that the the fund less answer the demand and need looked for by a additional fund from donor. We all easy finally, caused by a entrepreneur which ready to guarantee expense of the mosque development process done/conducted the mosque development together entire/all citizen of without aside from. After walking during six-month, the mosque have sixten persen. We happy since the mosque almost finish his/its development. Omit to finish terrace;core of mosque and just roof. At least us can jamaah together in this mosque. And function of the core important is to firm up islam people. Unfinished although but we assure is not be old again will finish. That way in a flash of about mosque development in our countryside.

Within Temptation - Black Symphony

2009-01-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

Black Symphony Songs :

[download] 1. Ouverture
[download] 2. Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)
[download] 3. The Howling
[download] 4. Stand My Ground
[download] 5. The Cross
[download] 6. What Have You Done - (featuring Keith Caputo)
[download] 7. Hand Of Sorrow
[download] 8. The Heart Of Everything
[download] 9. Forgiven
[download] 10. Somewhere - (featuring Anneke Van Giersbergen)
[download] 11. The Swan Song
[download] 12. Memories
[download] 13. Our Solemn Hour
[download] 14. The Other Half (Of Me) - (featuring George Oosthoek)
[download] 15. Frozen
[download] 16. The Promise
[download] 17. Angels
[download] 18. Mother Earth
[download] 19. The Truth Beneath The Rose
[download] 20. Deceiver Of Fools
[download] 21. All I Need
[download] 22. Ice Queen

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

2009-01-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

I. Introduce

The program falls into propulsive fields of molecular endocrinology and molecular radiobiology. The studies explain insufficiently known effects of steroid hormones, ionizing and non-ionizing irradiation, and other stressor factors on the structural and functional integrity of normal and malignantly transformed cells. Mentioned effects are studied on the level of cell signals, as well as, on the structural and functional changes of biomolecules.

II. Description

The immobilization of cell membranes on a solid support has been studied. It has been determined that the membrane enzymes retain their unchanged activity while becoming sensitive to the inhibitory effects of metals. Enzymes immobilized in this way may be applied as bioindicators for the presence of harmful agents.

Research has been continued on the molecular mechanisms of cellular signal transduction in the brain and liver during ageing. Age related changes have been detransduction in the brain and liver ageing. Age related changes have been detected in GR and AP-1-mediated transcriptional activity as well the weakening of the regulatory mechanisms at the level of hormone action.
Molecular mechanisms of apoptotic under the effects of different irradiation sources (gamma, protons) have been studied. With the aim of determining the most efficient therapeutic approach for the elimination melanoma cells, beside glucocorticoid hormones, various antiproliferative agents were studied and the effect of different ionizing radiations have been monitored.
The distribution of trace elements in various mammalian tissues have been studied after exposure to gamma rays. Irradiation resulted in differential tissue distribution of magnesium. The role of selenium as an antioxidative agent has been studied in plants animals and humans.
Research on the project BOI-1953 was carried was out in three areas related to the detrimental effects of environment factor.
Example : 1. Physical
2. Chomical agents
and internal factor
1. Neuron
2. Endocrine stress

On animal and human systems

The first area of research encompassed the effects of ionizing radiation on human cancer cell lines in culture (uterus, prostate) human blood and tissue biopsy samples from cancer patients buried cancer, breast cancer, and animal (rat) model system. The major aim in this area was to define pertinent cellular biomakers (xtotoxicity, cell death) and molecular biomakers (total antioxidant enzyme status, TAS) that would help in clinical oncology concerning better individual adjustment in diagnostic, preventive and treatment protocols.
The second area or research is dedicated to neuro-endocrine stress which is studied on animal (rat) model.
a. The Effects of physical
1. Cold
2. Physical effort
b. Emotional (immobilization)
c. Social (isolation, crowding)
Stress are followed at the level of sympathoddrenal system (SAS) and hypothaiomo - hypophysis - adrenal (HPA) axis, with the special emphases on feed back regulatory, mechanisms in acute stress, and its deregulation in chronic, or combined stress. The goal of the study is to expand the current catecholamine assay (CA) used for diagnostics in cardiology, to catecholamine – steroid – poptide hormone – assay (CSPA) that could be used for individual diagnostic and treatment protocols in stress related neuro psychiatric diseases (anxiety, depression).
The third area of research is dedicated to preservation of natural food quality ingradients, such as antioxidants. The antioxidant characteristics are determined in full milk, industrially processed milik, and baby food, and also in human milk, and colostrums. The aim the research is to suggest the best processing procedures that would preserve the antioxidants in food. Such food is considered to be the best preventive and profilactic agent against cardiovascular, and hormonal disorders, as well as against development of neoplasma.

III. Conclusion

We have studied the effect of total body x-irradiation and partial hepatectomy on the acute phase protein gene expression in rat liver. Changes in liver mRNA concentration for positive acute-phase reactions including cysteine protease inhibitor, a 1-acid glycoprotein, fibrinogen and haptoglobin, and albumin as anegative reactant were nonitored by Northern blot and slot-blot hybridizations.