This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine February 2012 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1891
As the Arab world began to see reform last year and new legislative and authoritative parties came into the picture, significant budgets were allocated towards the improvement of services. These services include medical benefits, educational standards, access to better platforms for employment, and an overall increase in the quality of life for citizens. Consequently, teams and task forces were created within executive authorities to employ these budgets into sustainable efforts that quickly and strategically benefit the nation.
What surprises me with all of this is that the expectations of the leading parties who allocated these budgets were not managed appropriately let alone managed at all. Coming from a “yes” culture, the signals sent from the executive authorities to the leaders of these nations painted a picture of ultimate success with no challenges and best of all the achievement of the goals in a very unrealistic time frame. As the reality becomes more apparent, these executive authorities are losing credibility, getting their budgets slashed, and being criticized for over-spending.
I believe many executive authorities could have avoided that by managing the expectations of all stakeholders about the implications of improving a nation’s services through 3 crucial elements.
The first implication is an increased cost of service as a result of quality improvement. In order to improve a service, it is crucial that the entire supply chain of the service is improved. This means the necessity to employ talented and experienced personnel and retain them. This also means the need to buy better quality inputs whether they are superior supplies (such as education material or medical consumables) or advanced systems for more efficient processing of information. All of this comes at an additional cost that cannot be benchmarked with the local market for performance. Hence, these services, if not subsidized, require a higher pricing structure in order to be sustainable. This cost implication of service improvement should be obvious but nevertheless new services are constantly critiqued for being overpriced.
The second implication is that any change that aims to improve services will require a significant amount of time. Usually, analysts would argue using their models that are based on linear growth assumptions, that time required for service improvement is only dependent on the activation of the service and they would ignore all cultural elements of adapting that change. To maneuver through the bureaucracy present in the old inefficient services requires a lot of time especially given that the improved services would discredit the current system. This only adds force to the resistance the improvements would be faced with making its creation more troublesome and as a result needing more time. Therefore, it is necessary for the stakeholders to understand that an improvement of service can only go as far as the infrastructure it is built on. Hence, requiring even more time!
The third implication for improving a nation’s services is that it will only succeed if all the other decision makers’ interests are aligned via the highest authoritative power (for example the ruler of the country). It is crucial that all the different players in making a service improvement are incentivized the same way and maybe even penalized for slowing things down. One successful example is the quick implementation of an e-government service for Dubai Government entities. Although this implication may seem very typical, it is surprising how often different authoritative bodies act against the interest of one another.
In summary, the Arab World today is trying its best to cultivate its operations through the mobilization of executive authorities with strategic projects that aim to improve the respective nations’ services. These executive authorities have recently been under scrutiny due to the inability to deliver as promised. I believe this dilemma could have been avoided by initially ensuring the authoritative parties understood that improved services require higher spending, more time, and everybody’s buy in.
Wouldn’t you want to know this information before making promises to a loved one or embarking on a new project like building a home?
Thursday, February 9, 2012
True Patriotism
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine January 2012 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1802
Cars honking, people dancing, aircrafts soaring through the skies, and flags being waved; these are some of the typical scenes witnessed last December as the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar celebrated their National Days (UAE on the 2nd, Bahrain on the 16th, and Qatar on the 18th). The festive mood on these days is a testimony of the citizens’ happiness and pride and a reflection of their sense of belonging to their land. It is also a time for citizens to renew their allegiance and support for their leadership. This was demonstrated through portraits of the Rulers vividly printed on peoples’ cars, flags, T-shirts, and more.
As I witnessed these festivities, I could not classify these emotions under any category other than patriotism, something I also remember witnessing during the unfortunate 9/11 days in the United States. What is Patriotism? Merriam-Webster defines it as “ love for or devotion to one’s country”. Since the world is constantly changing and development is an ongoing necessity, I believe that definition lacks two important elements that give true meaning to patriotism. In my opinion, the love and devotion has to be accompanied by the desire to achieve certain holistic gains that mutually benefit the country and its citizens. In addition, the love and devotion should come with a strong sense of representation.
“I want everyone in this country to benefit and to be of benefit at the same time.”
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
“Development is the responsibility of every citizen.”
Our father the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
After speaking to a few participants in these festivities, I realized that the majority I interacted with had no real understanding of the concept of striving to create a mutual benefit for the people of the country. Instead, they were participating solely for the sake of celebrating. This phenomenon of not knowing the meaning behind celebrating drove me to address this issue with great care and a lot of thought. In my opinion, in order to understand true patriotism, it is incumbent to understand the three main pillars that support it.
Faith is the first and most important pillar of patriotism that is required for constant development and improvement. Faith consists of a combination of belief in the country’s vision, optimism, and work. Believing in the goals set forth by the country and having realistic optimism about its results, fuels the work that needs to be put in to achieve those goals that will benefit the citizens of the country.
Passion is the second pillar of patriotism without which any efforts towards mutual benefit would collapse. Passion can be thought of as a strong feeling associated toward someone or thing. In patriotism, passion is a strong feeling of devotion and contribution. Interlinked with its predecessor faith, passion is the drive that fuels work even under the most discouraging conditions. Furthermore, it is the spark that allows individuals to fully contribute in the gloomiest of times.
Sincerity is the third and nonetheless an important pillar of patriotism; it is the element of purity in patriotism. It protects all efforts from hypocrisy, fraud, deceit and any conflicts of interests. Sincerity is important in patriotism especially in nation building and in positions of authority that are delegated with tasks related to development and continuous improvement.
With the correct foundations of faith, passion, and sincerity, patriotism is redefined to include social benefit and pursuit of prosperity. Flag-waving, car decorating, and country boasting then become based on these solid fundamentals that enrich patriotism with meaning and incentivize collective participation.
In Summary, patriotism as currently defined, lacks two important elements; the desire to contribute towards mutual gains and the necessity of appropriate representation. When patriotism is understood entirely through the above proposed pillars of faith, passion, and sincerity, it leads to the mentality of social benefit and only then does it become worthy of representation. That said; let us all educate ourselves to comprehend these pillars. Let us proudly represent our nations under the umbrella of true patriotism.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1802
Cars honking, people dancing, aircrafts soaring through the skies, and flags being waved; these are some of the typical scenes witnessed last December as the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar celebrated their National Days (UAE on the 2nd, Bahrain on the 16th, and Qatar on the 18th). The festive mood on these days is a testimony of the citizens’ happiness and pride and a reflection of their sense of belonging to their land. It is also a time for citizens to renew their allegiance and support for their leadership. This was demonstrated through portraits of the Rulers vividly printed on peoples’ cars, flags, T-shirts, and more.
As I witnessed these festivities, I could not classify these emotions under any category other than patriotism, something I also remember witnessing during the unfortunate 9/11 days in the United States. What is Patriotism? Merriam-Webster defines it as “ love for or devotion to one’s country”. Since the world is constantly changing and development is an ongoing necessity, I believe that definition lacks two important elements that give true meaning to patriotism. In my opinion, the love and devotion has to be accompanied by the desire to achieve certain holistic gains that mutually benefit the country and its citizens. In addition, the love and devotion should come with a strong sense of representation.
“I want everyone in this country to benefit and to be of benefit at the same time.”
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
“Development is the responsibility of every citizen.”
Our father the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
After speaking to a few participants in these festivities, I realized that the majority I interacted with had no real understanding of the concept of striving to create a mutual benefit for the people of the country. Instead, they were participating solely for the sake of celebrating. This phenomenon of not knowing the meaning behind celebrating drove me to address this issue with great care and a lot of thought. In my opinion, in order to understand true patriotism, it is incumbent to understand the three main pillars that support it.
Faith is the first and most important pillar of patriotism that is required for constant development and improvement. Faith consists of a combination of belief in the country’s vision, optimism, and work. Believing in the goals set forth by the country and having realistic optimism about its results, fuels the work that needs to be put in to achieve those goals that will benefit the citizens of the country.
Passion is the second pillar of patriotism without which any efforts towards mutual benefit would collapse. Passion can be thought of as a strong feeling associated toward someone or thing. In patriotism, passion is a strong feeling of devotion and contribution. Interlinked with its predecessor faith, passion is the drive that fuels work even under the most discouraging conditions. Furthermore, it is the spark that allows individuals to fully contribute in the gloomiest of times.
Sincerity is the third and nonetheless an important pillar of patriotism; it is the element of purity in patriotism. It protects all efforts from hypocrisy, fraud, deceit and any conflicts of interests. Sincerity is important in patriotism especially in nation building and in positions of authority that are delegated with tasks related to development and continuous improvement.
With the correct foundations of faith, passion, and sincerity, patriotism is redefined to include social benefit and pursuit of prosperity. Flag-waving, car decorating, and country boasting then become based on these solid fundamentals that enrich patriotism with meaning and incentivize collective participation.
In Summary, patriotism as currently defined, lacks two important elements; the desire to contribute towards mutual gains and the necessity of appropriate representation. When patriotism is understood entirely through the above proposed pillars of faith, passion, and sincerity, it leads to the mentality of social benefit and only then does it become worthy of representation. That said; let us all educate ourselves to comprehend these pillars. Let us proudly represent our nations under the umbrella of true patriotism.
Survival and Hardships Right Next Door
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine November 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1603
Broken wooden cabinets, an old rusty fan, dusty torn rugs, and flickering light bulbs surrounded us in what Ayesha calls home. This stuffy 50 square meter non air-conditioned space with rows of palm tree fronds used as a ceiling is home to Ayesha and her family of 5. Being the sole provider for her family, Ayesha works in a leading global super market chain and earns approximately AED 2,000-3,000 a month, which ends up being consumed almost instantly on rent and food expenses for her family. Every month she prays that miraculously she can survive until the next pay check. This is the story of Ayesha, a middle aged Emirati mom, living in the Northern Emirates.
While we proudly boast about the amount of aid that the UAE and its residents provide the world, it is important to realize that not everything is rosy and promising here at home. The reasons this comes as a surprise to many are various and may include the lavish lifestyles of the UAE, the generous benefits distributed by the rulers, as well as the lack of media’s attention to cases such as Ayesha’s. Furthermore, the factors leading to such situations are also various and could potentially be deemed sensitive (maybe we should leave it to our Federal National Council -FNC- to discuss). What is important and what I am sure you will agree with me on is that cases such as Ayesha’s need help and need to be addressed.
I believe that people like you and I, who may have a more comfortable life, can help fill the gap with solutions that will allow the people in need to survive until the issue is addressed at a larger scale. In order to be able to help in the most effective manner, I believe we need to strive and dedicate our time and wealth through three different parallels.
First, and the most obvious, is to identify where these people are and what exactly are their needs. We could reach out to charities that work locally and read about their selection criteria, their reach, and the speed of delivery. In addition, we could also go a step further by not relying solely on charitable organizations (due to bureaucracy that may make them less efficient than one would desire) but also by asking our families and friends if they know people who are in need of assistance. Once the people are identified, the next step would be to identify their needs (whether it is food, clothing, tuition fees, appliances, loan or utility bill payments, etc.). Once the needs are identified, they could either be supplied directly or financial aid can be given to them in the form of cash.
Second, and the most crucial, we need to find ways to create sufficient sustainable income for these identified families so that they may be able to rely on themselves. We could dedicate our time to teaching skills they require to obtain better jobs, advise them on how to create sustainable businesses through talent or skills they may have, create or identify jobs where they can be employed, and be involved in managing their income and advising them on how to reduce their expenses. This step is the most crucial because it allows those in need to feel independent and also gives them a sense of belonging in the larger society. This has a significant impact on their personalities, their children’s development, and the greater society.
Third, and the most impactful, is to spread awareness of cases such as Ayesha’s in our society. We could begin by discussing these issues and inviting others to join efforts in making sure we dedicate some of our time and wealth to those who are less fortunate.
In summary, the UAE is not exceptional when it comes to poverty and has evident cases of people who are in need of immediate help. In order to reach out to these families and address their needs effectively, I believe that people like you and I can make the most difference by working on these three different parallels. By identifying the ones in need and their requirements, finding ways for them to be financially sustainable independently, and spreading awareness of their cases, we can significantly reduce poverty in the UAE and contribute towards a larger scale solution from the country.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1603
Broken wooden cabinets, an old rusty fan, dusty torn rugs, and flickering light bulbs surrounded us in what Ayesha calls home. This stuffy 50 square meter non air-conditioned space with rows of palm tree fronds used as a ceiling is home to Ayesha and her family of 5. Being the sole provider for her family, Ayesha works in a leading global super market chain and earns approximately AED 2,000-3,000 a month, which ends up being consumed almost instantly on rent and food expenses for her family. Every month she prays that miraculously she can survive until the next pay check. This is the story of Ayesha, a middle aged Emirati mom, living in the Northern Emirates.
While we proudly boast about the amount of aid that the UAE and its residents provide the world, it is important to realize that not everything is rosy and promising here at home. The reasons this comes as a surprise to many are various and may include the lavish lifestyles of the UAE, the generous benefits distributed by the rulers, as well as the lack of media’s attention to cases such as Ayesha’s. Furthermore, the factors leading to such situations are also various and could potentially be deemed sensitive (maybe we should leave it to our Federal National Council -FNC- to discuss). What is important and what I am sure you will agree with me on is that cases such as Ayesha’s need help and need to be addressed.
I believe that people like you and I, who may have a more comfortable life, can help fill the gap with solutions that will allow the people in need to survive until the issue is addressed at a larger scale. In order to be able to help in the most effective manner, I believe we need to strive and dedicate our time and wealth through three different parallels.
First, and the most obvious, is to identify where these people are and what exactly are their needs. We could reach out to charities that work locally and read about their selection criteria, their reach, and the speed of delivery. In addition, we could also go a step further by not relying solely on charitable organizations (due to bureaucracy that may make them less efficient than one would desire) but also by asking our families and friends if they know people who are in need of assistance. Once the people are identified, the next step would be to identify their needs (whether it is food, clothing, tuition fees, appliances, loan or utility bill payments, etc.). Once the needs are identified, they could either be supplied directly or financial aid can be given to them in the form of cash.
Second, and the most crucial, we need to find ways to create sufficient sustainable income for these identified families so that they may be able to rely on themselves. We could dedicate our time to teaching skills they require to obtain better jobs, advise them on how to create sustainable businesses through talent or skills they may have, create or identify jobs where they can be employed, and be involved in managing their income and advising them on how to reduce their expenses. This step is the most crucial because it allows those in need to feel independent and also gives them a sense of belonging in the larger society. This has a significant impact on their personalities, their children’s development, and the greater society.
Third, and the most impactful, is to spread awareness of cases such as Ayesha’s in our society. We could begin by discussing these issues and inviting others to join efforts in making sure we dedicate some of our time and wealth to those who are less fortunate.
In summary, the UAE is not exceptional when it comes to poverty and has evident cases of people who are in need of immediate help. In order to reach out to these families and address their needs effectively, I believe that people like you and I can make the most difference by working on these three different parallels. By identifying the ones in need and their requirements, finding ways for them to be financially sustainable independently, and spreading awareness of their cases, we can significantly reduce poverty in the UAE and contribute towards a larger scale solution from the country.
The Transition from Ramadan
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine September 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1375
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar echoing from the minarets all around the globe, happiness and joy on the faces of young and old, and humble generosity being witnessed around us. Yes, Eid has finally arrived and Muslims have bid farewell to the beloved month of Ramadan. A new beginning is at the footsteps and a fresh start to people’s personal and professional lives is anticipated.
As with every journey in life, the fasting and good deeds of Ramadan have a precise purpose, and that is to attain piety and be conscious of the actions we perform.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain piety” -The Holy Quran [2: 183]
That said, it should be of no surprise that the fruit of the time and effort invested in Ramadan should be evident throughout the year. Let us take a step back and assess if Ramadan truly allowed its participants to attain the year round piety mentioned above. First of all, allow me to define piety as the state of “God-consciousness” that brings forth self-restraint; fear of displeasing the Almighty, and as a result, conscious behavior. Second, let us split piety into the realms of worshiping the Most Merciful and good conduct towards others.
In the realm of worship, Ramadan has taught Muslims many lessons through its rituals. Through the act of fasting, Ramadan has taught Muslims to be patient (restraining oneself from food, water and desires). Furthermore, through the repeated nightly prayers, Ramadan has taught Muslims persistence in achieving their goals, commitment to specific deadlines, and abiding by specific rules of fasting and prayers. As we transition into the post Ramadan period, the traits of patience, persistence towards achieving any kind of goals, prompt timing, and abiding by regulation can and should be maintained throughout the year. This could be applied to all areas of Muslims’ daily lives and is not restricted to worship alone.
I believe an excellent way to keep this segment of piety alive throughout the year is to practice some Ramadan rituals regularly. These include praying late at night as well as fasting certain days of the week or the month.
“Deeds are shown (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown when I am fasting.” – Prophet Muhammad- Peace be Upon Him (al-Tirmidhi :747)
In the realm of good conduct towards others, Ramadan has taught many to be gentle and wary of others’ concerns in an effort to seek the All-Knowing’s pleasure. Acts of charity, gift-giving, visiting family members, controlling temper, and encouraging good behavior have been typical in the holy month. Again, as we transition into the post Ramadan period, these acts can and should be preserved and regularly performed.
“Those who spend (freely in the path of Allah), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) people;- for Allah loves those who do good” – The Holy Quran [3:134]
However, as Ramadan passes by every year, a lot of the piety that was attained disappears along with it. Therefore, failing to achieve its purpose as explained above. In order to maintain this piety and ensure Ramadan’s success, it is incumbent for Muslims to learn from this holy month and evaluate themselves throughout the year by feeding their piety via consistent acts of worship and acts of good conduct towards others. As a result, Muslims celebrating this Eid should base their happiness and joy on the achievement of a lasting level of piety that will fuel the year ahead.
In summary, the purpose of Ramadan is to attain piety. This piety is achieved through the lessons Muslims have learnt in Ramadan in patience, persistence towards achieving goals, and abiding by timelines and regulations. In addition, this piety is reflected in Muslims’ actions of kindness towards others. The piety achieved in Ramadan is intended to persist throughout the year and only then is Ramadan’s effectiveness validated.
“To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has passed away, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die.” – Abu Bakr Al Siddique, 1st Caliph of Islam, Sahih Al Bukhari [vol 5, book 59, 733]
Similarly, if anyone amongst you used to worship just Ramadan, then Ramadan has passed. But if anyone of you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Let us ensure that our efforts and time contribute towards a bigger goal. Let us keep the fruits of Ramadan alive throughout the year. Let us attain piety.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1375
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar echoing from the minarets all around the globe, happiness and joy on the faces of young and old, and humble generosity being witnessed around us. Yes, Eid has finally arrived and Muslims have bid farewell to the beloved month of Ramadan. A new beginning is at the footsteps and a fresh start to people’s personal and professional lives is anticipated.
As with every journey in life, the fasting and good deeds of Ramadan have a precise purpose, and that is to attain piety and be conscious of the actions we perform.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain piety” -The Holy Quran [2: 183]
That said, it should be of no surprise that the fruit of the time and effort invested in Ramadan should be evident throughout the year. Let us take a step back and assess if Ramadan truly allowed its participants to attain the year round piety mentioned above. First of all, allow me to define piety as the state of “God-consciousness” that brings forth self-restraint; fear of displeasing the Almighty, and as a result, conscious behavior. Second, let us split piety into the realms of worshiping the Most Merciful and good conduct towards others.
In the realm of worship, Ramadan has taught Muslims many lessons through its rituals. Through the act of fasting, Ramadan has taught Muslims to be patient (restraining oneself from food, water and desires). Furthermore, through the repeated nightly prayers, Ramadan has taught Muslims persistence in achieving their goals, commitment to specific deadlines, and abiding by specific rules of fasting and prayers. As we transition into the post Ramadan period, the traits of patience, persistence towards achieving any kind of goals, prompt timing, and abiding by regulation can and should be maintained throughout the year. This could be applied to all areas of Muslims’ daily lives and is not restricted to worship alone.
I believe an excellent way to keep this segment of piety alive throughout the year is to practice some Ramadan rituals regularly. These include praying late at night as well as fasting certain days of the week or the month.
“Deeds are shown (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown when I am fasting.” – Prophet Muhammad- Peace be Upon Him (al-Tirmidhi :747)
In the realm of good conduct towards others, Ramadan has taught many to be gentle and wary of others’ concerns in an effort to seek the All-Knowing’s pleasure. Acts of charity, gift-giving, visiting family members, controlling temper, and encouraging good behavior have been typical in the holy month. Again, as we transition into the post Ramadan period, these acts can and should be preserved and regularly performed.
“Those who spend (freely in the path of Allah), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) people;- for Allah loves those who do good” – The Holy Quran [3:134]
However, as Ramadan passes by every year, a lot of the piety that was attained disappears along with it. Therefore, failing to achieve its purpose as explained above. In order to maintain this piety and ensure Ramadan’s success, it is incumbent for Muslims to learn from this holy month and evaluate themselves throughout the year by feeding their piety via consistent acts of worship and acts of good conduct towards others. As a result, Muslims celebrating this Eid should base their happiness and joy on the achievement of a lasting level of piety that will fuel the year ahead.
In summary, the purpose of Ramadan is to attain piety. This piety is achieved through the lessons Muslims have learnt in Ramadan in patience, persistence towards achieving goals, and abiding by timelines and regulations. In addition, this piety is reflected in Muslims’ actions of kindness towards others. The piety achieved in Ramadan is intended to persist throughout the year and only then is Ramadan’s effectiveness validated.
“To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has passed away, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die.” – Abu Bakr Al Siddique, 1st Caliph of Islam, Sahih Al Bukhari [vol 5, book 59, 733]
Similarly, if anyone amongst you used to worship just Ramadan, then Ramadan has passed. But if anyone of you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Let us ensure that our efforts and time contribute towards a bigger goal. Let us keep the fruits of Ramadan alive throughout the year. Let us attain piety.
A Balanced Nation
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine August 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1267
While enjoying a Johnny Rockets burger in Riyadh last month, I could not help but notice the different types of people sitting all around me. There were women who were not allowed to talk to the waiter and there were others who were dressed as though they were participating in a beauty pageant. There were couples who did not say a word and others who would not stop talking. There were families respectfully having a meal and there were girls flirting with boys in the “singles’ section”. Observing the vast differences in people made me think of a greater phenomenon the Muslim region is witnessing; a phenomenon that has become more and more evident in the past few years, and that is the phenomenon of extremism. While extremism is something that is becoming evident globally and across different cultures and religions, I would like to shed light on the topic through perspectives that pertain to Islam.
“Thus, have We made of you a Nation [that is] justly balanced …”
–The Holy Quran [2:143]
Although it is contrary to Islamic ideals, in today’s Muslims’ societies, extremism has begun to surface in every aspect of life. Muslim terrorists are killing innocent civilians, Muslim women are being banned from education or driving, and other Muslims are diving deep into spirituality or deifying popular figures. In addition, “moderate” Muslims have also been affected by the extremism they have witnessed. Some of them have rebelled and abandoned Islam in its entirety and others have modified Islam to suit their perceptions of the modern world.
A multitude of factors could have caused this phenomenon; however, I believe these extreme pursuits or habits may have been the subsequent results that occurred while the society was adapting to the modernization and development of their respective regions. I believe that extremism, whether in openness or in intolerance, can be detrimental to any society. Hence, for our societies specifically, extremism needs to be eradicated in order to preserve the Islamic essence emphasized in the Quranic verse above.
In my opinion, Muslims can easily achieve that and return to the state of being a “Balanced Nation” by following 3 main principles.
First, Muslims should know and have faith in their religion based on evidence, not human logic that may at times be affected by current circumstances leading it to be fallible. This evidence could be found in Quranic verses, authentic accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (May Peace be Upon Him), accounts of the lives of the Pious Predecessors, or the consensus of Muslim scholars.
“Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those therein would have fallen in total disorder. However, We have brought to them their advice, but it is their advice that they are averse to.” –The Holy Quran [23:71]
Second, Muslims should acknowledge their religion in its entirety. Since Islam is a total way of life, it requires its followers to conform to it as a whole.
“O Ye who believe! Enter into Islam wholly,,” –The Holy Quran [2:208]
It is important that when accepting Islam as a whole, its true form should be considered rather than the altered forms as conveyed by extremists. Needless to say, accepting parts of the Quran and omitting others can lead to extremism and corruption such as the killing of innocent civilians, self inflicted pain for the sake of religion, and extreme rebellion.
“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you…” –The Holy Quran [2:85]
Last and most importantly, Muslims should make an effort to learn, practice, and teach religion to themselves and their families. They should constantly strive to evaluate themselves and improve their surroundings as much as possible in order to avoid the birth of extremist ideologies in Islamic societies and to preserve the Islamic essence of balance.
“…Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…”
–The Holy Quran [13:11]
In summary, the Islamic societies have begun witnessing extremist ideologies in different aspects of life whereas Islam calls to being a justly balanced nation. In order to tackle extremism, Muslims should know their religion based on evidence, accept Islam in its entirety, and strive to learn and teach their families the balance, moderation, ease, and good character of Islam.
“…Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you..”
–The Holy Quran [2:185]
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1267
While enjoying a Johnny Rockets burger in Riyadh last month, I could not help but notice the different types of people sitting all around me. There were women who were not allowed to talk to the waiter and there were others who were dressed as though they were participating in a beauty pageant. There were couples who did not say a word and others who would not stop talking. There were families respectfully having a meal and there were girls flirting with boys in the “singles’ section”. Observing the vast differences in people made me think of a greater phenomenon the Muslim region is witnessing; a phenomenon that has become more and more evident in the past few years, and that is the phenomenon of extremism. While extremism is something that is becoming evident globally and across different cultures and religions, I would like to shed light on the topic through perspectives that pertain to Islam.
“Thus, have We made of you a Nation [that is] justly balanced …”
–The Holy Quran [2:143]
Although it is contrary to Islamic ideals, in today’s Muslims’ societies, extremism has begun to surface in every aspect of life. Muslim terrorists are killing innocent civilians, Muslim women are being banned from education or driving, and other Muslims are diving deep into spirituality or deifying popular figures. In addition, “moderate” Muslims have also been affected by the extremism they have witnessed. Some of them have rebelled and abandoned Islam in its entirety and others have modified Islam to suit their perceptions of the modern world.
A multitude of factors could have caused this phenomenon; however, I believe these extreme pursuits or habits may have been the subsequent results that occurred while the society was adapting to the modernization and development of their respective regions. I believe that extremism, whether in openness or in intolerance, can be detrimental to any society. Hence, for our societies specifically, extremism needs to be eradicated in order to preserve the Islamic essence emphasized in the Quranic verse above.
In my opinion, Muslims can easily achieve that and return to the state of being a “Balanced Nation” by following 3 main principles.
First, Muslims should know and have faith in their religion based on evidence, not human logic that may at times be affected by current circumstances leading it to be fallible. This evidence could be found in Quranic verses, authentic accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s life (May Peace be Upon Him), accounts of the lives of the Pious Predecessors, or the consensus of Muslim scholars.
“Had the truth followed their desires, the heavens and the earth and all those therein would have fallen in total disorder. However, We have brought to them their advice, but it is their advice that they are averse to.” –The Holy Quran [23:71]
Second, Muslims should acknowledge their religion in its entirety. Since Islam is a total way of life, it requires its followers to conform to it as a whole.
“O Ye who believe! Enter into Islam wholly,,” –The Holy Quran [2:208]
It is important that when accepting Islam as a whole, its true form should be considered rather than the altered forms as conveyed by extremists. Needless to say, accepting parts of the Quran and omitting others can lead to extremism and corruption such as the killing of innocent civilians, self inflicted pain for the sake of religion, and extreme rebellion.
“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you…” –The Holy Quran [2:85]
Last and most importantly, Muslims should make an effort to learn, practice, and teach religion to themselves and their families. They should constantly strive to evaluate themselves and improve their surroundings as much as possible in order to avoid the birth of extremist ideologies in Islamic societies and to preserve the Islamic essence of balance.
“…Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves…”
–The Holy Quran [13:11]
In summary, the Islamic societies have begun witnessing extremist ideologies in different aspects of life whereas Islam calls to being a justly balanced nation. In order to tackle extremism, Muslims should know their religion based on evidence, accept Islam in its entirety, and strive to learn and teach their families the balance, moderation, ease, and good character of Islam.
“…Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you..”
–The Holy Quran [2:185]
Our Way with a Sprinkle of Change
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine July 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1222
Although politics has never been my cup of tea, there have been few incidents over the past few weeks that made me feel obliged to address an issue of relevance to our region. In light of the current events in the Arab world, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed many different opinions arise on the need for social and political reform. Mainly driven by global media, these opinions seemed to lack an important element since they all brought forth ideas that have been designed for peoples and places other than ours. These ideas, I believe, could be detrimental to our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
So what can be done to address this? The ruling families of the GCC region have all in one way or another responded by forms of generous stimulus packages (increased salaries, increased benefits, subsidies, education scholarships, and increases in budgets for healthcare, education, and services). Albeit, a wonderful short term solution for earning citizens’ loyalty, in the long run this could affect the GCC’s development and ability to compete internationally while still not targeting the main issues. While many reasons exist for the spread of ideas that are not tailored to our dynamics, in my opinion, the main reason is the reduced involvement of GCC citizens’ in managing their affairs. As with every nation, certain policies or political decisions can act against the interests of a few. In the absence of involvement in these decisions, certain groups may feel left out.
In the past, elected tribe leaders would make sure that citizens’ concerns are communicated clearly to the ruling families through clear and simple access routes. However, with the development of society and the detachment of families from the larger tribal structure, that tribal system may have became slightly inefficient. Not all information is accurately captured and conveyed to the ruling parties. In addition, due to the lack of a structured opinion voicing system that is clearly defined as a citizen’s right, many citizens are hesitant to voice their concerns. This could be because of fear, pride, social norms of modesty, and many more reasons.
I believe that the system previously in place may still fit the current GCC societies provided certain factors are tailored to the newly evolved social structures of the region and that the citizens take a more responsible approach in conveying their concerns. The following 2 points are brief suggestions.
First, GCC countries could begin institutionalizing congregational structures into official bodies that represent the people in certain localities rather than tribal affiliations (i.e. areas within cities such as Jumeirah, Adliya, Olaya, etc). The representatives of these bodies do not necessarily have to be elected by the people and can be appointed by the ruling parties. However, they should be responsible and accountable for conveying the concerns of people within their areas. GCC Citizens need to have access to these official bodies defined as a right that can be practiced should they desire to and they should be educated in matters pertaining to this right. This is currently being done at a less organized level. Some GCC countries have begun hosting radio talk shows that manage the daily affairs and act as a body for conflict resolution. Other GCC countries have established publically elected bodies but access sometimes is still restricted or difficult.
Second, GCC citizens need to be civil and maintain some basic principles in conveying their concerns to the people who manage their affairs. Some principles are so basic and generic and are even defined as Islamic principles such as: adherence to the governing law, respect and diligence while conveying information, offering criticism and advice secretly and with respect rather than publicly, and having patience. Furthermore, I believe GCC citizens should try and make the best of the current channels available to them and take a more pro-active approach rather than ridicule or complain aimlessly.
In addition, I believe that public figures and religious scholars can facilitate the creation of a handbook of guidelines that explain the manner of ideal communication, and advice people on the correct channels to voice their concerns.
In summary, although I am not a political expert, I have offered my observations based on my keen interest on society. I believe that if GCC countries allow citizens to have the right to voice their concerns through efficient institutions by locality and GCC citizens take a more responsible approach in doing so, many concerns will be heard and addressed if possible. This would reduce the amount of open-ended bad-mouthing or extreme foreign opinions from arising in society and in turn would maintain our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1222
Although politics has never been my cup of tea, there have been few incidents over the past few weeks that made me feel obliged to address an issue of relevance to our region. In light of the current events in the Arab world, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed many different opinions arise on the need for social and political reform. Mainly driven by global media, these opinions seemed to lack an important element since they all brought forth ideas that have been designed for peoples and places other than ours. These ideas, I believe, could be detrimental to our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
So what can be done to address this? The ruling families of the GCC region have all in one way or another responded by forms of generous stimulus packages (increased salaries, increased benefits, subsidies, education scholarships, and increases in budgets for healthcare, education, and services). Albeit, a wonderful short term solution for earning citizens’ loyalty, in the long run this could affect the GCC’s development and ability to compete internationally while still not targeting the main issues. While many reasons exist for the spread of ideas that are not tailored to our dynamics, in my opinion, the main reason is the reduced involvement of GCC citizens’ in managing their affairs. As with every nation, certain policies or political decisions can act against the interests of a few. In the absence of involvement in these decisions, certain groups may feel left out.
In the past, elected tribe leaders would make sure that citizens’ concerns are communicated clearly to the ruling families through clear and simple access routes. However, with the development of society and the detachment of families from the larger tribal structure, that tribal system may have became slightly inefficient. Not all information is accurately captured and conveyed to the ruling parties. In addition, due to the lack of a structured opinion voicing system that is clearly defined as a citizen’s right, many citizens are hesitant to voice their concerns. This could be because of fear, pride, social norms of modesty, and many more reasons.
I believe that the system previously in place may still fit the current GCC societies provided certain factors are tailored to the newly evolved social structures of the region and that the citizens take a more responsible approach in conveying their concerns. The following 2 points are brief suggestions.
First, GCC countries could begin institutionalizing congregational structures into official bodies that represent the people in certain localities rather than tribal affiliations (i.e. areas within cities such as Jumeirah, Adliya, Olaya, etc). The representatives of these bodies do not necessarily have to be elected by the people and can be appointed by the ruling parties. However, they should be responsible and accountable for conveying the concerns of people within their areas. GCC Citizens need to have access to these official bodies defined as a right that can be practiced should they desire to and they should be educated in matters pertaining to this right. This is currently being done at a less organized level. Some GCC countries have begun hosting radio talk shows that manage the daily affairs and act as a body for conflict resolution. Other GCC countries have established publically elected bodies but access sometimes is still restricted or difficult.
Second, GCC citizens need to be civil and maintain some basic principles in conveying their concerns to the people who manage their affairs. Some principles are so basic and generic and are even defined as Islamic principles such as: adherence to the governing law, respect and diligence while conveying information, offering criticism and advice secretly and with respect rather than publicly, and having patience. Furthermore, I believe GCC citizens should try and make the best of the current channels available to them and take a more pro-active approach rather than ridicule or complain aimlessly.
In addition, I believe that public figures and religious scholars can facilitate the creation of a handbook of guidelines that explain the manner of ideal communication, and advice people on the correct channels to voice their concerns.
In summary, although I am not a political expert, I have offered my observations based on my keen interest on society. I believe that if GCC countries allow citizens to have the right to voice their concerns through efficient institutions by locality and GCC citizens take a more responsible approach in doing so, many concerns will be heard and addressed if possible. This would reduce the amount of open-ended bad-mouthing or extreme foreign opinions from arising in society and in turn would maintain our nations’ stability, development, and overall welfare.
The Strive for Quality Healthcare and Education in the UAE
This article was first published in Sail e-Magazine June 2011 issue
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1139
During this past month, I have come across many articles, tweets, and other publications that ridicule the standard of healthcare and education in the UAE. Although for the most part the criticism may be valid, I believe there is also a lot being done to combat the lagging standards of education and healthcare in the UAE. However, the effectiveness of what is being done is still questionable. In this month’s article, I will attempt to give a very high level summary of the situation as I see it and offer some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the efforts to harbor quality products & services.
In the past few years, the UAE has been trying to tackle the identified issue of low quality healthcare and education by employing several methods. Some attempts included changing the government officials responsible for those industries, creating stricter guidelines and regulations, providing interactive online services, and incentivizing the private sector to take a lead role in developing these areas.
Although these improvements were hoped to drastically alter the efficiency and quality of services provided, I believe the upside effect was minimal in terms of impact on quality. In reality, what the new services introduced was a rigid and strict system that posed as an obstacle towards improvement of quality rather than simplifying its introduction into the UAE. For example, very recently, the UAE could not register a specialized surgical nurse to assist in surgery due to the lack of such a classification in the system, even though the use of such a nurse would increase efficiency of surgeries and secure safety measures for the patient. Many similar non-value added situations can be witnessed, whether it be attesting your college degree, admitting children into school, or even simply getting a medical check-up. These inefficiencies tend to impede quality improvement due to the level of complexity they add to the process.
In my opinion, the efforts exhausted to improve healthcare and education have not been effective for simply the reason of not understanding the industries’ requirements. The introduction of quality is not merely putting in stricter guidelines but requires an understanding of the situation and ability to adapt to each on a case by case basis. Based on my experience, the following two general rules of thumb would open doors to drastic quality improvement in the realms of healthcare and education.
First, it is crucial to maintain a high quality workforce that is competent enough to understand the challenges of each health/education provider as well as the requirements for delivering high quality. This implies the need to increase the salaries of policy makers and regulators to attract the best talent. However, high salaries are not enough to attract and retain such talent. It is crucial that their driving forces be identified and investments be made to foster them. These could include personal research funds, membership to global societies of policy makers, regular training, and travel to benchmark standards and share results. It is important that every employee be focused on.
Second, flexibility.. flexibility.. flexibility. In order to facilitate change, it is very important that processes and regulation be flexible enough to accommodate innovative techniques that may not be industry norms but proven to be effective and safe. For example, a new teaching method or surgical technique should be approved although it is not the industry standard as long as it can achieve outstanding results. Without flexibility, the ability to innovate or improve quality provision would be impossible. Innovation and change needs to arise from a flexible system where not only the rules can be created based on requirements but also where the employees have the flexibility to think outside the box.
In summary, although many efforts have been put into improving the quality of healthcare and education provision in the UAE, the efforts have not been successful. A major contributor to the failure in quality improvement in these areas is the mere lack of understanding of the industries’ requirements. I believe that with the employment of a competent workforce and a flexible environment, the UAE can achieve a better understanding of these industries’ and accelerate quality improvement.
http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1139
During this past month, I have come across many articles, tweets, and other publications that ridicule the standard of healthcare and education in the UAE. Although for the most part the criticism may be valid, I believe there is also a lot being done to combat the lagging standards of education and healthcare in the UAE. However, the effectiveness of what is being done is still questionable. In this month’s article, I will attempt to give a very high level summary of the situation as I see it and offer some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the efforts to harbor quality products & services.
In the past few years, the UAE has been trying to tackle the identified issue of low quality healthcare and education by employing several methods. Some attempts included changing the government officials responsible for those industries, creating stricter guidelines and regulations, providing interactive online services, and incentivizing the private sector to take a lead role in developing these areas.
Although these improvements were hoped to drastically alter the efficiency and quality of services provided, I believe the upside effect was minimal in terms of impact on quality. In reality, what the new services introduced was a rigid and strict system that posed as an obstacle towards improvement of quality rather than simplifying its introduction into the UAE. For example, very recently, the UAE could not register a specialized surgical nurse to assist in surgery due to the lack of such a classification in the system, even though the use of such a nurse would increase efficiency of surgeries and secure safety measures for the patient. Many similar non-value added situations can be witnessed, whether it be attesting your college degree, admitting children into school, or even simply getting a medical check-up. These inefficiencies tend to impede quality improvement due to the level of complexity they add to the process.
In my opinion, the efforts exhausted to improve healthcare and education have not been effective for simply the reason of not understanding the industries’ requirements. The introduction of quality is not merely putting in stricter guidelines but requires an understanding of the situation and ability to adapt to each on a case by case basis. Based on my experience, the following two general rules of thumb would open doors to drastic quality improvement in the realms of healthcare and education.
First, it is crucial to maintain a high quality workforce that is competent enough to understand the challenges of each health/education provider as well as the requirements for delivering high quality. This implies the need to increase the salaries of policy makers and regulators to attract the best talent. However, high salaries are not enough to attract and retain such talent. It is crucial that their driving forces be identified and investments be made to foster them. These could include personal research funds, membership to global societies of policy makers, regular training, and travel to benchmark standards and share results. It is important that every employee be focused on.
Second, flexibility.. flexibility.. flexibility. In order to facilitate change, it is very important that processes and regulation be flexible enough to accommodate innovative techniques that may not be industry norms but proven to be effective and safe. For example, a new teaching method or surgical technique should be approved although it is not the industry standard as long as it can achieve outstanding results. Without flexibility, the ability to innovate or improve quality provision would be impossible. Innovation and change needs to arise from a flexible system where not only the rules can be created based on requirements but also where the employees have the flexibility to think outside the box.
In summary, although many efforts have been put into improving the quality of healthcare and education provision in the UAE, the efforts have not been successful. A major contributor to the failure in quality improvement in these areas is the mere lack of understanding of the industries’ requirements. I believe that with the employment of a competent workforce and a flexible environment, the UAE can achieve a better understanding of these industries’ and accelerate quality improvement.
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