Follow the latest updates on Hajj 2021 here
As millions of Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, few of them are also preparing to undertake Hajj or the pilgrimage, one of Islam’s main pillars.
The 10 days leading up to Eid are some of the most sacred days for Muslims since those who aren't undertaking the pilgrimage will be fasting, reading extra passages of the Holy Quran, praying and donating to charity.
The pilgrimage, a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for all Muslims who have the financial means and are physically able to perform its rituals, reminds us that sacrifice and flexibility are integral to both business owners and pilgrims performing the Hajj.
I haven’t performed Hajj yet, but my father who has been a few times recalls that being flexible is key to getting the most out of the spiritual journey.
A pilgrim dresses modestly, walks long distances and has to endure crowded religious sites, while remaining reserved and calm. Adopting a flexible mindset helps ease the hardships of the trip. “Be easy-going and everything will run smoothly,” he said.
In business, flexibility is also key to continuity. An important lesson I learnt from my experience as an entrepreneur is that the more flexible I became when put in an unfamiliar situation, the easier it became to handle.
For example, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we had to shift our entire business model to operate remotely. Although working from outside the office was an arrangement my company adopted years before the pandemic, the circumstances made the process more challenging. We had to meet clients for the first time remotely, close deals and even had to solve financial challenges without being in an office.
If we hadn’t been flexible and pivoted with every new challenge thrown our way, I would have had to downsize my business significantly and could have lost both my customers and team.
On the other hand, not embracing flexibility could be detrimental to your business. An acquaintance of mine ran a successful Greek restaurant that didn’t offer delivery or take out services to maintain exclusivity. He believed that delivery services would rob his clients from the unique experience provided in his restaurant. However, when dine-in halted amid the pandemic, he decided to not offer delivery and instead wait until the crisis ended. His restaurant eventually had to close.
Being flexible would have helped his business, but equally important was learning to sacrifice and let go of certain habits that could sabotage growth.
When performing Hajj, pilgrims have to adhere to a code of conduct. They should refrain from using any foul language or from arguing with one another and should not fight, among other things.
Sacrifice is important if you want to be successful in business. In the initial stages, we will be sacrificing our time and our money or even a day job we had in the hopes of our dream business doing well.
The most important sacrifice I made was getting out of my comfort zone. During my teenage years, I didn’t like taking risks and I feared situations I couldn’t control. Being an entrepreneur, I had to let go of that mindset and that was probably one of the best investments I made in myself. I became more confident, fearless and welcoming of change.
As many of us will be unwinding this Eid holiday, I ask you to think about how embracing more flexibility and sacrifice can help your business in the long run.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati journalist and entrepreneur, who manages her marketing and communications company in Abu Dhabi.
SPECS
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
