What is Global Warming

Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they die.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the sun’s heat and light is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. This is like when heat is trapped in a car. On a very hot day, the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot. This is because the heat and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it can’t get back out. This is what the greenhouse effect does to the earth. The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it can’t get out. As a result, the temperature rises. The squiggle lines coming from the sun are visible light and the lines and arrows inside the car are infrared light.

The sun’s heat can get into the car through the windows but is then trapped. This makes what ever the place might be, a greenhouse, a car, a building, or the earth’s atmosphere, hotter. This diagram shows the heat coming into a car as visible light (light you can see) and infrared light (heat). Once the light is inside the car, it is trapped and the heat builds up, just like it does in the earth’s atmosphere.

Sometimes the temperature can change in a way that helps us. The greenhouse effect makes the earth appropriate for people to live on. Without it, the earth would be freezing, or on the other hand it would be burning hot. It would be freezing at night because the sun would be down. We would not get the sun’s heat and light to make the night somewhat warm. During the day, especially during the summer, it would be burning because the sun would be up with no atmosphere to filter it, so people, plants, and animals would be exposed to all the light and heat.

Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die. They would die because there would be less food (plants like corn, wheat, and other vegetables and fruits). This would happen because the plants would not be able to take the heat. This would cause us to have less food to eat, but it would also limit the food that animals have. With less food, like grass, for the animals that we need to survive (like cows) we would even have less food. Gradually, people, plants, and animals would all die of hunger. 

What are greenhouse gasses?

Greenhouse gasses are gasses are in the earth’s atmosphere that collect heat and light from the sun. With too many greenhouse gasses in the air, the earth’s atmosphere will trap too much heat and the earth will get too hot. As a result people, animals, and plants would die because the heat would be too strong.

What is global warming doing to the environment?

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming makes the sea rise, and when the sea rises, the water covers many low land islands. This is a big problem for many of the plants, animals, and people on islands. The water covers the plants and causes some of them to die. When they die, the animals lose a source of food, along with their habitat. Although animals have a better ability to adapt to what happens than plants do, they may die also. When the plants and animals die, people lose two sources of food, plant food and animal food. They may also lose their homes. As a result, they would also have to leave the area or die. This would be called a break in the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing happening that leads to another and so on. 

The oceans are affected by global warming in other ways, as well. Many things that are happening to the ocean are linked to global warming. One thing that is happening is warm water, caused from global warming, is harming and killing algae in the ocean.

Algae is a producer that you can see floating on the top of the water. (A producer is something that makes food for other animals through photosynthesis, like grass.) This floating green algae is food to many consumers in the ocean. (A consumer is something that eats the producers.) One kind of a consumer is small fish. There are many others like crabs, some whales, and many other animals. Fewer algae is a problem because there is less food for us and many animals in the sea.

Global warming is doing many things to people as well as animals and plants. It is killing algae, but it is also destroying many huge forests. The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain. Acid rain gradually destroys almost everything it touches. Global warming is also causing many more fires that wipe out whole forests. This happens because global warming can make the earth very hot. In forests, some plants and trees leaves can be so dry that they catch on fire.

What causes global warming? 

Many things cause global warming. One thing that causes global warming is electrical pollution. Electricity causes pollution in many ways, some worse than others. In most cases, fossil fuels are burned to create electricity. Fossil fuels are made of dead plants and animals. Some examples of fossil fuels are oil and petroleum. Many pollutants (chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land) are sent into the air when fossil fuels are burned. Some of these chemicals are called greenhouse gasses.

We use these sources of energy much more than the sources that give off less pollution. Petroleum, one of the sources of energy, is used a lot. It is used for transportation, making electricity, and making many other things. Although this source of energy gives off a lot of pollution, it is used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

Some other examples of using energy and polluting the air are:

Turning on a light

Watching T.V.

Listening to a stereo

Washing or drying clothes

Using a hair dryer

Riding in a car

Heating a meal in the microwave

Using an air conditioner

Playing a video game

Using a dish washer

When you do these things, you are causing more greenhouse gasses to be sent into the air. Greenhouse gasses are sent into the air because creating the electricity you use to do these things causes pollution. If you think of how many times a day you do these things, it’s a lot. You even have to add in how many other people do these things! That turns out to be a lot of pollutants going into the air a day because of people like us using electricity. The least amount of electricity you use, the better.

When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to landfills. Landfills are those big hills that you go by on an expressway that stink. They are full of garbage. The garbage is then sometimes burned. This sends an enormous amount of greenhouse gasses into the air and makes global warming worse.

Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut down trees. Trees and other plants collect carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas.

Carbon dioxide is the air that our body lets out when we breathe. With fewer trees, it is harder for people to breathe because there is more CO2 in the air, and we don’t breathe CO2, we breathe oxygen. Plants collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they give back oxygen that we breathe in. With less trees and other plants, such as algae, there is less air for us, and more greenhouse gases are sent into the air. This means that it is very important to protect our trees to stop the greenhouse effect, and also so we can breathe and live.

This gas, CO2, collects light and heat (radiant energy), produced by the sun, and this makes the earth warmer. The heat and light from the sun is produced in the center of the sun. (The sun has layers just like the earth.)The dirty yellow color on outside is the surface. The light and dark yellow colored area is the convection zone. The orange colored area is the radiative zone, and the red colored area is the core. The squiggle lines represent radiant energy. 

This layer is called the core. Just like a core of an apple, it is in the middle. Here there is a very high temperature, about 27,000,000°F. This heat escapes out of this layer to the next layer, the radiative zone. This layer is cooler, about 4,500,000°F. Gradually, the heat and light will pass through the convection zone at a temperature of around 2,000,000°F. When it gets to the surface, the temperature is about 10,000°F. Finally, the heat and light is sent into space. This is called radiant energy (heat and light). The radiant energy reaches the earth’s atmosphere. As a result of this process we get light and heat. When you pollute, you send chemicals into the air that destroy our atmosphere, so more heat and light cannot escape from the earth’s atmosphere.

What are people doing to stop global warming? 

People are doing many things to try to stop global warming. One thing people are doing is carpooling. Carpooling is driving with someone to a place that you are both going to. This minimizes the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air by a car.

Another thing that people are doing is being more careful about leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights. A lot of people are taking time away from the television, and instead, they are spending more time outdoors. This helps our planet out a lot. Now, more people are even riding busses, walking to school, and riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Planting trees and recycling also helps. If you recycle, less trash goes to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.

Watch what you buy. Many things, such as hairspray and deodorant, now are made to have less of an impact on the atmosphere. Less greenhouse gasses will rise into the air, and global warming will slow down.

What is the government doing to stop global warming?

The government is doing many things to help stop global warming. The government made a law called The Clean Air Act so there is less air pollution. Global warming is making people get very bad illnesses that could make them disabled, very sick, and sometimes even die. The Clean Air Act is making many companies change their products to decrease these problems. Part of the law says that you may not put a certain amount of pollutants in the air. Hairspray and some other products, like foam cups, had this problem. Making and using these products let out too much volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), ozone-destroying chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), and related chemicals (such as CO2) into the air. Now, almost all of these products have a label on them telling people what this product can do to the environment and many people. By 2015 all products listed on the Clean Air Act will have this label on them:

WARNING: contains or manufactured with (the chemical would go here. For example chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), a substance which harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere. 

Almost all of the other chemicals that could be harmful will have this label on them hopefully by this time (2015) as well.

The Clean Air Act has also made car companies change some of the things inside of the cars. Cars pollute a lot. While cars make more than half of the world’s smog (visible pollution in the air), many things that cars need to move and heat up make even more pollution. Some things that are inside of cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles, like gasoline, pollute the air when the fuel is burned. It comes out as a chemical and when mixed in the air, forms smog. Smog is a kind of pollution that you see in the form of a cloud. If you have ever been to California you can see a lot of smog in some places. Sometimes the smog gets so bad that you cannot see at all! Smog forms when car exhaust, pollution from homes, and pollution from factories mixes in the air and has a chemical reaction. The sun’s heat and light add to the reaction.

Cars, buses, and trucks are also responsible for over 50% of dangerous chemicals let into the air. Some of these chemicals can cause cancer, birth defects, trouble breathing, brain and nerve damage, lung injures, and burning eyes. Some of the pollutants are so harmful that they can even cause death.

What are some of the other dangerous chemicals?

Some other chemicals that cause air pollution and are bad for the environment and people are:

Ozone- Ozone is produced when other pollution chemicals combine. It is the basic element of smog. It causes many different kinds of health issues dealing with the lungs. It can damage plants and limit sight. It can also cause a lot of property damage.

VOC’s (volatile organic compounds, smog formers)- VOC’s are let into the air when fuel is burned. This chemical can cause cancer. It can also harm plants.

NOx (nitrogen dioxide)- This chemical forms smog. It is also formed by burning sources of energy, like gas, coal, and oil, and by cars. This chemical causes problems in the respiratory system (including the lungs). It causes acid rain, and it can damage trees. This chemical can eat away buildings and statues.

CO (carbon monoxide)- The source of this chemical is burning sources of energy. It causes blood vessel problems and respiratory failures.

PM-10 (particulate matter)- The source of this chemical is plowing and burning down fields. It can cause death and lung damage. It can make it hard for people to breathe. The smoke, soot, ash, and dust formed by this chemical can make many cities dirty.

Sulfur Dioxide- This chemical is produced by making paper and metals. This chemical can cause permanent lung damage. It can cause acid rain which kills trees and damages building and statues.

Lead- This chemical is in paint, leaded gasoline, smelters, and in lead storage batteries. It can cause many brain and nerve damages and digestive problems.

Kids can help stop global warming, too!!

Although adults do many things to help stop global warming, kids can do just as much. Kids can’t do hard things like making a law, but we can do easier things like not watching as much TV. You can listen to your parents when they say, turn off your lights or go play outside. Listening to them and actually trying to help can help you, your environment, and the world.

How to Prevent Computer Viruses

Don't Let a Virus Break Your Computer

A computer virus can wipe out everything you've worked hard for including your identity. We pay thousands of dollars a year in insurance to protect us, our home, our cars and even kids. But how many of us take the easy steps to protect all of those things by protecting our computer.

Step 1

Realize how important your computer is! Remember that everything about you is probably on your computer. If you access your bank account online, pay bills online, buy things online, e-mail people, or download anything you are at risk. Should you stop using the Internet, of course not, just realize how much of your life could be exposed if you don’t protect it.

Step 2

What happens if you get a virus! Some viruses are relatively harmless they just make pop-up ads appear and slow down your computer. Others can “hijack” your computer and use it for illegal activities like hacking, spamming, or even identity theft.

Step 3

Learn how to use the Internet Safely! The internet is an unbelievable tool that can really make your life a lot easier especially if you use it safely. Make sure you not to download anything from any website you don’t know and trust. Do not open e-mail attachments from people you don’t know and be careful even if it is someone you know. If there computer was taken over they could send the virus to you. Don’t put disks or thumb drives into your computer if you not positive they won’t have viruses. Also not all “anti-virus” programs are safe make sure you research them(Google them and look for reviews). Some "anit-virus" programs are just basically viruses hidden in a nice package.

Step 4

Just to make this sink home here is an example of what can happen. Jon was looking for a particular video of the newest RVs. He found one that looked good, but it wouldn’t display unless he downloaded an “Active X” file, this had happened before so he downloaded it. The video never worked and an hour later his internet speed plummeted. Anytime he went to any site it wouldn't load. He ran virus scan after virus scan and everything showed clean. He happened to use his laptop to check his bank account and it said his account was locked from failed password attempts. Now he was really scared so he started getting more virus programs and basically 3 days later for 4 additional “virus” programs he got it cleaned up. Meanwhile he lost not only potential money from being able to use his computer, but also all those hours of his life.

Step 5

Prevention – OS Updates – One way to protect your computer is to make sure your operating system has the latest updates. The manufacturer of the operating system should be sending out regular updates which include security updates. These try to fix any holes or security risks in the software, it’s very important to keep this up-to-date. It is your first line of defense. For detailed instructions check out the E-How article on Windows Updates listed below.

Step 6

Prevention – Anti Virus – The next few steps will cover how to prevent viruses. You should have at least one Anti-Virus program (see the resources for a list of programs). Make sure you keep it up-to-date, new viruses come out every week. You also want to set it up to scan your computer once a week. If you’re familiar with computers you may even want to install two anti-virus programs since they may catch different viruses, although this can cause problems so only do this if your comfortable troubleshooting.

Step 7

Prevention – Spyware – Some viruses are called spyware and they reside on your computer and may be used as key loggers, which track what you type-in on your keyboard in hopes of getting a password or other information. To prevent these there are some great tools like www.spybot.com and Spyware Blaster(see resources). Spybot locks down your registry(think of the registry as the backbone of your operating system) so that viruses don’t have a chance to latch onto your computer. However, this also means you will have to approve registry changes anytime you install new software. Spyware Blaster works well at preventing spyware, adware and hijackers.

Step 8

Prevention – Adware – Some viruses are called adware these are the viruses that cause you’re computer to always have pop-up advertisements or may slow your connections because they re-direct you to a site of thier choice as opposed to the site you tried to reach. One of the best tools to prevent this is Ad-aware(see Resources) which will help you prevent and clean up any adware viruses.

Step  9

Prevention – Maintenance – All the “virus” programs in the world are useless if you don’t keep them up to date and run scans regularly. When you install any of these I recommend that you setup an automatic scan for times when you won’t be normally using the computer. Remember that if your computer goes to Standby mode the scans won’t run.

Step 10

If the worst happens – If you get a virus then the best resource especially if you have an additional computer that’s virus free is the internet. Do some searches for that virus if you know its name or by the symptoms you’re computer is showing (slow, re-direct different site, etc.). One hint is you can even search IP addresses if you need to. Check out these E-how articles on Cleaning Viruses and Clean Virus Manually(see resources).

How to Make Long Distance Relationship

Between juggling schedules to challenges in communication, anyone who's ever been in a long-distance relationship can certainly tell you how hard it can be to make a long-distance relationship work. 

I really don't think anyone — at least not any woman and man — intends to end up in a long-distance relationship, but sometimes it just happens. You fall in love with him in town, then he movesout of town. Or you meet him at a military installation, and suddenly one of you gets shipped out. Or maybe you hooked up with a scrumptious man while vacationing, but who can afford to fly to overseas every weekend?

It is an understandably difficult commitment to honor if you and your sweetheart decide to keep the relationship going while you are apart. Difficult but not impossible.

Love Across the Miles

I must admit that I have had a few such relationships and not all of them turned out well. But through those experiences I have found that there are keys to keeping the romance alive, if both parties are willing and determined to make it work. Keep in mind that the length of time you had to get to know the person before you were separated will have a lot to do with how successful your long-distance romance will be.

• Define Your Relationship
  
  One of the first things you should do with your long-distance sweetheart is to agree on what the relationship will be going forward: Are you going to be just friends? Intimately connected when it's convenient? Or does this have the makings of a real and solid love affair? Determining limits is of the utmost importance, because as things get difficult, it will help ground the two of you if you know the boundaries of your relationship. It will also help avoid heartache later because you will both know where you stand.
  
  
  
• Be Honest
  
  This is very important, and I don't just mean disclosing the superficial things (like where he was when you called and he didn't answer). You must be willing to discuss more sensitive issues, too, like your sex life. If this relationship is to really hold its ground, talking openly and honestly about your sexual needs is one of the biggest keys to success. Generally speaking, communicating openly with your partner about your sex life will allow you to find out if the other person is truly committed to you physically as well as personally. It is not an easy subject to broach, but it can be very revealing in terms of how much the two of you are willing to disclose for the sake of your love. (The only exception I would make to this regards the military: When you or your love is overseas, or fighting in a war, this kind of honesty may be way too much to handle and would be best left to discuss at a more opportune time. Encouragement would be the order of the day until you or he returns home.)
  
  
  
• Exercise Patience
  
  Boy, is this one tough! I personally am not a patient man, and one of the pitfalls for me in long-distance relationships has been the waiting. I recommend that you find things to do here at home to occupy your time. If your career or your children do not keep you busy enough, get involved in some volunteer work or maybe go back to school. The key is to avoid weighing down your long-distance conversations with whining or unrealistic demands, solely because you are bored or missing the other person.
  
  
  
• Give Encouragement
  
  This one is so important. I am currently in a wonderful long-distance relationship, and this aspect of it has made it so much more special. I make it a habit to always ask how things are going — with school, work or family — and then proceed to encourage him in those areas where he is especially talented. For instance, he spent some time playing basketball and talking to his son the other day and I was so proud of him because, as a single parent, he is determined to keep the lines of communication open with his teenager. I let him know that and he appreciates it. He also helps me. I am currently trying to prepare for an algebra exam — I am horrible at math — and he is very good at it, so it makes him feel good to be able to assist me. We just do the problems over the phone. Encouragement, assistance and praise work well over email, too. It's also a good idea to "smile over the phone" as much as possible. A good mood from you on days when your partner may be feeling especially needy can make both of you feel better.
  

If you follow this advice, you will be on the road to making your long-distance relationship last. Even better, it may end someday with the two of you finally in the same place, having learned so much more about each other simply because you had to put in a bit more effort.

Hari Raya Kurban Idul Adha

Qurban adalah penyembelihan hewan ternak yang dilaksanakan atas perintah Allah pada hari-hari raya Idul Adha. 

• Definisi 

Dalam bahasa Arab, Udhhiyyah. Idhhiyyah, Dhahiyyah, Dhihiyyah, Adhhat, Idhhat dan Dhahiyyah, berarti hewan yang disembelih dengan tujuan taqarrub (mendekatkan diri) kepada Allah pada hari Idul Adha sampai akhir hari-hari tasyriq, kata-kata tersebut diambil dari kata dhhahwah. Disebut demikian karena awal waktu pelaksanaan yaitu dhuha. (Lisanul Arab 19:211, Mu’jam Al-Wasith 1:537) 

• Hukum Berqurban 

Allah subhanahu wata'aala mensyariatkan berqurban dalam firman-Nya, 

"Maka dirikanlah shalat karena Rabbmu; dan berkorbanlah." (Al-Kautsar: 2), 

"Dan kami jadikan untuk kamu unta-unta itu sebagian dari syi’ar Allah." (Al-Hajj: 36). 

Hukum qurban adalah sunnah muakkadah bagi yang mampu, sebagaimana diriwayatkan bahwa Nabi shallallahu 'alahi wasallam berqurban dengan menyembelih dua ekor domba jantan berwarna putih dan bertanduk. Beliau sendiri yang menyembelihnya dengan menyebut nama Allah dan bertakbir, serta meletakkan kaki beliau di sisi tubuh domba itu. [Hadits Muttafaq 'Alaih] 

Adapun orang yang menghukumi wajib dengan dasar hadits, "Siapa yang memiliki kemampuan namun tidak berqurban, maka jangan sekali-kali mendekati masjidku." (HR. Ahmad dan Ibnu Majah). 

Hadits ini derajatnya dha’if (lemah) dan tidak bisa dijadikan hujjah, karena ada perawinya yang dha’if yaitu Abdullah bin Iyasy sebagaimana diterangkan oleh Abu Daud, An-Nasa’i dan Ibnu Hazm (Ibnu Majah 2: 1044, Al-Muhalla 8:7). 

Imam Asy-Syafi’i rahimahullah berkata, "Andaikata berqurban itu wajib, maka tidaklah cukup bagi satu rumah kecuali setiap orang mengurbankan seekor kambing atau setiap tujuh orang mengorbankan seekor sapi, akan tetapi karena hukumnya tidak wajib maka cukuplah bagi seorang yang mau berqurban untuk menyebutkan nama keluarga pada qurbannya. Dan jika tidak menyebutkannya tidak berarti meninggalkan kewajiban." (Al-Umm 2: 189). 

Para sahabat kami berkata, "Andaikan qurban itu wajib maka (kewajiban itu) tidak gugur meskipun waktunya telah lewat, kecuali dengan diganti (ditebus) seperti shalat berjamaah dan kewajiban lainnya. Para ulama madzhab Hanafi juga sepakat dengan kami (madzhab Syafi’i) bahwa qurban hukumnya tidak wajib." (Al-Majmu’ Syarah Al-Muhadzdzab: 8: 301) 

• Hewan yang diqurbankan 

Hewan yang akan diqurbankan hendaklah diperhatikan umurnya, yaitu: Unta 5 tahun, sapi 2 tahun, kambing 1 tahun atau hampir 1 tahun. Ulama madzhab Maliki dan Hanafi membolehkan kambing yang telah berumur 6 bulan asal gemuk dan sehat (Al-Mughni: 9:439, Ahkamu Adz-Dzabaih oleh Dr. Muhammad Abdul Qadir Abu Faris: 132). 

Hewan yang diqurbankan adalah unta, sapi dan kambing karena firman Allah, 

"Supaya mereka menyebut nama Allah terhadap hewan ternak yang telah dirizkikan Allah kepada mereka." (Al-Hajj: 34) 

• Hewan itu harus sehat tidak memiliki cacat, sebab Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda, "Empat cacat yang tidak mencukupi dalam berqurban: Buta yang jelas, sakit yang nyata, pincang yang sampai kelihatan tulang rusuknya dan lumpuh/kurus yang tidak kunjung sembuh." (HR.At-Tirmidzi) 

• Waktu Penyembelihan 

Setelah shalat Idul Adha usai, maka penyembelihan baru diizinkan dan berakhir saat tenggelam matahari hari tasyriq (13 Dzulhijjah) {Ibnu Katsir, 3/301}, karena Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda,

"Siapa yang menyembelih sebelum shalat (Ied) maka sesungguhnya ia menyembelih untuk dirinya sendiri, dan siapa menyembelih setelah shalat maka sungguh dia telah menyempurnakan qurbannya dan sesuai dengan sunnah kaum muslimin." (HR Al-Bukhari dan Muslim). 

• Anjuran (Sunnah) Dalam Berqurban: 

Menajamkan pisau, Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda, "Sesungguhnya Allah Ta’ala mewajibkan berbuat baik pada segala sesuatu, maka jika kalian membunuh, bunuhlah dengan cara yang baik, jika kalian menyembelih sembelihlah dengan cara yang baik, haruslah seseorang mengasah mata pedangnya dan membuat nyaman hewan sembelihannya."(HR. Al-Jamaah kecuali Al-Bukhari). 

Menyembunyikan pisau dari pandangan binatang, Ibnu Umar radhiyallahu 'anhu berkata : Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam menyuruh agar mempertajam pisau dan menyembunyikan dari pandangan hewan (yang akan disembelih). 

Tidak membaringkan hewan sebelum siap alat dan sebagainya. Ibnu Abbas radhiyallahu 'anhu menceritakan bahwa seseorang membaringkan kambing sedang dia masih mengasah pedangnya, maka Nabi shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda, : "Apakah anda akan membunuhnya berkali-kali? Mengapa tidak anda asah pedang anda sebelum anda membaringkannya." (HR. Al-Hakim). 

Menjauhkan atau menutupi penyembelihan dari hewan-hewan yang lain, sebab hal ini termasuk menyakiti dan menjauhkan rahmat. Umar bin Khaththab radhiyallahu 'anhu pernah memukul orang yang melakukannya. (Mughni Al-Muhtaj: 4/272) 

Memberi minum atau memperlakukan binatang qurban dengan sebaik-baiknya. (Al-Halal wal Haram: 58) 

• Penyembelihan Qurban 

Disunnahkan bagi yang bisa menyembelih agar menyembelih sendiri. Adapun do’a yang dibaca saat menyembelih adalah: 

"Ya Allah ini dari … (sebut nama orang yang berqurban atau yang berwasiat), bismillah wallahu akbar." 

Sebagaimana Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam ketika menyembelih qurban seekor kambing, beliau membaca: 

"Bismillah wallahu Akbar, Ya Allah ini dariku dan dari orang yang tidak bisa berqurban dari umatku." (HR. Abu Daud dan At-Tirmidzi). 

Sedang orang yang tidak bisa menyembelih sendiri hendaklah menyaksikan dan menghadirinya. 

• Pembagian Qurban 

Allah subhanahu wata'aala berfirman, 

"Maka makanlah sebagiannya (dan sebagian lagi) berikanlah untuk dimakan orang-orang sengsara lagi fakir." (Al-Hajj: 28) 

"Maka makanlah sebagiannya dan beri makanlah orang yang rela dengan apa yang ada padanya (yang tidak meminta-minta) dan orang yang meminta." (Al-Hajj: 36). 

Sebagian kaum salaf lebih menyukai membagi qurban menjadi tiga bagian: Sepertiga untuk diri sendiri, sepertiga untuk hadiah orang-orang mampu dan sepertiga lagi shadaqah untuk fuqara. (Tafsir Ibnu Katsir, 3/300). 

• Anjuran bagi orang yang berqurban 

Bila seseorang ingin berqurban dan memasuki bulan Dzulhijjah maka baginya agar tidak memotong/mengambil rambut, kuku atau kulitnya sampai dia menyembelih hewannya. Dalam hadits Ummu Salamah radhiyallahu 'anha, Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda, "Jika kamu melihat hilal bulan Dzulhijjah dan salah seorang di antara kamu ingin berqurban, maka hendaklah ia menahan diri dari (memotong) rambut dan kukunya." Dalam riwayat lain: "Maka janganlah ia mengambil sesuatu dari rambut atau kukunya sehingga ia berqurban." 

Hal ini, mungkin untuk menyerupai orang yang menunaikan ibadah haji yang menuntun hewan qurbannya. 

Firman Allah subhanahu wata'aala, 

"...dan jangan kamu mencukur (rambut) kepalamu, sebelum qurban sampai di tempat penyembelihannya ..." [Al-Baqarah: 196]. 

Larangan ini, menurut zhahirnya, hanya dikhususkan bagi orang yang berkurban saja, tidak termasuk isteri dan anak-anaknya, kecuali jika masing-masing dari mereka berqurban. Dan diperbolehkan membasahi rambut serta menggosoknya, meskipun terdapat beberapa rambutnya yang rontok. 

Jika seseorang niat berqurban pada pertengahan hari-hari sepuluh itu maka dia menahan hal itu sejak saat niatnya, dan dia tidak berdosa terhadap hal-hal yang terjadi pada saat-saat sebelum niat. 

Bagi anggota keluarga orang yang akan berqurban tersebut dibolehkan memotong rambut dari tubuh, kuku atau kulit mereka (sebab larangan ini hanya ditujukan bagi yang berqurban), sehingga bila ada kepentingan kesehatan maka boleh memotong.

HIKMAH QURBAN 

• Menghidupkan sunnah Nabi Ibrahim alaihis salam yang taat dan tegar melaksanakan qurban atas perintah Allah meskipun harus kehilangan putra satu-satunya yang didambakan (QS. Ash-Shaff: 102-107) 

• Menegakkan syiar Dinul Islam dengan merayakan Idul Adha secara bersamaan dan tolong menolong dalam kebaikan (QS. 22: 36) 

Rasulullah shallallahu 'alahi wasallam bersabda, "Hari-hari tasyriq adalah hari-hari makan, minum dan dzikir kepada Allah Azza wa Jalla." (HR. Muslim dalam Mukhtashar No. 623) 

• Bersyukur kepada Allah atas nikmat-nikmat-Nya, maka mengalirkan darah hewan qurban ini termasuk syukur dan ketaatan dengan satu bentuk taqarrub yang khusus. Allah subhanahu wata'aala berfirman, 

"Dan bagi tiap-tiap umat telah Kami syariatkan penyembelihan (qurban), supaya mereka menyebut nama Allah terhadap binatang ternak yang telah dirizkikan Allah kepada mereka, maka Ilahmu ialah Ilah Yang Maha Esa, karena itu berserah dirilah kamu kepada-Nya. Dan berilah kabar gembira kepada orang-orang yang tunduk patuh (kepada Allah)." (QS. Al-Hajj: 34) 

• Di hari-hari itu juga sangat dianjurkan untuk memperbanyak amal shalih, kebaikan dan kemasyarakatan, seperti bersilaturahmi, berkunjung sanak kerabat, menjaga diri dari rasa iri, dengki, kesal maupun amarah, hendaklah menjaga kebersihan hati, menyantuni fakir miskin, anak yatim, orang-orang yang terlilit kekurangan dan kesulitan. 

Namun bagi orang yang akan berkurban tidak harus meniru orang yang sedang ihram sampai tidak memakai minyak wangi, bersetubuh, bercumbu (suami istri), melangsungkan akad nikah, berburu binatang dll. Sebab yang demikian itu tidak ada tuntunan dari Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam. Namun hendaklah kita menegakkan syiar agama Allah ini dengan amal shalih, amar ma’ruf dan nahi munkar dengan cara yang penuh hikmah, hendaklah setiap kita menggunakan kemampuan, keahlian, kedudukan dan segala nikmat Allah dengan sesungguhnya sebagai realisasi bersyukur dalam menegakkan ajaran dan syiar Dienullah Islam.

Semoga Allah subhanahu wata'aala senantiasa membimbing kita kepada cinta dan keridhaan-Nya. Amin. 

(Ahkamudz Dzaba’ih, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Qadir Abu Faris & Min Ahkamil Udhiyyah, Syaikh Al-Utsaimin). 

How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 minutes

How do you discover your real purpose in life? I’m not talking about your job, your daily responsibilities, or even your long-term goals. I mean the real reason why you’re here at all — the very reason you exist.

Perhaps you’re a rather nihilistic person who doesn’t believe you have a purpose and that life has no meaning. Doesn’t matter. Not believing that you have a purpose won’t prevent you from discovering it, just as a lack of belief in gravity won’t prevent you from tripping. All that a lack of belief will do is make it take longer, so if you’re one of those people, just change the number 20 in the title of this blog entry to 40 (or 60 if you’re really stubborn). Most likely though if you don’t believe you have a purpose, then you probably won’t believe what I’m saying anyway, but even so, what’s the risk of investing an hour just in case?

Here’s a story about Bruce Lee which sets the stage for this little exercise. A master martial artist asked Bruce to teach him everything Bruce knew about martial arts. Bruce held up two cups, both filled with liquid. “The first cup,” said Bruce, “represents all of your knowledge about martial arts. The second cup represents all of my knowledge about martial arts. If you want to fill your cup with my knowledge, you must first empty your cup of your knowledge.”

If you want to discover your true purpose in life, you must first empty your mind of all the false purposes you’ve been taught (including the idea that you may have no purpose at all).

So how to discover your purpose in life? While there are many ways to do this, some of them fairly involved, here is one of the simplest that anyone can do. The more open you are to this process, and the more you expect it to work, the faster it will work for you. But not being open to it or having doubts about it or thinking it’s an entirely idiotic and meaningless waste of time won’t prevent it from working as long as you stick with it — again, it will just take longer to converge.

Here’s what to do:

1. Take out a blank sheet of paper or open up a word processor where you can type (I prefer the latter because it’s faster).
2. Write at the top, “What is my true purpose in life?”
3. Write an answer (any answer) that pops into your head. It doesn’t have to be a complete sentence. A short phrase is fine.
4. Repeat step 3 until you write the answer that makes you cry. This is your purpose.

That’s it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a counselor or an engineer or a bodybuilder. To some people this exercise will make perfect sense. To others it will seem utterly stupid. Usually it takes 15-20 minutes to clear your head of all the clutter and the social conditioning about what you think your purpose in life is. The false answers will come from your mind and your memories. But when the true answer finally arrives, it will feel like it’s coming to you from a different source entirely.

For those who are very entrenched in low-awareness living, it will take a lot longer to get all the false answers out, possibly more than an hour. But if you persist, after 100 or 200 or maybe even 500 answers, you’ll be struck by the answer that causes you to surge with emotion, the answer that breaks you. If you’ve never done this, it may very well sound silly to you. So let it seem silly, and do it anyway.

As you go through this process, some of your answers will be very similar. You may even re-list previous answers. Then you might head off on a new tangent and generate 10-20 more answers along some other theme. And that’s fine. You can list whatever answer pops into your head as long as you just keep writing.

At some point during the process (typically after about 50-100 answers), you may want to quit and just can’t see it converging. You may feel the urge to get up and make an excuse to do something else. That’s normal. Push past this resistance, and just keep writing. The feeling of resistance will eventually pass.

You may also discover a few answers that seem to give you a mini-surge of emotion, but they don’t quite make you cry — they’re just a bit off. Highlight those answers as you go along, so you can come back to them to generate new permutations. Each reflects a piece of your purpose, but individually they aren’t complete. When you start getting these kinds of answers, it just means you’re getting warm. Keep going.

It’s important to do this alone and with no interruptions. If you’re a nihilist, then feel free to start with the answer, “I don’t have a purpose,” or “Life is meaningless,” and take it from there. If you keep at it, you’ll still eventually converge.

When I did this exercise, it took me about 25 minutes, and I reached my final answer at step 106. Partial pieces of the answer (mini-surges) appeared at steps 17, 39, and 53, and then the bulk of it fell into place and was refined through steps 100-106. I felt the feeling of resistance (wanting to get up and do something else, expecting the process to fail, feeling very impatient and even irritated) around steps 55-60. At step 80 I took a 2-minute break to close my eyes, relax, clear my mind, and to focus on the intention for the answer to come to me — this was helpful as the answers I received after this break began to have greater clarity.

Here was my final answer: to live consciously and courageously, to resonate with love and compassion, to awaken the great spirits within others, and to leave this world in peace.

When you find your own unique answer to the question of why you’re here, you will feel it resonate with you deeply. The words will seem to have a special energy to you, and you will feel that energy whenever you read them.

Discovering your purpose is the easy part. The hard part is keeping it with you on a daily basis and working on yourself to the point where you become that purpose.

If you’re inclined to ask why this little process works, just put that question aside until after you’ve successfully completed it. Once you’ve done that, you’ll probably have your own answer to why it works. Most likely if you ask 10 different people why this works (people who’ve successfully completed it), you’ll get 10 different answers, all filtered through their individual belief systems, and each will contain its own reflection of truth.

Obviously, this process won’t work if you quit before convergence. I’d guesstimate that 80-90% of people should achieve convergence in less than an hour. If you’re really entrenched in your beliefs and resistant to the process, maybe it will take you 5 sessions and 3 hours, but I suspect that such people will simply quit early (like within the first 15 minutes) or won’t even attempt it at all. But if you’re drawn to read this blog (and haven’t been inclined to ban it from your life yet), then it’s doubtful you fall into this group.

How To Choose Best Friends

How to Choose a Best Friend Confessor

 

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Friendships are based on honesty and trust, but how do you know who you can really trust? There is always that one special friend that you would trust your life with, or more importantly, your deepest, darkest secrets.

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A best friend will stand by you no matter what decision you make. A best friend will never judge you.

You love who they love and they love who you love. You are always on the side of your best friend. You love them, protect them, and make them laugh when they are crying. You forgive, you love, and you encourage.

You know this is your best friend because he or she has never let you down, never told your secrets and has been that someone you could talk to without judgement or eye rolls. The best friend knows more about you than anyone else in the world. You trust them, and they have the same trust in you. 

 Your best friend accepts you for who you are, all your craziness, the drunken 'my life is over' phone call in the middle of the night and all the other nonsense you both put up with for each other.

You laugh together, cry together and spend the biggest days of your lives together, like the birth of your first grand child, or the wedding of your son. You are more than a friend. You are a best friend.

Your friendship is deep, such as that of a soul mate.

Your best friend helps you through grief, or camps out in your hospital room when you're sick. It's your best friend who will talk to you for hours when you're feeling alone. Your best friend loves you to the end, even on the days you are acting like the jerk you can be sometimes.

You are truly blessed if you have one Best Friend.

How to Diplomatically Resign From Your Job

Resigning with Class: How to Diplomatically Resign From Your Job

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by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Are you preparing to resign from your current job? Some job-seekers have a hard time doing so, either because they love the job and their co-workers or because they can't stand the job and can't wait to leave. Curious? Then read on. This article is really two articles in one. The first part discusses the strategies behind making a graceful departure from your employer and the second part shows you how to write a letter of resignation.

Strategies for Resigning with Class 

The most important job-search rule to remember when resigning from any job is that you never want to leave on bad terms -- if possible. Courtesy, etiquette, and professionalism go a long way. So, as much as you may want to tell off your boss or a co-worker, you should never burn any bridges. And don't spend time bragging to co-workers about your great new opportunity. Job-hunting is a funny process, and you never know when you'll run smack right into your former supervisor, a former co-worker, or a former employer through a merger or other circumstance.

So, once you are ready to announce your resignation, how can you make as smooth a transition from your current employer to your new one? You'll again want to act professionally -- and follow company guidelines. Specifically, you need to consider:

• Timing. Give enough notice. The standard notice has traditionally been two to four weeks, but you should consult your employee handbook in case your employer expects more (or less) advance warning.
• Negotiating. Be sure to get a fair settlement for any outstanding salary, vacation (and sick and personal) days, and commission payments or other compensation due to you.
• Hiring. Offer to help your current employer find your replacement.
• Training. Volunteer to train or work with your replacement to show him or her "the ropes."
• Working. Don't disappear during the last weeks on the job. Stay an active member of the team. Avoid taking a short-timer's attitude or aligning yourself with any discontented co-workers.
• Completing. Be sure to do your best to complete all open assignments and leave detailed progress reports for your supervisor and co-workers.
• Leaving. Before walking out the door for the last time, be sure you have contact information for key supervisors and co-workers that you want to keep part of your network of contacts -- and be sure to thank them again for their support.

 Here are some other issues you need to be prepared for once you announce your resignation:

• Escorted out of the building. In some industries and with some professions (such as sales), once an employee resigns, the employer asks the person to leave on the spot. Be prepared for this scenario by clearing personal files and removing personal software from your computer, removing personal information and belongings, and getting your workspace organized.
• Guilt from co-workers or your boss. It's only natural, especially if you are leaving an unpleasant work environment, that your co-workers may be a bit envious and try to make you feel a little guilty. And no matter how great your boss may be, s/he may also make you feel a little guilty for "deserting" the team. Try not to let these things bother you; instead, concentrate on making the final weeks/days pleasant and professional.
• A counter-offer to entice you to stay. Be very wary of counteroffers. No matter how good it makes your ego feel to have your current employer respond with a counteroffer, most career experts advise against taking it because studies show that the vast majority of employees who accept counteroffers from current employers aren't in those jobs for very long. Whether the employer admits it or not, your dedication will be questioned, and once that happens, your time on the job is limited. It's better to tactfully decline the offer and focus on your new job with your new employer.
• An exit interview. Some employers like to have all departing employees meet with someone from the human resources department for an exit interview. Be careful -- but be professional. Some employers want to know the "real" reason you are leaving. Again, remember not to burn any bridges by saying anything negative or petty.

Writing a Professional Resignation Letter 

What should you do once you've made the decision to take a job with another employer? You should take the time to write a letter of resignation to your current employer. It's best to have written documentation of your resignation and planned last day of work.

The most important thing to remember when writing your letter of resignation is to be professional -- there is just no sense in making enemies. Regardless of whether you loved or hated your job or your employer, the outcome should be the same: a short, polite, and professional letter stating your intention to leave.

People leave their jobs for all sorts of reasons, and you certainly do not need to provide any details on why you are leaving the company. Resignation letters are a courtesy to your employer, so you simply need to state that you are leaving your current position to pursue other opportunities.

As you are composing your letter, please again remember that your job history follows you around, and that frequently the world is much smaller than we think. You never ever want to leave on bad terms with any employer -- mainly because doing so could come back to haunt you later in your career.

When should you submit your letter of resignation? And to whom? You should submit your resignation two or more weeks before your planned resignation date (depending on company/profession policy). And you should submit the letter/memo to your direct supervisor, with a copy to your human resources office.

What exactly should you say in your letter of resignation? Here's a basic outline:

First Paragraph: State your intention of quitting your job and leaving the company. Give a specific last day of work.

Second paragraph: If you feel comfortable, give a reason why you are leaving -- relocating, better job, career change, graduate school, etc. Or, reinforce your value by mentioning your key accomplishments with the employer (though doing so may trigger a counter offer).

Third Paragraph: Thank both your supervisor and the company for the opportunities you had working for them. Be sure to end the letter on a positive note.

Here are some sample resignation letters.

One final note: Assuming you leave on a positive note with your supervisor and co-workers, once you have settled into your new job, remember to contact your former supervisor and co-workers and give them your updated contact information so that you can continue to keep them as a part of your job search network (because you never know when you'll be job-hunting again).