1448 2nd Moharrum London waaz

 Waaz Notes: 2nd Moharrum Ashara Mubarak, London

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS

Opening: The Seven Stars and Human Potential

Syedna TUS opened by highlighting the significance of the seven stars (saat sitara), explaining that at the beginning of creation they did azam for thousands of years. 

Each star made distinct effects and impressions upon this duniya, and from those elements, different human beings were created with different dispositions (khamira) — each person gifted with unique talents and skills (hunar).

This was connected to the setting of London, a city home to more than 40 universities, emphasising the supreme importance of knowledge (ilm) and its pursuit.

Syedna TUS recalled the 13th Ashara Mubarak after the passing of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA. 

The diversity of human talents was similarly celebrated — spanning fields such as IT, medicine, and the culinary arts.

The central theme established: all human skills and talents find their truest expression and meaning in the zikr of Imam Husain AS.

Foundation: The Shia and Human Civilisation

Syedna TUS cited the words of Maulana Ali AS, who spoke of the status and importance of the Shia. 

When the first human beings were created, three fundamental needs were identified:

Food (jaman)

Clothing (kapda)

Shelter (ghar)

To fulfil these needs, countless skills and professions came into being — each dependent upon the other, establishing the profound concept of human interdependency.

Today's Bayan: The Six Qualities (Khoobi) of Clothing and Food

The main focus of today's waaz was drawn from the arabic terms Al-Libas (الِّلبَاس) and Al-Ta'am (الطَّعَام) — clothing and food — both consisting of six letters (huruf), from which Syedna TUS derived six spiritual qualities.

A key opening point was made: clothing may be of the finest quality, but if not worn correctly, it will not produce the same effect. Syedna TUS illustrated this with the example of a wedding — a person dressed simply goes unnoticed, while one dressed with care and elegance draws admiration and creates lutf (delight). He addressed the mumineen warmly: "Sagla ne jamadjo" — make everyone feel welcomed and at ease.

The Six Qualities

1st Khoobi — Measuring and Assessing (Maapo)

Before acquiring clothing, one must assess its quality and take proper measurements. Similarly, before forming relationships with people of the world, one must first assess (paarkhe) who they are. Syedna TUS emphasised:

Ingredients in food must be halal and healthy; similarly, one must carefully consider who one shares a bond with.

Mumineen are apna (our own); others remain gair (outside our fold).

Our culture is defined by the garment of taqwa, which is visible upon the face.

Mudarat (civil and courteous conduct) is appropriate with people of the world — not deep mohabbat (love). One should engage with the world according to people's own interests, with wisdom and discernment.

The 10th Imam, Al-Mastoor AS is referenced here — it is narrated that the Imam tested his Dai before granting him access. Dai Abil Qasim was asked a question concerning adl (justice) from Surah al-Kahf, and the Imam observed him over many days before the meeting was granted. Even when the Imam was not immediately accessible, the Dai did not abandon his hope and connection.

2nd Khoobi — Warmth and Receptivity (Ragabat)

Just as clothing must suit the season — warm in winter, cool in summer — one must gauge whether a person is warm or cold towards you. If someone shows genuine inclination (ragabat), reciprocate equally. If someone does not respond, do not persist — for in that lies only humiliation (zillat). This quality was connected to Imam Husain AS, who accepted the companionship of those who came to him with sincerity and whole-hearted devotion.

3rd Khoobi — Awareness of Season and Occasion (Mausim)

Clothing and food are suited to their season and time. Relationships too must be cultivated with awareness of the moment. Syedna TUS made the moving reference to the wedding that took place in the midst of the Battle of Karbala — Imam Husain AS honoured that occasion even in those most difficult hours, demonstrating that joy and grief can coexist when the heart is connected to truth.

4th Khoobi — Mindfulness of Time (Waqat no Khayal)

Clothing must be worn at the right time; food must be prepared and consumed at its proper hour. Namaz must be offered at its appointed time — time, once passed, does not return. Syedna TUS cautioned against repeated postponement (la la kehta rahya) until the moment slips away. These very days of Ashara Mubarak are moments of immense value — time must not be squandered.

Connecting this to Karbala: Maulana Husain AS, in his final moments, went to each companion individually — he did not let a single precious moment pass without fulfilling every bond and every right.

5th Khoobi — Balance and Proportion (Mizaan)

A tailor measures precisely; there must be no excess (israaf). In food, one takes only what is needed — no waste. In relationships, one must cut away what is irrelevant or harmful. Syedna TUS gave the example of those in British times who engaged in usurious loans (vyaj par karz) — such connections must be severed. One must never compromise one's integrity for the sake of a relationship.

A powerful warning was given: just as sitting with one who drinks wine causes the smell to cling to your own body, sitting with one who engages in backbiting (gibat) will cause their spiritual pollution to attach to you.

In Karbala: Maulana Husain AS struck only those who came forward to fight — precise, just, and measured, never exceeding the bounds of justice even in battle.

6th Khoobi — Repair and Mending (Rafu)

A torn garment is not discarded — it is mended. Food that is scarce is managed with kifayat (sufficiency and contentment). Relationships that have frayed or broken must similarly be repaired. Syedna TUS recalled the example of Molai Raj, who would go from home to home to reconcile people and bring them back together.

In Karbala: Maulana Husain AS tended to Hur RA — the man who had blocked his path — and when Hur came to seek forgiveness and join Imam Husain AS, Maulana Husain AS repaired that bond and embraced him completely.

Closing Reference: Nabi Idris AS and the Origin of Clothing

Syedna TUS mentioned that Nabi Idris AS was the first to teach mankind the use of cotton and the arts connected to clothing — agriculture, spinning, weaving, stitching, dyeing, and washing — connecting the entire civilisational arc of clothing to prophetic wisdom.

Closing Reflection: Nabi Adam AS

Syedna TUS concluded with a mention of Nabi Adam AS — his lifespan of 120 years, his Daur and location of his qabar mubarak.

Ya Husain — these days are the garment of the soul. Wear them well.

Building a Web App in Minutes Using AI: No Coding Skills Needed!

🌟 Discover How I Built a Web App Using AI – No Coding Experience Required! 🌟

🚀
I recently took on an exciting challenge: building a web app from scratch. But here's the twist—I did it with the help of AI, and guess what? You don’t need to be a coding expert to do the same!

In my latest video, I walk you through my journey of creating a fun and interactive quiz app that tests your knowledge about the national birds of various countries. 🦜🌏

I used AI to guide me step-by-step, from setting up the HTML structure to adding some stylish CSS and finishing it off with JavaScript for interactivity. No need to have the least idea about any of the above!

Here’s what I learned:

1️⃣ AI is an amazing co-pilot: It helped me understand and implement coding concepts that would take me ages to learn and implement on my own.

2️⃣ Coding is not just for developers: With the right tools and mindset, anyone can build something amazing!

3️⃣ Overcome the fear of trying something new: It doesn’t matter if you’ve never written a line of code. AI can help you unlock new skills and creativity.

I invite you to check out the video, see how I did it, and maybe even try it yourself. This could be the start of something new and exciting for you, just like it was for me! 🎉

👉 Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/gq7STkpn

Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments! Have you tried using AI for coding? What was your experience like?

Let's continue to innovate and learn together!

#AI #AppDevelopment #NoCode #LearningJourney #innovation #TechForAll #ContinuousLearning #artificialintelligence #coding #codingchallenge

Building high-performing teams

Building high-performing teams isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about creating a culture where everyone thrives.

Continuing the series on my experience with high performing teams, here is the next instalment of how I have approached this task in my previous roles.

Given my flair for acronyms, I will use CREST to describe the criteria for building teams -

Culture - As a leader, you have to align to the broader corporate culture, while at the same time also fostering a unique team culture. You need to constantly curate and cultivate the behaviors that are most beneficial to the team in the long term.

Recruitment - I tend to look beyond qualifications and try to recruit for growth mindsets. I have ended up hiring mavericks in my teams and a couple of them have gone on to found companies of their own. If you hit the right balance, you will form a team of people who not only excel in their roles but also evolve with the team, adapting to challenges and constantly pushing the envelope.

Expectations - Setting clear expectations is so critical to give direction to the team. As a leader, articulate what success looks like and how each member contributes to this vision. This is how you drive productivity when everyone is aligned and focused on the same goal.

Salary - Do the right thing at the outset. If you work in a large corporate, as a hiring manager, you will have more leeway while recruiting rather than trying to navigate the processes of adjusting remuneration later on. Avoid this heartache for yourself and your team members and ensure everyone feels valued.

Training - Invest in continuous learning and development, for yourself and your team, ensuring they stay up-to-date with the latest and the greatest. I tend to lead by example, ensure that I have a larger view of the demand overall in terms of where the organization is going, and ensure the team is prepared for the roadmap lying ahead.

As I mentioned in my previous post also, while I do tend to make up acronyms like triple A's and now CREST, these are not buzzwords for me. Rather these are my practical experiences in leading large and small teams throughout my career.

Let me know your thoughts and experiences, if anything here resonates with you.

Building teams for success

I revisited this management blog site I had started when I had about half the career experience that I hold today. As I reflect on each of those lessons that I wrote about, I see that the learnings still hold true.

It also encouraged me to continue writing about my experiences, if not for anything else, as a future reference for myself to revisit. Hence, embarking on this series of articles and posts on Linkedin.

Building teams for success

One key insight from my own career is that my success is deeply intertwined with that of my team. In the various roles I have played as project manager, product owner, delivery lead, and more importantly as a people manager, the main criteria has been to be able to build, guide and empower the right people.

I hope I am not being overly presumptuous in calling it my formula, nevertheless I present it as a three Aces of building a successful team -

1) Autonomy - Hand the stage to your team. Give them the space to take ownership. I have seen wonderful outcomes and teams surpassing expectations when they had the freedom to take actions, without being micro-managed along the way. Be there to guide when called upon, but do not aim to direct every play on the ground. Trust them to find their path and watch them excel.

2) Accountability - With ownership there is necessarily the expectation of responsibility. Being responsible for their own actions and outcomes fosters a culture of growth and resilience. Be there to protect the team, but let their actions and efforts defend them. This helps instill a sense of ownership and pride in their work.

3) Achievement - Celebrate every win and put the team at the forefront of the accolades. No matter how big or small, it is important to recognize the hard work, talent and dedication that drives your team forward. This helps make the team feel strong and confident. I find merit in even celebrating setbacks due to the learnings we took from them. When challenges arise, such teams don't shy away from them - they face them head on, learn from them and emerge stronger.

I hope these don't sound like buzzwords. I have found this approach helping me to build thriving, motivated teams.

Would love to hear your experiences leading a team or working in a team and whether you found these principles applied to your team or not?

Technical differences between 4G and 5G networks

 Learned the following points today from ChatGPT

1. Speed: 5G is designed to be much faster than 4G. While 4G networks have theoretical download speeds of up to 100Mbps, 5G networks can deliver download speeds of up to 20Gbps.

2. Latency: 5G has much lower latency than 4G. Latency is the time it takes for data to travel between devices. 5G networks have latency as low as 1 millisecond, while 4G networks typically have a latency of around 30-50 milliseconds.

3. Frequency bands: 5G uses higher frequency bands than 4G. This allows for faster data transfer rates and more capacity, but it also means that 5G signals have a shorter range and are more easily blocked by obstacles like buildings and trees.

4. Network architecture: 5G networks are designed to be more flexible and scalable than 4G networks. 5G networks use a cloud-based architecture that allows for easier network upgrades and greater network agility.

5. Spectrum efficiency: 5G is more spectrum efficient than 4G, which means that it can transmit more data using less bandwidth. This is important because there is a limited amount of radio spectrum available, and 5G will need to share that spectrum with other wireless technologies.

6. Multi-connectivity: 5G offers better multi-connectivity than 4G. This means that 5G devices can be connected to multiple networks at the same time, such as 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi, and even satellite networks.

7. Network slicing: 5G introduces a new concept called network slicing, which allows network operators to create virtual networks that are optimized for specific use cases, such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial IoT.

Cracking through the tough times

Blog prompt by: FJB 

Blog written by: ChatGPT

As the saying goes, tough times never last, but tough people do. The corporate world is no exception to this rule. The recent economic downturns, global pandemics, and other crises have put many businesses on the brink of collapse. However, there are always opportunities to survive and even thrive during tough times. In this blog, we'll explore some practical tips for corporate readers on how to survive in tough times.

1. Stay positive and motivated

The first step to surviving tough times is to maintain a positive attitude. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious in difficult situations. However, it is important to focus on the positives and keep motivated. As a leader, it is essential to inspire your team and keep them motivated. Share positive news, celebrate small wins, and keep your team informed of your progress.

2. Review and adjust your business strategy

In times of crisis, it is important to revisit your business strategy and adjust it to the new circumstances. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, identify new opportunities, and focus on your core competencies. Consider diversifying your business or exploring new markets or products. Be prepared to make difficult decisions and implement changes quickly.

3. Cut costs and optimize your resources

Tough times call for tough decisions. To survive, businesses must review their expenses and cut costs wherever possible. Look for areas where you can reduce expenses, renegotiate contracts, or consolidate operations. Focus on optimizing your resources, including your employees, technology, and processes. Consider outsourcing or using freelancers to reduce labor costs.

4. Communicate with stakeholders

During tough times, it is essential to maintain good communication with your stakeholders, including your customers, suppliers, and investors. Be transparent about your situation, share your plans, and keep them informed of your progress. Show empathy and understanding towards their concerns, and be open to feedback and suggestions. Building strong relationships with your stakeholders can help you weather the storm and emerge stronger.

5. Stay agile and flexible

Finally, one of the most important ways to survive in tough times is to stay agile and flexible. Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances, pivot your business model, and embrace new technologies. Stay informed of industry trends, monitor your competition, and be ready to seize new opportunities when they arise.

In conclusion, surviving in tough times requires resilience, creativity, and hard work. By staying positive and motivated, reviewing your business strategy, cutting costs, communicating with stakeholders, and staying agile and flexible, you can navigate through difficult times and emerge stronger. Remember, tough times never last, but tough people do.

Just Be Yourself

 "We were just discussing in the staff room, and we all feel inspired by you!" said the IIM-A professor in my one to one interaction with him at the end of the Management Development course I was attending.

I was flabbergasted. I was at the premier management institute in India and here to be inspired by the greats. Why were they saying they were inspired by me? As he went on to enunciate what he meant, I realized that all you have to do to inspire people around you is just be yourself.

One incident that stuck in his mind was how I returned to the hostel one day at 5.30 am and met him while he was on his morning walk. He was convinced I would not make it to the 8.30 am class that day, but did not say anything. Yet, there I was at 8.30, after a short power nap in my room, on the front bench, keeping my eyes open and participating in the class. For me, it was nothing out of the usual. It was the month of Ramadan and that was a night long prayer session that I had attended in the last week of the holy month. Something I had been doing all my life, ever since I can remember.

That made me realize that you do not have to do super human feats to inspire people. The only thing you need to do is just be yourself. Your daily routine, your work ethics, your philosophy of life, which you consider as an ordinary thing, may be something inspirational for someone else. Just be there for people. That is sometimes enough.

This is also a great step towards self acceptance. We all have some flaws, but it is important to focus on the positive things we do. That is most likely what we also project to people around us. You don't need to be perfect. Just being real is enough. If we are true to ourselves, that itself could be a shining light for someone.

When approached for advice, we may even feel internally - am I qualified to advise someone on this? What is important is maybe just to listen to people. It is possible that all they needed to come to a decision was to verbalize the problem and options.

You might be surprised at the difference you make doing regular things. Just showing up consistently to your various routines makes the world go around with better vibes than it would have without you.