Saturday, December 19, 2009
Born in Hotels
Assalamu Alaikum,
Born in Hotels
Zahir’s eyes light up when he sees the hotel room USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) has chosen for us at this weekend’s Conference on the World Economy organised by the University’s School of Management at the Hyatt Kuantan. Papa of course as industry adviser to the University’s Faculty is an invited panelist to speak on Islamic Finance and its impact on the World Economy. The two girls are already running here and there with glee. If other kids love computer games and theme parks my kids loves hotel room and travels.
Accompanying Papa on all Papa’s teaching trips almost everywhere they probably grew up in cars, airplanes and hotels. Airplane trips of course only come second to hotels. Long bus trips are also a source of much fun although they didn’t have too much of that except for that marathon bus trip from Riyadh to Makkah for the family Haj trip two years ago, and the Madinah to Riyadh Malaysian expats group tour the year before. Train trips was also such a delight, their first experience being the midnight express from Kuala Lumpur to Wakaf Baru, Kelantan early this year. Papa booked a first class cabin for the balik kampung (“return to hometown”) trip and the double decker bed turned into an exciting new toy and exercise equipment for them. Alhamdulillah they have been good travellers and have enjoyed the journeys as much as the destination. An upcoming treat that hasn’t really sunk in to them is to accompany Papa, and Mama of course, on another teaching trip to Seoul, Korea in March next year. Papa have managed to manouvre the teaching dates to coincide with the March school holidays, and now it’s up to Andrew our co-conspirator and training organiser to do his stuff.
This Economic Conference is an Annual Affair organised by Papa’s friend’s university with a few other organisations including a state agency. Apparently there will be academics and economists from many parts of the world. With the world in the grip of an unfolding economic drama, the Conference is especially timely to discuss the issues and possible solutions. Still suffering from the enforced dichotomy and divorce of all things secular from all things religious which the Europeans championed many centuries ago, humans are gathered here again to find solutions to a world problem where God and His Commands are again irrelevant. And Muslims knowingly or unknowingly join the charade to seek solutions without being much able to express their true beliefs and solutions. The Muslims that know knows all the solutions are in the Quran and Sunnah but how do they reveal to an unbelieving world that sees anything religious as a challenge to their secular independence. InsyaAllah we strive and we knock on the doors of the heart to allow a little opening for the advent of truth. The challenge is not to find the truth but to present it. Islamic Finance is at the forefront again, given the role of a general to lead the battle when in reality in size it is a mere scout in the jungle of riba. God give me strength and your shower of taufiq.
Wassalam,
Zahid
Born in Hotels
Zahir’s eyes light up when he sees the hotel room USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) has chosen for us at this weekend’s Conference on the World Economy organised by the University’s School of Management at the Hyatt Kuantan. Papa of course as industry adviser to the University’s Faculty is an invited panelist to speak on Islamic Finance and its impact on the World Economy. The two girls are already running here and there with glee. If other kids love computer games and theme parks my kids loves hotel room and travels.
Accompanying Papa on all Papa’s teaching trips almost everywhere they probably grew up in cars, airplanes and hotels. Airplane trips of course only come second to hotels. Long bus trips are also a source of much fun although they didn’t have too much of that except for that marathon bus trip from Riyadh to Makkah for the family Haj trip two years ago, and the Madinah to Riyadh Malaysian expats group tour the year before. Train trips was also such a delight, their first experience being the midnight express from Kuala Lumpur to Wakaf Baru, Kelantan early this year. Papa booked a first class cabin for the balik kampung (“return to hometown”) trip and the double decker bed turned into an exciting new toy and exercise equipment for them. Alhamdulillah they have been good travellers and have enjoyed the journeys as much as the destination. An upcoming treat that hasn’t really sunk in to them is to accompany Papa, and Mama of course, on another teaching trip to Seoul, Korea in March next year. Papa have managed to manouvre the teaching dates to coincide with the March school holidays, and now it’s up to Andrew our co-conspirator and training organiser to do his stuff.
This Economic Conference is an Annual Affair organised by Papa’s friend’s university with a few other organisations including a state agency. Apparently there will be academics and economists from many parts of the world. With the world in the grip of an unfolding economic drama, the Conference is especially timely to discuss the issues and possible solutions. Still suffering from the enforced dichotomy and divorce of all things secular from all things religious which the Europeans championed many centuries ago, humans are gathered here again to find solutions to a world problem where God and His Commands are again irrelevant. And Muslims knowingly or unknowingly join the charade to seek solutions without being much able to express their true beliefs and solutions. The Muslims that know knows all the solutions are in the Quran and Sunnah but how do they reveal to an unbelieving world that sees anything religious as a challenge to their secular independence. InsyaAllah we strive and we knock on the doors of the heart to allow a little opening for the advent of truth. The challenge is not to find the truth but to present it. Islamic Finance is at the forefront again, given the role of a general to lead the battle when in reality in size it is a mere scout in the jungle of riba. God give me strength and your shower of taufiq.
Wassalam,
Zahid
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