You do not to need to go to a mosque to be a good Muslim :: essays research papers

Religious Studies Coursework 'You do not to need to go to a mosque to be a good Muslim' I personally agree with this statement that to be a good Muslim you do not need to attend Mosque. A good Muslim is someone who follows the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars of Islam is the term given to 'the five duties incumbent on every Muslim'. these duties are Shahadah(profession of faith), Salat(ritual prayer), Zakat(alms giving), Sawm(fasting during the month of Ramadan) and Hajj(pilgrimage to Mecca). A good strong building has four strong corner stones and good Muslims have five because they want to be strong in the way which they live. Muslims believe that Allah has requested that we must act on these pillars consistently. Nowadays a mosque facilitates the emergence of a city centre for most Muslims, offering services such as family support service, counselling clinic and Shariah counsel besides many more . However the main purpose of a mosque is to perform Salah. I however argue that Muslims do not need to pray in a mosque to do this and what is important is that they carry out the obligatory five daily prayers, whether it is in their own house or somewhere else as long as it is a suitable environment. A mosque is called Masjid in Arabic the language of Islam. The word literally means ?Place of Prostration? because strictly speaking a mosque is anywhere where a Muslim kneels down to prostrate him/herself before Allah. A prayer mat laid down at home or even at the side of the road becomes a mosque-a place of prostration. The prophet Muhammad once said: ?Whenever the time of prayer overtakes you: pray. That place is a mosque? I believe that the prophet Muhammad is agreeing that to be a good Muslim you do not need to attend mosque. A good Muslim prays to Allah and when the time comes to pray it doesn?t matter where you are , that place becomes your mosque as soon as you kneel down with the intention to pray. You do not to need to go to a mosque to be a good Muslim :: essays research papers Religious Studies Coursework 'You do not to need to go to a mosque to be a good Muslim' I personally agree with this statement that to be a good Muslim you do not need to attend Mosque. A good Muslim is someone who follows the five pillars of Islam. The five pillars of Islam is the term given to 'the five duties incumbent on every Muslim'. these duties are Shahadah(profession of faith), Salat(ritual prayer), Zakat(alms giving), Sawm(fasting during the month of Ramadan) and Hajj(pilgrimage to Mecca). A good strong building has four strong corner stones and good Muslims have five because they want to be strong in the way which they live. Muslims believe that Allah has requested that we must act on these pillars consistently. Nowadays a mosque facilitates the emergence of a city centre for most Muslims, offering services such as family support service, counselling clinic and Shariah counsel besides many more . However the main purpose of a mosque is to perform Salah. I however argue that Muslims do not need to pray in a mosque to do this and what is important is that they carry out the obligatory five daily prayers, whether it is in their own house or somewhere else as long as it is a suitable environment. A mosque is called Masjid in Arabic the language of Islam. The word literally means ?Place of Prostration? because strictly speaking a mosque is anywhere where a Muslim kneels down to prostrate him/herself before Allah. A prayer mat laid down at home or even at the side of the road becomes a mosque-a place of prostration. The prophet Muhammad once said: ?Whenever the time of prayer overtakes you: pray. That place is a mosque? I believe that the prophet Muhammad is agreeing that to be a good Muslim you do not need to attend mosque. A good Muslim prays to Allah and when the time comes to pray it doesn?t matter where you are , that place becomes your mosque as soon as you kneel down with the intention to pray.

Abortion :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Abortion and Govn't   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Freedom Of Choice   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since 1973 abortion has been an important controversial issue to the United States. The problem begins should it be a woman's choice whether or not to terminate her pregnancy or should it be the governments choice. This is where a woman looses her rights as a person. If abortion is not remained legal woman will start performing them illegally. One third to one half of all pregnancies in the United States end in abortion,2,500 of these abortions will be performed illegally. Although some oppose abortion for being used as a form of birth control,Abortion should remain legal because it is a woman's choice and protects the privacy of an individual.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some teenagers and woman abuse abortion as a form of birth control. Many woman have used legal abortions as a drastic form of contraception, due to carelessness or ignorance of better methods. Abortion should remain legalized for the fact that if it's not kept legal many women perform illegal abortions. This is such as self abortion methods which are even more dangerous; these included are lye, Lysol, iodine douches, as well as self inserted catheters, knitting needles an goose quills. When women lose their right to choose abortion they may start performing them illegally. This may do serious harm to the mother and her body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion is a woman's choice. Woman accepted the definition that a woman's prime role was as wife and mother and control of ones own body. Once they had choices about life roles, they came to feel they had the right to choose abortion to run their own life's. Any woman should have the ability to choose when to have a child in their marital and sexual freedom. Many woman

How a Christian might apply their beliefs Essay

In this, my second piece of coursework I will be looking at how a Christian might apply the beliefs that I just outlined in A01 and will refer to specific situations of conflict to illustrate this. A Christian could apply the beliefs I recently mentioned in A01 through all different means. The most recent event of late to do with war conflict is the Iraq war. Saddam Hussian we were told and could see was not a particularly pleasant man. I heard in papers and through television what he was doing to people and how he treated them. As Christians then in one point of view from the Sermon on the Mount we should forgive this man for his wrong doings and let him repent his own sins. This belief of forgiveness decelerates that should he recognise his wrongs and change his behaviour he could then be forgiven of his previous sins. Unfortunately Saddam was tolerant of the pain and suffering caused under his regime and unwilling to recognise a need to change his behaviour. However once captured Saddam was not subjected to the torture that he imposed but treated in a Christian and humane manner. Though as the passage states we should still maintain our Christian values and be forgiving, `to turn the other cheek`. An issue closer to home regarding conflict and Christianity is the fighting in Northern Ireland regarding the Catholics and Protestants. The two communities are constantly at war with one another over their faiths and in doing so are abandoning the core values of their religions. These two sets of people are following the `eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth`, way of dealing with their problems and issues, which has proven itself through twenty years of conflict to be ineffective and destructive. As again the passage from the Sermon on the Mount comes into effect and the two sides should realise that when a person of one side is killed they should not seek revenge and to kill, but to `live and let live`. Then this may result in an end to the violence and tragedies that are so often occurring. In the other effect towards Saddam Hussian issues we as Christians could most notice the quote of `An eye for and eye and a tooth for tooth`, from the Old Testament and do to Saddam the horrific things that we hear of him doing. Not many Christians, today I believe see this way of dealing with things. More to the point would not be really able as out generation of law and order would just not allow it. When people saw Saddam Hussian damaging an empire and country most I would have believed that they were angry and human instinct gets the better of belief. It is a natural feeling to become angry and upset with something or somebody. And this combining with believing that it is right to acknowledge the passage from the Old Testament results in terrible effects to peoples lives. Also this relates to the Wars going on around Northern Ireland. The two religions are constantly battling each other. We have seen the results of this situation and there is no justice to the trauma and deaths that are carried out.

Why Can’t Kmart Be Successful While Target and Walmart Thrive?

What drives some companies to succeed while others languish? Successful companies develop a system of a few truly unique capabilities that help them create differentiated value for their chosen customers. Retailers provide many case studies in capabilities-driven success, one of the most compelling of which is the big discounter triad of Walmart, Target and Kmart. And in this fourth-quarter retail season, we thought it would be helpful to take a closer look at what really distinguishes these competitors because they provide valuable insight into the key components of a winning corporate strategy. We believe that all successful companies — Walmart and Target included — know precisely how they provide value for customers. They make a deliberate choice about their â€Å"way to play† in the market, guided primarily by what those companies do uniquely well: their distinctive capabilities. We define capabilities not as â€Å"people capabilities,† but as the interconnected people, knowledge, systems, tools and processes that create differentiated value. They then select a set of products and services that best leverage those unique capabilities and optimally suit their chosen way to play. Most important, they avoid markets, products or services that require new or disparate capabilities, and thus threaten the company's focus. Focus for us, therefore, is not about picking just one market, but rather about choosing one coherent way of competing. The true story about Walmart's and Target's success is that they have gone to great lengths to focus internally on building capabilities and product offerings that suit their way to play. Kmart, by contrast, has failed to develop a unique or differentiated way to play, and all that goes with it. Let's take a closer look. Walmart's success doesn't just stem from impressive logistics, aggressive vendor management and its position as a low-cost retailer. What really underlies Walmart's advantage is a coherent and differentiated approach to the market. †¢ Their well-defined way to play focuses on â€Å"always low prices† for a wide range of consumer items, from food to prescriptions to electronics. †¢ They support their low-cost way to play with an integrated system of capabilities, including: real estate acquisition; no frills store design; and superior supply chain management involving among others expert point-of-sale data analytics. Their product and service mix is kept tightly aligned with their way to play and capabilities system: avoiding big-ticket items (e. g. , furniture or large appliances) where it has no cost advantage, or where new service capabilities might be required. And it innovates constantly within its chosen constraints: e. g. , tailoring product assortments to loca l trends. Target caters to a similar â€Å"money-saving† market, but offers a very different value proposition, focuses on different capabilities and has a different product portfolio. Target's way to play emphasizes design-forward apparel and home decor for image-conscious consumers. Everything from store layout to advertising to inventory conveys an eye for style. †¢ Its capabilities system supports this way to play with image advertising, â€Å"mass prestige† sourcing (with the use of private brand and exclusive offerings), pricing, and the management of urban locations. †¢ In product and service mix, Target is similar to Walmart in many ways, but Target satisfies the needs of its younger, image-conscious shoppers by stocking more furniture, clothing and exclusive designer merchandise than Walmart. Kmart, the least successful of the group, is struggling to define its way to play, describing itself as a â€Å"mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands and labels. † Yet, that definition could describe just about any retailer. As a Walmart customer, you know you'll save money and still feel welcome. At Target, you know you'll get fashionable products at prices that feel reasonable. What, then, is Kmart's niche? Walk through a Kmart store and you'll discover designers like Jaclyn Smith in the low-budget ambience of a warehouse. They carry Kenmore appliances, which may require high-touch sales assistance that many Sears customers expect and many Kmart stores lack. In short, Kmart has not established an identifiable way to play that reflects both customers' needs and its own capabilities. Harry Cunningham, the founder of Kmart, allegedly admitted that Sam Walton (the founder of Walmart) â€Å"not only copied our concepts, he strengthened them. † The lack of a clear concept about how to reach the market, in our view, is the single most important factor in explaining why Kmart's fortunes have fallen so far, compared to its two rivals. Without a clear way to play, and capabilities to support it, a company cannot achieve the coherence it needs to truly excel at what it does, and thus outpace competitors. http://blogs. hbr. org/cs/2010/12/why_cant_kmart_be_successful_w. html Kmart (sometimes stylized as K-Mart), is an American chain of discount stores headquartered in the United States. The chain purchased Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Walmart and Target, with stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and Guam (which houses the world's largest Kmart). [2] As of January 29, 2011, Kmart operated a total of 1,307 (6 closing by early 2011) Kmart stores across 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. This store count included 1,278 discount stores, averaging 93,000 sq ft (8,600 m2), and 29 Super Centers, averaging 169,000 sq ft (15,700 m2). [3] Kmart became known for its â€Å"Blue Light Specials. † They occurred at surprise moments when a store worker would light up a mobile police light and offer a discount in a specific department of the store. At the height of Kmart's popularity, the phrase â€Å"attention Kmart shoppers† also entered into the American pop psyche, appearing in films and other media such as Troop Beverly Hills, Six Days Seven Nights, Rain Man, Beetlejuice, and Dawn of the Dead. Kmart's world headquarters was located in Troy, Michigan, but since the purchase of Sears, has been relocated to Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Kmart also exists in Australia and New Zealand (see Kmart Australia), although it now has no relation to the American stores except in name, after U. S. equity in the Australian business was purchased in the late 1970s. https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kmart As outlined in â€Å"Private Equity May Be The Only Way To Save Sears,† as restructuring and turnaround advisers and investors, we here at ACM Partners are often asked about the big retail â€Å"stories of the day† (meaning companies on the brink of distress). GAP, Tiffany & Co. and now Sears and Kmart are the most recent â€Å"big cases† we’ve received the majority of inquiries about. Here, then, is our take on what’s in store for Kmart (which hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert officially took control of in 2003, post-bankruptcy): Do we need Kmart anymore? While â€Å"during the early years, Kmart was the fastest-growing of the â€Å"big three† discounters (Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target), easily outpacing their key competition,† Kmart, like its parent-company Sears (which acquired the discount retailer in 2005), has lost significant market share through a ombination of poor market strategy and by being â€Å"squeezed out† by â€Å"sexier† (ie Target) or more affordable (ie Wal-Mart) competitors. In short, â€Å"Kmart is trapped between Wal-Mart and Target, becoming the merchandiser in the middle — and ultimately, the discounter in the muddle. † On the consumer side, it's difficult to say Kmart would be particularly missed – since the retailer provides few unique product or experiential offerings – except in geographic areas particularly dependent on the retailer. On a personal note, while I worked at a Kmart as a teenager, I don't believe I've stepped foot in one in more than decade (nor would have any particular reason to). I do, however, visit Target almost monthly. If yes, can Kmart be turned around? What does the executive team need to do? Here, then, it's a question again of â€Å"Where did Kmart go wrong? † Let's take a look at some core areas in which Kmart could generate a turnaround. Strategy, Strategy, Strategy: Kmart failed to see the writing on the retail wall before initially filing bankruptcy in 2002 (and, some would argue, continues to ignores it). All retailers, even discount ones, must have a coherent pricing-and-product strategy in order to appeal to core consumers. As the brand stands now, Kmart offers very little in terms of â€Å"must-have† items for any particular consumer segment. †¢ Management â€Å"Expansion†: By all accounts, Kmart is an exceptionally insular company, meaning very few outsid ers have been brought in to â€Å"refresh† the store's brand. Consequently, errors in judgment and purchasing have been magnified by continued mismanagement, while fights and fiefdoms have prevented the company from moving forward into the 21st century. Instead of squeezing every last penny from the dying brand, Lampert must insist on reviving both methods and management if Kmart is to reassert its relevance. †¢ Logistics: As a discount player, Kmart has lost nearly every round of the logistics game, from management of its supply-chain to in-store sku measurements. For instance, because Kmart measured potential profitability by gross margin ercentages rather than by sales-per-square, the retailer has and continues to stock higher-margined goods in place of faster-moving products, leading to a decrease in inventory turn-over. Furthermore, inefficient ordering and supply-chain management means everything's cost more and arrives later than at Kmart's competitors. Combine these factors, and you get a dying retailer on the brink of disappearing from the American landscape. Like we outlined in â€Å"Private Equity May Be Only Way To Save Sears,† â€Å"With a market cap of only $3. 5 billion, it wouldn’t be tough to get the financing for a going-private transaction † for Sears Holdings Corporate. In short, the market is not going to allow a $40B+ asset-based retailer simply disappear. Ergo, once again, private equity may end up being the only answer for what ails these dying retailers. Margaret Bogenrief is a partner with ACM Partners , a boutique crisis management and distressed investing firm serving companies and municipalities in financial distress. She can be reached at [email  protected] com.

IKEA marketing concept Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

IKEA marketing concept - Essay Example Information on what encompasses a target group is crucial in coming up with ideal market segmentation. Characteristics such as lifestyles, language, climate education background, gender, family size, race, nationality, interest and religion of the target group helps in the segmentation process. The market segment in the target market of IKEA Company is accessible, measurable, profitable and market responsive. The target market is mainly located in urban centers. This has made the company to open most of its outlets in urban centers for easy access. The products are designed to meet the needs of both the middle and wealthy. The market segments of the target market are quantifiable in terms of the estimated population size and the estimated disposable income. Generally, the large size of the market segment and their average disposable incomes promises good returns. The target market has in the past shown some positive response to the products. Penetrating the market space will require communicating to the market segment in a way that corresponds to their relevant needs. Every market segment has distinct characteristics such as lifestyle, fashions, tastes and preferences. Communication based on these characteristics can help to reach out to a wider market base. IKEA Company utilizes catalogues and advertisement through the mass media to penetrate the market segments. The diversified commodities which are of different styles, tastes and fashions are the key to the penetration of the market space. Maintenance and protection of the market space requires the company to constantly review on the customers’ needs. To oversee this, the company has customer success...It also stands for the competitive prices offered by the price leader. IKEA Company cuts across the diverse cultures of different countries and so the brand represents the meeting point where global tribes that mind the cost and design converge. The shopping premises of the company are similar and share similar architectural designs and interior designs. They are easy to recognize to its distinct yellow and blue coloration. These combinations make the IKEA a strong global brand. The weakness of the company’s brand is that it is rarely seen and most unknown. The company’s activities are largely concentrated in some countries especially in Europe. The brand is therefore popular and frequently seen within these countries. For the citizens of these countries, it is rarely seen and to most, it is absolutely unknown. This implies that the company has not fully penetrated the target market. There is the potential unexploited market space. The competitiveness of the brand can be heightened by creating awareness of the brand existence in the unexploited areas. Awareness could effectively be done by use of mass media that reaches most people in a continental level. It can also be done through international trade exhibitions that bring international communities together. Sponsoring international activities such sport can also be opportunities of reaching out potential buyers.

MLA literary research paper on Louise Glucks Mock Orange and A Summer

MLA literary on Louise Glucks Mock Orange and A Summer Garden - Research Paper Example The lyrical beauty of her poetry is really praiseworthy that the readers can sense even the inner pulse of the poet. The significant features of her poetry include â€Å"†¦its technical precision, sensitivity and insight into loneliness, family relationships, divorce, and death† (Poetry Foundation). While reading through her poetry, one would certainly feel them as quite true and they really enhance the quality of the work. When analyzing her poems â€Å"Mock Orange† and â€Å"A Summer Garden,† one can state that both the poems have structural similarities as well as differences and both the poems make use of various literary devices and conceits to create an effect in the poem. â€Å"Mock Orange† is small poem that discusses a grave theme. Daniel Morris, in his book, â€Å"The Poetry of Louise Glu ̈ck: A Thematic Introduction† asserts, â€Å"Mock Orange† [is] a controversial and much anthologized poem expressing the female speaker’s revulsion because sex with a man seemed a fiction of togetherness as well as a literal form of silencing the female with the covering male lips† (Morris, 29). After a close reading of the poem, many critics agree to the view point that Gluck composed the poem in a female perspective, accusing men for their male-chauvinistic nature. â€Å"A Summer Garden† is somewhat a large poem when comparing with â€Å"Mock Orange.† In the poem, the poet brings the readers to a memory lane where she identifies an old photograph of her dead mother. When the poet wipes off the dust from the old worn out photograph, she also wipes off the present to the past. The poet visualizes the childhood of her mother and then the poem shifts to the mother’s point of view. Analyzing the structure of â€Å"Mock Orange† one can see that the poet has resorted to a particular pattern in the arrangement of stanzas. The poem opens with a three-line stanza immediately followed with a five-line stanza. The third stanza is

Six Sigma Approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Six Sigma Approach - Essay Example After picking the low-hanging fruit, they will find themselves in need of a broader and more robust approach. Subsuming six sigma beneath the process-management umbrella addresses those challenges and allows companies to reap its substantial benefits while keeping it away from areas where it won't work. Because process management entails major changes to virtually all management systems, it demands absolute commitment from executives. IT Companies that rise to the challenge will garner extraordinary rewards: not just cost savings, but accelerated new-software introduction, major improvements in client satisfaction and sharp increases in profitability. For those not familiar with Six Sigma, it is first and foremost a philosophical approach that demands the effective use of data to analyze business issues. Key decisions about business activities now beg the question, "How does the available data support that decision" Whether the decision is a make-buy decision, a product change question, a new-model introduction question, or a manufacturing-process decision, the decision on how to proceed is dependent on the available data. Six Sigma is a measurement. ... the decision is a make-buy decision, a product change question, a new-model introduction question, or a manufacturing-process decision, the decision on how to proceed is dependent on the available data. Six Sigma is a measurement. A more illustrative explanation can be found in a 1997 letter Welch sent to GE stockholders: "The Six Sigma quality initiative, very briefly, means going from approximately 3S,000 defects per million operations, which is average for most companies, including GE, to fewer than 4 defects per million in every element in every process that this company engages in every day." (Pande, P.S., et al. 2000) GE was not the first large corporation to undertake the Six Sigma discipline. In the ten years prior to 1995, a number of companies began Six Sigma: Motorola, Texas Instruments, Eastman Kodak, and Allied Signal. Their discoveries and successes were well documented. When embarking on their own process, GE adopted many of the concepts and disciplines of Motorola's Six Sigma methodology. (Pande, P.S., et al. 2000; Harry & Schroeder 2002) Motorola's involvement with Six Sigma began in 1982, when it implemented a quality-improvement program that later became known as Six Sigma. Motorola's CEO asked corporate managers to cut quality costs in half that year. He repeated the charge in 1983. By 1984, the cost-reduction efforts were beginning to point to the need for improved analytical methods and product design for continued process improvement-and the Six Sigma discipline answered this need. (Pande, P.S., et al. 2000; Harry & Schroeder 2002) Motorola's emphasis was on designing for Six Sigma quality, and a number of advanced quality tools were used. Because effective application of these tools was essential, Motorola developed its extensive Six Sigma