Global food retail industry Essay Example

Global food retail industry Essay Exective Summary Global nutrient retail industry has become tightly competitory in last few old ages. In dynamic operating environment, companies need to understand the competitory nature of the planetary nutrient industry means to understand altering consumer penchants. They are doing uninterrupted attempts to run into these demands in order to procure their places in the industry. Companies have the purpose to construct collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, the ultimate aim of constructing an efficient nutrient distribution system. Wal-Mart is the universe largest retail merchant in nutrient retail industry. The company operates retail shops in assorted formats. It operates more than 6,000 shops in the United States and in 13 international markets. Food retail industry is a extremely concentrated market, new entrants would confront trouble to go consecutive in this industry. Stable relationships with providers are indispensable to Wal-Mart concern. Wal-Mart is concentrating on spread outing its merchandise line by including demanding merchandises every bit good as environmentally friendly merchandises. When analysing the concern of Wal-Mart, they really use all three of the hard Ss of McKinsey s 7S model in their pursuit of their ends: Strategy, Systems, Structure. As a retail company, Wal-Mart offers a broad aggregation of merchandises to the consumers. the food market points can be placed as Wal-Mart s star merchandises. Appliance, kitchen tools, furniture, digital merchandises, music files and package are the hard currency cattles of the company. Pharmaceuticals, playthings, electronics and wellness merchandises are Wal-Mart inquiry Markss. The exposure development, jewellery and shoe merchandises distributed by the company are those that show low market portion. We will write a custom essay sample on Global food retail industry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Global food retail industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Global food retail industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Wal-Mart has the largest IT systems of any private company in the universe. It has made important investings in supply concatenation direction. Wal-Mart Stores aims to capture the market incursion in nutrient that it has achieved in difficult and soft line goods. The merchandise development squad often attends trade shows in Europe and cardinal manner capitals and travels to topographic points globally. Wal-Mart s variegation scheme of the 1980s was a great success in footings of tapping and acknowledging new market sections. Based from the analysis of the informations by appling selling and strategic theoretical accounts, it is appropriate to urge that the merchandise and service development scheme be applied by Wal-Mart, sing that these factors serve as the nucleus factors impacting its growing and advancement. Strategy Development in the Global Food Retail Supermarket Industry Globalization of retail is non an emerging or wholly new scheme, but a current focal point for many retail merchants. Established retail merchants have recognized that natural growing going more hard to prolong in domistic markets, enlargement into new markets is a necessary measure towards procuring future profitableness. To understand the competitory nature of the planetary nutrient industry means to understand altering consumer penchants and the nutrient industry attempts to run into these demands. The undertaking of traveling nutrient points from the marketer to purchaser is going progressively complex, affecting diverse local, national, and planetary issues. The nutrient retail industry consists of the entire grosss generated through supermarkets, hypermarkets, co-ops, discount houses, convenience shops, independent grocers, bakers, and all other retail merchants of nutrient and drink. Supply concatenation direction ( SCM ) is the direction of stuffs, information, engineering and financess from the natural stuff provider to the consumer. It has become extremely critical. It is now indispensable to a company gross bring forthing activities as it relates to growing, efficiency and client satisfaction. SCM is critical to a company fiscal success in footings of gross, cost and plus productiveness. It has the purpose to construct collaborative working relationships between distributers, retail merchants, makers, gross revenues and selling agents with the ultimate aim of constructing an efficient nutrient distribution system.The most of import end of planetary nutrient retail merchants and jobbers is to guarantee that the merchandises they sel l are safe. They act as the buying agent for the consumer and the concluding nexus in the supply concatenation. The supermarket nutrient industry continually seeks ways to do the state nutrient supply safer. Question One: Globalization in the nutrient retail industry Selected Company: Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores ( Wal-Mart ) is the universe largest retail merchant. The company operates retail shops in assorted formats. It operates more than 6,000 shops in the US and 13 international markets including the UK, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and China. The company retails a wide scope of ware and services at low monetary values. Wal-Mart operates its concern under three concern sections: Wal-Mart Shops, Sam s Club, and the international section. The company has more than 2,000 retail shops in other states. The operating formats vary from state to state. Strategic Alliances, Merger and Acquisition ( M A ; A ) activity ( WAL-MART IN INDIA ) Wal-Mart began looking into making concern in India back in 2005. At that clip Indian authorities was sing opening up foreign direct investing ( FDI ) to retail merchants. In November 2006, Wal-Mart round out Tesco for a joint venture opAÂ ­portunity with Indian Mobile services leader, Bharti. The ground was because Wal-Mart was more flexible about the retail theoretical account to be adAÂ ­opted. The company precedence seemed to be an early entry, so that the universe s largest retail merchant did non lose out on the Indian consumer roar. As per the understanding between the two corporate giants, Bharti would pull off the front-end of the concern, while Wal-Mart would take attention of the supply concatenation, logistics and other back-end opAÂ ­erations. India is a ready and appealing market for Wal-Mart with its turning in-between category of 250 million and an economic growing rate of about 9 % . Although the FDI Torahs of the state are comparatively rigorous, authorities functionaries are non opposed to prosecuting foreign concerns in the Indian market. Since the proclamation of the Wal-Mart/Bharti JV, one taking organisation has emerged to stand for the inAÂ ­terests of the little mom-and-pop shops. This is India FDI Watch and in add-on to educating the proprietors about Wal-Mart, they have held big mass meetings and presentations against Bharti, Wal-Mart, and other big-box retail merchants. The mom-and-pops have an advantage as they are handily located on street corners or in the bosom of metropoliss and normally have personal relationships with most consumers. However, they do non transport the assortment of goods that larger retail merchants do. Menace of New Entrants and Substitutes Bing that the nutrient retail industry is a extremely concentrated market, new entrants would confront trouble wining in this industry. In fact, it is extremely hard for price reduction retail merchants to perforate other markets as Wal-Mart tried to come in Germany and South Korea. The company was unsuccessful and had to draw out because of its unprofitableness. Retailers are capable to these obstructions: Economies of Scale Cost of Capital Distribution Channelss Substitute merchandises are merchandises that can be used as replacings for other merchandises to fulfill the same necessity of consumers. Wal-Mart benefits from this thought as discount houses have lower monetary values than section shops and consumers go for higher quality merchandise with the lowest monetary values. Wal-Mart is working on supplying the best client service possible but as a high-traffic shop, it is by and large impossible to supply one on one service. Dickering Power of Suppliers and Buyers Stable relationships with providers are indispensable to Wal-Mart concern. Without timely stock list bringings, Wal-Mart could non keep its full shelves and would lose clients. For this ground, the company engages in contractual understandings with its providers. This agreement is good for both parties, as the provider makes certain it will hold changeless entree to retail merchants with big market portion. This manner, providers have a guaranteed purchaser for the supplies and can set up specific monetary values. Consumers today are seeking for the best trades possible. They are waiting for price reductions and gross revenues to bulk up on merchandises. Discount retail merchants like Wal-Mart are making immense supercenter shops because they want their shops to go a one-stop trip. Customers know what they want and how far they are willing to seek for the point. Retailers must keep high stock list degrees to retain clients and their market portion. Customers going a twosome of stat mis to a shop privation to happen the merchandises they need in stock. Question Two: Global nutrient retail market kineticss The on-going alterations and inventions in planetary nutrient markets, every bit good as the tendencies in different sectors of the nutrient industry, make up a complex quandary with consumers, manufacturers, and planetary retailing and fabrication houses. A turning tendency in nutrient markets is the displacement in growing of nutrient gross revenues from high-income ( developed ) states to take down income ( developing ) states. Despite the displacement, per capita commercial gross revenues show broad regional disparities worldwide, though growing in nutrient gross revenues in the development states is expected to go on. In expectancy of this turning market, nutrient houses appear to be shifting themselves and puting in many developing states. Measures of fight vary at the house, industry and state degree. Competitiveness is influenced by such forces as technological inventions, public establishments, substructure support, steadfast organisational construction, and authorities policies. Small nutrient makers face macroeconomic restraints similar to those of big houses, such as exchange rate fluctuations and market entree barriers in foreign markets. Retail sector issues centered on the impact of globalisation on nutrient retailing in emerging economic systems, and the impact of altering consumer penchants on nutrient retailing. Although a state may import small nutrient, the impacts of globalisation impacts are reflected in its nutrient retail sector. Wal-Mart Profitability Secure Strategies A outstanding tendency in the retail industry is consumers purchasing less and less. Until about few old ages ago, consumers depended on recognition cards. They did non waver to add to their already big debts but now consumers are seeking to pay down debts alternatively. Wal-Mart price reduction shops, supercenters and jobber nines have maintained their monetary value leading scheme known as Save money A ; unrecorded better. This scheme was implemented in twelvemonth 2008 and is aimed at households with kids and in-between income consumers seeking to salvage. Wal-Mart is concentrating on spread outing its merchandise line by including health merchandises every bit good as environmentally friendly merchandises. With the high energy monetary values confronting consumers and the thoughts of eating healthier and natural nutrient, Wal-Mart has stocked merchandises that would appeal to these consumers while keeping its competitory monetary values. The company maintains a flexible direction manner where it is willing to fulfill altering demands. To run into demand, the company must promote directors to supervise high demand merchandises and bead unpopular merchandise lines that may be a waste of stock list infinite. Another tendency is discounter development of private labels. To vie with national trade names, supermarkets and retail merchants have developed their ain trade names with the cooperation of makers. These merchandises are to be distributed and sold merely in the retail merchants shops. Net Net income Margin measures how much out of every dollar of gross revenues a company really keeps in net incomes. A company with high net net income border indicates that it has better control over its costs. In this class, Wal-Mart outperforms Costco, BJ s and industry, but lags behind Target. This tabular array shows that how much Wal-Mart has been successful to put into nutrient retail installations in order to procure its future profitableness in footings of net incomes. Question Three: McKinsey s 7S model for placing nucleus competences and capablenesss, discourse the ability of Wal-Mart When analysing the concern of Wal-Mart, they really employ all three of the hard Ss in their chase of their ends: Scheme Systems Structure Their strength in all three of these S s is likely a large ground why they have been so successful. Scheme Wal-Mart s overall scheme is to ever supply the lowest monetary values. Additionally, they aim to hold a shop which provides convenience by leting consumers to happen everything they need under one roof.This scheme of convenience with low monetary values has driven Wal-Mart to be the concern leader that it is. Additionally, they plan to go on to spread out into markets non yet penetrated by major ironss, and some markets that are already saturated, such as New England and California.The other two difficult S s, systems and construction, support this scheme. Besides, low monetary values everyday has become the manner and shared values of Wal-Mart. Even the staff is wholly committed to supplying the lowest possible monetary values. The accomplishments of workers are besides geared to happening inefficiencies and towards diminishing monetary values. The low cost scheme has driven Wal-Mart to make things such as call providers collect, do off with maker representatives at gross revenues meetings, make off with regional offices, etc. Systems Wal-Mart has in topographic point a set of systems that helps it accomplish its scheme of low monetary values everyday. The largest and most profitable of these systems is the Information Technology system. Wal-Mart has employed computing machines, networking, and the cyberspace to cut down stock lists and waste, and velocity bringings. Wal-Mart can link to their providers and convey them informations so they know what Wal-Mart demands and when.The lower stock lists allow Wal-Mart to bring forth stock list turnover rates of around 70 % which is truly high. Additionally, Wal-Mart has worked with providers in order to better their efficiencies in production which they so pass to Wal-Mart and so to the consumer. Because of Wal-Mart scheme, these reduced costs due to systems let Wal-Mart to cut down consumer s monetary values. Wal-Mart has streamlined the supply system so good that it would be really difficult to happen any inefficiency and would be difficult for any rival to crush. Addi tionally, Wal-Mart has a really efficient human resource system set-up that has both largely kept employees happy, and resisted unionisation. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer and has developed systems to bind rises and fillips to public presentation. This encourages employees to believe of the company and to ever make their best. Structure Wal-Mart besides employs a good construction that works with the systems to authorise the low monetary value scheme. Wal-Mart has planned warehouses and integrated them with systems. Additionally, they place their warehouses strategically so that one warehouse can function many shops. They have developed clip agendas so that one truck can serve many shops and that after a bringing the truck can take back returned goods to the warehouse. The supercenter design itself is a structural advantage and scheme that Wal-Mart uses. This design allows consumers to come to a individual Wal-Mart shop to happen everything they need from food markets to gifts to apparels to dally. Wal-Mart has designed an efficient direction construction that allows it to extinguish the regional office. This construction entirely has saved Wal-Mart 1000000s of dollars a twelvemonth. When Wal-Mart topographic points shops in strategic locations and thrusts traffic utilizing convenience and so combines the gross reve nues with its systems and construction, people get a extremely efficient corporation that can cut costs to a bare-minimum which are so passed along to the consumer. If Wal-Mart continues to rule these three S s, it will go on to rule the retail market. Question Four: BCG merchandise matrix theoretical account, placing major merchandises of Wal-Mart As a retail company, Wal-Mart offers a broad array of merchandises to the consumers. These include food markets, playthings, dress for adult females, work forces and kids, jewellery every bit good as other difficult goods ; all of these merchandise lines are sold at sensible and by and large low-cost monetary values. In order to analyse the operation and public presentation of the selected merchandises of the company ( Wal-Mart ) , the Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) Matrix is used. The Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) Matrix is a tool developed to measure company concern units. Specifically, the BCG Matrix is used to measure the concern units degree of market growing and portion. The distribution done in this matrix was based on the 2008 gross study of the company. Stars In above diagram, the food market points map can be placed as Wal-Mart s star merchandise. The study stressed that this served as the top gross generator of the company, lending to 22 % in the entire gross revenues. While this generates the most hard currency flow, it should besides be considered that this merchandise causes the most inventory cost to the company, sing that Wal-Mart has to deduce its food market supplies to multiple providers or companies. Cash cattles On the other manus, the difficult ( contraption, kitchen tools, furniture ) and soft goods ( digital merchandises, music files, package ) are the hard currency cattles of the company. Compared to the food markets, the supply concatenation for these merchandises are less complex. The private-label goods are considered hard currency cattles peculiarly in the international sector. This is because American trade names do non exhibit the same impact or entreaty to foreign purchasers as with foreign consumers. As hard currency cattles, it is indispensable that Wal-Mart utilizations these merchandises to bring forth financess that would back up its other concern units peculiarly those categorized as stars and inquiry Markss. Question Markss Pharmaceuticals, playthings, electronics and wellness merchandises are Wal-Mart inquiry Markss. As indicated in the gross study, these merchandises may bring forth gross revenues but non plenty to counterbalance the degree of financess required to administer them. Multiple providers and dearly-won stock list make these merchandises the inquiry grade type. For this ground, it is practical that Wal-Mart see restricting the stock list of these merchandises to salvage on stock list disbursals. Dogs Finally, the exposure development, jewellery and shoe merchandises distributed by the company are those that exhibit low market portion every bit good as growing. Sing the figure of options available in the market with these merchandises, it is so hard for the company to maintain these merchandise lines. As certain retail merchants are focused on administering these goods, they have more concern flexibleness than Wal-Mart, leting them to get the better of gross revenues issues. Question Five: merchandise life rhythm and Ansoff growing matrix Product life rhythm Wal-Mart is committed to bettering operations, take downing costs and bettering client service. But the key to retailer Wal-Mart s success is its ability to drive costs out of its supply concatenation and pull off it expeditiously. Many supply concatenation experts refer to Wal-Mart as a supply chain-driven company that besides has retail shops. Wal-Mart s company doctrine ( The Wal-Mart Way ) is to be at the taking border of logistics, distribution, transit, and engineering. Wal-Mart has the largest IT systems of any private company in the universe. The Wal-Mart concern theoretical account would neglect immediately without its advanced engineering and supply concatenation. Wal-Mart has made important investings in supply concatenation direction. Ansoff growing matrix Ansoff matrix allows the sellers to look at different ways to turn the concern through bing merchandises and markets and new merchandises and markets. Furthermore, the matrix is composed of four assorted schemes: Market Penetration Wal-Mart Shops aims to capture the market incursion in nutrient that it has achieved in difficult and soft line goods. The retail giant, which posts more than a 10 % market portion in many nonfood classs, plans to lift up its nutrient portion through speedy supercenter enlargements. To accomplish their market incursion ends, they believe in three steering rules: Customer Value and Service Partnership with its associates Community engagement Merchandise Development Wal-Mart merchandise development group influenced the expression, feel and assortment of ware. The merchandise development group headed by strong communicators worked with the purchaser for the class and assorted providers to better the consistence of qualities and sizes of ware. The merchandise development squad often attends trade shows in Europe and cardinal manner capitals and travels to topographic points globally. The group findings are so on a regular basis presented to merchandisers, sellers and bundle interior decorators during the twelvemonth. Major seasonal tendency overview meetings are held for spring and autumn with smaller meetings held for summer and vacations. Market Development Wal-Mart ever seek to take advantage of on its international scheme, it is working in the way of buildAÂ ­ing new retail shops in other countries.They planned to educate militants around the universe about Wal-Mart retail development schemes and the company impact on local retail civilization. The three major tactics used by the company before to come in a state include: BuildAÂ ­ing partnerships with local concerns and organisations Working with authorities functionaries Taping into the turning in-between category buying power Diversification Wal-Mart s variegation scheme of the 1980s was a great success in footings of tapping and acknowledging new market sections. Sam s nine was the most successful variegation of all at the decennary by following wholesaling construct. The first Sam s Club launched in April 1983. The company, on the other side, opened its first Wal-Mart Supercenter in 1988. It was basically a complete Wal-Mart price reduction shop with a supermarket added to it. Wal-Mart variegation into new retail formats during the 1980s did more than better the house growing in the cardinal countries of retail. Diversification besides gave the company the opportunity to take hazards and experiment. Evaluation the Usefulness of Marketing and Strategic Models Based from the analysis of the selected company, it is so appropriate to urge that the merchandise and service development scheme be applied by Wal-Mart, sing that these factors serve as the nucleus factors impacting its growing and advancement. With this type of scheme, Wal-Mart can increase its gross revenues by agencies of modifying or heightening its bing merchandises and services. This scheme has been recommended as it has the ability to back up the company potency to make greater markets. Wal-Mart has multiple merchandise lines that will be affected by this scheme. With the BCG matrix, it is appropriate that the company starts off the development with its premier merchandise lines. Through this, the company will hold sufficient financess to back up other relevant activities in the hereafter. However, by agencies of this scheme, Wal-Mart will be able to beef up the market place of each of its merchandise divisions, ensuing to greater keep to these specific markets. The suggested scheme does non merely suit the intent of the company and support its future growing but has besides been recommended based on the capableness of the company to implement it. Wal-Mart has an efficient distribution system which in bend would back up this scheme. The civilization of the retail company besides fits the demands of this recommendation. Specifically, the company devotes ample clip and resources to develop and keep a skilled work force. With productive directors and employees, the bringing of the developed goods of the company will be made possible. As a consequence, greater satisfaction from the clients will be obtained. Mention Beginnings Text Books Lynch, R. ( 2006 ) Corporate Strategy, Fourth Edition, Financial Times Prentice Hall. Mintzberg, H. , Ahlstrand, B. and Lampel, J. ( 1998 ) Strategy Safari, Financial Times Prentice Hall Johnson, G. , Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. ( 2005 ) Researching Corporate Scheme: Text and Cases, 7th Edition, Financial Times Prentice Hall. Online Beginnings hypertext transfer protocol: //www.walmart.com/ hypertext transfer protocol: //walmartstores.com/sites/AnnualReport/2008/docs/wal_mart_annual_report_2008.pdf www.economist.com www.metrofoods.net/ www.ft.com www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/GlobalFoodMarkets/Industry www.plunkettresearch.com/Industries/

Free Essays on Can We Live Better LIves With Less Clutter

Everyone would be much happier living with less and eliminating some bad habits. Many of us have cluttered our lives with technology and bad habits, seeking to improve our lives with material things that in a few months will be technologically out dated. Bad habits I’ve developed over the years also cluttered my life, which I didn’t realize until I stopped them. Simply by changing my habits and spending less time playing games would I’m sure make me happier and healthier. Our Play Station 2 single handedly waste a great amount of time I could be spending together with my family. I really enjoy disconnecting from the world outside whatever particular game I am playing. Just the intrigue of being the W.W.F Champion or being a spy for the government is undeniable. Sometimes I become too tied to the game I am playing. This only adds to the amount of time I spend playing that particular game, which of course adds to the amount of time away from my family. Eliminating the Play Station 2 would give me more quality time to spend with my family talking or just being in the same room. Computers and the Internet are also technologies that use up time with my family. Having the world at my finger tips is all the motivation that I need to spend hours upon hours â€Å"surfing the net†. I find myself doing more and more homework on the computer using Microsoft Word or researching on the Internet. As online classes are becoming more and more popular, I’ve taken many, and believe me they are time consuming. I can now pay bills on-line, I have bought many of my school books on-line, all of this just taking time away from what’s really important in my life, my family. In today’s society Computers and the Internet are a necessary evil. I must constantly tell myself to use self control so as not spend too much time on them. If I could do away with all of my bad habits, I’d be a much happier man. I have way too many bad habits to name them a... Free Essays on Can We Live Better LIves With Less Clutter Free Essays on Can We Live Better LIves With Less Clutter Everyone would be much happier living with less and eliminating some bad habits. Many of us have cluttered our lives with technology and bad habits, seeking to improve our lives with material things that in a few months will be technologically out dated. Bad habits I’ve developed over the years also cluttered my life, which I didn’t realize until I stopped them. Simply by changing my habits and spending less time playing games would I’m sure make me happier and healthier. Our Play Station 2 single handedly waste a great amount of time I could be spending together with my family. I really enjoy disconnecting from the world outside whatever particular game I am playing. Just the intrigue of being the W.W.F Champion or being a spy for the government is undeniable. Sometimes I become too tied to the game I am playing. This only adds to the amount of time I spend playing that particular game, which of course adds to the amount of time away from my family. Eliminating the Play Station 2 would give me more quality time to spend with my family talking or just being in the same room. Computers and the Internet are also technologies that use up time with my family. Having the world at my finger tips is all the motivation that I need to spend hours upon hours â€Å"surfing the net†. I find myself doing more and more homework on the computer using Microsoft Word or researching on the Internet. As online classes are becoming more and more popular, I’ve taken many, and believe me they are time consuming. I can now pay bills on-line, I have bought many of my school books on-line, all of this just taking time away from what’s really important in my life, my family. In today’s society Computers and the Internet are a necessary evil. I must constantly tell myself to use self control so as not spend too much time on them. If I could do away with all of my bad habits, I’d be a much happier man. I have way too many bad habits to name them a...

Building and Hosting Your Own Website Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Building and Hosting Your Own Website - Essay Example I have always relied on your team to make updates on the website, and unfortunately, this has lead to a delay in the upload of articles as well as the posting of new products and services. As such, I have decided to do the update myself. I wish to have my entire website migrated to a content management system (CMS) such as Joomla so I can add/remove/revise content without the worry of ruining my website design. I am pretty sure that you can do this quite easily as my current website host offers a one-click installation of Joomla on the server. Through this move, I hope I can make updates weekly, if not daily, as well as add new writers and editors to the website without giving full access to the backend of the web server. I have recently been looking up new website designs and have settled on a clean, crisp look. I want to use colors for actionable items on the website, as well as photos and quotes to highlight important parts of the content. 1. Contrast: I want the background of the website to be white or grayish white so that items (fonts, photos, quotes) will stand out. I want titles or headers of articles to be in all cap and in bold. I want it colored in turquoise (see design document for details). Font of the content must be gray, a bit on the dark side, but definitely not black. 2. Repetition: Photos for all articles (on the blog) must be in black and white. This way, it replicates the design elements of the fonts and serves to highlight the actionable links as well as the quotes taken out from the article. Moreover, repetition can be used in the Navigation of the store where categories of the products/services I offer are located in the left side, as well as in the tag sphere below it. 3. Alignment: I want lots of white space for the site, but I also want to have crisp lines which can be generated by aligning content to the left (for the blog). In the store, I want products/services to display in a 4x4 grid. 4. Proximity:

Hittites History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hittites History - Essay Example The Indo-European-speaking Hittites probably began arriving peacefully in northwestern Anatolia from the Balkans about 2500 B.C., traveling from the Kurgan pit-grave culture of the Eurasian steppe. They settled in northwestern Anatolia, across the west and south of the peninsula about 2300 B.C., although many more may have immigrated from the south over the next three centuries. A northeastern route, through the Caucasus has also been suggested, but that seems linguistically and archaeologically less likely. In any event, when Assyrian traders reached central Anatolia around 1900 B.C., they found an Indo-European-speaking people firmly established, who had harmoniously integrated with the indigenous Hattian population of the local city-states. By 1650, the ruler Hattusilis I founded the Hittite Kingdom when he established the capital of Hattusas. The ensuing two centuries constitute the period known as the Hittite Empire's Old Kingdom. Hattusilis recognized that controlling trade routes and metal sources were fundamental to the early empire's prosperity, and he and his successor, Mursilis, began tracing the commercial route running along the Euphrates to northern Syria. Hattusilis failed to subjugate the northern end of the Euphrates from Aleppo, but Mursilis not only conquered Aleppo, he rashly advanced on Babylon, which he captured in 1595 B.C. Holding the city proved untenable, and when Mursilis returned to Hattusas, he was assassinated. The Hittite kingdom was rocked by a period of instability, known as the Middle Kingdom, lasting for a 70-year period from 1500-1430 B.C. Yet the seeds for the Hittites' emerging cultural prosperity and military dominance had been sewn. Hattusili's early and original contribution in legal thought, one that lays the groundwork for a crude form of democratic government, was the "pankus." The pankus was a council of nobles. It was not a popularly elected legislative body, however, but did serve as a check and balance to the actions of the king. The pankus was officially charged to "advise" the king, but its powers could extend so far as to execute the Hittite leader if he overstepped his moral authority. It's also clear, during Hattusili's reign, that the movement and trade of metals was a stimulus to the Hittite economy. Assyrian merchants had traditionally ventured into Anatolia in search of tin, silver, and gold, commodities that were essential to the outside world. But there were other valuable commodities as well, and Hittite miners and metal workers were intent on exploring them (James D. Muhly, Mining and Metalwork in Ancient Western Asia, in Civilizations of the Ancient Near East, ed. J. M. Sasson et al., New York: Scribner, 1995). Among merchant colonies and urban communities, the Hittites began acquiring a reputation as a people skilled in metallurgy. They were also recognized as fierce warriors, and the products their craftsmen forged - particularly in the area of weaponry - reflected their kings' strong imperialistic ambitions. Fortified double-walls with deep gorges between them made Hattusas impenetrable to invaders, and it was in the capital city that modern blast furnaces were

Ecology - sprawl field trip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ecology - sprawl field trip - Essay Example Accordingly, this brief essay will consider but a few of these factors with relation to the field trip that was engaged upon by our class outing to the Sprawl site earlier in the semester. The first and most pressing ecological concern is the fundamental way that the Sprawl region and growth of infrastructure and Big Box retailers has fundamental changed the water runoff for the region.1 Although adding parking lots, interchanges, and large multiple thousand square foot warehouses is itself harmful to the ecology and environment of the given region, the particular region in question experiences these negative points in a compound sense due to the overlapping nature of how one big box retailer is practically side by side to another which is side by side to a large highway interchange. This compound effect causes the drainage and water runoff of the region to be fundamentally changed in a highly negative way. Firstly, such a situation means that not only is water flow disrupted from it s normal course but a high number of added pollutants are introduced into the water table as a result of the large number of parking lots that have been added. Although seemingly benign, parking lots serve as collection points for all manner of pollutants and disrupt the flow and absorption of water into the environment in question.2 Due to the fact that cars leave all manner of fluids behind where they have been parked, it is conceivable for everything from trash associated with packaging from the store, to oil, to brake fluid, to transmission fluid, anti-freeze, and a host of other chemicals to collect on the tarmac and find their way into the water table once a healthy rain has washed over the area. Hence, the disruption of the water flow itself is but the first concern; the larger concern is concentric upon the fact that key pollutants are introduced with the presence of a number of parking lots and highway interchanges within the region.3 Of course, the issue is further compoun ded by the topography of the region in question. Whereas a general dilution of these negative environmental aspects would be seen if the topography of the site were more elevated and allowed for a greater diffusion of these pollutants prior to reaching reservoirs of lower lying land, the fact of the matter is that Big Box retailers of course seek the â€Å"perfect site† which will invariably be located in a somewhat flat or low-lying region.4 This is generally the case due to the fact that the Big Box retailers, strip malls, and other such firms want to spend as little money as possible on site improvement and grading. Hence, the ecological impact of this is the fact that the topography of the site and the presence of the pollutants readily find their way directly into the reservoirs and creeks/streams/rivers of the given site. The same can of course be said for the Sprawl site that was visited earlier in the semester. When one considers the map of the site and sees the prese nce of t

Ampicillin and Kanamycin Resistant Bacteria Comparison

Ampicillin and Kanamycin Resistant Bacteria Comparison Antibiotic use throughout the world has increased tremendously over the decades. In the past, antibiotic resistance was most prevalent in areas of frequent antibiotic use, such as in medical or laboratory settings. However, the increasing use of antibiotics and antibacterial products outside of hospitals, such as in homes and schools, echoes the expansion of antibiotic resistant bacteria (LBC Biology Staff, 2010). One major source of the growing problem is that antibiotics are being over prescribed by doctors to millions of people around the world. It is currently believed that about only half of the antibiotics prescribed to patients are administered properly (Levy, 1998). In addition to over prescription by doctors, many patients misuse the antibiotics and further increase the spread of resistance. For example, some patients discontinue use of antibiotics upon feeling symptom relief, not at the end of their antibiotic schedule prescribed by the doctor. In actuality, patients are ki lling off the weakest bacteria, causing temporary relief, and allowing the stronger and more resistant bacteria to multiply at a faster rate (Levy, 1998). This and other types of antibiotic misuse have promoted the growth of strains of bacteria with resistance to antibiotic attack. This can be seen through studies that have shown Tetracycline resistance by normal human intestinal flora that exploded from 2% in the 1950s to 80% in the 1990s (Criswell, 2004). Other studies have shown Kanamycin, an antibiotic from the 1950s, has become clinically useless as a result of the prevalence of Kanamycin-resistant bacteria (Criswell, 2004). It has become visible that the development of resistance to any antibiotic, new or old, will happen in a matter of time (LBC Biology Staff, 2010). Due to the inevitability of mutation, natural selection, time and environmental conditions, resistance will be seen in more common areas like work and home. As a consequence of the every growing expansion of antiobiotic resistance, places previously thought to be uncontaminated like schools and homes have become overwhelmed with antibiotic resistant bacteria. In one household study, it was discovered that kitchen sinks contained many different types of resistant bacteria, primarily from food waste and human hands (Rusin et al., 1998). Only the application of strong bleaches and specific cleaning products on a regimented cleaning schedule led to a decreased amount of bacteria in kitchen sinks (Rusin et al., 1998). The cleaning products used in this study did not contain antibacterial ingredients, which helped reduce the spread of resistance by killing all bacteria instead of the most susceptible strains. Antibacterial products and cleaning supplies are less effective and in turn can lead to reproduction of stronger antibiotic resistant bacteria. The large amount of antibacterial cleaning products, food and waste combined with the constant water supply in sink drains allows for a greater chance of survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Levy, 1998). Optimal conditions for bacterial growth with a wet environment cause a higher frequency of bacterial transmission of resistance (Perryman and Flournoy, 1980). In scientific laboratories, regulations are in place to monitor the disposal of solid and liquid wastes. Some regulations include specific waste baskets for toxic or contaminated substances and use of certain sinks only when dealing with harmful liquids in laboratory settings. This ensures that unnecessary amounts of harmful substances that could lead to resistance are not continually poured down laboratory sink drains. However, no such regulations are in effect in household environments. In a study performed in Oklahoma City the extent of growing antibiotic resistance was seen in multiple environments. Bacterial samples were gathered from sink drains in the Veterans Administration Medical Center, libraries, private homes, shopping centers, and other similar environments for comparison (Perryman and Flournoy, 1980). The goal of the experiment was to determine the types of resistant bacteria that were most prevalent in sink drains, the abundance of bacteria in sink drains, and the life span of bacteria in dry and wet environments (Perryman and Flournoy, 1980). Through testing, bacteria were found to have longer life spans in wet environments than in dry environments, and many bacteria survived for over 180 days in wet environments (Perryman and Flournoy, 1980). The high survival rate of bacteria in areas with constant water supply, such as in laboratory and kitchen sinks, supports the prediction that sinks are ideal environments for ample bacterial growth. In the afore mentioned study, bacterial growth occurred on plates containing the antibiotics gentamicin and amikacin, and it was determined that the sink drains from the medical hospital contained the highest amount of antibiotic resistant organisms. Overall, 88% of the sink drains sampled from the Veterans Administration Medical Center contained some type of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Perryman and Flournoy, 1980). While bacteria could come from other sources such as the patients and tap water, the great quantity of antibiotic resistant bacteria in all environments illustrates the need for a reduction in the overuse of antibiotics and the essential awareness of the consequences. Places with high levels of exposure to antibiotics and antibacterial products provide ideal environments for bacteria to develop resistance through replicated mutations or transmissions between bacteria. Some factors that severely add to the growing problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria include increased applications of antibacterial soaps and cleaning products, over prescription of antibiotics by doctors, misuse of antibiotics by patients, and improper care of waste products (Levy, 1998). Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics through genetic mutation, transfer of the mutation between bacteria, or transmission of the mutated DNA on a plasmid between bacteria when the resistant gene is carried on the plasmid DNA. A plasmid is a relatively small piece of circular DNA that is self replicating and independent of the chromosomal DNA of the cell. Resistant chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA can be transmitted to the next generation through cell replication. Plasmids can be passed th rough bacterial conjugation, which involves a bacterium copying the plasmid with resistant DNA and inserting the copied plasmid into a second bacterium. Plasmid DNA can also be transferred through bacterial transformation when plasmid DNA invades another bacterium and is incorporated into the bacteriums DNA (Cognato, 2010). Understanding these problems and the mechanisms of resistance transmission is the first step in preventing further development of resistant strains of bacteria. The focus of the experiment at hand is to determine whether the bacteria located in a laboratory sink or in an apartment garbage disposal contains more antibiotic resistant strains. It was hypothesized that the apartment garbage disposal would contain more antibiotic resistant bacteria than the laboratory sink. This is due to the abundance of contaminated materials that pass through garbage disposals in comparison to the regulated materials that pass through laboratory sinks. The null hypothesis is that the amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria that exist in the garbage disposal sink and laboratory sink will be equal. Many steps were needed to accomplish this research and obtain the sample bacteria to determine the resistance. Samples from the laboratory sink and the apartment garbage disposal were swabbed on agar plates to obtain a culture of bacteria. Colonies were selected based on growth and seclusion from the bacterial lawn. Individual bacteria were then streaked on master patch plates for each environment. After the bacteria had grown, individual colonies were selected to be streaked on antibiotic plates containing Ampicillin, Kanamycin, and Tetracycline. Antibiotic resistant bacteria were chosen from the antibiotic plates, separated and characterized. Next, plasmids from the antibiotic resistant bacteria were isolated and spliced using restriction endonucleases to determine band length of resistant plasmid DNA to help identify the type of bacteria. Competent E. coli cells were transformed with the control plasmid DNA to convey antibiotic resistance and support bacteria identification. Final ly, the bacterial DNA was replicated by polymerase chain reaction to amplify the 16S rRNA gene in hopes to obtain sequencing information of a known bacterium. It was predicted that resistant bacteria, for all antibiotics, will be Gram negative due to easier entry of resistant plasmid DNA into the cell. Bacteria with a thin cell wall layer and an outer membrane surrounding the peptidoglycan layer are Gram negative. Bacteria with a thick wall layer that do not have the peptidoglycan layer surrounding are Gram positive. Gram identity was verified through Gram staining, a KOH test, and observing growth on a MacConkey agar and Eosin Methylene Blue Agar plate. Methods Swab Plates A sterile cotton swab saturated in sterile phosphate-buffered saline was used to gather samples from the laboratory sink and an apartment garbage disposal. Bacterial samples from the disposal and lab sinks were collected from the underside of the drain. Bacteria were then swabbed onto Lysogeny broth agar plates (three per environment). Plates were placed into an incubator for 24 hours at 37Â °C. Following the incubation period, plates were removed, parafilmed, and refrigerated at 4Â °C until needed. Master Patch Plates Master plates were made by placing sixteen individual colonies onto a 44 grid on Lysogeny broth (LB) only plates. An inoculation loop was used to transfer the 16 individual colonies from the sample plate onto a grid of the master plate. Plates were labeled with D for the apartment garbage disposal and L for the laboratory sink along with a number (1, 2, or 3) to distinguish between swabbed samples. Plates were incubated at 37Â °C for 24 hours, removed, sealed with parafilm, and refrigerated at 4Â °C until needed. Antibiotic Patch Plates Antibiotic agar plates were made by mixing 8.4g agar with 12g LB powder and 600mL of distilled water (dH2O), and then autoclaved. After cooling, 2.4Â µL of Ampicillin, 1.2Â µL of Kanamycin, or 2.4Â µL of Tetracycline were added appropriately and plates were poured. One colony per grid of the master patch plate was obtained with an inoculation loop, and the bacteria were transferred in a line onto a corresponding grid on the antibiotic plates. The number of squares that contained bacterial growth was observed and recorded. One colony of the bacteria grown on the antibiotic patch plates was then streaked onto a new antibiotic plate to obtain individual colonies of bacteria for further study. Miniprep A liquid culture was performed in preparation for the Promega Wizard Plus SV Miniprep DNA Purification System, which was used to isolate plasmid DNA from antibiotic resistant bacteria. First, 5Â µL of antibiotic was added to a 5mL tube filled with a liquid medium made of LB. A single colony of bacteria was added to the medium and placed in a shaker at 37Â °C for 24 hours. The liquid culture was then transferred into an Eppendorf tube and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4,400rpm. Liquid media waste was disposed of and the pellet was thoroughly re-suspended in 250Â µL of Cell Resuspension Solution. If the bacteria were Gram positive, 63Â µL of lysozyme would be added to the solution. Since the bacteria studied was Gram negative, the process continued with the addition of 250Â µL of Cell Lysis Solution was added to the Eppendorf tube containing the resuspended bacterial solution and the sample was mixed. Subsequently, 10Â µL Alkaline Protease Solution was added, mixed, and incubated for 5 minutes at room temperature. Then, 350Â µL Neutralization Solution was added, mixed, and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 13,500rpm. A Spin Column was inserted in a Collection Tube and the clear lysate was decanted into the Spin Column. This was centrifuged for 1 minute at 13,500rpm and the flowthrough was discarded. The Spin Column was replaced, 750Â µL of wash solution was added, and the solution was centrifuged for 1 minute at 13,500rpm. The flowthrough was discarded, and this process was repeated with a 250Â µL wash. The solution was centrifuged for 2 minutes at 13,500rpm. The Spin Column was transferred to a 1.5mL Eppendorf tube. Finally, 50Â µL of Nuclease-Free Water was added and then the solution was centrifuged for 1 minute at 13,500rpm. The column was discarded and the DNA was stored at -20ËÅ ¡C. Gel Electrophoresis DNA electrophoresis was used to determine the length of the plasmid DNA of the environmental samples and Blue plasmid control (pKAN). First, 0.7g of agarose powder was added to 70mL of 1X TBE. The solution was heated in a microwave for 1 minute so the agarose powder was completely dissolved. After the mixture cooled, 3Â µL of Ethidium bromide was added and the gel was taken out of the mold and put on the rig. The gel was submerged in a 1X TBE buffer. The wells of the gel were filled with 10Â µL of a mixture containing 8Â µL of plasmid DNA and 2Â µL of plasmid dye, and the gel ran for 60 minutes on 80 volts. The 1% agarose gel was viewed under an ultraviolet light to compare lengths of DNA with the 1KB ladder. Gram Staining Gram staining was used to determine the Gram identity of bacteria. Bacteria that are Gram negative stained red and bacteria that are Gram positive stained violet. A colony of bacteria was added to an Eppendorf tube with 400Â µL of dH2O. After vortexing, 5Â µL of the solution was pipetted onto a slide. Once dry, the slide was passed over a flame to affix the bacteria to the glass, preventing the removal of bacteria. The slide was flooded drop-wise with crystal violet and iodine, and rinsed with dH2O for 5 seconds after the addition of each reactant. Ethanol was added until the color was no longer emitted, then rinsed with dH2O for 5 seconds. Safranin was added drop-wise for 1 minute and then rinsed with dH2O for 5 seconds. The slide was observed under a microscope to determine Gram identity. KOH Test The KOH test for Gram positive and negative bacteria was begun by pipetting 20Â µL of 3% KOH on a slide. After adding one clump of bacteria to the KOH, the consistency of the solution was observed. If the solution was thick, viscous and adhered to the inoculation loop, the bacteria were Gram negative. If the solution was thin and not viscous, the bacteria were Gram positive. MacConkey Agar Plate A MacConkey agar plate was streaked with antibiotic resistant bacteria from the garbage disposal and laboratory sink. After incubation at 37ËÅ ¡C for 24 hours, the plates were observed for growth to indicate Gram negative bacteria. The MacConkey agar plate also signaled lactose fermentation with the appearance of pink colonies. Eosin Methylene Blue Agar Plate (EMB) An EMB plate was streaked with antibiotic resistant bacteria from the apartment garbage disposal and the laboratory sink as well as a positive E.coli control. After incubation at 37ËÅ ¡C for 24 hours, the plates were observed for growth to indicate Gram negative bacteria. The EMB agar plate indicated strong lactose fermentation through the appearance of dark green metallic colonies and a lesser degree of lactose fermentation through the appearance of purple or pink colonies. Restriction Digest Restriction enzymes cut the control pKAN DNA at specific restriction sites identified by the NEBcutter V2.0. The enzymes used in restriction digest were BamHI and EcoRI in Buffer II, and PvuI and PstI in Buffer III. The reaction solution used in restriction digest consists of 10Â µL of DNA, 1Â µL of each enzyme, 2Â µL of NEBuffer, and 7Â µL of de-ionized distilled water (ddH2O) added together in an Eppendorf tube. The solution was centrifuged at 14,500rpm for 30 seconds and then incubated for 24 hours at 37ËÅ ¡C. A plasmid map created from the NEBcutter V2.0 was compared to a gel electrophoresis run on a 1% aragose gel with plasmid DNA. The gel electrophoresis compared Blue plasmid (pKAN) DNA that was uncut with the Blue control plasmid (pKAN) that was cut with restriction enzymes. Transformation After plasmid DNA preparation, 22Â µL of E. coli competent cells were added to three separate Eppendorf tubes. In one tube, 5Â µL of control DNA, pKAN, was added and stirred with the pipette tip. In the second tube, a negative control was made with the addition of 5Â µL of dH2O that was then stirred with a pipette tip. In the third tube, a positive control was made with the addition of 1Â µL of known pKAN, and the solution was stirred with a pipette tip. The tubes were then incubated in ice 30 minutes. The cells were heat shocked for 45 seconds at 42ËÅ ¡C and then placed on ice for 2 minutes. 250Â µL of pre-warmed (37ËÅ ¡C) SOC medium was added to all three of the Eppendorf tubes, and the tubes were then incubated in a shaker at 37ËÅ ¡C for 1 hour at 2,250rpm. Upon removal from the incubator, 75Â µL of each transformation were spread onto plates with a sterilized hockey stick. The transformed control DNA, pKAN, cells and the negative control dH2O transformed cell s were spread onto LB only plates, ampicillin antibiotic plates, and kanamycin antibiotic plates to determine if resistance to antibiotics was transferred in the transformation. The transformed positive control, known pKAN, cells was spread onto a LB only plate and a kanamycin plate since pKAN is known to be resistant to kanamycin. Plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37ËÅ ¡C and numbers of resistant bacterial colonies were observed. Bacterial growth on the control DNA, pKAN, transformation antibiotic plates would signal resistance to the antibiotic in the plate, and growth on the LB only plate would signal the existence of bacterial cells from the transformation. No growth on the dH2O negative control plates containing ampicillin and kanamycin antibiotics would signal a correct transformation as long as there was bacterial growth on the LB only plate. Growth on the positive control, known pKAN, transformation plate signaled the correct transfer of kanamycin resistant plasmid DNA into the competent E.coli cells. Polymerase Chain Reaction The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) involved mixing a reaction cocktail that included 80Â µL of Nuclease-free water, 10Â µL of 10X Thermopol buffer, 3Â µL of 10mM dNTPs, 2Â µL of 11F @ 10Â µM, 2Â µL of 1492R @ 10Â µM, and 1Â µL of Taq polymerase @ 5000U/mL. The solution was then mixed through vortexing. Subsequently, 22Â µL of the cocktail was transferred to each of the 4 PCR tubes. A small portion of each bacterial colony was added to SOC medium and mixed. Then 5Â µL of SOC medium with bacteria was added to each tube. Tube 1 had environmental bacteria, tube 2 had different environmental bacteria, tube 3 had the control E.coli and 5Â µL of H2O was added to tube 4. The reactions were placed in the thermocycler in C4. The PCR cycling program consists of five steps. The first step is pre-denaturation in which the PCR mixing reaction cocktail is heated at 95Â °C for 5 minutes. The second step is denaturation, which involves heating the reaction cocktail at 95Â °C for 30 seco nds to unwind and separate the DNA. The third step is annealing, which is run at 50Â °C for 30 seconds to allow the 11F and 1492R primers to attach to the DNA template strands. The fourth step is elongation, which is run at 72Â °C for 45 seconds to allow the DNA polymerase (Taq polymerase) to add dNTPs and replicate the 16S gene. The fifth step is the final elongation, which is run at 72Â °C for 7 minutes. The hold between cycles is run at 4Â °C, and the PCR is run for 35 cycles. Gel electrophoresis was run to determine if a successful PCR reaction took place. 10Â µL of the PCR solution from each tube was mixed with 2Â µL of plasmid dye, and 10Â µL of the mixtures were loaded into the wells of the 1% agarose gel. Chi Squared Test of Independence A Chi Squared Test of Independence was run to determine if a statistically significant difference exists between the numbers of antibiotic resistant bacteria from the two environments. The number of grids on the antibiotic plates was recorded only if the bacteria grew on both the antibiotic plate and the LB only plate. The test was run on Vassar Stats and gave a p-value to correspond to the data and indicate if there was a significant difference. Results Swab and Master Patch Plates After the incubation period of 24 hours at 37 C, the swab plates, labeled L for laboratory sink samples (L1-L3) and D for garbage disposal sink samples (D1-D3), were observed and found that 100% of the environmental bacteria grew (Figure 1). Bacteria growth in both environments was indicated by white colored spots or streaks within the plates grid. Master plates were observed from both experimental environments and found to have growth on all of the 16 grids on each plate (Figure 2). Antibiotic Patch Plates From the garbage disposal sink, the three samples all had some level of growth (Figure 3). The following percentages were calculated by dividing the number of grids with bacterial development on the antibiotic plates by the number of grids with growth from the LB plates (Table 1). Plate D1 showed 100%, 62.5%, 0%, and 100% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. Plate D2 demonstrated 93.75%, 93.75%, 0%, and 100% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. Plate D3 showed 93.75%, 75%, 0%, and 100% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. From the laboratory sink, all samples had bacteria development (Figure 4). Plate L1 demonstrated 100%, 93.75%, 12.5%, and 100% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. Plate L2 showed 100%, 73.33%, 6.67%, and 93.75% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. Plate L3 demonstrated 57.14%, 42.86%, 7.14%, and 87.5% growth on the Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and LB only plates respectively. Chi Squared Test of Independence Data obtained from the number of antibiotic resistant colonies on the antibiotic patch plates was used to run the Chi-squared Test of Independence for Ampicillin and Kanamycin resistant bacteria. For Ampicillin resistant bacteria, the p-value obtained was 0.74. With one degree of freedom, the Chi-squared critical value of 3.84 obtained from a Chi-squared Distribution Table in comparison to the Chi-squared statistical value denoted no statistically significant difference. For Kanamycin resistant bacteris, the calculated p-value was 0.81. With one degree of freedom, comparison of the Chi-squared critical value of 3.84 found in a Chi-squared Distribution Table and the Chi-squared statistical value demonstrated no statistically significant difference (Table 1). Gram Staining, KOH, MacConkey Agar and Eosin Methylene Blue Agar Plates Four tests were used to determine the gram identity of bacteria from the experimental environments. The results showed that the three environmental bacteria slides were stained pink indicating gram negative bacteria (Figure 5, Table 2). For the KOH test, all three samples from both environments appeared viscous and thick, indicating gram negative bacteria (Table 2). The MacConkey Agar Plate was divided into three sections for the different antibiotic resistant bacteria. The environmental bacterial sample in Section 1 was obtained from the Ampicillin antibiotic plate L2 grid #3. The bacterial sample in Section 2 was obtained from the Kanamycin antibiotic plate L2 grid #14. The bacterial sample in Section 3 was obtained from the Kanamycin antibiotic plate D2 grid #16. All three samples in the three sections grew bacteria that were stained pink, indicating Gram negative bacteria that ferment lactose (Figure 6, Table 2). The Eosin Methylene Blue Agar Plate was sectioned off into four par ts and bacteria from three environmental samples and one E.coli positive control were plated. The bacterial sample in Section 1 was taken from the Ampicillin antibiotic plate L2 grid #3. The bacterial sample in Section 2 was obtained from the Kanamycin antibiotic plate L2 grid #14. The bacterial sample in Section 3 was gathered from the Kanamycin antibiotic plate D2 grid #16. The bacterial sample in Section 4 was obtained from an E. coli plate that was known to be Gram negative. Pink colonies formed in all four sections, signaling Gram negative identity of the bacteria and lactose fermentation (Figure 6, Table 2). Mini Prep and Gel Electrophoresis Promega Wizard Plus SV Miniprep DNA Purification System was run to isolate plasmid DNA. This plasmid DNA was run on a 1% agarose gel. The lengths of bands in Trial A could not be determined because the DNA in the wells did not run with the ladder. The Blue control plasmid, which was pKAN, was located in lane 3 in Trial A and Trial B and was used to indicate a successful Miniprep. The band length of the pKAN control DNA in Trial B was about 4,200 base pairs. An environmental plasmid found on Ampicillin streak plate L2, grid #3 was used in lane 7 in Trial A and lane 5 in Trial B. In Trial B, the base pair length of the environmental bacteria plasmid used in lane 5 could not be determined due to the appearance of many bands of varying length. An environmental plasmid from Kanamycin streak plate L2, grid #14 was used in lane 5 in Trial A and lane 7 in Trial B. The band length of this environmental plasmid in Trial B could not be determined due to the faint appearance of a band greater th an 10,000bp. Another environmental plasmid from Kanamycin streak plate D2, grid#16 was used in lane 6 in both Trial A and Trial B. The band length of this environmental plasmid in Trial B also could not be determined from the faint appearance of a band greater than 10,000bp (Figure 7). Restriction Digest In Trial A, restriction digest was used to cut the Blue control pKAN DNA with the enzymes BamHI, EcoRI, PstI, and PvuI. Lane 3 displays pKAN cut with PstI and PvuI. Lane 4 displays pKAN cut with BamHI and EcoRI. The lengths of the bands shown are about 4,000bp, 3,000bp, 2,500bp, 1,500bp, and 1,200bp.The lengths of the bands shown are about 1,700bp, 1,100bp, 750bp, 600bp, and 500bp. Lanes 5-8 contained environmental bacterial DNA that was cut with BamHI, EcoRI, PstI, and PvuI as well, but no bands were observed (Figure 8). In Trial B, restriction digest was used to cut pKAN DNA with only the enzymes BamHI and EcoRI. Lane 3 displays pKAN that was cut with BamHI, showing a band length that is about 4,200bp. Lane 4 shows pKAN that was cut with EcoRI, and the band lengths shown are about 8,000bp, 5,000bp, and 4,000bp. Lane 5 displays pKAN that was cut with BamHI and EcoRI, and the band lengths shown are about 4,100bp, 3,100bp, and 2,000bp. Lane 6 shows pKAN that remained uncut with a band length of about 4,200bp (Figure 9). Transformation Transformation was performed to convey resistance carried on plasmid DNA into competent E. coli cells. Blue plasmid control DNA (pKAN) was used for the transformation, which was successful. This was indicated by the growth of transformed bacteria on Kanamycin antibacterial plates (Figure 10). Polymerase Chain Reaction A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to amplify and prepare the 16S gene of rRNA. Gel electrophoresis was run on the PCR product to determine if a successful PCR reaction had taken place. Lane 3 contains PCR product from the Kanamycin plate L1 grid #14 and lane 4 contains PCR product from the master patch plate D3 grid #16. Bands were not seen in these lanes containing environmental bacteria, signaling an unsuccessful PCR. Lane 5 displays the negative water control without bands. Lane 6 shows the positive E. coli control PCR product with a band length of about 2,000bp (Figure 11). Discussion The study showed that no statistically significant difference existed between the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the garbage disposal and laboratory sink and it also characterized all of the environmental bacteria as Gram negative. To determine the amount of bacteria located in the experimental areas, many tests were utilized to analyze the bacterium. Patch plates containing Tetracycline, Ampicillin, Kanamycin and LB were made in order to verify antibiotic resistant bacteria and growth. The plates with bacterial growth that was resistant to Ampicillin and Kanamycin were used in a statistical analysis to determine a correlation between the amounts of growth and the two environments. Our prediction that the amount of bacterial growth from the garbage disposal sink in Capitol Villa would be greater than the Lyman Briggs lab sink in C5 was refuted due to the Chi-squared Test for Independence that showed no statistically significant difference. We failed to reject the null hyp othesis that no difference existed between the amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in each environment. A Chi-squared Test for Independence was run to compare the amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria on the Ampicillin and Kanamycin plates. Tetracycline was not used because no data indicated resistance. The existence of Ampicillin and Kanamycin resistant bacteria in both the garbage disposal and the laboratory sink is unsurprising due to the widespread clinical use of both antibiotics over the past decades (Criswell, 2004). For Ampicillin, a total of 178 bacterial streaks grew between the two environments and a p-value of 0.74 was calculated. With one degree of freedom, the Chi-squared critical value of 3.84 obtained from a Chi-squared Distribution Table in comparison to the Chi-squared statistical value denoted no statistically significant difference. For Kanamycin, 162 streaks grew between the two environments and a p-value of 0.81 was calculated. With one degree of freedom, the a comparison of the Chi-squared critical value of 3.84 found from a Chi-squared Distribution Table to t he Chi-squared statistical value denoted no statistically significant difference as well. Therefore, the prediction that the garbage disposal sink would contain more antibiotic resistant bacteria than the laboratory sink was rejected. To further understand why bacteria were resistant, four tests were run to categorize the Gram identity of the environmental samples. The structure of the bacteria plays a large role in determining resistance. Importantly, it is easier for the plasmid DNA to penetrate a Gram negative bacterium due to the lack of an outer membrane around the peptidoglycan layer. The Gram staining process showed pink rod shaped bacterium, demonstrating that the bacteria was Gram negative. The KOH tests resulted in a viscous substance, indicating that all the environmental bacteria obtained from the garbage disposal and the laboratory sink were Gram negative. The MacConkey agar plates identified the bacteria to be Gram negative through growth on the plate. The growth on the plate was a pink color, signifying lactose fermentation from the bacteria. The environmental bacteria developed pink colonies on the EMB agar plates, further supporting the Gram negative identity and a low production of lactose fermen tation of the environmental bacteria gathered from the garbage disposal and laboratory sink. Gel electrophoresis was used in determining the existence and length of environmental plasmid DNA. The Miniprep isolated the plasmid DNA from the bacteria, but upon running the gel, it was discovered that no environmental plasmid DNA was present. The absence of bands

Parallelisms and Differences:Rastafarianism and Judaism Essay -- Rasta

Parallelisms and Differences:Rastafarianism and Judaism The two religions of Rastafarianism and Judaism embody many of the same characteristics, as well as their ancestry. Although the Rastafarians, at times, inaccurately explain the bible, their belief in the Old Testament is still prevalent. Many of the customs are almost identical, but the rationale behind the traditions and laws contrast greatly. In 1933, when Leonard P. Howell was arrested for using"seditious and blasphemous language,"to boost the sale of pictures of Haile Selassie, he stated that Selassie was,"King Ras Tafari of Abyssinia, son of king Solomon by the queen of Sheba."1 Howell knew that in later years factual information about Selassie's true origin would be declared. As an Ethiopian constitution of 1955 confirms, Haile Selassie in his position as Emperor,"descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon of Jerusalem."2 This constitution, therefore, gives us direct evidence from Ethiopian sources of an existence of a section of the Ethiopian Population practicing the Jewish Religion. According to the bible, King Solomon, King of Israel and the Jews, was paid by a visit from the Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian Monarch. The Kebra Negast, the book of the glory of kings, states that by a trick, King Solomon inveigled the queen into sharing his bed with the result of a new born son, Menelik, who in due course became king or negus of Ethiopia.3 The queen was very impressed during her visit to the Holy Land, and adopted the Jewish Religion. But her son Menelik, when he grew up, visited his father, and transferred the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum. It is at this point where a new r... ...USA, no publishing given) Sanhedrin 90b 31 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Berakhot 28b 32 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) 33 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Genesis 3:18 34 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Exodus 10:12 35 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Proverbs 15:17 36 King James, Holy Bible, Song of Solomon, (USA, no publishing given) Psalm 104:14 37 Barret, Leonard E. The Rastafarians (Boston: Beacon Press 1997) p129 38 Kolatch, Alfred J., The Jewish Book of Why (Jonathan David Publisher 1981) 118 39 Barret, Leonard E. The Rastafarians (Boston: Beacon Press 1997) 40 Barrow, Steve and Dalton, Peter, Reggae: The Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides LTD1997)191

Li & Fung

A critique of the case â€Å"Li & Fung (A): Internet issues† is presented below in light of the following two key methodologies: SWOT analysis Porter's five forces model A SWOT analysis of Li and Fung: Strengths of the firm Reputable name and branding. Well informed and educated management Tightly integrated supply chain management with client base. Established decentralized management style Ability to operate in both hard and soft markets. Existing internal capital Successful acquisition strategy (bought suppliers and competitors). Flexible and interactive design process. No inventories to manage. Weaknesses Lack of initial knowledge on developing an e-commerce B2B profile. Lack of qualified personnel and subject matter experts to implement such a large undertaking. Poor information gathering and research prior to adopting the B2B portal strategy Insufficient knowledge about the behavior of SMEs in similar portals The initial plan of developing a B2B portal was based on the old economy model, change was not sufficiently accounted for. Opportunities The internet is a true enabler to incorporate a more streamlined supply chain management system. Allow customers to be able to be an intricate part of the design process up to the point of product manufacture. Allow SMEs to participate in product procurement while enjoying a smaller commission rate. Ability to establish a business plan to develop markets in which surplus products could be sold (Electronic Stock Offer – eSO) Threats Phasing the â€Å"middle man† out of the trading scheme is a risky strategy and an attempt to alter an existing market mechanism. Possible loss of key employees to other Internet companies through the promise of greater wage compensation for newly acquired skills. Fear that an online company would acquire or partner with an old economy trading company, becoming an overnight competitor. If the technology was outsourced, then the company could become dependent on that outside company for their IT needs especially when an upgrade was needed. The possibility of outside companies being able to access proprietary information, strategy, or the complete Li & Fung business model. Exposing the business to a new business environment with insufficiently prepared change strategies Service quality issues in an area where the firm has never operated before could tarnish its reputation and result in loss of value The new e-commerce endeavor made some of their larger customers nervous in that they were afraid that Li & Fung would be compromising their business by working with their direct competitors. Porter's five forces model: Traditional Rivalry – most of Li & Fung’s rivals have been acquired. Bargaining power of suppliers – sold raw materials to suppliers at a premium. Bargaining power of buyers – efficient and considered high value. Threat of new entrants – low threat of entry. Threat of substitute products- possibilities of threat in this area. Business Concept Li & Fung is a long standing Hong Kong based company that that has evolved from an export trading company to a coordinator of value-added services across the entire supply chain in a global, open manufacturing environment. They assess the clients’ product and delivery needs and orchestrate supply, manufacture and delivery in a very tailored and specialized way. Capabilities Li & Fung achieve their high level of service through an executive relationship of two close brothers who form a unique synergy of strategy and execution. In addition, they give senior managers sufficient autonomy to respond to needs of specific customers. They are aided by a centralized IT as well as financial and administrative support in Hong Kong. Managers have their own compensation package, and bonuses are based on profits with no ceiling. There is great incentive to achieve goals. Li & Fung use a three year planning approach in which a goal is established and a gap analysis aids in identifing steps to get there. Each three year plan had a short name or slogan for the ultimate goal. Through strategic acquisitions to expand reach of service into new markets such as Europe and India, Li & Fung had grown to nearly five times that of its closest competitor by 2000. Value The value Li & Fung provided its clients is the view and reach into a global range of choices for performing tasks. Through their knowledge of the various raw materials suppliers, manufacturers and shippers, Li & Fung could provide a high degree of quality and reliability in all aspects of order fulfillment. This knowledge coupled with sophisticated centralized information management made its services quick and reliable. Threat of Competitors The threat of e-commerce over the Internet was not as direct as expected. The brothers were concerned about disintermediation but found that most Internet businesses were not well conceived. Instead they learned that the threat came from the hype of Internet businesses capturing more investment capital thus enabling those companies to invest greatly in their companies and hire away talent from Li & Fung, for example. Continuing Threats In the next three year plan, Li & Fung will need to assess the possibility and cost/benefit of end-to-end supply chain communications based on improved technology in developing countries. Li & Fung maintain their own staff, on the ground, with each supplier, thus ensuring valid business data in their system. From a market assesment viewpoint they will have to prove the value of that cost versus other entrants into this field that may assess suppliers differently. Channel conflict would continue to be a threat with each increasing IT improvement. They will also need to attend to the legacy clients and how they fare against the B2B portal. Li & Fung 1. What has been the historic strength and strategy for Li and Fung? Since Li and Fung was founded in 1906, the company has more than 100 years of history and it is the main historic strength of Li and Fung. It accumulated lots of information and experience, which other competitors couldn’t have owned without such a strong historic background. Li and Fung is a publicly traded family company. Speed, Solidarity, authenticity, trust, and control are the benefits to running a family business.For example, in a family business, people can think something in the morning and begin working on it in the afternoon; after all, the family is a natural team. Trust is essential in all business and family businesses get a high level of trust among family members. In the early 1970s, Fung brothers who were both educated at Harvard Business School returned from the United States. Fung brothers’ returned heralded Li and Fung’s transition from a family- owned business to a professio nally managed firm, with a planning and budgeting system in place for the first time.As more source of supply emerged in the rapidly industrializing Asian economies, Li and Fung expanded its regional network of offices throughout the Asia-Pacific region and this can be contributed to the fact that Li and Fung was Hong Kong based. By 2000, Li and Fung became a $2 billion global export trading company sourcing and managing the global supply chain for high-volume, time-sensitive consumer goods. 69% of Li and Fung’s sales were in the United States and 27% in Europe.With 48 offices in 32 countries, the company provided value-added services across the entire supply chain in a so-called â€Å"borderless† manufacturing environment. Therefore, Li and Fung clients benefited in several ways: supply-chain customization could shorten order fulfillment from three months to five weeks, and this faster turnaround allowed clients to reduce inventory costs. Moreover, in its role as a mi ddleman, Li and Fung reduced matching and credit risks, and also offered quality assurance to its customers.Furthermore, with a global sourcing network and economies of scales. Li and Fung could offer lower cost and more flexible sourcing than its competitors. Li and Fung even started offering clients virtual manufacturing, or product design services. Li and Fung was entrepreneurial, allowing senior managers to run 90 small, worldwide management teams as separate and individual companies. These dedicated teams of product specialists focused on the needs of specific customers and were grouped under a Li and Fung corporate mbrella that provided centralized IT, financial and administrative support form Hong Kong. This decentralized corporate structure allowed for adaptability and rapid reaction to seasonal shifts. In Li and Fung, performance-based promotion and compensation were cardinal principles. Each Li and Fung’s top executives negotiated individual compensation packages. L i and Fung bonuses were based on profits without ceiling.

In the Early Hours by Khurram Murad

In the Early Hours: Reflections on Spiritual and Self Development (Khurram Murad) Preface THE title of this book, In the Early Hours, has been carefully and specifically chosen to highlight that precious but often neglected time during the night that Allah is closest and most receptive to His servants. The Messenger of God said: Our Lord descends each night to the nearest Heaven when only the last third of the night remains, and says: `Is anyone praying that I may answer him? Is anyone seeking forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is anyone asking, that I may give to him? ‘, and this continues until dawn. (Tirmidhi. The later part of each night is the most conducive period for reflection and self development. It is the occasion with the most potential for the heart to be present, alert and free of worldly concerns as the Quran declares: Lo! The vigil of the night is [a time] when impression is more keen and speech more certain. [al-Muzzammil 73:6. ] This book is a collection of inspirational advice by a dear and beloved teacher, Ustadh Khurram Murad on the subject of spiritual and self development. In it he sets out the goal of the Believer- the single-minded desire to seek the good pleasure of Allah and Paradise.He then outlines the methods and instruments which must be used in the attainment of that ultimate goal. These spiritual exhortations that follow were originally delivered in those early hours of Summer 1993 just after Salat al-Fajr as part of a course entitled Self Development for Islamic Workers at The Islamic Foundation, Leicester. That course represented one of many similar courses Ustadh Khurram conducted for young Muslims, both male and female. He recognised that it was in the young generation's eagerness, strength and enthusiasm that the future of the Muslim Umma lay.Each of the seven sections in this book represents one Nasiha or Advice. Each Nasiha was delivered in a presentation of approximately 45 minutes. This time allotment was not, o f course, sufficient for Ustadh Khurram to discuss the subjects in detail. I have therefore drawn material from several of his other speeches and works for `thoroughness', coherence and to provide clarity on the topics discussed. I have also added Quran and hadith references wherever I felt they were relevant and added to the richness of the text.Only Allah knows how close I have come to making clear the Message of the Quran and the Sunna as expressed by Ustadh Khurram. Let me emphasise that this book merely represents an introduction to spiritual and self development. I hope that each of the topics exposed here will lead you to further study so that you can continue to grow and progress along the path of attaining closeness to Allah, our Lord and Master. A selection of suggested readings is given at the end of this text to assist in further study. The task of preparing this text has certainly been a challenge for me, but one, which I have enjoyed and benefited from immensely.I am g rateful to Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Alyasa Abdullah, Asim Abdullah, Sharifa Abdullah, Fazeela Mollick, Wajid Mollick, Hashim Mohammed and Lucy Bushill-Matthews who all read the manuscript and offered valuable comments and advice during the initial phase of this text's preparation. My deepest appreciation, however, goes to Abdul Wahid Hamid, whose literary skills, advice and motivation were instrumental in finalising this work Ultimately, though, any mistakes this book contains are my own – may Allah forgive me and have mercy on me.Whatever good is derived from it, all praise is due to Him, for without His help and guidance, nothing is possible. I would like to end with a dua or supplication of the Prophet which epitomises the sole objective of this work and our goal in life: O Allah, You change hearts, so change our hearts to be obedient to You. (Muslim. ) Riza Mohammed Leicester, October 1999 CHAPTER ONE: The Process of Self Development THE path to God is only illuminated when a person recognises the central place of God in his life and strives to develop his self accordingly.The Messenger of God said: If someone wants to know what position he enjoys in the eyes of God, he has only to look at what place he gives to God (in his heart and life. (Hakim) The term nearest in meaning to self development in the Quranic vocabulary is tazkiya. Tazkiya means purification and refers to the cleansing of the human self from all that is unwholesome, undesirable and unwelcome. It also refers to the nurturing and strengthening of all the qualities within the human self that are essential for growth and development, for blossoming and flowering. THE GOAL IN LIFESuccess and happiness in this world and the Hereafter depend on tazkiya, the purification and nurturing of our personality. The Quran states that true success is only reserved for those who seek to purify themselves: Successful indeed is the one who purifies his whole self [ash-Shams 91:9] Our personality comprises not only the physical body but also the mind and the heart, feelings and attitudes, character and behaviour. Proper nurturing and development of these elements of the personality will achieve desirable goals. When goals are desirable, the process of aspiring to, working towards and achieving them also become desirable.This is part of human nature. It is critical, therefore, that we recognise and understand the true nature of our ultimate goal in life. For the Believer, the most coveted goal in life is to seek the good pleasure of Allah and Janna or Paradise. Our Creator has set this goal for us: And surely Paradise – it is the goal [an-Naziat 79: 41]; Indeed the Next abode – it is truly the life! [al-Ankabut 29: 64]; The companions of Paradise – they are the triumphant ones [al-Hashr 59: 20]. Know, however, that attaining the pleasure of Allah takes precedence over seeking Janna but the two are closely connected.Paradise can only be attained through seeking Alla h's pleasure, and when Allah's pleasure is gained, we will indeed be granted Paradise. Reflect upon the following two verses in the Quran: And there is a kind of person who would willingly give up personal interests, seeking Allah's pleasure; and God is Most Compassionate towards His servants. [al-Baqara 2: 207. ] Indeed Allah has purchased from the Believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise, in return. [at-Tawba 9: 111. ] The alternative to attaining Paradise in the Hereafter is to be placed in Jahannam or Hellfire and to receive its punishments.The Quran states: But in the life to come: [it is either] severe suffering, or God's forgiveness and His goodly acceptance. [al-Hadid 57: 20. ] What is it that makes a person deserving of such a suffering? The answer is to be found in the second part of the same verse: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion [al-Hadid 57: 20. ] Jahannam therefore, is for those who seek as their ultim ate goal in life, not the pleasure of Allah or Paradise, but the enjoyment of worldly gains. The pursuit of worldly gain is but a mirage. All worldly gains are left behind when you die.All that is on earth is bound to perish while Allah and His good favour will remain forever. It is for this reason that the Queen advises: Vie with one another in seeking to attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness; and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for those who have attained to faith in God and His messengers: such is the bounty of Allah which He grants unto whomever He wills -for Allah is limitless in His great bounty. [al-Hadid 57: 21. ] All your efforts in this world should therefore be focused only on seeking Paradise. It is the Promise of the Almighty that:You will only be rewarded fully for all your good deeds on the Day of Resurrection, and [on that Day] whoever will be drawn away from Hellfire, and admitted into Paradise, will indeed have triumphed [Ali Imran 3:185. ] THE FIRST STEP TO PARADISE The first step in self development, then, is to concentrate single-mindedly on Paradise. Indeed, the one who is unsure of his destiny in life, torn between this world and the Next, like one standing with his feet in two separate boats – will be thrown off balance. Many of the difficulties that we face are due to this lack of commitment and inability to focus on the real and ultimate goal.If you can keep your focus on Janna, then everything else will be possible. The selection of the ultimate goal of Paradise must be made consciously and may involve an absolute break with the past. To choose this new goal as the ultimate goal in one's life is in fact to choose a new life, to begin a new journey. Embark on this new journey by refreshing your wudu (ablution) and offering two rakas (units) of Salat or Prayer reminding yourself of all the punishment of Hellfire you have just resolved to avoid at all costs and all the rewards of Paradi se that you will strive to achieve.Remind yourself also of the important stations and landmarks on the journey; imagine death as near; imagine the moment when the Angel of Death will declare, `your time is over, now you must follow me'; imagine that moment when you will be made to stand in the presence of Allah, Most High, so that the final judgment of life may be passed on you and imagine the consequences of that judgment. When you have completed the two rakas then resolve once more that all efforts will be directed towards achieving Paradise, beseech Allah and pray with humility: O Allah, I ask for Your mercy and whatever brings me closer to it, in word and deed.O Allah, I ask for a faith that will never vanish, a blessing that will never diminish, a pleasure that will never abate, and the most elevated position in Paradise distinguished by the companionship of Your Messenger, Muhammad. While improvement in your habits and actions is a life-long process, the desire to achieve it c an thus be sparked in a moment. This desire will provide the momentum for attaining your goal – the good pleasure of Allah and Paradise. YOUR MISSION Having taken the fast step and resolved to attain Paradise, you may ask yourself, what does Allah require from me in order for me to succeed?What Allah requires of you, in Quranic vocabulary, is for you to be a mumin and mujahid. A mumin is one who is true and firm in his faith in God. A mujahid is one who strives his utmost, with all the means at his disposal, to gain God's pleasure. If you are a mumin and a mujahid, Allah, the Most Exalted in Power and yet the Most Compassionate, will assist you to rise to higher stations both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah has promised this to those who possess the qualities of iman or faith and the active resolve for jihad or struggle.The Quran states: The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Apostle then they doubt not and struggle hard with their wealth and thei r lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful ones. [al-Hujurat 49:15] You now have a mission: to become a mumin and mujahid. As you embark upon this mission you may come to feel that your knowledge of Islam is somewhat limited or perhaps that you are unable to attain those heights of submission and purification that you desire or others expect of you. This is only natural. You must not, however, allow these feelings of personal shortcomings to undermine your efforts to practise Islam.Remember that Islam is a state of becoming not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and better yourself – and you will improve. Tazkiya or this new programme for self-improvement that you now find yourself in, is a process that unfolds itself step by step. You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. The Prophet was always aware of this when he was dealing with his Companions. Whenever someone embraced Islam, the Prophet would not ask that pe rson to do everything immediately.Instead, he would teach and expect that person to start fulfilling his obligations only as much as he could bear at a time. This gradual process of change is also clearly reflected in the manner in which the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. In all your efforts towards becoming a better Believer, you must bear in mind this principle of gradualism, otherwise you may try to attain the impossible, and when you do not achieve it, you may become frustrated. At this stage, what matters most is that your bargain with Allah, iman, remains sound and firm.This definition of iman is perhaps a little different from the definition you usually hear. It is, however, a definition that we find in the Quran [at-Tawba 9: 111]. Furthermore, attainment of such iman, allows you to be counted among the true and sincere servants in the eyes of your Lord. The Quran states: Behold, God has bought of the Believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise in return, they fight in God's cause, and slay, and are slain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in the Tawra, and the Injil, and the Quran.And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God? [at-Tawba 9: 111] Once you have committed yourself to Allah, all that you have must be spent in His way. This is the ideal. Ideals, however, are always difficult to achieve – and this you must understand and accept. Ideals are always to be pursued; if they are easily and always achievable, they can hardly remain as ideals. Keeping to your side of the bargain then, is an ideal that you must always seek to maintain. It is this seeking and this striving to spend all that we have in the way of Allah that is known as jihad nd alternatively, in this instance, as tazkiya. PREREQUISITES OF TAZKIYA As you proceed on your journey along the new path, in quest of the ultimate goal of Paradise, you will encounter difficulties and hardships. These may often seem insurmo untable. Overcoming them may be made easier by a good early grasp of the prerequisites of tazkiya. These are as follows: 1. Tazkiya -Your Personal Responsibility You must accept that tazkiya is a highly personal process and that it demands taking personal responsibility for carrying it forward.You can only see the results of tazkiya through your own realisation, your own personal efforts and your own exertions. No one else can perform tazkiya for you. No organisation, no leader and no teacher can replace your own responsibility. God says: And no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden; and if one weighed down by his load calls upon [another] to help bear carry it nothing thereof may be carried [by that other], even if it be one's near of kin. [al-Fatir;5:18 ] This sense of personal responsibility is basic to the whole purpose and approach of Islam.Ultimately, we are judged individually for discharging our own responsibilities. If someone else fulfils your obligation s, then it should be he that is rewarded, not you. To be rewarded you must do what is expected of you by Allah by yourself: Whoever strives hard in God's cause does so only for his own good: for, verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds! And as for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds, We shall most certainly efface their bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did. al-Ankabut 29: 6-7. ] Some people allow themselves to be dictated by others. The Quran states that the weak will say on the Day of judgment that they were coerced into following the dictates of others, but that Allah will reply that the excuse is not legitimate for the decision to deviate from the Straight Path was their own. [Qaf 50: 26-28]. Even Shaytan will stand up on the Day of Judgment saying: ‘I invited you and you responded to me, so don't blame me, blame yourselves. [Ibrahim 14: 22] Ultimately, then, the blame and the re ward will be yours, because the responsibility was yours: On that Day all people will come forward, cut off from one another, to be shown their deeds. And so, he who shall have done an atom's weight of good, shall behold it; and he who shall have done an atom's weight of evil, shall behold it. [az-Zalzala 99: 6-8. ] Taking charge of your own affairs may certainly seem a daunting task, but one which you will accomplish with distinction if you appreciate and take advantage of the tremendous human potential that Allah has blessed you with.Allah says in the Quran: Verily, We created man in the best conformation, and thereafter We reduced him to the lowest of the low – excepting only such as attain to faith and do good works: and theirs shall be a reward unending! [at Tin 95: 4-6. ] Tazkiya does not consist simply of ideas, but of life, behaviour and conduct. The key to success, according to the Quran, lies in having true faith. To inculcate true faith you must start by acquiring a sound knowledge of Islam through a dedicated study of the Quran and Sunna.You must then translate your knowledge into practice. For this to occur, you need to have firm resolve and determination. This, in turn, will produce amal salih or righteous conduct. To aid you in your task, you must seek the company of those who are also striving to please Allah. They will encourage you towards righteousness and correct you when you deviate from the true Path. Your company also includes your mental and psychological company- the ideas you entertain, the ambitions you nurture, the sensitivities and sensibilities you develop and the books you read.All of these represent a form of company because they are your companions in solitude. 2. Genuine Effort In order to succeed, you must have a deep desire to make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations as a Muslim: But as for those who strive hard in Our cause – We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold God is indeed with the doers of good. [al-Ankabut 29: 69. ] With desire, of course, come actions. But know that it is not solely the results of your endeavours that count; what matters most is that you made your best effort.This is a very important point to appreciate because without genuine effort nothing can happen. Those who think that Prayer alone can work miracles are not living in a realistic world. Prayers are part of the effort, but Prayers are not the whole answer. If you pray, `Allah! Guide me and make me good', it is not going to bring you any benefit unless you are also determined to become good and make an effort towards becoming good. Once you have done the latter two things, then, of course, Prayer will be a source of baraka or Divine grace that will further inspire and strengthen your efforts.The initial desire and the ensuing effort to do and become good, is part of the continuing process of self development, a process that may begin at any point in life that you c hoose and continue till your last breath: O you who have attained to faith! Be conscious of Allah with all the consciousness that is due to Him, and do not allow, death to overtake you until you have surrendered yourselves unto Him. [Ali Imran 3: 102. ] There will never be a point when you will be able to say that you are now a perfect person or that you have achieved your full potential.If at any point you feel so, then be sure that is the starting point of your downfall, On the other hand, you may find that the greater your desire to fulfill your obligations as a Muslim, the more you feel beset or plagued by frustration, despondency and despair in your heart and mind. All of us, whether young or old, have experienced these diseases, and often just give up. What we should try to remember at such times is that it is the intention and effort that matters, not the result. This effort must be a continuing process: Be not, then, faint of heart, and grieve not: for you are bound to rise high if you are believers. Ali Imran 3: 139] 3. Sustaining Willpower To achieve the ultimate goal in life requires a sustained determination to do so, a willpower that is forever responsive and strong. In Quranic terminology this is called irada. Irada is basic to all our efforts. Without willing to do something you cannot do anything. Irada is very different from desire. You always hear people reflecting upon unfulfilled aspirations. One of the main reasons why aspirations and dreams remain unfulfilled is that they are no more than desires which faded to assume the status of irada.The Quran explains that one of the basic weaknesses in human nature which impedes self development is the weakness of will. While narrating the story of Adam, Allah informs: And, indeed, long ago We made Our covenant with Adam; but he forgot and We found no firmness of purpose in him. [Ta Ha 20:115] Irada requires strength and consistency and is indeed the antithesis of doubt, hesitation or lethargy. Once irada is firmly in place, then you must have no doubts and you must not hesitate. Now, what purpose should irada serve?The Quran makes it clear that this will power must be a firm resolve to seek the pleasure of Allah because this is the part of the bargain that you must deliver: And whoever desires [arada] the Life to Come, and strive for it as it ought to be striven for, and are [true] Believers withal-they are the ones whose striving finds favour [with God]. [al-Isra 17: 19] 4. Reliance on Allah Self-confidence is borne from the Believer's intimate knowledge and understanding that Allah is ever ready to assist those who strive and struggle in His way.Self-confidence comes from depending upon Allah and knowing that He is there to help you, protect you and shower His mercies upon you: So he who gives [in charity] and fears [Allah] and [in all sincerity] testifies to the best- We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. [al-Layl 92: 5-7. ] Self-confidence also emanates fr om knowing that Allah in His infinite mercy has equipped you with all that you require to undertake the tasks set before you. It is not characteristic of the One that is Most Just and Most Merciful to prepare you for a duel without equipping you with the necessary tools.Self-confidence is thus borne of total reliance and trust in Allah. It is knowing that at every step of your journey Allah is there assisting you. If you constantly hold yourself back believing that you are weak and incapable and blame your incompetence on minor inadequacies, then you are bound to fail. You must never allow yourself to believe or feel that Allah has treated you unfairly or that He has placed upon you a burden you cannot shoulder for on no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. [al-Baqara 2:286. ] Likewise, hope is central to your efforts and your success.You must sincerely hope and believe that everything you do to earn the pleasure of Allah will lead you to fulfillment. A superiori ty complex negates the task of self development. An inferiority complex is derived from a lack of confidence in Allah and oneself. You should never allow yourself to believe that you cannot fulfill your obligations nor should you despair of the mercy of Allah. Confidence, hope and determination are all important ingredients for your success: Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefore fear them. But it only increased them in faith and they cried..Allah is sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust! [Ali Imran 3: 173-174] You must be wary, however, of the kind of self-confidence that causes a person to proclaim himself self-sufficient. Modern concepts of self sufficiency are indeed an evil form of shirk or polytheism. To ascribe self-sufficiency to one's self is to assume for oneself an attribute reserved only for Allah. For the Muslim, self-confidence is wholly dependent upon the trust one places in Allah; it is not an arrogant proclam ation of complete independence from Allah. Allah alone is self-Sufficient.All else is reliant upon Him for existence. 5. The Best Use of Time Time is not money or gold; it is life and it is limited. You must begin to appreciate every moment of your life and always strive to make the best use of it. With all the demands of worldly life on your time, you will yet need to find time for self-development and maximise its potential. The better route towards self-development is, of course, to integrate all your efforts into a structured daily life. Imam al-Ghazali, may God have mercy on him, in his great work, Ihya Ulum ad Din, gives the following dvice: You should structure your time, arrange your regular devotions and assign to each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. For if you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be wasted. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital; it is the basis of your transactions [with God], and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted.Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, and when it passes away it never returns. Remember also that `the deeds most loved by Allah [are those] done regularly, even if they are few. ‘ (Bukhari, Muslim. ) While you must always strive to make the best use of your time, you must always aim for excellence in everything you undertake, whether at school, at home, at work or at play. Indeed, the Prophet has said, `Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency and excellence) in all things. (Muslim. ) 6. Tazkiya -All-embracing Process.Islam does not subscribe to the type of asceticism where we purify our hearts and yet remain immersed in political, economic or social corruption. Tazkiya must encompass our entire life – the privacy of our thoughts as well as their social manifestations in our daily life. Everything must be in conformity with Allah's will. This will of God also requires you to seek and maintain a delicate balance between the various obligations that demand your attention; between your obligations to Allah, your obligations towards others and your obligations towards yourself The Prophet advised us against extremism of any kind.It is reported that he said to Abdullah ibn Amr: `Have I heard right that you fast everyday and stand in prayer all night? ‘ Abdullah replied, `Yes, O Messenger of God. ‘ The Prophet said, `Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you. ‘ (Bukhari, Muslim. ) Unless you approach tazkiya as an all-embracing process, you will find that your life is compartmentalized, certain parts impeding the development of o thers.This can only result in a life of disharmony and unhappiness. Approached as a comprehensive and all-embracing process, however, you will find that each part of your life will complement some other part. This should, God willing, make your struggle on the path to God and Janna, easier and full of grace. As you struggle to make headway on the path to God, always remember that you have an excellent example before you. This is the example of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace.Often we would like to emulate our sports heroes, our parents, our teachers, our friends or others who attract our attention. For your spiritual development, however, the most beautiful example is that of the Prophet. Allah says in the Quran: You have, indeed, in the Messenger of God an excellent exemplar, whoever places his hopes in God and the Final Days and who remembers Allah much. [al-Ahzab 33: 21] BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS The decision to purify and develop yourself requires that y ou clearly define the path and consider the ways and means to achieve Paradise.This whole process will not only purify your heart, but also affect your entire life and the will of Allah will become so much easier for you to follow. Following the Divine Will is, of course, tazkiya itself, Soon, all your efforts will be directed towards the ultimate goal – the pleasure of Allah and Paradise. Know that every sin can be effaced through forgiveness, and forgiveness is a sure way to Paradise. As you strive to better yourself, then, simultaneously and continuously pray for forgiveness for all your shortcomings.God says: And whoever repents and believes and works righteous deeds, God changes evil deeds into good ones, and God is Ever-Forgiving, Merciful. [al-Furqan 25:70] It is a misconception to believe that simply by setting up Paradise as the ultimate goal, one can get there without any further effort. It is also a misconception that Paradise can solely be achieved by concentratin g only on certain aspects of life, the `religious and the spiritual'. The very fact that Paradise is the ultimate objective means that tazkiya must be pursued in all aspects of life, and in life as a whole.Consider, for example, the following: -Is not honesty a means to enter Paradise? -Will not a sense of responsibility enable me to enter Paradise? -Will not striving to fulfill the needs of fellow human beings make me deserve Paradise? -Will not abstaining from vain talk and aimless actions, bring me closer to Paradise? -Is not consciousness of the best use of my time a key to Paradise? -Will not keeping promises and offering Salat on time, which are distinguishing traits of the righteous, put me on the highway to Paradise? -Must not all of the above be sought to attain Paradise?Every effort that is legitimate and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiya Insha Allah (God-willing), if you take heed of all the prerequisites, blessings and bene fits of tazkiya, you will surely find the right environment, the true companionship and brotherhood and the most appropriate training programmes to make the task of self development easier and more rewarding. So give the good news to My servants who listen to the word [of God], then follow the beauty in it. Such are they whom God has guided And such are they who are endowed with understanding. azZumar 39: 17-18. ] SUMMARY The most comprehensive goal for a Muslim is the single-minded desire to attain Paradise. This desire to seek Paradise is a life-long process which can be sparked in a moment- and this desire will provide the means and the momentum to reach the goal. Your model for self-development is that of the Prophet Muhammad. In your quest for Paradise, you must personally take charge of your responsibilities, develop the willpower to perform and make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations, ensure that you make the best use of your time and adopt a balanced approach to li fe.Remember that every effort that is legitimate and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiya and that every sin can be effaced through forgii&H §ss – and that forgiveness is the sure way to Paradise. And as for the one who fears to stand before his Lord and who restrains himself from base desires, the Garden is surely the abode. [an-Naziat 79: 40-41] May Allah enable us to be among those who purify themselves for it is God Who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity; and none shall be wronged by as much as a hair's breath [an-Nisa 4: 49].Were it not for God's favour upon you and His grace, not one of you would ever have remained pure. For it is God who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity: for God is all-Hearing all-Knowing [anNur 24: 21. ] CHAPTER TWO: A Life of Remembrance IN a verse of the Quran that I love very much, Allah, Most Gracious and Loving, commends: Remember Me and I shall remember you. Be grateful unto Me and deny Me not. [al-Baqara 2:152. ] Can you imagine a more gratifying state than this, where, when you remember Allah, the Creator, Sustainer and Lord of the Universe, He remembers you in return?The same exhortation has been beautifully conveyed in a hadith qudsi: I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me: if he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My `heart'; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering; if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length; if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running. Bukhari, Muslim) Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and reclining and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth are highly commended in the Noble Quran. They are wise in that they fill their hearts with the remembrance of God in every, moment, in every circumstance and in every posture of their lives. [Ali Imran 3: 191] The exhortation to remember Allah at all times is a reflection of Allah's all-embracing and overwhelming love for us. The door to Allah is always open to us: Remember Me and 1 will remember you.We need only find our way to and through that door. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DHIKR Regarding the significance of dhikrullah or the remembrance of God, Allah says in the Quran, itself the ultimate reminder (dhikr) to all the worlds [Sad 38: 87], the following: Remember Allah. for He has guided you. [al-Baqara 2:198. ] O you who believe! Remember Allah often with much remembrance. And glorify Him morning and evening. [Luqman 31: 41-42. ] And men who remember God much and women who remember – God has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. [al-Ahzab 33: 35 ]Hadith literature is similarly replete with references to the remembrance of Allah: The servant cannot perform a better deed which will save him from God's punis hment than the remembrance of God. (Malik. ) Whoever wishes to feast in the gardens of Paradise, let him remember God often. (Tirmidhi. ) Indeed, with regard to dhikr, the Quran concludes: And the remembrance of Allah is the greatest deed without doubt. [al-Ankabut 29:45] The significance of dhikr lies in the fact that it is God's own chosen and recommended mode by which the muminun or Believers show gratitude for having been shown the straight path.In addition, it is indeed the surest way of attaining God's forgiveness and achieving the ultimate reward of Paradise. The importance of dhikr then is not difficult to understand. It is dhikr that purifies your qalb or heart and makes it sound. And you can only attain salvation and true success by having a pure and sound heart. The qalb or `heart' referred to here is not the pump in your breast that pushes blood around your body but rather the centre or locus of your personality which pumps out your desires and motivations and which make s you conduct yourself as you do.It is this qalb that lies at your centre and dictates your actions which is the key to your ultimate success. Thus, with reference to the Day of Judgment, the Quran declares: [It will be a Day) when neither wealth nor children shall profit [and when] only he [will be saved] who comes before God with a sound heart [free of evil]. [ash-Shuara 26:88-89. ] This point is more elaborately made in a hadith in which the Prophet says: Listen [to me] carefully. There is a lump of flesh in the body – if it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy; but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased.Remember well – it is the Heart. (Bukhari. ) If the heart is the key to ultimate salvation and success, it may, likewise, be the seat of much corruption and open doors to many evils. It may facilitate the corruption of political and economic activities and ultimately the social institutions of a society. Where such a state prevails, the Quran suggests that it is because people, individually, have become diseased in their hearts. [al-Baqara 2:10. ] In this state, people stop seeing and doing what is right. The Quran explains that this is not because they have become blind in their eyes but because their hearts have become blind. al-Hajj 22: 46. ] This blindness only draws them nearer to the ultimate chastisement. It is the heart, as the decider of our ultimate fate, that must then be the starting point of any tazkiya programme, to purify this heart and then summon it to the service of mankind. Ibn al-Qayyim, one of the great scholars of Islam, states in his Kitab al Adhkar (The Book of Remembrance), that ‘the heart which is devoid of the remembrance of Allah is a heart that is dead'; it is dead even and long before the body carrying the heart reaches its grave. Indeed, this living body that carries the heart is the heart's grave.Ibn al-Qayyim's statement is reminiscent of the hadith of tir e Prophet which states: `The difference between someone who remembers His Lord and someone who does not is like the difference between the living and the dead. ‘ (Bukhari. ) The statement is also reminiscent of the following verse of the Quran: Do not become like those who forget Allah and Allah makes them forget themselves. It is they who are truly deprived. [al-Hashr 59:19. ] The purpose of tazkiya is to ensure that the heart never falls into a sorry state of being and that it is always alive with the remembrance of God.Prosperous indeed is one who purifies himself and remembers the name of His Guardian-Lord, and prays [unto Him]. [al-Ala 87: 14-15. ] The Prophet further emphasised the importance of dhikr when he said to his Companions: ‘Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions, the purest in the sight of your Lord, which raises your rank to the highest, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, better than meeting your enemy so that you strike a t their necks and they strike at yours? ‘ They replied: ‘Yes, indeed,' and he said: ‘It is the remembrance of Allah. ‘ (Tirmidhi. )Strive then, to fill all your moments, all your thoughts and all your actions with His remembrance. Recite tasbih or words of glorification and praise to punctuate all your actions and achievements. THE MEANING OF DHIKR What is the precise meaning of ‘dhikr'? What is its scope and what does it entail? Does it simply involve certain utterances of the tongue, like Subhanallah (I glorify Allah's absolute perfection), Alhamdu lillah (All praise be to Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah) and the recitation of some other selected verses of the Quran, or is there more to it?Of course, such utterances of the tongue and recitation of verses of the Quran are important. In fact they are very important forms of dhikr for, indeed, the best forms of remembrance are those that involve both the heart and the tongue. You must understand, however, that the scope of dhikr is considerably wider. Dhikr must not only be felt by the heart and uttered with the tongue, but must also affect and effect amal salih, or good deeds.Significantly, Ibn al-Qayyim suggests that dhikr encompasses `any and every particular moment when you are thinking, saying or doing things which Allah likes: Hence, if your conversation is filled with the words of God, this is dhikr and if all your actions are in accordance with His will, this is dhikr. Indeed Allah commends that we remember Him while standing, sitting and even while reclining. This is only possible if dhikr embraces every single aspect of life. Consider for example the following verse of the Quran where dhikr is emphasised in both Prayer and business activity:O Believers, when the call to Payer is sounded on the Day of Congregation, hasten to Allah's remembrance and leave all worldly commerce. This a for your own good, if you but kn ew . And when the Prayer it finished then disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah; and remember Allah frequently that you may prosper. [al-Jumua 62:9-10] Attending the Salat al-jumua, listening to the khutba or sermon and performing the congregational Prayer are all well known as forms of dhikr. But in our worldly pursuits as well we are urged to remember Allah even more often.We may thus conclude, that attending to your personal needs, earning a livelihood and spending on your family are all forms of dhikr. But of course, they can only be dhikr if, alongside with the relevant adhkar or supplications in the heart and on the tongue, they are done in obedience to Allah, for His pleasure, to attain Janna. Otherwise, as the Quran warns us, far from being dhikr, they may have the opposite effect: Let not your worldly possessions and your children make you neglectful of Allah's remembrance. But spend in the way of Allah. [al-Munafiqun 63:9-10. THE METHODS OF DHIKR We ha ve thus far discussed the significance, meaning and scope of dhikr. Let us now turn to the various forms and methods of dhikr. How do we remember Allah in the morning and evening, during the day and at night and while standing, sitting or reclining. ‘ There are basically two forms of dhikr. The first involves continuous and sustained inner awareness of Allah in all that we say and do in our daily lives. The second involves mechanisms, whether performed individually or collectively, that help to develop the first. 1.Sustained Awareness of Allah Let us begin with a discussion of the first form and its methods. How can you remember Allah throughout the normal course of your day without withdrawing from the routine of your daily worldly life? How can you ensure that your personal life, family life, professional life and other activities all continue in full swing, and yet, at the same time, ensure that your life as a whole – every moment of it – is permeated with rem embrance of Allah? Such an all-pervading dhikr can be an onerous task, but one you can accomplish – with some ease.Let me remind you of four states of consciousness that you must strive to develop by remembering certain things, absorbing them and reminding yourself of them often. ONE: Say to yourself: I am in Allah's presence; He is watching me. : Say to yourself: I am in Allah's presence; He is watching me. If ever you are alone, He is the second and that if you are two, He is the third. He is with you wherever you are. [al-Mujadala 58: 7. ] He is nearer to you than your-jugular vein. [Qaf 50: 16-18. ] He is watching everything that you do and hearing everything that you say. He is ever present and His knowledge is all encompassing.Remind yourself of this as often as you can, and throughout the day- every time you begin a new task, and every time you speak. Indeed, your aim should be to impress this on your heart in such a way that it ultimately becomes your very breath. Whe n the Prophet was asked by a Companion about the best method of purifying himself, he replied: `You should always remember that Allah is with you wherever you are. ‘ (Tirmidhi. ) TWO: Say to yourself: Everything I have has been given to me by Allah. All that there is – surrounding you, on you and in you – comes from Allah alone.There is none that creates or gives anything but Allah. [an-Nahl 16:78; Ya Sin 36:33-35. ] Therefore, reflect upon all the baraka or blessing that He has created you with and be thankful to Him. In all the adhkar that the Prophet has taught us, hamd or gratefulness to Allah is a constant theme. Many of these adhkar are simple to learn, and indeed, it was the most simple of his adhkar that he used most frequently. When the Prophet rose in the morning, he would say Alhamdu lillah; whenever he ate or drank he would say Alhamdu lillah; and even when he relieved himself he would give thanks to Allah.Learn as many of the adhkar as you can, and t hroughout the day, as you witness all that Allah has blessed you with, punctuate your day with these adhkar. If ever you appear to be short of things to be thankful for, recall the hadith of the Prophet: `There are 360 joints in the body and for each joint you must give a sadaqa [thanks or charity] each day. ‘ (Bukhari. ) You must give a sadaqa for each one of them because without any one of them you will be incomplete and handicapped. You must do this on a daily basis for should any one of them become damaged one day, you will similarly become incapacitated.Additionally, you may remind yourself that, as we now know from our knowledge of human physiology, your heart beats 72 times a minute. Every time it beats, it does so with the permission of Allah. The moment He withdraws that permission, the heart will stop beating and your life will certainly come to an end. If you feel that there is nothing else to thank Allah for, then thank him for the life that He has given you â€⠀œ for, so long as there is life, there is hope. THREE: Say to yourself: Nothing in this world can happen without His permission. Everything lies in the hands of Allah.No harm can befall you and no benefit can reach you except as Allah ordains. It is as the Quran informs us: If God should touch you with misfortune, none can remove it but He, and if He should touch you with good fortune, He has power over all things. He alone holds sway over His creatures; He is the All-wise, the All-aware. [al-Anam 6: 17-18. ] The Prophet Muhammad would supplicate to Allah after each Prayer: O Allah, whatever You want to give me, no one can stop it from coming to me and whatever You want to prevent from coming to me, nobody can give to me.Prayer after Prayer, you should recite these beautiful words. And beyond that, remind yourself as much as you can and throughout the day, especially as you expect something to happen, or not to happen, that everything happens only as He commands, and by His permiss ion. FOUR: Say to yourself: I am going to return to Allah one day and that day could be today. You do not know when you will leave this world. It may be that the coming morning is your last morning, or perhaps the coming evening is your last evening. Indeed, it may be that this hour is your last hour, or even, that this moment is your last moment.Such an uncertainty does not, of course, justify a complete withdrawal from this life so as to prepare for the Next in some monastic fashion. It is important, however, that you are always conscious of this uncertainty, to the extent that it motivates you to spend every moment of your remaining life seriously, considering it as a gift from Allah and spending the resources He has blessed you with – time, ability and energy – as He has advised. Then, and only then, will your life have achieved what is required of it, and your return will achieve what is required of it.To help you attain this state of consciousness, recall and ref lect upon the following Quranic verse as much as you can and throughout the day: from Allah we came and to Him we shall return. [al-Baqara 2:156] These are the four states of consciousness that can help us achieve a life completely devoted to the remembrance of Allah. To try to reach these four states simultaneously, and with sincerity, can only purify you. To try in a determined fashion to reach these four states will lead you inevitably to Paradise. 2. Specific Methods of Dhikr For us to achieve a continuous and sustained awareness of Him, Allah, in His Wisdom and Mercy, has aught us some very specific mechanisms of dhikr. These include: the formal ibada-Salat, Sawm, Zakat and Hajj; tilawa of the Quran, dua, istighfar and tawba, seeking the company of the righteous and dawa. Together these mechanisms or methods constitute what we have classified above as the second form of dhikr, but here we may sub-divide them into two groups: those that can be performed individually and those th at are performed collectively. 3. Methods of Individual Dhikr The foremost of the specific methods pertaining to individual dhikr include the fard or obligatory ibada. Allah has said in a hadith qudsi:My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than what I have made obligatory. (Bukhari. ) Each specific formal ibada or act of servitude to God, has been ordained as an instrument of self development. When we observe our Salat regularly at the proper times, together in congregation whenever possible, with clear intentions and sincerity; when we fast in the month of Ramadan with awareness and resolve; when we give Zakat as soon as it falls due with a generous heart; and when we fulfill the obligations of Hajj as soon as we have the means, we will gain that special closeness to Allah that He has promised.Indeed, we may get even closer to God through additional observance of these specific formal acts of servitude, for Allah continues in the hadith qudsi: My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with additional devotions until I love him. When I love him, I become the hearing with which he hears, the sight with which he sees, the hand with which he strikes and the foot with which he walks. Were he to ask for something I would surely give it, and were he to ask for refuge, I would surely grant him refuge. (Bukhari. ) For each specific fard ibada, there is an additional nafl or superogatory equivalent.These are as follows: -The Sunna Salat – these include the additional Prayers before and after the five obligatory ones, but just as importantly the Tahajjud Prayer. -The Sunna Fasts – as recommended by the Prophet and to be practised on Mondays and Thursdays of each week, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth day of each lunar calendar month, and other recommended days in the Islamic year. -Sadaqa fi Sabilillah – the giving of voluntary charity, however much and whenever one can afford, for the pleasure of Allah. -The Umra – performance of the voluntary short pilgrimage.In addition to the fard and their related nafl ibada, there are two further specific methods of individual dhikr: the first is the daily recitation of the Quran, and the second, frequent dua or supplications to Allah for forgiveness, guidance and fulfillment of needs. Let us explore each of these specific methods pertaining to individual dhikr in more detail, particularly as instruments of tazkiya and dhikr A. Salat Salat is the foremost form of ibada that Allah Himself has prescribed for us. In His own words He commands: Establish regular Prayer that you may rememberMe. [Ta Ha 20:14. ] The whole purpose of Salat is to be ever conscious of Allah, the Creator, Lord and Sustainer of all things. When we perform Salat we involve our tongue, our heart, our mind and indeed our whole body. In this sense, Salat is indeed, one of the most comprehensive forms of dhikr. It is perhaps for this reason that Allah states in a hadith qudsi: `O ut of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me, Salat is the dearest to Me. ‘ (Bukhari. ) It is unfortunate, therefore, that we do not always take full advantage of this gift.We may pray five times each day but few of us remain conscious for long that in Prayer we have the best means to develop a strong connection with Allah. We may compare the obligatory Salat to bathing five times a day. If after such frequent bathing, your body remains dirty, then we may question the usefulness and efficacy of such bathing. Similarly, if after regular observance of Prayer your heart remains unmoved, your morals remain corrupt and your conduct remains unaffected, we may question the usefulness and efficacy of your Prayer?If you enter into Salat and come out of it the same person, then you have missed something, and you may have missed a golden opportunity to achieve something great. Remember, though, Salat is an obligation. Whether your heart is attentive or not, it must be pe rformed. You cannot give up Prayer because to you it appears useless. Don't give up the obligation but try to infuse it with the purpose it seeks to serve – remembrance of Allah. How can you improve the quality of your Salat?Remember, first and foremost, that as soon as you commence your Salat, Shaytan makes it his duty to fill your mind with anything and everything but thoughts of Allah. [al-Araf 7: 16-17. ] For, Shaytan is aware that your remembrance of Allah will draw you closer to Him, so he tries ceaselessly to disengage your mind and heart from such remembrance, so that you may never achieve that closeness. The most important hurdle to overcome from the outset, therefore, is absentmindedness. It is this that destroys the quality of your Prayer, for Allah does not accept the Prayers of a wandering mind.The Prophet Muhammad said: God does not accept the Prayers of an individual until his heart achieves in it what his body has achieved. [Al-Ghazali in Ihya. See Inner Dimen sions of Islamic Worship, Islamic Foundation, Leicester, p. 29. ] The ability to concentrate in Prayer may be improved by undertaking adequate psychological, mental and physical preparation before the Prayer and by utilising certain techniques whilst performing the Prayer. Below we discuss some of them. i. Psychological and Mental Preparation -The planning of your daily activities should revolve around the five daily Salat. al-Ma'arij 70: 22-23. ] Do not plan everything else and then try to fit Prayer into your busy schedule. -Ensure that you are conversant with all the rules and regulations governing your Prayer. Research in depth the Quranic verses and ahadith relating to the virtues of Salat. -Be punctual with your Prayer. [an-Nisa 4:103] Get into the habit of praying at the earliest hour. Do not procrastinate. The Prophet said, `the deed most loved by Allah is Prayer performed on time. ‘ (Muslim. ) -Pray as much of your fard Salat in jama'a or congregation as is possible. al-Baqara 2: 43. ] -Avoid praying in a state in which you are mentally and physically fatigued. [an-Nisa 4: 43] -Rid your mind of all evil thoughts and ideas. [al-Maun 107: 4-6. ] -Keep your mind free of worldly worries and engagements. -Plan what ayat / duas you are going to recite. -If you do not understand Arabic learn the meaning of what you recite in your Prayer. -Remind yourself that engaging in Prayer offers you an opportunity to release yourself from the pressures and tensions of this world. The Prophet has said that in Prayer was placed the comfort of his eyes.Therefore cherish the opportunity to remove the shackles and burdens of this world from your shoulders. [al-Baqara 2: 45. ] -Use your Prayer to remain focused on your mission in life to bring your entire being to serve only Allah. -Use your Prayer as a source of strength, inspiration and enthusiasm for your life and activities. ii. Physical Preparation -Fulfill all your personal needs before you commence your Prayer, for example, thirst, hunger and calls of nature. -Pray in a pure physical state. Perform your wudu with care and perfection. [al-Maida 5: 6. -Although the whole earth is a masjid or a place of worship, choose a place that is clean. -Pray in an environment free of noise and one where there is no distraction. -Adorn yourself with clean and respectable clothes for Allah has said: O Children of Adam, wear your best clothes at every place of worship. [al-Araf 7:31. ] iii. Performing Your Prayer -Assess your mental readiness for Prayer before its commencement, during the various postures with its attendant recitations, after each raka and ultimately at the end- Try to make improvements at each stage Pray with humility both in your mental state and in your physical manner. Pray with hope and awe, asking Allah for His mercy and forgiveness. -Remind yourself continually that you are talking to the most important `Being' in your life – your Creator and Sustainer. He is in front of you. You are facing Him and you are involved in a dialogue with Him. [al-Alaq 96: 19. ] -Commence your Prayer by seeking Allah's help and protection from the influences of Shaytan. [an-Nahl 16: 98. ] -Lower your gaze while praying and do not allow the physical environment to distract you.Anas related that the Prophet said: `My dear son, be sure to avoid being distracted during Prayer, for, to become distracted while praying is a disaster. ‘ (Tabarani. ) -Use a variety of Quranic verses and duas in your Prayer to achieve greater concentration and awareness. -Adopt a whispering technique in your recitation. This will increase your ability to remain focused on what you are saying. [alIsra 17:110. ] -As you recite the Quran, translate it into your own language so that your attention is held. As you concentrate upon the meaning and implications of the words, insha Allah, all thoughts of worldly ideas will disappear. On each occasion that you recite the Sifat or attributes of Allah in r uku and sajda, consider how indebted you are and how grateful you should be to Allah and express your true emotions. -Utilise the occasion of sajda to make additional dua to Allah. The Prophet said: ‘ A servant is nearest to his Lord when he is in sajda, so increase your supplication when in sajda. ‘ (Muslim. ) -Make your Prayer of moderate duration so that you do not become physically and mentally tired but be aware that while in Prayer you must take your time praying. -Give due regard to the proper performance of all the physical postures. Pray as if it is your last Prayer. The Messenger of God said: `When you stand up to pray, perform your prayer as if it were your last, do not say anything you will have to make excuses for tomorrow, and resolve to place no hope in what is in the hands of men. ‘ (Ahmad. ) Performing your prayer in a satisfactory manner should lead to a radical change in the way you lead your daily life. Salat must be as the Quran states: Surely, Salat prevents indecency and evil [alAnkabut 29: 45. ] Your improved and more disciplined life will in turn help the quality of your Prayer to increase even more.The two should feed one another and continuously reinforce each other. Note that there is punishment for a Prayer not performed satisfactorily. It will be a witness against you rather than a witness for you on the Day of Judgment. However, the reward for a Prayer well performed is immeasurable. The Prophet said: `If a man performs two rakas of Salat without the distraction of any worldly thought, all his previous sins will be forgiven. ‘ (Bukhari. ) iv. Tahajjud Salat Even though it is not obligatory, try to establish Tahajjud Salat as part of our nightly activities. The Prophet said: `The best Prayer after the fard Prayer is the night Prayer. ‘ (Muslim. ) One of the characteristics of the Ibadur Rahman or Servants of the Most Merciful, is that they get up at night and perform Tahajjud Salat. [al-Furqan 25: 64] Qiyam al-layl or night vigil is a source of great spiritual energy. The Prophet has said: Keep up qiyam al-layl. It was the way of the virtuous who came before you, it draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil and protects the body from sickness. (Tirmidhi. )When a man wakes up his wife at night and they pray two rakas (units) together, they are written down among the men and women who remember Allah. (Abu Dawud) The Quran also commends the one who utilizes the early hours of each day to engage in remembrance of Allah: Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of night prostrating himself or standing [in adoration] and who places his hope in the mercy of His Lord – [like one who does not]? Say: ‘Are those equal – those who know and those who do not know? ’ It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition. [Az-Zumar 39:9]B. Sawm Sawm or fasting is another important instrument of tazkiya. It holds a unique status among all other forms of ibada. In a hadith qudsi we are told: Every good deed of a man is granted manifold increase, ten to seven hundred times. But Allah says: Fasting is an exception; it is exclusively for Me, and I will give reward for it as much as I wish. (Bukhari, Muslim. ) The fruit of fasting ought to be that rich inner quality which the Quran calls taqwa: O Believers! Fasting is ordained for you, even as it was ordained for those before you, that you might attain taqwa. [al-Baqara 2:183]Taqwa is the most basic prerequisite for being guided by Allah. It entails God-consciousness, a sense of responsibility, accountability, dedication and awe. It is that which prompts and inspires us to fulfill our responsibilities towards the Creator. Taqwa is the main criterion by which Allah values the deeds of a Muslim. The Quran states: Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most Godfearing of you. Verily God is all-Knowing and all-Wise. [al-Hujurat 49: 13 . ] We must strive to the utmost to inculcate taqwa in our lives as Allah has ordained: Take provisions with you, but the best of provisions is taqwa.So remain conscious of Me, O you who are endowed with insight. [al-Baqara 2:197] Fasting teaches us to remember Allah. It helps to instill in us certain attributes and qualities which develop our taqwa. We discuss some of these below. i. Fulfilling Allah's Wishes While fasting, the most basic physical needs – Food, water and sleep – are readily and joyfully sacrificed. Hunger and thirst are no longer harmful; Allah's displeasure is harmful. Physical pleasures no longer hold any lure; Allah's rewards do. The scale of values is turned upside down. The measures of comfort and pain, success and failure are radically changed.However, whatever the physical discomfort, the mortification of the flesh is certainly not the desired object. The gifts of Allah are there to be enjoyed but limits by Him must also be strictly observed. O nce the sun has set, the fast must be broken and the sooner the better. All that was forbidden during the fasting hours, at His command, becomes permissible again, at His command. Similarly, eating before dawn is strongly encouraged even though the hour is early for it provides the necessary strength for the rigours of the day ahead. Fasting and praying are obvious acts of worship but eating also constitutes a form of worship. i. Willpower Fasting strengthens our willpower. The Prophet has said: ‘Sawm is a shield [or a screen or a shelter from the Hell-fire]. ‘ (Bukhari. ) The regime of dawn-to-sunset abstinence from food, drink and sex, for the sake of Allah alone, internalises the lesson that we must never en