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Minerals due to the body’s needs are divided into two groups: macroelements and microelements (trace elements). Macroelements are elements whose daily demand exceeds 100 mg. The daily requirement for micronutrients is not more than 100 mg.
Calcium is part of the bone and enamel building material. Calcium is constantly subject to changes involving incorporation into bone and enamel and resorption. It plays a role in the conduction of nerve impulses, the mechanism of muscle contraction, permeability of cell membranes, in the regulation of the blood coagulation process, the regulation of heart rhythm and the absorption of vitamin B12, affects the control of blood pressure. The correct concentration of calcium reduces the risk of heart disease, strokes, colorectal cancer and kidney stones, is part of many enzymes.
Cheese, cheese, white, milk, sardines, watercress, eggs, cabbage, meat, potatoes, beets, legumes, nuts.
Calcium is expressed in food tables in milligrams of mg.
The correct calcium intake in childhood and adolescence ensures proper ossification and calcification of the skeleton and minimizes the risk of osteoporosis at a later age.
It is the main component of secretions and excreta, it is part of digestive juices in the digestive tract (gastric juice and saliva), participates in the regulation of water management in the body and acid-base balance.
Salt, cheese, sausages, food produced with the participation of salt.
Chlorine is expressed in food tables in milligrams mg or grams g.
The body’s need for chlorine from food and its losses from the body are similar to sodium, so the recommendations for both elements are the same.
Magnesium participates in the construction of bones and teeth, has a part in the process of seeing, fulfills an important role in the transmission of information between muscles and nerves, participates in metabolism, in the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, in thermoregulation, lipid metabolism, inhibits blood clotting (protects against clots in the vessels, clots in the heart – protection against heart attack), is an activator of some enzymes.
Soy flour, barley groats, nuts, buckwheat, chocolate, cocoa, pumpkin seeds, beans, peas, corn, lentils, spinach, whole grain flour.
Magnesium is expressed in the diet tables in milligrams of mg. In order to avoid the possibility of overdose, the source of this mineral should be food.
One chocolate bar provides about 20% of the daily adult’s requirement for magnesium.
Ingredient of bones, teeth, high energy compounds, nucleic acids, cephalin, lecithin, cell membranes and blood. He participates in the construction and maintenance of the proper condition of teeth and bones; in the regulation of acid-base balance, It plays a very large role in anabolic and catabolic processes, it participates in the burning of glucose.
Dairy products, meat, fish, liver, eggs, cheese, peas, pumpkin seeds, beans, potatoes, whole-grain cereals, carrots.
Phosphorus is expressed in the diet tables in milligrams of mg.
The best proportion of calcium consumed to phosphorus is 1.81, which corresponds to the proportion of these two minerals in human milk. Such a proportion will certainly protect our body against bone loss.
You can read also: Why magnesium is so important in daily supplementation?

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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David Lowery is a mathematician, writer, musician, producer and serial entrepreneur based in Richmond, VA and Athens, GA. While studying mathematics and computers at the University of California Santa Cruz in the early 1980’s, Lowery founded the critically acclaimed ensemble Camper Van Beethoven and associated record label Pitch-a-Tent Records. With these two entities, he helped jump start the Indie Rock movement.
In 1991, Lowery moved on to the ensemble Cracker, which produced five, top ten alternative/rock radio tracks and three platinum albums. During this time he produced a variety of albums, including albums for critically acclaimed and commercially successful artists, such as The Counting Crows and Sparklehorse. Lowery also founded Sound of Music Studios with John Morand. This long running endeavor has recorded tracks for a wide range of artists from D’angelo to Lamb of God. The studio later spun off Shockoe Noise LLC, which specialized in custom music for commercials, film, and TV.
In 2007, Lowery was appointed as an advisor to the collective action website www.ThePoint.com. This later evolved into the social deals site www.Groupon.com. One of the earliest groupon-like efforts involved selling tickets for the Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout music festival in 2007. Groupon went public in 2011. Lowery began teaching the economics and finance of the music business at the University of Georgia in 2011. With a few like-minded entrepreneurs, he helped establish The Athens Angel Investment Fund. He is also on the board of the incubator 4 Athens.
Recently, Lowery has been writing for www.thetrichordist.com. This blog examines Artists’ Rights in the digital age. He has become an outspoken critic of Silicon Valley and its aggressive attacks on artists and other content creators. Three of Lowery’s pieces have gone massively viral, Letter to Emily White Intern at NPR All Songs Considered And Meet the New Boss, Worse than the Old Boss? My Song Got Played On Pandora A Million Times And All I Got Was $16.89. He has also testified to congress twice on behalf of artists. Most recently he penned an op-ed for Politico concerning copyright reform that was entered into the congressional record by Mel Watt D-NC.
August 25, 2016 Lowery released Conquistador a dramatic-musical work. It is a strictly limited edition of only 1000 copies. No additional copies will ever be made. As a dramatic work (as opposed to pure musical work) the authors exclusive rights are not subject to compulsory licenses, DOJ "consent decrees," or any other federal limitation on the author's right. All public performance, including (but not limited to) streaming, webcasting and radio broadcast require express written permission of the author.
At $25 each the author will net a little over $22,000. If this work were to be streamed on YouTube this would require approximately 24 million views to net this much. About the same on Pandora and any of the non-interactive service. On Spotify it would require a about 5 million views. Apple Music would require about 4 million. Less is more. Ubiquity means nothing.

industry_corpus2: Math & Statistics


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Organized by the brand new Miami Wagner Institute, the July 16 concert at the New World Center was the high point of the third season of the Miami Music Festival’s advanced training program. The concert’s success proved that you can do Wagner in Miami, even in midsummer, and that the demand is there, given the size of the audience.
The first thing to note is the admirable performance of the student orchestra conducted by festival founder Michael Rossi, infinitely better than last year’s. In the first part of the program, it dared tackle the “Der Rosenkavalier” suite that Richard Strauss quickly composed on the heels of the resounding success of the opera of the same name. The performance was solid, though a Wagner overture–“Tannhäuser” and “Rienzi” or “The Flying Dutchman”–might have been a more appropriate prologue to the singing.
The second part was the evening’s raison d’etre because of the presence of Christine Goerke and bass-baritone Alan Held, who have sung Brünnhilde and Wotan in Toronto, Seattle, Chicago and Washington and are scheduled to do so at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Only the first two scenes of the third act of “Die Walküre” were performed, leaving out the third, which contains a crucial dialogue between father and daughter. Nevertheless, what was included displayed shrewdness and intelligence on the part of director Dan Wallace Miller, who treated the event as a gigantic multimedia show, projecting slides on the New World Center’s screens, and deploying a dynamic ensemble to add humorous touches (such as a valkyrie in black leather). Kathleen Kelly’s meaty introduction warmed up the audience in the best possible way. The orchestra performed beautifully, with the cellos and French horns excelling, despite a few understandable miscues by the latter. In the role of Sieglinde,Tracy Cox measured up to her famous colleagues. By her side, Goerke exuded authority and talent, and Held’s powerful voice dominated the stage from the very beginning.
Lacking the end of the third act, the concert ended somewhat abruptly, but after the enthusiastic bravos, Goerke still had an ace up her sleeve. As an encore, she delivered no less than “Fliegt heim, ihr Raben,” the last part of Brünnhilde’s self-immolation scene, in which she let loose a Wagner sound like has not been heard in these parts for a long time. Thus did the great American soprano keep faith with her audience, supported by an orchestra that succeeded in depicting the glorious finale of “The Ring” cycle, a far-from-negligible achievement.
May Goerke–a well-rounded, magnetic and (fortunately) accessible artist–return next year, and may the Miami Wagner Institute live long and prosper in this city. May the excellent, longstanding idea that it is possible to do good opera in the middle of our stifling summer take hold. And, above all, may Wagner and Miami become better friends, finally hanging out together as they should, forever. Let us remember Florida Grand Opera’s “Flying Dutchman” and “The Valkyrie,” its aborted “Tannhäuser” and, most recently, “Tristan” at the Arsht’s new auditorium.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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First up, the 3-in-1 day moisturiser; this is in a pump bottle, and it's a white cream - quite thin and runny, but a little goes a long way. It's quite tacky, and takes about 10 minutes to properly soak in. I wouldn't recommend this if you've got greasy/oily skin, but then you probably wouldn't opt for something so full of moisture anyway (I mean, my skin's so far from oily that I don't have a clue, I'm just guessing...) All in all this isn't my favourite - I'm not keen on the way my skin feels after using it in the day, but its a good one for night time. It has SPF 10 in it, which isn't a lot but it's something. The entire range smells amazing, though, with this being no exception!
The super-recharging gel cream is actually targeted at night time use, but I am obsessed with this for any time of day. It's such a strange consistency, in that it looks and is quite thick but when you touch it, it's like putting your fingers in water - but thick water ???? I can't explain it but I LOVE IT. It sinks in quickly but leaves such a nice finish - not greasy looking, not even damp looking, just plump and healthy and moisturised. 10/10 would recommend to anyone, this is incredible.
Now, I'm not a tissue mask person but I'll give anything a go, and this was fine - it's not the most pleasant thing to use, but again it smells lush. It's jam packed with moisture and contains the same amount of glycerin as using the 3-in-1 moisturiser every day for a week, which is handy if your skin is super dry and you've got a big party coming up or if it's really irritating you!

industry_corpus2: Biopharmaceuticals


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Looping State of Mind, eh? Can I be too quick to point out that the level of obligatory resignation and willful self-categorization on display here doesn’t exactly tickle the ol’ imagination glands? Has there possibly been a more blithely revealing album title since Kate Bush’s as-yet-unreleased-though-totally-seminal 1995 rarities collection You Know, Piano and High-Pitched Singing and Stuff? Did I just imagine that in one of my “Me n’ Kate” dreams? Yes I did. But you get the idea.
Well, the thing is that I can, and there has, and I did, and all that—and I still feel like I can’t fault the Field’s third record for putting on an unassuming mask. I realize after some time with Looping State of Mind that I’m judging by conveniently nonspecific standards something that is successful for the fact that it has receded into its own specifically limited space. We’re dealing with a category of music that still has yet to be as defined by cliché as any of its cultural peers, and with that it still has the freedom of novelty to allow itself to be unapologetically self-obsessed. Looping State of Mind, both as a part of the Field’s catalogue and as a response to his tepidly received previous effort Yesterday & Today (2009), shows what often happens when an artist stops worrying about evolving: they evolve.
And that’s why I can’t help but propose that the almost idiotically simplistic impressions of the record’s title on closer examination really belie a confident return to comfort for Axel Willner. Looping State of Mind is both a humble nod to the genesis of his sound and an acknowledgment of the simplest aspects of what makes his work compelling, as Willner’s professed psychological condition in relation to his cultural peers actually represents one of the most fresh and novel methods of songcraft at work in music today, and it would be appropriate to mention here that it’s something that he happens to be really damn good at, too. Looping State of Mind confidently blurs the bold lines of the fractal grid paper beauty of From Here We Go Sublime (2007) and between them repurposes the softened, expansive synth melodies that dominated Yesterday & Today as something more subtly postured behind the flow of Willner’s signature sparkling 4/4.
As a caveat, it’s necessary to relate that I thoroughly enjoyed Yesterday & Today, a record that seemed to disappoint many of the folks that saw From Here We Go Sublime as a second coming, but it may have been due to the fact that I never really saw Willner as the pioneer he was heralded as. Simply put: his musical interests landed him in an ideal position to refashion a marginalized form of techno he certainly had plenty of time to study through the 90s and perfect in the mid-aughts techno revival period—and let’s face it, when it comes to repurposing any sound for a new generation of not-quite-sures tear-assing through vinyl dollar bins and their parents’ record collections, Kate Bush and Lionel Ritchie just can’t hurt your popularity. An appreciation for pop songcraft coupled with a scholarly engagement with ambient techno pretty much made Willner the perfect candidate to pick up the smoldering torch, and From Here We Go Sublime was a glorious Lilliputian ritual to be sure.
In fact, Looping State of Mind makes a point of restraining the dense, often meandering atmospherics that found Yesterday & Today staring blankly at the sky instead of through the microscope loupe that helped Willner to discover the lovely geometric microcosms of his first record. His attempts to seemingly legitimize the detached astronomy of Yesterday & Today with flourishes of live instrumentation and collaboration weren’t entirely unsuccessful, but for some reason seemed to reveal a particular lack of confidence in how to reinvent the rhythmic wheel after being launched into the realm of critical expectation. But with Looping State of Mind now in my hands, I can only say that it feels like a necessary step for Willner, realizing that his ideal atmosphere is an abstract and not a physical expanse, is an insular cosmos that needs to be inflated from nothingness rather than a full-scale universe full of other distracting uncertainties. He’s found not only a familiarity but new inspiration in removing the breathing apparatus and returning from whence he came.
As evidence: “It’s Up There,” the bass-centric, funked-out joyride “Sequenced,” Willner’s collaboration with Battles drummer John Stanier (a meeting of the minds that absolutely warms the heart if not so much the neck muscles) seemed to be trying too hard to be—the Yesterday & Today track attempting with some misdirected goodwill to highlight genre-spanning friendliness and ease-of-compatibility in the Field’s sound. Not to deride any possibility of fruitful partnership, as Willner still makes fantastic use of willingly second-chair contributors, but I think it can be said now with some finality that he is obviously better suited to helm this vehicle all by his lovely lonesome. Just one good listen to the absolutely mesmerizing title track—which somehow doubles in barometric pressure and melodic complexity every two minutes without sacrificing perfect highwire balance—or the loping, static-drenched ghost pop of “Burned Out” proves with virtuosic ease that Willner has no issues in settling back into the something-from-nothing rhythmic cycles that endear his work while still finding time to expand his melodic range. It’s all a matter of priorities, and this time everything is lined up perfectly.
The palette of Looping State of Mind is a grand revelation in the ability of a masterfully contextualized loop to create a really unique sense of swing, each song finding grooves emerging in layers, in blissful rhythmic epiphanies, one on top of the other. Loops often start off as distracting stumble-rhythms; but these tense, difficult repetitions beg for release from asymmetry, subtly corralled into dazzling choreography by scaffolds of cymbals and waves of distorted melody. It’s like watching a militant dog-trainer teach a hyperactive spaniel how to take high tea, and that transforming of the seemingly unkempt is what makes the world inside Looping State of Mind ’s crystal ball something at once disciplined and uniquely engaging.
Willner’s medium is one that often thrives on the tension of predictability—not so much a concern of what’s going to happen, but when and how much—and Looping State of Mind both conquers and surpasses the only-so-many-pieces-in-the-box standards of most traditional dance forms by appeasing those crescendo/break/denouement expectations in name only. The difficult particularities of his loops (see closer “Sweet Slow Baby,” the ultimate realization of Willner’s wonk-funk) and the demands that their wonkiness place on the rhythms of his tunes, however, reinvigorate the sense of evolution, making progress a clear directive but ensuring that every new layer only pulls apart and redefines any sense of predictability. In short, it’s warm, friendly, and assured, but never fails for a moment to inject rhythmic surprises and exciting uncertainty into the building process. And instead of coming off like an exercise in sighing self-realization, Looping State of Mind as a title is a more like Willner’s More Songs About Buildings and Food (mostly in name if not only a little in execution): a romantically novel examination of the banal and a spirited engagement with the basic aspects of one’s character. The result is anything but simple.


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The sequestration that is about to take effect imposes too much austerity too soon, does so in a nonsensical way, and yet does little to improve the long-term U.S. fiscal picture.
Far more beneficial would be to make sure that the deceleration in health costs we have been enjoying continues. This is why medical-malpractice reform, although far from a panacea, is worth trying.
Most of the costs in the U.S. health-care system are incurred in a small number of expensive cases. The top 25 percent of Medicare beneficiaries ranked by cost, for example, account for 85 percent of total spending. And the expenses in those cases are driven significantly by the recommendations that doctors make to pursue one treatment path and not another.
In making these choices, doctors are influenced by various things, including medical-school training, traditions among their peers, financial incentives (which are distorted by fee- for-service payments) and, yes, the medical-malpractice system. Improving the criteria for what constitutes appropriate care could significantly change doctors’ behavior and also save money, recent research by Michael Frakes of Cornell Law School suggests.
Most proposals to amend medical-malpractice law would limit liability in cases where doctors are found to be at fault. But they neglect to address the more important issue of how guilt is determined in the first place. The malpractice laws are generally based on “customary practice” — that is, a doctor can be considered guilty of malpractice if he or she fails to follow customary practice. This is a nebulous concept, however, that only pushes doctors to look around and mimic what their peers seem to be doing.
Other doctors, however, vary widely in their practice of medicine. And just because one treatment or diagnostic procedure dominates in a particular situation doesn’t mean it is the most medically effective one.
Many states have, in the past few decades, altered their customary-practice standard to base it on national medical practices rather than local ones. And the change has had a stunning effect, as Frakes’s study shows. Since 1977, he found, the differences in the medical practices he studied between the 16 states and the nation as a whole diminished by 30 percent to 50 percent. And this suggests, as Frakes says, “that standardization in malpractice laws may lead to greater standardization in practices.” What’s more, this can bring down the cost of medicine without making it any less effective, because the more costly procedures are often not the best ones.
Notice that the effect that Frakes found is more noticeable than what other research on malpractice laws has turned up. That’s because most studies have examined only how variations in health practices can be explained by variations in liability limits, and have ignored the crucial role of how the standard of care is defined. A slightly higher or lower liability limit in a given state doesn’t have that much effect because doctors are still influenced by customary practice.
Presumably, then, health-care costs could come down if all states’ malpractice laws protected doctors who followed national standards of practice. Yet the missing piece is to make sure the national standards are based on good medicine rather than tradition. That’s why the Center for American Progress, among others, has proposed providing a safe harbor, under the medical- malpractice laws, for doctors who follow evidence-based guidelines published by medical associations. This makes a lot of sense.
An entity such as the National Guideline Clearinghouse or other public-private partnership could determine standards for the qualifying guidelines, and say which professional associations could issue them. As more doctors and health-care centers adopt clinical-decision-support software, it will become easier for them to adhere to such guidelines. Basically, then, a patient would not be allowed to sue for malpractice if the doctor could show that he or she was following a best-practice guideline. Patients would also be able to use the guidelines; a doctor’s failure to follow them, assuming the patient is harmed as a result, would give the patient a basis for suing.
The Frakes study is at least suggestive that such a safe- harbor approach to reforming the malpractice laws would have a big impact on doctors’ behavior. Along with other steps to improve value in health care — including shifting away from fee-for-service payment — that change in behavior could, in turn, do more to improve the U.S.’s fiscal picture than implementing the sequester would.
To contact the writer of this article: Peter Orszag at orszagbloomberg@gmail.com.
To contact the editor responsible for this article: Mary Duenwald at mduenwald@bloomberg.net.


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The question is, quite often, broached by a lot of people about the Islamic legal view-point on celebrating the anniversary birthday (Mawlid) of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), keeping vigil in the meantime, and extending peace greeting to him, etc., such as what is quite often done on the feasts (Mawalid).
be upon him) as well as in observing his tradition. It is established as valid that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: (If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected.) In another tradition he said: (You must observe my own precepts [Sunnah], and the precepts of the Rightly Guided True Caliphs after me. Let all of you abide by them, and cling stubbornly to them, and beware of novelties, since each novelty is a heresy, and each heresy is an error). Both traditions involve a strong admonition against bringing about and acting on the strength of heresies. Allah - glory be to Him - says in His Glorious Quran: (And so take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you). He-glory be to Him-also says: (then let those beware who withstand the Apostle's order, lest some trial should befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them). The Almighty - praise be to Him - also says: (Verily in the Apostle of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much). He says too: (The vanguard [of Islam] the first of those who forsook [their homes] and of those who gave them aid, and [also] those who follow them in [all] good deeds, - well- pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein for ever: that is the supreme Felicity). Allah also says: (This day I have perfected your religion for you Islam as your religion). The verses to that effect are numerous. To bring about such birthday celebrations (Mawalid) purports that Allah-praise be to Him-has not yet completed the religion to this nation, and that the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not announce what should be observed by the nation, till those later people came up, and introduced into the Religion of Allah what Allah has not sanctioned, on the pretence that this matter enables them to get close to the consent of Allah, despite the fact that it, sure enough, involves a serious menace, and an opposition to Allah-praise be to Him-as well as to His Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at a time when the Almighty Allah-glory be to Him- had perfected the religion for His human beings, and completed His favour upon them. As also the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had fulfilled his plain true mission, and left no means leading to paradise, and keeping away from the Fire without being elucidated. It is established as valid in the authentic Hadith (traditions) that 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr -may Allah be pleased with both of them-passed on a report where in the Apostle of Allah-peace be unto him-said: (Never was a Prophet sent out by Allah without being assigned the task of guiding his people to the best of what he teaches them, and warning against the malice of what he teaches them)-Muslim transmitted it in his Sahih. Consider the fact that our Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is, no doubt, the most distinguished, and the Seal of the prophets; let alone the fact of his precedence with respect to information and guidance. If birthday celebrations (Mawalid) were considered religious, and sanctioned by Allah -praise be to Him-the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would have expounded the matter to the people, or done it himself in his lifetime; or his companions-may Allah be pleased with them- would have performed it themselves at least. Since celebrations such as these were never performed, it has become known that they have absolutely nothing to do with Islam. The matter of such celebrations is rather one of the evil innovations against which the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) admonished his people, as it was demonstrated in the aforesaid traditions. There are many other traditions to that effect, such as the saying of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the course of a Friday sermon: (and now to our topic: the best speech is that of the Qur'an, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the most wicked matter is that of heretic innovations, and each heresy is an error). Imam Muslim transmitted it in his Sahih.
Verses and traditions about this matter are a great many. A group of scholars has declared rejection of, and warning against such celebrations as these (Mawalid), in pursuance of the aforementioned evidences and their likes. Some later scholars, however, were at variance with the others, and approved of such celebrations, provided they are free from such reprehensible actions as being immoderate in their view about the characteristics of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the company of men and women, and using musical instruments, and such other things as rejected by the immaculate Revelation, and still they held them to be good innovations. The Islamic legal standard is to refer the case at issue among people to the Scripture (Quran) of Allah and the precepts (Sunnah) of His Apostle Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Allah glory be to Him- also says: (O he who believe, obey Allah, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and his Apostle, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination). The Almighty also says: (Whatever it be wherein ye differ, the decision thereof is with Allah). We have referred this matter, to wit, Mawalid celebrations, to the Scripture of Allah-glory be to Him- and found out that it enjoins on us the duty of obeying the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in what he brought forth, admonishes us against what he prohibited us from doing, and informs us that Allah-glory be to Him- has perfected the religion for this nation. Since this sort of celebration is not part of what the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did brought forth, it has nothing to do with the religion Allah perfected for us, and enjoined us therein to obey the Apostle. We have, too, referred the matter to the precepts (Sunnah) of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and found therein that he never performed such a thing, nor enjoined on us to do it, and neither did his companions - may Allah be pleased with them. We have, thus, learned that such a matter has nothing whatsoever to do with religion, and that it is rather a kind of heretic innovations, and imitation of the people of the Scripture-Jews and Christians- in their festivals. Such being the case, it becomes quite clear for any person possessed of the least power of mental perception, the desire to know the truth as well as being fair in seeking it, that birthday celebrations (Mawalid) have nothing to do with Islam; yet they are rather some kinds of heretic innovations that Allah-glory be to Him- and His Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoined us to abandon and to be cautious of. Any sensible person should not be dazzled by the great number of people doing such a thing in all countries, since truth is not to be recognized through the numerousness of doers, but it is recognized through the Islamic legal evidences, as the Almighty Allah says on Jews and Christians: (And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or Christian." ...Those are their [vain] desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful). The Almighty also says: (Wert thou to follow the common run of those on earth, they would lead thee away from the Way of Allah).
Furthermore, most of these (Mawalid) - heretic as they are- are not quite free from other reprehensible actions, such as the company of men and women, use of songs and musical performances, drinking alcoholic beverages and narcotics as well as other evils. Besides, there may occur what is more tremendous; that is, gross polytheism through exaggeration and exceeding the proper characteristics of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or those of others of holymen, as well as invoking him, appealing to him for aid, petitioning him, and believing that he is cognizant of the Unseen, and such other atheistic things as practiced by lots of people in the course of their celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and of others of the so-called holymen. In the authentic hadith, the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: (Beware of exceeding the proper limits of religion; since people, earlier on, were perished with this matter). He (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: (Do not lavish praise on me, as did the Christians with the Son of Miriam. Only I am a human being. Say the Servant and the Apostle of Allah). AI-Bukhari excerpt it in his Sahih from the account of 'Omar-may Allah be pleased with him. The remarkable and astonishing thing about the matter is that lots of people attend actively to these innovated celebrations and uphold them, while they fail to do what Allah made incumbent upon them such as attending Friday and congregational prayers. In spite of it, they pay no attention to them. Neither do they think they had committed a gross vile deed. This is due, beyond doubt, to weakness of faith and lack of discernment as well as to copiousness of various trespasses and sins reigning over the hearts. May Allah favour us and all Muslims with the grace of safety from these evils. Among other things, some of them think that the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) attends the mawlid. They, therefore, rise in honour of him with pin arms. This is a sort of patent falsehood and the vilest ignorance, as the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) shall not rise out of his grave before the Day of Judgment, neither does he contact any human beings nor does he attend their meetings. He is rather abiding in his grave until the Day of Judgment, with his soul quite settled with his Rub highly elevated in the Eternal Abode, as Allah-glory be to Him-says in the Quranic Chapter "AI-Mu'minoun": (After that, at length, ye will die. Again, on the Day of Judgment, will ye be raised up). The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: (I am the first, whose grave will split on the Day of Judgment, and then I shall be the first intercessor, and the first to be granted the right of interceding).
May Allah grant us, along with all Muslims, success in comprehending his religion and maintenance of it. May He, too, favour us all with sticking fast to the Sunnah and caution against the heresy. Allah is All-kind and Magnanimous, and may peace and blessing of Allah be unto our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
ANNIVERSARY NIGHT OF ISRA' AND MI'RAJ.
The event of Isra' and Mi'raj is, beyond doubt, one of the great prodigies of Allah denoting the truthfulness of His Apostle Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the lofty position which Allah-glory be to Him- gas granted him. It is, as well, an evidence of the surpassing Omnipotence of the Almighty and His Exaltedness-glory be to Him-above all His human beings. The Almighty Allah says: (Glory be to [Allah] who did take His Servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts we did bless, -in order that we might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the one who heareth and seeth [all things].) It has been transmitted in uninterrupted succession that the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was ascended into the Heavens, the gates whereof were opened for him, until he passed through the seventh firmament when his Rub addressed him of what he willed, and enjoined upon him the five prescribed prayers. The Almighty Allah had previously prescribed them at first as fifty prayers, but our Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) continued to demand easing, till the Almighty made them only five prayers. As duties they are only five, yet they are still fifty as far as recompense is concerned, since a good deed is worth the tenfold of it. Praise be to Allah for all His favours.
The night wherein the event of Isra' and Mi'raj occurred had not been particularized in the authentic Hadith. All that was in this concern, according to the scholars of Hadith, has not been asserted as valid by the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Such is the extensive judiciousness of the Almighty Allah that He made people forget it. Even if its particularization had been asserted, Muslims should have not favoured it with any devotional services whatsoever. They are not permitted to celebrate its anniversary, since the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and his companions -May Allah be pleased with them- never did it. Neither did they favour it with certain acts of devotion. Should such celebration of the Night be a licit matter, the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), would have expounded it to the nation, either by word or by deed. And if such a thing had occurred, it would have been known and become common, and the companions-may Allah be pleased with them- would have transmitted it to us. They, in fact, passed on from their Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), everything Muslims are in need of. Never were they remiss with regard to religion, nay, they were out strippers to every good. Should celebration of this anniversary Night were licit, they would have been the first to do it. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), is most sincere in guiding people. He most truly fulfilled his mission, and performed his noble duty. If the glorification and celebration of that Night had something to do with Islam, the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), would have never neglected it. Neither would he have concealed it. And since nothing of such a matter have ever occurred, it has become known that glorification and celebration of that Night has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Islam, because the Almighty Allah has perfected for this nation its religion, completed His favour upon it, and rebuked the innovators who introduce in religion that which Allah had not allowed. The Almighty-glory be to Him- says in the Quranic Chapter Al-Ma'ida: (This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion). [5:3]. Allah -may He be exalted- also says in Chapter ALShura: (What! Have they partners [godhead], who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them [at once]. But verily the wrongdoers will have a grievous Penalty). Warning against heresies, and declaring that they are errors by way of reminding the nation of their gruesome peril, and estranging people from committing them, have been established as valid in the authentic Hadith of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It has been asserted as valid, among other traditions, in both Sahih Muslim and Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of A'isha -may Allah be pleased with her- that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: (If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected). In another version by Muslim, the Prophet said: (Whoever performs a deed inconsistent with our principles, it will be rejected). Muslim transmitted in his Sahih, on the authority of Jabir-may Allah be pleased with him- that the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), was always used to saying in his speech on Fridays: (and now to our topic; the best speech is that of the Quran, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the most wicked matter is that of heretic innovations and each heresy is an error). It is reported in the Sunan (precepts) on the authority of AI-'irbad ibn Sariah-may Allah be pleased with him-who said: the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave us an eloquent exhortation that scared the hearts, and shed tears from the eyes. We said: O Apostle of Allah, it looks as if it were a farewell exhortation. Admonish us. Hethen said: "I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey your commander even if he were a slave; for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must therefore follow my Sunnah and that of the rightly guided Caliphs. Hold to it, and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties; for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error). The traditions to that effect are numerous. Caution and intimidation against heresies have been established as a matter of fact, on the authority of the companions of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the pious ancestors thereafter. Such was the case only for its being an unnecessary addition to religion, a prescription of something novel without the permission of Allah, and an imitation of the adversaries of Allah, as did the Jews and the Christians with regard to making additions to their religion, and inventing what was beyond the permission of Allah, since that act of theirs was attended by their being prejudicial to Islamic religion, and accusing it of lack of perfection. This matter is quite known to be rife with a great deal of gross corruption, ignominious file actions, contradiction with the saying of the Almighty Allah: (This day I have perfected your religion for you....), and an obvious contrast to the traditions of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that caution against, and estrange from heresies.
I hope that the aforementioned evidences are quite enough for the truth seeker to reject this heresy, namely, that of celebrating the anniversary Night of 'Isra' and Mi'raj, and to caution against it, considering that it has absolutely nothing to do with Islam. In view of the fact that Allah has enjoined the duty to give Muslims sincere advice, to elucidate the divine prescription for them, and to proscribe concealing of knowledge to them, I decided to call the attention of my Muslim brethren to this heresy which became so rife in a lot of countries that some people deemed it pertaining to religion.
We ask Almighty Allah for the betterment of all Muslims, to grant them success in comprehending the religion, and to give us, along with them, success to abide by truth, maintain it, and relinquish what is incompatible with it. He -glory be to Him- is the omnipotent Lord of it. May peace and blessings of Allah be unto His Servant and Apostle, our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
THE ISLAMIC LEGAL VIEWPOINT ON CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF MID-SHA'BAN NIGHT.
The Almighty Allah says: (This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion). [V:3]. Allah also says: (what! Have they partners [in godhead], who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah)[XLII:21]. It is established as valid in both Sahih Muslim and Sahih AI-Bukhari, on the authority of A'isha -may Allah be pleased with her- that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: (If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected). In another version by Muslim, the Prophet said: (Whoever performs a deed inconsistent with our principles, it will be rejected). Muslim transmitted in his Sahih, on the authority of Jabir-may Allah be pleased with him- that the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), was always used to saying in his speech on Fridays: (and now to our topic; the best speech is that of the Quran, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the most wicked matter is that of heretic innovations and each heresy is an error). The verses and traditions to that effect are numerous. They distinctly prove that Allah-glory be to Him- has perfected for this nation its religion, and completed his favour upon it. The Almighty Allah ha not taken His Prophet unto Him except after he had fulfilled his plain mission, and expounded to the nation all the words and deeds such as were prescribed by Allah. He (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), had made it clear that all what people after him innovate, either by words or by deeds, and attribute to Islam, shall be considered a rejected heresy, even if it is done with good intention. The companions of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), were acquainted with such a matter, and so were the scholars of Islam afterwards, in such a manner that they rejected and admonished against heresies, as was the case with all who compiled books on glorification of Sunnah and rejection of heresies, such as ibn Waddah, AI-Tartushi, Abu Shamah, and other. Among the heresies brought about by some people is that of celebrating the anniversary of mid-Sha'ban Night, and favouring its daytime with fasting. There are no reliable evidences of such a matter. It is true that there have been transmitted some traditions (Ahadith) on the merit of the Night, but they are too vulnerable to rely upon. As to what has been said concerning the merit of performing prayers in that Night it is entirely spurious, as is the opinion of so many learned men. A portion of such opinion is going to be mentioned later on, Allah willing. There are also traditions that have been transmitted on the authority of some ancestors of Syria and others, with regard to the merit of the Night. The majority of the well-known authorities are or the opinion that it is heretic to celebrate it, that all the traditions pertaining to its merit are vulnerable, and that some of them are spurious. Among those who admonished against the matter is AI-Hafiz Ibn Rajab in his book "Lata'if El-ma'aref" (Nice Lore) and in other books. The vulnerable traditions are only valid on the religious observances the basis whereof has been established by true evidences, whereas celebrating the anniversary of mid-Sha'ban Night, on the other hand, is too lacking for true basis to heed the vulnerable traditions.
This significant rule was stated by AI-Imam Abul Abbas Shaikhul-Islam ibn Taymia-may Allah have mercy upon him. I am going, O my reader, to cite what has been said on this issue by some learned men, in order that you may be fully aware of it. The consensus of the scholars-may Allah have mercy upon them- is that we must refer such an issue as we differ in to the Scripture of Allah-glory be to him- and to the precepts (Sunnah) of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is the opinion expressed by both or by one of them that constitutes the Divine Law that ought to be followed, whereas we, on the other hand, should reject what goes contrary to them. Any acts of devotion such as were not mentioned by the Quran and the Sunnah are to be considered heresies that should not be pursued, to say nothing of preaching and approving of them.
One of them is that it is desirable to commemorate the Night congregational in mosques. It was the habit of Khalid Ibn Ma'dan, Luqman Ibn 'Amer, and others on the occasion to be richly clad, to be perfumed with incense, to colour the edges of their eyelids with Kohl, and to keep vigil during their Night. Ishaq Ibn Rahawaih agreed with them on the matter, saying that it was not heretic to keep a congregational vigil during the Night.
The other opinion purports that it is reprehensible to congregate during the Night in the mosques for prayers, narratives, and invocations, despite the fact that it is not detested that one may perform one's prayers individually. The opinion is based on the authority of AI-Awza'iy; imam, jurisprudent, and scholar of the Syrian people, and it comes fairly close to the truth, Allah willing, until he said: (We have known no words of Imam Ahmad on the mid-Sha'ban Night. As for the desirability of keeping vigil during the Night there are, on his authority, two accounts emanating from another two accounts of his, on keeping vigil in both feast Nights. In one account he find it undesirable to keep congregational vigil in both feast Nights, as it has never been transmitted that either the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), or his companions did so, while he in the other account, finds it desirable to keep vigil, since one of the followers, namely, Abdul Rahman ibn yazid Ibn AI-Aswad kept such a vigil. Such being the case with the feast Nights, it is likewise the same case as to the mid-Sha'ban Night, in view of the fact that such an act has not been established as valid, either on the part of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), or on that of his companions-may Allah be pleased with them-at the same time when it has been established on the part of a group of followers of the eminent Syrian jurisprudence). Here is the conclusion of the purport of what was said by AI-Hafiz Ibn Rajab-may Allah have mercy upon him. The statement purports a declaration of his, that it has been established as valid that either the Prophet peace be unto him- nor his companions -may Allah be pleased with them-did such a thing in the mid-Sha'ban Night. As to what AI-Awza'iy-may Allah have mercy upon him-maintained on the desirability of keeping vigil individually during that Night, and as to this opinion being quoted by AI-Hafiz Ibn Rajab it is an odd and vulnerable saying, since whatever matter the legitimacy whereof was not established through religious legal evidences, a Muslim is not allowed to introduce into the religion of Allah, no matter whether he did it individually or congregationally, and whether he did it secretly or openly, due to the general saying of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), (Whoever performs a deed inconsistent with our principles, hid deed will be rejected) and the like of evidences demonstrating rejection of and cautioning against heresies.
The Imam Abu Bakr AI-Tartushi-may Allah have mercy upon him-said in his book "AI-Hawadeth Wal-Bida"' [Events and Heresies]: (Ibn Waddah, based on Zaid ibn Aslam, said : "We have never come up with anyone of our sheikhs or jurisprudents who made a special meritorious consideration to the mid-Sha'ban Night, or even took into account the saying of Makhoul").
Ibn Abi Mulaikah was told that ziad AINumairi had said the recompense for the mid-Sha'ban Night is as much as that of the Night of Power (Qadr), but Ibn Mulaikah commented: should I have heard him and had a stick in my hand I would have beaten him. Ziad was a storyteller. The scholar AIShawkany-may Allah have mercy upon him-in his work "AI-Fawa'id AI-Majmou'ah" (Collected Benefits) said verbatim: (a tradition: O Aly! Whoever performs a hundred-raka'at prayer in the mid-Sha'ban Night, and reads in each rak'ah the opening Chapter of the Quran and the Chapter of AlIkhlas ten times, Allah shall provide for all his needs ...etc). It is a spurious tradition, and such is its declared version with the credit its doer gets, that no sensible man can doubt its spuriousness, especially that its informants are unknown. It has been transmitted in a second and third version the purport whereof is entirely fictitious, let alone the unknown nature of its transmitters. AI-Shawkany said too in his work "AI-Mukhtasar' (The Synopsis): (The tradition on the mid-Sha'ban prayers is untrue. According to Ibn Hibban out of the speech of 'Ali, "Let yourself keep vigil in the mid-Sha'ban Night, and let yourself keep fasting on its daytime"). This is a vulnerable saying: He also said in his work "AI-La'ali" (The pearls): (A hundred rak'at in the mid-Sha'ban Night, with reading Ikhlas Chapter ten times a rak'ah, and so forth. This tradition, narrated by AI-Dailamy and others, is spurious. Furthermore, most of its transmitters in the three versions are anonymous as well as feeble). He also said: the tradition of performing twelve rak'at with reading Ikhlas Chapter thirty times a rak'ah is spurious as also the tradition of performing fourteen rak'at. Such was the so-called tradition that it beguiled a group of jurisprudence as the author of "AI 'Ihia"' (Revival of Religious Sciences) and others, as well as so many exegetists. The prayers of the Night that is the mid-Sha'ban Night have been reported in various respects, all of which are untrue and fictitious. This is not contrary to the account of Tirmizy, on the authority of `A'isha'a report, on the visit of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), to Baqi'graveyard, and the descending of the Lord to our world's heavens in the mid-Sha'ban Night, adding that the Almighty Allah grants His pardon to as many people as the number of hairs on the sheep of kalb Tribe. It is the invented prayers in that Night which is the topic of the narrative. However, the account reported by `A'isha is discredited by weakness and interruption. Likewise, the tradition of 'Aly as already mentioned on keeping vigil at the Night, vulnerable as it is, as we have already said, does not contradict the fact that these prayers are fictitious.
AI-Hafiz A]-"Iraqi said the tradition on the mid-Sha'ban prayers is trumped up against the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), quite as it is a lie fabricated against him. AI-Imam AI-Nawawy, in his work "AI-Majmou"', said: (Prayers known as the desiderata prayer, consisting of twelve rak'at to be performed at a time between Maghreb prayer and 'Isha' prayer, at the night of the first Friday of Rajab, as well as performing a hundred-rak'at prayer in the mid-Sha'ban Night, both of them are objectionable heresies. One has not to be duped by their being mentioned in the work of Qout EIQuloub as well as in "'Ihia' Uloum Eddine" (Revival of the Religious Sciences). Nor should one be fooled with the tradition therein, since the matter is, in its entirety, groundless. Nor, too, should one be deceived by imams to whom the matter appeared doubtful, and then accordingly they compiled some papers on their desirability, namely, of both the desiderata and the mid-Sha'ban Night prayer, since they are only blunderers in that respect.
AI-Shaikh AI-Imam Abu Muhammad Abdul Rahman Ibn Isma'il AI-Maqdisi compiled a valuable work invalidating both prayers, wherein he did such a good thing as to be commendable. So much is the talk of learned men on the question that we cannot cite. Should we have cited all that we have come to know of their talk our discussion would have been too long. Perhaps the truth-seeker may content himself with that we have mentioned. In consideration of the afore-cited verses and traditions as well as the discussions of the learned men, it becomes clear for the truth-seeker that celebrating the mid-Sha'ban Night by performing prayers or such like, and by favouring its daytime with fasting is a reprehensible heresy according to most scholars, since it is of no origin whatsoever in the immaculate Religion, nay, it belongs to what was introduced into Islam after the era of companions-may Allah pleased with them. It will be enough to convince the truth-seeker about this matter and the like, if he acquaints himself with what the Almighty Allah says: (This day I have perfected for you your religion), and other verses to the same effect, as well as the tradition of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), purporting that (If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, It is rejected) and the like of traditions. In Sahih Muslim, on the strength of Abi Hurairah's account, the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: (Let not yourself favour the Friday night and no other night with keeping vigil, nor do you favour its daytime and no other days with fasting, except that you are in the course of a prescribed fasting). If it was permissible to favour some nights with some acts of devotion, the Friday night would have been worthier than any other night; since its day is the best day the sun has shone on, according to the authentic Hadith of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In as much as the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), admonished against favouring it and no other night with keeping vigil, it has become a proof of the inadmissibility of the other nights, with all the more reason, being favoured with some acts of devotion, except on the strength of a true evidence demonstrating such favour. Since it is licit to keep vigil, and to put oneself out in the Night of Qadr as well as in the Ramadan nights, the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), called the attention thereto, and urged people to keep vigil during them by so doing it himself, as it was reported in both Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: (Whoever keeps vigil in Ramadan out of faith, and seeking the reward of Allah, Allah shall forgive him his earlier sins, and whoever keeps vigil in the Night of Rajab or the Night of isra' and Mi'raj with celebration or some acts of devotion, the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), would have guided people thereto, or would have done it himself. Should such a matter have occurred, it would have been transmitted to people by the companions-may Allah be pleased with them. Neither would they have concealed it from people, considering the fact that they are the second-best advisers to people after the prophets-(Peace and blessings of Allah be upon them), and may Allah be pleased with the companions of His Apostle. You have thus previously known, on the strength of neither the Apostle of Allah nor his companions, that they made a merit of the first Friday Night of Rajab, nor of the mid-Sha'ban Night. It has been learned, thereupon, that to celebrate both nights is a heresy that was introduced into Islam. To favour them with some acts of devotion is equally considered a reprehensible heresy, and so is the night of the 27th of Rajab, which is held by some people to be the night of Isra' and Mi'raj. It is not permissible accordingly either to celebrate or to favour it with any devotional services, due to the foregoing evidences. Such would be the judgment if its date was determined. Why shouldn't it be so since the authentic statements of the scholars purport that such a date is unknown. As to the report of whomsoever that it is the night of the 27th of Rajab, it is a false account with no origin whatsoever in the authentic Ahadith (Traditions).
May Allah grant us, along with all Muslims, success in maintenance of and abiding by the Sunnah as well as caution against its transgressors. Allah is All-kind and magnanimous. May peace and blessings of Allah be unto His Servant and Apostle, our Prophet Muhammad, as unto all his family and companions.
From Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz to every Muslim who happens to be acquainted with this statement may all Muslims be protected by Allah with Islam-and may He guard us as well all Muslims against the evil of the lies fabricated by the ignorant rabble-rousers, Amen.
I have known of a few words reportedly written by a Sheikh Ahmad, attendant of the Sacred Shrine of the Prophet ENTITLED (This is an admonition from Al-Madina AI-Munawara, by Sheikh Ahmad attendant of the Sacred Shrine of the Prophet.) In these words he says: "I was sitting up late at a Friday night, reciting the Glorious Quran. Having finished reciting the Holy Attributes of Allah, I was prepared for going to bed, when I saw Sayyedina Muhammad the Apostle of Allah-with his radiant countenance, (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who brought to us the Quranic verses and the holy orders of the Shari'a as mercy to the universe, He said: "O sheikh Ahmad" I replied, "Here I am -Labbaik-O messenger of Allah, O noblest creature of Allah." He said to me, "I am so ashamed of the vile deeds of people that I could meet neither my Lord nor the Angels, since from Friday to Friday, a hundred and sixty thousand people died without faith in Islam. Then the Prophet reportedly mentioned some of the sins committed by people, adding that this admonition is mercy bestowed upon them by the Almighty. The Prophet then reportedly alluded to some portents of the Day of Judgement till he said, "Tell them this admonition, O Sheikh Ahmad, since it is transmitted by the Pen of the Almighty from the Guarded Tablet. He who writes and communicates it from country to country and from place to place shall have a palace builtfor him in the Heaven, but in case he does not do such an act he is to be deprived of my intercession on the Day of Judgement. And whoever writes it, Allah shall enrich him if he is poor, settle his debts if he is indebted, or pardon him and his parents if sinful; thanks to the blessings of this admonition. He who does not write it, his face shall blacken both in this world and in the Hereafter. Sheikh Ahmad then swore thrice by the name of Extolled Allah that he says the truth, and that if he was a liar, he would die as an infidel. He concluded that whosoever believes it, shall be delivered from the torment of the Fire, and who denies it shall become an atheist).
(Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as he was prepared for going to bed, and not while actually sleeping.
That is to say, the vision of the Prophet appeared to him while being in a state of wakefulness. The liar claimed in this admonition a lot of things, which are among the most lucid lies, and the most obvious falsehoods, against which I am going soon to caution you, Allah willing. I have been warning against them, during the last years, and have explained to the people that these things are the most vivid lying, and the most distinct untruth. Having been informed with this recent handbill, I was reluctant to write anything about it, for its clear untruthfulness as well as for the great deal of boldness on the part of its fabricator in the field of lying. I could not conceive that its falsehood could fool anyone possessing the least power of mental perception or sound disposition. Yet several brethren informed me that it fooled many people among whom it was rife, and some of them gave it their credence. On this account, I saw that it was the duty of persons such as myself to write about it, so as to throw light upon its falsehood, as well as to demonstrate that it was invented against the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so that no one may be deceived by it, and whoever considers it of those cognizants and faithful, or those possessed of sound disposition and sound mind, should come to know that it is nothing but pure lying and falsehood in many respects. I have inquired of some relatives of Sheikh Ahmad about this lie of admonition ascribed to him. They replied that it is invented against Sheikh Ahmad, adding that he by no means, said it, and that the so-called Sheikh Ahmad had died quite long ago.
Supposing that the so-called Sheikh Ahmad or anyone of even much higher standing than he, had in fact claimed that the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), appeared to him in a vision during sleep or wakefulness, and assigned to him this admonition, we would be convinced that he is a liar, or that it was the Devil rather than the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that told him so in many respects. Among other things, the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), after his death, never appears in a vision to a wakeful person. He, of the ignorant Sufis, who claims that he sees, while being vigilant, the vision of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), or that the vision attends the (Mawlids) or the like, would have been guilty of the foulest error, and have been exceedingly obscured. He would also have made a big mistake, and have gone against the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars; due to the fact that the dead never rise out of their graves in this world save on the Day of Judgment; as has been mentioned by Allah in connection with the attributes of believers: (And then at length you will certainly die: and again on the Day of Judgment you will be raised up) [XXII: 15-16]. Thus Allah had informed us that the resurrection of the dead would take place on the Day of Judgment, and not in this world. Whosoever holds an opinion contrary to this is either an obvious liar or an obscured blunderer, who has failed to perceive the truth recognized by our pious ancestors, and pursued favourably by the companions and followers of the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
As for the second aspect, the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), never said untruth, either during his lifetime or thereafter. This admonition goes openly counter to his Shari'ah in many respects such as follows. The Prophet -peace unto him-might be seen during sleep, and he to whom he appears in his holy figure during slumber has actually seen him, since the Devil never finds visual expression in the shape of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as has been stated in the authentic holy prophetic traditions. The whole consequence, however, depends upon the faith of the visioner, his truthfulness, honourable record, correctness, creed, trustworthiness, and whether he saw the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in his own countenance, or not. If it even happened that a tradition was imputed to the Prophet -peace unto him- as being said by him during his lifetime, and it came down to us not through the equitable and reliable sources of good reputation, it would not be an authoritative and reliable tradition. Supposing that the tradition was transmitted through the reliable equitable sources of good reputation, yet it happened to be in conflict with another tradition which was passed on by a better and more reliable memoriser, and the difference was too enormous to reconcile both traditions, one of them must be abrogated and ineffective, and the other is abrogative and valid wherever possible and in conformity with its conditions. Should this be impossible, and both traditions could not be reconciled, the one passed on by the less memorizing and less equitable source must be discarded and considered anomalous as well as invalid. Just imagine how much less is an admonition whose transmitter who reported it from the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), is anonymous, not to mention the fact that his impartiality and trustworthiness is unknown. Such being the case, it deserves to be rejected without consideration, ever though it is devoid of anything incompatible with the Revelation. And how much less, if the admonition contains many points demonstrating that it is invalid and trumped up against the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and comprising the start of a new creed unheralded by the Almighty Allah. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said: "He who imputes to me something, which I have not said, let him settle down in the Fire." The man who invented this lie against the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said what the Prophet did not say, and invented against him an open and grave lie. How proper for him this severe threat is, and how more deserving of it he is, unless he hastens to turn to Allah in repentance, and announces publicly that he had fabricated this admonition against the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), since whoever publicizes untruth imputing it to religion, his repentance is not true unless it is announced publicly and made clear, so that people might know that he retracted his lie and refuted himself. Allah-glory be to Him- says: (Verily, those who conceal the clear Signs and the Guidance which we have sent down, after we have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers. Except those who repent and make amends and openly declare [the Truth, which they concealed]. These it is whom I will accept their repentance. And I am the One Who accepts repentance, the most Merciful). In this holy verse, Allah-praise and glory be to Him- made it clear that he who conceals any part of the Truth his repentance of this shall not be right, save after correction and exposition. Allah -praise and glory be to Him - has perfected the true religion for his human beings, and brought about for them His grace by sending us His Apostle Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as well as the perfect Revelation He sent down with him. Allah made him die only after consummation and demonstration; as Allah glory be to Him- says: (This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion AI-Islam).
The calumnious inventor of this admonition has come in the fourteenth century, with his desire to start a new creed for the people, with the result that whoever adopts this creed shall be admitted to Paradise, while he who does not shall be deprived of it and settle down in the Fire. He wants to assign this invented admonition a position even greater and higher than the Quran; since he claims that he who writes and communicates it from country to another country, or from place to another place shall have a palace built for him in Heaven, and whoever does not, shall be deprived of the intercession of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), on the Day of Judgment. Verily, it is of the vilest lying, and of the most obvious indications that this admonition is invented, and its author is impudent and bold in lying, since he who writes the Glorious Quran, and communicates it from country to another country or from place to another place, shall not have this favour, unless he acts on the strength of the Glorious Quran. Then how does the writer of this lie and its communicator from country to another country enjoy this favour, while on the other hand, he who does not write the Quran, nor communicates it from country to another country shall not be deprived of the intercession of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as long as he has faith in him, and adheres to his Religion. Suffice it to mention this only piece of calumny in this admonition to prove its untruthfulness, the deceit of its propagator as well as his impudence, stupidity, and ignorance of the guidance brought about by the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This admonition comprises, aside from what has been already mentioned, several other points, all of which demonstrate its untruthfulness and falsehood. And even if its inventor had sworn, a thousand times or more, that it is true, although he had invoked the greatest torment and exemplary punishment upon himself that he is truthful, he was not so, and neither was the admonition. Rather it is, by Allah (twice), of the most abominable lying and the vilest falsehood. We ask Allah -praise and glory be to Him- and make the angels attending to us as well as him who knew of this writing to be witnesses that this admonition is false and fabricated against the Apostle of Allah-peace be unto him. Such a testimony with which we shall meet out Lord-glory be to Him- and may Allah disgrace him who wrote it, and treat him with what he deserves. The falsehood and untruthfulness of the admonition is demonstrated by many points other than the aforementioned. First of these points is the liar's statement (since from Friday to Friday a hundred and sixty thousand people died Without faith in Islam), because this is a pretence to know unseen matters. As to the Apostle (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the Revelation ceased to be sent down upon him after his death. Considering the fact that the Apostle during his lifetime was not to know the divine secrets, how then is he to know them after his death; because Allah-glory be to Him-says: (Say: "I tell you not that with me are the Treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden"), and says: (Say: None in the Heavens or on earth, except Allah knows what is hidden). In the authentic Hadith, it is reported that the Prophet-peace be unto him- said : (On the Day of Judgment, I assume the defense of some men by saying : "O Lord, (but they are) my companions, my companions". Then I will be told, "Verily, you do not know what heresy they brought about after your death." Then I will say as the virtuous man said "And I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didn't take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things).
Secondly: among the points indicating its falsehood and untruthfulness is the author's contention that: (He who writes it, Allah shall enrich him if he is poor, settle hid debts if indebted, or pardon him as well as his parents if sinful; thanks to the blessings of this admonition) etc. Surely, this is of the foulest lying, and of the most manifest proofs, that the inventor of this admonition is a liar and impudent towards Allah and Him human beings; since these three matters do not come about by merely copying the Glorious Quran. Then how do they occur to him who copies this untruthful admonition? Rather, this wicked liar wants to dupe people, and to set their hopes on this admonition, so that they may write it, become attached to this so-called favour, and abandon the reasons that Allah prescribed to mankind, and made them the proper means of richness, discharged of debt, and pardon of sins. May Allah keep us away from the reasons of disappointment, and submissiveness to the Devil, and to evil inclinations.
deceit of its author. How can a man sane in mind, deem it permissible that he who does not write this admonition brought about by an anonymous man in the fourteenth century (of Higrah) who trumped it up against Allah's Apostle-peace be unto him- and who claims that he who does not write it, his face shall blacken both in this world and in the Hereafter, and that he who writes it shall be rich after poverty, free from debts after being lost in them, and shall have his sins forgiven. Praise be to Allah, what a big lie! Both evidence and reality confirm the deceit of this liar, his gruesome boldness against Allah, and his shamelessness in front of Allah and people. There were too many people who did not write it, yet their faces did not blacken, and here is a large crowd of people, innumerable save by Allah, who wrote it a lot of times, but their debt was not settled and their poverty did not come to an end. May Allah guard us against the deviation of hearts as well as the prevalence of sins. These are attributes and requitals which the holy Revelation did not bring about for him who does not copy the greatest and most meritorious book, namely, the Glorious Quran. How, then, does it occur to him who copies a falsified admonition comprising a variety of untruths as well as several kinds of infidelity. Glory be to Allah, how Clement He has been, towards the man who was daring with Him to lie.
Fourthly: Among the points demonstrating that this admonition being of the most untruthful falsehoods and the most vivid lying is the statement, (Whoever gives credence to it, shall be delivered from the torment of the Fire, and whoever denies it, shall be an atheist). This, too, is of the most terrible boldness in deceit, and the most foul untruth. The liar calls upon all people to believe in his lie, claiming that thus they shall be saved from the torment of the Fire, and that whoever denies it shall be an atheist. What a prodigious terrible lie this liar has told against Allah. He, by Allah, said nothing but untruth. And it is rather he who believes it that deserves to be an atheist, than he who denies it; since it is a lie, untruth and completely unfounded falsehood. We ask Exalted Allah to be a witness for its untruthfulness as well as its falsifier's deceit; since he is willing to prescribe to the people what is not authorized by Allah, and to introduce into their religion what is alien to it, despite the fact that Allah had perfected and completed the religion for this nation, about fourteen centuries before this calumny was fabricated.
Light and render His religion victorious, even though the devils and their followers of the unbelievers and atheists (enemies of Allah) may detest it.
As to the emergence of various evils mentioned by the slanderer, that indeed is a matter of fact against which the Glorious Quran and the Immaculate Sunnah, both of them being full of divine guidance and sufficiency, had extremely warned. We ask Allah for the betterment of Muslims, and to bless them with the favour of observance of truth, of rightness and of turning to Allah-praise be to Him- in repentance of all sins, as He is most Merciful and omnipotent. As for what was mentioned, however, about the portents of the Day of Judgment, the traditions of the Prophet have illustrated what shall be of those portents. The Glorious Quran, too, has indicated some of them. He who wants to know that, shall find it in its proper place in the works of scholars possessed of sound knowledge and true faith. People are in no need for an explanation from such a liar, who mixes up truth with falsehood. Allah is quite sufficient for us, and what a perfect trustee He is. There is no power and no strength save that of Allah, the all-Exalted and the all-Great. Praise be to Him, Lord of the worlds, and peace be unto His devout servant and Apostle, truthful and honest as well as unto his family, companions, and those following him with good faith, until the Day of Judgment.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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Envision the New EPL! – The Membership Drive Is On!
Become a friend TODAY! – Help us reach our goal!
The Friends of Ecorse Public Library kicks off their 2019 “Envision the New EPL Membership Drive” on February 1 – October 31, 2019 in conjunction with National Friends the Library Week and beyond! Put us on your Christmas List! To reach our goal of 50 new members, the Friends will be asking the community to show some library love.
Ecorse residents are known for enthusiastically supporting their community. This membership drive is a great opportunity for community members to go one step further and either become a member for the first time or renew a membership that was forgotten in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
An annual Friends membership is a great value considering the perks members receive in return. The Friends use those membership dollars to support the library by funding the purchase of books, media, and supplies and by sponsoring popular library programs, including youth and adult reading challenges and other events.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text: Dan Sanchez, editorial lead for our new voice initiative which enables you to hear the news, straight from Times journalists, via Alexa answers questions about what that conversation could be like. Emily Bazelon, an investigative reporter at The New York Times Magazine, craves easy-to-use tools, whether for interviews, Freedom of Information Act records or her home TV. As the ranks of American hunters dwindle, millennials like the chef Wade Truong are taking up the tradition, seeking a direct connection to what they eat. Bulgarias chief prosecutor dimenhydrinate said that a suspected Russian intelligence officer, with a reported link to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, had visited Bulgaria before another high-profile poisoning.

industry_corpus2: Media & Journalism


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It is a beautiful home. A rose blooms in my garden now.
Thank you! I thought so, my Dad cooks with it.
Do you cook the curry for how many people?

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Insecurity can kill a lot of relationships. It can be a struggle for plenty of couples to just be completely open and honest with each other. Whenever that’s the case, then it would be likely that couples may get into severe cases of misunderstanding. A lack of openness between the people in a relationship can also lead to a distrust for each other. For instance, men tend to not be as open about their feelings as girls are. Because of this, girls may end up doubting whether their men have pure intentions and authentic feelings.
That’s just an unfortunate reality that people are going to have to bear for the rest of time. Misunderstandings always happen between human beings. But we can appease all these doubts by just learning to read between the lines. Actions speak louder than words, as they say. So check to see the list below if your boyfriend is really guilty of loving you as he says. If you happen to find your boyfriend doing a lot of these things consistently, then you can bet that he is genuinely in love with you.
1. He’s the first one to send you messages in the morning.
If he sends you messages first thing in the morning, then it only means that you’re the first thing on his mind right when he wakes up. It also probably means that he went to sleep the previous night thinking of you. It means that you are the reason he wakes up every morning with a smile on his face. He always looks forward to opportunities of being with you and every day with you is a gift for him.
2. He is always checking up on you to make sure that you’re doing fine.
He genuinely cares about you. He doesn’t want to wait for you to be the one to make contact with him. He also doesn’t want to leave any doubt in your mind about whether he thinks of you. He wants you to know that you are constantly on his mind and that your safety is always a priority for him. He wants to let you know just how important you are to him, and that you are never just at the back of his mind.
3. He would bend over backwards just to make you happier.
Your happiness is always a priority to him. He would even willingly go out of his way just to make sure that you are never sad. He would do everything he possibly could just to make your life easier. He wants you to know that your joy and your happiness is of utmost importance to him. He wants you to know that you are very important to him. He will not rest until he sees a smile on your face. He does this because his happiness is purely dependent on your own happiness also.
4. You know that it makes his day whenever he sees you.
He doesn’t even necessarily have to tell you. You see it on his face whenever he lays his eyes on you. You mean so much to him that your mere presence manages to just light up his life. He experience outrageous fits of joy whenever he is in your company and he just can’t get enough of you.
5. He is a great listener.
Another great sign that your man is genuinely in love with you is if he actually makes an effort to hear and listen to what you have to say. He is a guy who would willingly listen to you rant about just about anything. If you come home after a bad day and you just want someone to vent to, he is going to be there for you with a willing ear.

industry_corpus2: Others


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The Smart Liquids are still relatively fresh products, so I was very keen to try out Zamnesia’s all-new high-strength Kanna Smart Liquid.
Zamnesia’s Kanna Smart Liquid is a high-potency Kanna e-liquid designed to be used with any conventional electronic cigarette. Based on a new high-tech production method that results in an ultra-pure extract, I have been tasked with finding out what it is like.
Kanna, at its core, is a strange beast. The plant is indigenous to South Africa, and has been used for centuries by the native tribes for medicine and enjoyment – both to stimulate and inebriate. Herein lies the paradox of Kanna, as its psychoactive effects are pretty much opposites, but we will get to that later.
For this review, I used a Jiksu Stardust Quatro 4 to vaporize the Kanna Smart Liquid.
The Zamnesia Kanna Smart Liquid comes in a straightforward, no-fuss bottle measuring at 18mm wide x 13mm deep x 50mm height. The small size makes for easy storage, and it is topped with a safety push down lid to make sure it doesn’t open accidentally. Each bottle contains 2.5ml of Kanna Smart Liquid. The bottle itself has a small pouring spout, which easily fit into the liquid chamber of my Quatro – meaning I could squeeze the liquid directly into the chamber instead of first having to pour it into the squeeze bottle that came with my vaporizer. I have taken over 50 puffs, and the liquid in the tank has hardly gone down. The eggheads in the lab tell me I should get about 120 puffs on average per ml. Considering it only took me around 3 puffs to feel the full effect, it looks like the bottle is going to last me quite a while.
Upon firing up my Quatro, I was met with a very dense cloud of vapour. While dense, it was very smooth and had quite a faint flavour. I found the flavour itself to be earthy, and even a little musky; It faded very quickly on the exhale, leaving me focusing on its effects.
Zamnesia’s Kanna Smart Liquid has been made using a new production method, as I touched on above. As such, the potency has been greatly increased over the previous formula. At times, getting proper effects from Kanna extracts can be a little underwhelming, but this is most definitely not the case here. Instantly after my first puff I felt the typical Kanna effects rushing on, with three puffs taking me to what I would call a comfortable standard dose. I did try a few more puffs, but three was definitely the sweet spot for me.
Initially, I found three puffs to be extremely inebriating. Some 30 seconds after I had finished vaping, I was fully immersed in the Kanna space and found it incredibly hard to focus. It came on as a very strong head rush, that both relaxed body and mind. However, although hard to focus, I didn’t find it to be a foggy experience – I was still aware of exactly what was going on around me. After about 10 minutes, this initial inebriation began to wane rather quickly. Rather converse to the initial rush, I now found myself mentally focused and energised, but still with a rather chilled outlook and feelings of physical relaxation – it works out rather well for sitting here and writing this. This elated zone began to wear off around 60-90 minutes after the initial puffs, getting back to baseline an additional hour later.
Before I managed to get my hands on the Kanna Smart Liquid, a few of the astronauts in the Zamnesia office tried it out before me. For some of them, it caused complete sedation, even after the initial head rush, spending an hour or so chilling out in the staff canteen before they could get back to work - quite a contrast from my 10 minutes of sedation, followed by focus and motivation! One of the guys said he didn’t experience any sedation at all and went straight to feeling uplifted and energised. This is the paradox I mentioned earlier – in that Kanna can both stimulate and sedate interchangeably, having different effects on different people. Herein lies this Smart Liquid’s one potential shortcoming that I found: You don’t truly know how it is going to affect you until you have tried it. However, once you have used it a few times and have a feel for its effects, you know what to expect and it becomes easy to find your sweet spot in the dose.
On the whole, I have been rather impressed with the Zamnesia Kanna Smart Liquid. It is small, easy to use and potent – exactly what you would want from a Smart Liquid. The effect itself clearly varies, depending on who is using it; if you don’t have experience with kanna, you simply need to give it a go to see where you fall within the spectrum of stimulation and sedation.


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Quick Serve Restaurants have mastered making food and drinks, but they are nowhere close to mastering how customers want to be served these days. The latest Restaurant Readiness Index survey shows QSRs should be focusing on digital services to boost the customer experience — and with it, sales. The latest Index, covering the first quarter of 2018, examined what the best innovators are doing and found it’s not enough to be just diving into digital — though that’s a start, given the generally poor state of QSR innovation. It’s how you’re going into digital that matters, too.
The Restaurant Readiness Index is an analysis of 178 QSRs and more than 100 features available in the restaurants, online and through mobile apps. Each restaurant is then graded from 0 to 100, representing no innovation at all to most innovative. In the latest quarter, the QSR industry as a whole scored just 38.7.
Granted, that’s a slight increase of 0.7 from last quarter, but indicative that the industry has a lot of room to advance. PYMNTS compiles the Restaurant Readiness Index in collaboration with Bypass and Bank of America Merchant Services. The index debuted for the fourth quarter of 2017 and found that while customers are clamoring for digital innovation in-store and out-of-store, QSRs by and large aren’t giving it to them. The research further finds that even while some restaurants are making strides at becoming more innovative, too many are focusing on the wrong improvements rather than the ones that really move the needle for consumers, according to the finding of the PYMNTS study.
So what makes an innovative restaurant? There are four services that show up again and again for top-performing QSRs. Nearly every one, 97 percent of the top-performing restaurants, offer in-store events. Looking at QSRs as a whole, that percentage falls to 73 percent, up one percentage point from last quarter. The best QSRs — 83 percent in the Restaurant Readiness Index — also offer in-store inventory updates, yet there was a sharp decrease in that metric for the industry overall this quarter, dropping five percentage points to 67 percent, according to the analysis.
QR code acceptance is still relatively small in the industry, with just 18 percent of QSRs capable of using them, an increase of two percentage points from last quarter. Meanwhile, upwards of half — some 43 percent — of the most innovative restaurants in the study accept QR codes. As far as payments, some 57 percent of the innovators accept contactless — transactions where a customer interacts with a specific terminal to pay — compared to just 35 percent of their peers, according to the study.
Interestingly, the industry seems to be taking a one step forward, one step back approach to boosting its digital innovation. While almost nine percent of QSRs added credit card acceptance as part of their in-app experience in the quarter, six percent dropped the ability to save a preferred payment method. In-store, there was a four percent rise in kiosks, which helps boost the convenience factor customers value, but a 4.3 percent drop in inventory display. Online, there was a nine percent rise in stored value features, while loyalty programs fell eight percent. That’s a surprising result, given the success organizations like Starbucks have had with loyalty programs. The coffee and treat retailer had 13.3 million members enrolled in its loyalty program as of mid-2017, according to the Index.
Perhaps no feature separates the innovators from the pack more than mobile apps. Not even half of QSRs have apps that have any functionality identified in the Restaurant Readiness Index survey. The most popular feature is the ability to order and pick up in store, something 45 percent of QSRs examined have, a level that actually slipped two percentage points from last quarter’s report. Among the QSRs rated in the top 20 percent of performers, 84 percent offer in-store pick-up. Just four percent of the bottom fifth of performers do.
Among the more innovative QSRs, IHOP debuted its first mobile app in late 2017, which it uses not only to take customer orders, of course, but also to push notification promotional offers as incentive for customers to keep the app on their phone and become established users.
QSR innovation also varies by type of store. Soup, salad and bowl purveyors are the top performing category in the Index, presumably as part of the competition for lunch time office customers, a cohort particularly interested in speed and convenience. About 92 percent of these types of QSRs offer cloud-based features, with 88 percent offering in-store pick up via a mobile app. Half offer in-store order authentication. By contrast, frozen dessert restaurants are the worst category for digital innovation, with just 10 percent offering in-store pick-up from an app.
Interestingly, chain size doesn’t show much firm correlation with innovation, though chains with 26 to 50 locations did score best, at 44 of 100. The 178 QSRs the Restaurant Readiness Index examined ranged in size from eight to 2,640 locations across 10 segments, Asian to specialty (pizza was excluded). A full copy of the survey is available with PYMNTS indexes.


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Mergers and acquisitions are on the rise as organisations see this is as a strong strategic move in an increasingly competitive world.
However, before undertaking such an activity, organisations need to consider how they will integrate the two companies to ensure a smooth integration.
He says the success of his own company is based on its culture and customer service philosophy, so it looks for businesses with a similar approach.
“Once a cultural fit has been established, a smooth cultural integration can be facilitated by collaboration tools such as enterprise social and SharePoint bringing disparate teams together and making them feel part of an integrated company from the outset,” he says.
The aim and central task of acquisition is integration, which is necessary to realise the added value when two organisations are combined, Devitt says.
“It is important to be as transparent as possible with all the individuals who are impacted by the merger and to act quickly with all communications to stop the ‘grapevine’ and to keep the right information flowing,” he says.
According to Devitt, acquiring companies can ‘de-humanise’ the integration process by focusing on the financial and process aspects, and neglecting to provide personal attention.
Successful integration requires a sharp focus on human capital and culture - it’s essential to make the communication personal, articulating what the change means for the business as well as the individuals concerned, he says.
Culture can enable sustainable organisational change if the cultures are positively aligned and if the company can successfully tap into the positive energy and commitment of its culture, according to Devitt.
Companies should start by assessing the cultural climate of both the original organisation and the acquired organisation with a focus on commonality.
Then the management team should develop a vision of the ideal company culture moving forward.
Next, the team should review the company’s mission, vision and values and make sure the envisioned company culture supports them.
Last, company culture should be aligned with the organisation’s strategic goals, he says.
A major aspect of integration is bringing together processes and systems that will let the organisations function effectively and efficiently, Devitt says.
Although integrating existing technologies and rolling out new applications across organisations can be challenging, it is important to achieve this step as quickly as possible so that managers can concentrate their efforts on the business and not on the systems, he says.
As companies seek to transform themselves, one major challenge is getting people to go along with the shift. It’s important to recognise that it is not possible to convert everyone at once, according to Devitt.
Working with a due diligence team can ease the burden by finding out who the key influencers are and involving them early in the process.
Using these key ambassadors to work as change managers can help influence the integration and strengthen key messages.
The new structure should include groups with a tailored mix of talents. A successful approach is to create task forces for specific projects, pulling together employees from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels: younger employees may provide energy and optimism; veterans may provide insight from past experience.
Above all, the acquiring company must be clear about the value behind the acquisition, and it must ensure that this thinking extends throughout the entire process, says Devitt.
An experienced task force should host regular meetings with the integration team to continually ‘check in’ and monitor the course of integration.
This also lets members acknowledge where things aren’t working, change course if need be, and correct them early on. If something isn’t working, it should be adjusted as quickly as possible, he says.
“Companies also must not neglect the cultural aspects of an integration. Bringing disparate teams together can be made easier with the right systems in place, such as enterprise social and collaboration tools,” says Devitt.