Personality Development and Character Ethics

"The Character Ethic taught that there are basic principles of effective living, and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles in to their basic character. But shortly after World War I the basic view of success shifted from the Character Ethic to what we might call the Personality Ethic. Success became more a function of personality, of public image, of attitudes and behaviours, skills and techniques, that lubricate the process of human interaction"

"If we want to make relatively minor changes in our lives, we can perhaps appropriately focus on our attitudes and behaviors. But if we want to make significant, quantum change, we need to work on basic paradigms"

Quoted from "7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.

These quotes have great relevance in today's professional world. Let us not get carried away by the shallow "Personality Development" capsule solutions. Before you attend any such programs and before you send your child for such programs make sure that the team behind the training has hands on experience and a right vision about "Character Ethics"

ഭക്തിയും വ്യക്തിത്വവുമുള്ള വാക്കുകള്‍

``സത്യവിശ്വാസികളേ, നിങ്ങള്‍ അല്ലാഹുവെ സൂക്ഷിക്കുക. നല്ല വാക്കു പറയുക. എങ്കില്‍ നിങ്ങളുടെ കര്‍മങ്ങള്‍ അവന്‍ നല്ലതാക്കും. നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ പാപങ്ങള്‍ പൊറുത്തുതരും.'' (അഹ്‌സാബ്‌ 70,71)


``ഒരാള്‍ സല്‍ക്കര്‍മങ്ങളിലൂടെ സ്വര്‍ഗത്തോട്‌ അടുത്തുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും. അയാളുടെയും സ്വര്‍ഗത്തിന്റേയുമിടയില്‍ കട്ടിയുള്ളൊരു വടിയുടെ മാത്രം അകലമേ ബാക്കിയുണ്ടാകൂ. അപ്പോഴാണ്‌ അയാള്‍ അല്ലാഹുവിനിഷ്‌ടമല്ലാത്ത ഒരു വാക്കു പറയുന്നത്‌. അക്കാരണത്താല്‍ `സ്വന്‍ആ'യിനേക്കാള്‍ അകലേക്ക്‌ അയാള്‍ സ്വര്‍ഗത്തില്‍ നിന്നും അകറ്റപ്പെടും.'' (അഹ്‌മദ്‌ 464, അസ്‌ബഹാനി തര്‍ഹീബ്‌ 2362)

ഇമാം ഹസന്‍ ബസ്വരി ഉണര്‍ത്തുന്നു; ``ബുദ്ധിശാലിയുടെ നാവ്‌ അയാളുടെ ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ പിറകിലായിരിക്കും. സംസാരിക്കാനുദ്ദേശിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അയാള്‍ ഹൃദയത്തോട്‌ സമ്മതം ചോദിക്കും. അനുവദിച്ചാല്‍ മാത്രം സംസാരിക്കും. ഇല്ലെങ്കില്‍ മിണ്ടാതിരിക്കും. അവിവേകിയുടെ ഹൃദയം അയാളുടെ നാവിന്‍ തുമ്പിലായിരിക്കും. ഹൃദയത്തിലേക്ക്‌ അയാള്‍ തിരിഞ്ഞുനോക്കുകയില്ല. നാവിലെന്തു വന്നുവോ അത്‌ വിളിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും.'' (ഇബ്‌നുമുബാറക്‌; കിതാബുസ്സുഹ്‌ദ്‌ 389)

മഹാപണ്ഡിതന്‍ ഹാതിം അസ്വമ്‌ പറഞ്ഞതിങ്ങനെ; ``അല്ലാഹുവിന്‌ നല്‍കാന്‍ ഒരു ഉത്തരം കണ്ടുവെച്ചിട്ടല്ലാതെ ഒരു വാക്കും പറയുന്നതെനിക്കിഷ്‌ടമല്ല. അന്ത്യനാളില്‍ അല്ലാഹു എന്നോട്‌ ചോദിക്കും; നീ എന്തിനാണങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞത്‌? അപ്പോള്‍ `നാഥാ ഇന്ന കാരണത്താല്‍' എന്നെനിക്ക്‌ ഉത്തരം നല്‍കാന്‍ കഴിയണം.'' (താരീഖു ബഗ്‌ദാദ്‌ 8245)

ഇഹലോകത്ത്‌ എന്തു നഷ്‌ടമുണ്ടായാലും നാലു കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ കൂടെയുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ പേടി വേണ്ടെന്ന്‌ തിരുനബി പറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. സത്യം മാത്രം പറയുന്ന നാവ്‌, ഉത്തരവാദിത്വബോധം, നല്ല സമ്പാദ്യത്തിലൂടെയുള്ള ഭക്ഷണം, മികച്ച സ്വഭാവം എന്നിവയാണവ. (സ്വഹീഹുല്‍ ജാമിഅ്‌ 3741, അല്‍ബാനി)

സൂക്ഷ്‌മതയുള്ള വാക്കുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട്‌ സൂക്ഷ്‌മതയുള്ള ജീവിതം പണിയാം. നല്ല വാക്കുകളാല്‍ നല്ല വ്യക്തിത്വം കൈവരുമെന്നതുമുറപ്പ്‌. പറഞ്ഞുപോയ വാക്കുകള്‍ ഒരിക്കലും നമ്മെ സങ്കടപ്പെടുത്താതിരിക്കട്ടെ. പറയാതിരുന്ന വാക്കുകള്‍ എന്നും ആശ്വാസവുമാകട്ടെ

Courtesy : http://www.shababweekly.net 

Canadian professor finds true religion

By: JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR

Published: Mar 30, 2012 

David Roy Woelke, a Canadian English language instructor at King Abdulaziz University, embraced Islam at the World Assembly of Muslim Youth’s (WAMY) headquarters here Wednesday.

Abdul Elah Al-Ajlan, deputy director of dawa programs at WAMY, assisted Woelke to recite the Shahadah (Lailaha Illallah Muhammad Rasulullah “there is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God” during a brief ceremony at the organization.

Woelke, whose new name is Dawood, said he embraced Islam after he was fully convinced that it is the true divine religion. He conducted a comparative study of Islam and his former religion Christianity and noticed a lot of differences.

“When I came to Saudi Arabia I realized how wrongly the Western media portrays Islam as a religion of violence and terrorism. In fact, it’s a religion of peace and universal brotherhood,” he said.

Woelke said it was this biased portrayal of Islam that prompted him to learn more about this religion and read the Holy Qur’an. “When I came to know that Islam is the true religion I decided to cut my relation with Christianity.”

The Canadian said he saw a totally different picture of Islam and Muslims in Saudi Arabia, adding that it was quite opposite of what has been projected in the Western press.

“Many Muslim friends encouraged me to accept Islam as my religion. Once a Pizza salesman told me he wished to see me becoming a Muslim very soon,” he said, adding that deeper studies about Islam made him closer to the religion.

Asked what would be the response of his family, Woelke said: “Mine is a tolerant and open family. However, they may find it a bit strange in the beginning because of their wrong perception of Islam painted by the Western media.”

He expected his family members would ask him about the Islamic teachings and how he would adapt with them. “There are a lot of misunderstandings about Islam in their minds. But I am quite sure that their impressions about Islam would change when I explain to them its various teachings,” he pointed out.

“There is a vast distinction between faith and religion,” said Woelke.

“Religion is a man-made institution but faith is the relationship between man and God,” he told Arab News. “I want to be busy working on my own relationship with God and not so busy about another man’s relationship with God,” he added.

Soon after reciting the Shahadah, WAMY employees embraced Woelke and congratulated him for accepting the true religion. The dawa department at WAMY gave him a copy of the Qur’an and a number of Islamic books in English as a gift.

Dr. Muhammad Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of WAMY, expressed his happiness over Woelke’s decision to embrace Islam. “Thousands of people belonging to different religions and nationalities, especially educated men and women like Woelke, are coming to the fold of Islam every year,” he said.

The WAMY official reminded Muslim governments about their duty to propagate the message of Islam and urged them to establish a ministry for the purpose. WAMY conducts dawa programs in more than 70 countries through qualified Islamic preachers. “Muslims are responsible to take the message of Islam to other communities,” Badahdah told Arab News.

He said a large number of men and women in the West had embraced Islam following the trident media campaign against Islam and Muslims following the 9/11 events. “There was huge demand for English translation of the Qur’an and Islamic books at bookstores. I am sure Islam will attract honest people like Woelke.”

Dr. Ismail Maritheri, an English teacher at KAU and a social activist, was overjoyed hearing the pleasant news. He said Harold Trupos, a former South African English professor at the university, had also embraced Islam because of the negative portrayal of the religion in the Western press. “He started learning about Islam when he saw a different picture of Islam and Muslims in Saudi Arabia.”

http://arabnews.com/variety/islam/article601625.ece

The Ahaa moment of identifying the elephant in you

Yesterday I attended a program organized by SIGN Jeddah chapter.

Padmasree Dr. Asad Moopan was the chief guest. Sign Chairman Munawar Ali Shihab Tangal inaugurated the human resource development week named as "Alchemy 2012". Brother Rashid Gazzali Koolivayal made a remarkable speech to the audience.

Dr. Asad Moopan narrated a small but interesting story.

A baby elephant used to be tied in the curcus tent with a small rope tied to a weak stake. Years passed, the baby elephant became a huge African elephant. However the system of tying the elephant to the same small rope continued.
It is surprising that the elephant who has the capacity to topple the whole circus tent in a minute is not able to realize its size and power.
This similitude is applicable to most of us. The immense potential God Almighty has deposited in us are not realized by most.
The day we are able to realize the elephants in us our success is guaranteed!


Key words: personality development, human resource development, training, train the trainer, youth empowerment, women empowerment, sign youself, marching to march.........you can count on SIGN for all such programs.