Ramadan (Sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam and the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The meaning of Sawm is to ‘abstain’. In this month, Allah Subhana Wa Taala (SWT) has made it compulsory that the fasting be observed by day, and he has made the ‘Taraweeh’ (Ramadan nightly prayer) a ‘Sunnah’. Fasting during Ramadan is to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and conjugal relations from dawn till sunset.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called ArRaiyan, and those who observe fasting will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it”.
(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120)

During the month of Ramadan, the Prophet (pbuh) used to apportion to Ramadan a degree of worship that was not set aside to any other month. The Prophet (pbuh) spent his day in remembrance, recitation, learning and providing advice and training. His nights were spent in supplication and humiliation unto Allah (SWT), seeking His help, support, victory and guidance.

Ramadan is an annual training programme to refresh us for carrying out our duties towards Allah (SWT). Fasting develops self-control and helps us to overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. This month of patience gives us an opportunity to experience for ourselves what it is like to have an empty stomach. This develops our feeling for the poor and hungry people. Fasting teaches us to control the love of comfort.

If difficulty is experienced in fasting during Ramadan, one should bear it cheerfully and not complain. Should we feel fatigued at the time of Taraweeh (Ramadan nightly prayer), this too should be borne with fortitude.
It should also be borne in mind that fasting does not aim at inflicting punishment upon people or taking on unbearable burdens. The underlying idea behind it is to teach moderation and spiritual discipline so that human temptations may not become so wild and uncontrollable as to flout the commands of the Great Master. To be a true servant of Allah (SWT), it is essential that man should be able to conform his behaviour to the moral and spiritual discipline embodied in the Shari’ah of Islam. Fasting is
indispensable for this moral and spiritual training.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained”. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2361)

The wisdom behind fasting

Fasting in Ramadan is not merely physically restraining from the obvious food and drink, but the total commitment of the servant’s body and soul to the letter and spirit of fasting.

1) The fast of the self, means to be free from all carnal desires.
2) The fast of mind is avoiding thoughts about things other than Allah (SWT).
3) The fast of the hand is not touching/taking what does not belong to it.
4) The fast of the nose means not sniffing or smelling unlawful things.
5) The fast of the feet is not going places where sinful acts are propagated.
6) The fast of the eye is to prevent it from seeing forbidden things.
7) The fast of the tongue is guarding against lying, backbiting, slandering, reviling, abusing others, cursing, indecent conversation, swearing and false evidence.
8) The fast of the ears is not to listen to idle talk, gossip, lyrics and notes that contain obscene and indecent things. Listening to Al-Qur’an bears the fruit of faith, guidance, light and prosperity. It fills the heart with wisdom, tranquillity, intimacy and contentment. It is a source of protection from the dangerous, deviant and sinful thoughts.
9) The fast of the heart means casting out from it the love of worldly things and by emptying it of all corrupt material such as, false beliefs, evil suggestions, filthy intentions and degenerate thoughts.

What does and doesn’t break fasting

There are certain things that break a person’s fast, the most obvious being those things that are explicitly forbidden during fasting, i.e. eating, drinking, sexual relations and during menstruation, for females. However, if one eats something forgetfully, then this fast does not have to be made up:

The Prophet said, “If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink.” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 154)

A certain degree of affection is allowed between spouses as this Hadith shows:

‘A’isha reported, “The Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss me while observing fast and who among you can control his desire as the Prophet (pbuh) could control his desire.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2438)

However, the Prophet (pbuh) did report the following Hadith:

A man asked the Prophet (pbuh) whether one who was fasting could embrace (his wife) and he gave him permission; but when another man came to him, and asked him, he forbade him. The one to whom he gave
permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth.
(Abu Dawud, Book 13, Number 2381)

Recitation of Quran during Ramadan

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down Al-Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgement (Between right and wrong)”. (Al-Qur’an 2:185)

The entire month of Ramadan is in essence a celebration of Al-Qur’an’s revelation, which is described as a “Guide and Mercy for those who do good.” (Al-Qur’an 31:3). Ramadan celebrates God’s Mercy by which He sent a guiding light in Al-Qur’an that leads human life towards the path of good and virtue and protects the human soul from evil and vice. Al-Qur’an is life, spirit, salvation, happiness, reward and recompense. It is a divine teaching, a constitution and eternal wisdom.

Prophet (pbuh) said, “Read Al-Qur’an for surely it will be an intercessor for you on the Day of Judgement”. (Sahih Muslim Book 4 No 1757)

In his final year, the Prophet (pbuh) recited the Al-Qur’an twice in Ramadan. Muslims should try to read the entire Al-Qur’an at least once during Ramadan.

Taraweeh Prayers

Muslims should during this month make an extra effort to perform Taraweeh Prayer (Ramadan nightly prayer), preferably in congregation. Taraweeh has a special merit over other nights. Taraweeh is part of physical and spiritual training, for its observation soon after Iftaar insures timely and proper digestion of food.
There are also spiritual rewards awaiting the observers of this prayer. It must be mentioned here that Taraweeh prayers, although very beneficial to read, are not compulsory as stated by the Prophet (pbuh) himself.

‘A’isha reported that Prophet (pbuh) prayed one night in the mosque and people also prayed along with him. He then prayed on the following night and there were many persons. Then on the third or fourth night (many
people) gathered there, but the Prophet (pbuh) did not come out to them (for leading the Tarawih prayer). When it was morning he said: “I saw what you were doing, but I desisted to come to you (and lead the prayer) for I feared that this prayer might become obligatory for you”. (He the narrator) said: It was the month of Ramadan.
(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 46)

Charity in Ramadan

Allah (SWT) has given you, so Muslims should try to give generously in Ramadan, both Sadaqah (optional charity) and Zakaah (obligatory charity).
Every time a servant of Allah (SWT) gives something in charity Allah (SWT) eases his physical, spiritual and mental conditions. He expands for him His sustenance. Sadaqah does not only have to be money. It can also be a good deed—such as helping another person—done for the sake of Allah (SWT) and without expecting any reward from the person. Even a smile is considered charity in Islam. Most Muslims pay their Zakaah during Ramadan because the reward is so much greater in that month. Wealth is like water, if its flow is
obstructed it becomes brackish, and if it flows, it becomes sweet and fresh.

Because of the great reward for feeding a fasting person, in many places ‘Iftaar’(the breaking of the fast at sunset during Ramadan) is served in mosques, with the food donated or brought by individuals to share. This contact between the various levels of society helps to create a real bond of brotherhood in the Muslim community.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When a man dies all of his deeds come to an end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge which is benefited from, or pious offspring who pray for them.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book 013, Number 4005)

The Prophet (pbuh) enjoined Zakaah on those who fast to purify them from any indecent act or deeds. It is a sort of purification of the soul on the individual level, a cure against miserliness, and a social safety net. The rich are obliged to come in contact with the poor and the poor with the even less fortunate. Zakaah provides for the poor and spares them the humiliation of asking for charity.

Etiquette of Ramadan

We should try our best to get up for Sehri.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Eat a little before dawn (Sehri) as there is blessings in taking meal at that time.” (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2412)

Many people are deprived of this great blessing because of their own laziness. Even if there is no food, then one date should be eaten or a drink of water taken. The period before dawn is considered blessed because it is in the last third of the night, the time of divine descent and forgiveness. It is
another special time when du’as are accepted.

We should hasten to break our fasts.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “The people will remain on right path as long as they hasten breaking of the fast (Iftaar). (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 178 & Muslim, Book 006, Number 2417)

To eat dates to break one’s fast is a Sunnah.

It is also very important that we do not delay the Maghrib salah unnecessarily and pray soon after breaking the fast.

It is a Sunnah to use Miswaak.
It is recommended to take care of the mouth, teeth and gums all the time, and more so during fasting. This can be achieved by the use of Miswaak, a special stick or root (from Arak tree) that is used to cleanse the teeth and strengthen the gums.

Dua’s of a Fasting Person

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “There are three whose supplication is not rejected, one who has just ended a fast, a just imam, and one who has been wronged whose supplication is raised by Allah above the clouds
and for which the gates of Heaven are opened. Allah says, ‘I swear by My might that I shall certainly help you, though it be after some time.’” (Tirmidhi Hadith 2248)

The du’as of a fasting person is never refused. The final hour before the setting of the sun is one of the greatest hours of the day. Therefore submit before Allah (SWT) all your needs. However Muslims are generally so absorbed in eating that we neglect this opportunity.
The Prophet (pbuh) informed us that when a fasting Muslim prays for anything from Allah (SWT), he definitely receives one out of the following three things: He gets exactly what he asked for. Or Allah (SWT) either removes from his path some great calamity in exchange for what he desired. Or the reward for
that which he prayed for is stored for the Hereafter.
Therefore, du’a is indeed very important, and to neglect it at any time is a matter of great loss. Should Allah (SWT) find that granting us what we beseech from Him is in our welfare and interest, He grants it, otherwise not. It should be borne in mind that there are certain conditions under which du’as are accepted, in the absence of these, du’a may be often rejected. When ‘Haraam’ is consumed, the du’as are not accepted. A person who fasts and breaks his fast with “Haraam” food, is like a sick person, who takes medicine as a cure, also adds a little poison, which destroys him.

Asking Forgiveness in Ramadan

The Prophet (pbuh) termed the first 10 days of Ramadan as period of Mercy, whereby Allah (SWT)’s mercy is showered on the believers. Those who express their gratitude to Allah (SWT) for his bounties, receive them in large measure as Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an says,

“If you are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you, But if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed.” (Al-Quran 14:7)

The second 10 days of Ramadan is when forgiveness is granted to the believers as reward for the fasting during the first part. The last 10 days of Ramadan brings immunity from Hell. In Ramadan, you should endeavour to perform three things in great number:

1) ‘Kalima Tayyiba’ (Laa ilaha illala hu muhamadur rasulullah). If the seven heavens, the earth and all its occupants were placed in one pan of a scale and this ‘Kalima’ on the other, the ‘Kalima’ would outweigh everything.
2) ‘Istighfaar’ (Beg for Allah (SWT)’s forgiveness). Whoever says a great deal of ‘Istighfaar’, Allah (SWT) opens a way out for him from all difficulties and releases him from sorrows.
3) Beg for entry into Paradise and seek refuge with Allah (SWT) from the fire of ‘Jahannam’ (Hell).

The night of “Laylatul Qadr” is described as being greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than 1,000 months. Therefore fortunate is that person who attains the full blessings of this night by spending it in the worship of Allah (SWT).
During the last third of Ramadan, one should read more of Al-Qur’an and remember Allah (SWT) more often, even constantly. For Muslims, the last ten days should be a time to perfect one’s fast and avoid anything that may break it. It is a time to give more charity and to settle disputes and forgive one
another. It is also a time for soul searching, evaluating one’s life, supplicating, and asking forgiveness. This should be done sincerely because if Allah (SWT) accepts the supplications, the reward is the remission of one’s sins. The best time to do it is in the last part of the night.

Allah (SWT) has concealed the exact date of the Night of Power so that we would double our efforts during the last ten days. He is also testing the serious and the non-serious. The seriously interested person will search for it late at night and in the early hours until he or she attains it, regardless of the hardship.
It is recommended to seek the night and spend it diligently in devotion, including night Sunnah prayers (Tahajjud) and recitation of Al-Qur’an. This citation indicates that regardless of whether a person knows the night or not Allah (SWT) will grant forgiveness for previous shortcomings.
During this time, he limited his contact with people and intensified his supplications and du’as to Allah (SWT). The Prophet (pbuh) did this in order to attune his heart even more with Allah (SWT) and to free his mind from the concerns of the world.

Fasting in Shawwal

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it with six days of fast in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted Dahr(the whole year)”. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2614)

Shawwal is the tenth month in the lunar calendar. The first of Shawwal is Eid- ulFitr. After the festivity of Eid it is recommended to observe six days of fast. This fast may be observed continuously non-break, or it may be observed one day at a time.

Ramadan Kariim to all Muslims all over the world.

• Prepare a study checklist.
• Make summary sheets.
• Do practice tests.

Preparing a Study Checklist

• Look through notes, textbooks, course outline.
• Prepare a list of major topics covered.
• Divide each heading into sub-topics:
  Example:
  • Major topic: Types of exam questions
  • Sub-topics:
    a) Objective exam questions:
    • Multiple Choice.
    • Fill-in-blanks.
    • Matching.

    b) Subjective exam questions:

    • Essays.
    • Short-answer.
    • Open-book.

  Making Summary Sheets

  • Look at each sub-topic from your checklist.
  • Write down a key word or phrase that will help you remember the entire concept.
  • Use question form where possible E.g., “What are the three types of objective questions?”
  • Include definitions, vocabulary, calculations, points emphasized in class on your sheets.
  • Do this for each sub-topic.
  • These will serve as your study notes!

  How to Use Summary Sheets

  • Ask yourself exam questions you have prepared ALOUD.
  • Rehearsing is the fastest way to learn.
  • Reading over and over is the slowest way to practice the exam.

  Practice Tests

  Advantages

  • Increases number of questions on exam that will be familiar to you.
  • You will be giving your study sessions a focus so you will be less likely to waste time.
  • Best preparation for an exam is to practice exactly what you will be doing when you write it.
  • Eliminates stress of exam because the practice will make it seem ‘old hat’ to you.

  How to set one up

  • Use questions from old exam and textbook reviews.
  • The internet and senior students are perfect source.

  Types of Exam Questions

  Objective Exam

  • More detail oriented.
  • Recognition based.
  • • Multiple choice.
    • True/False.
    • Matching Questions.

  Subjective Exam

  • Sometimes easier because partial marks are rewarded.
  • Require a broader understanding of material.
  • • Essays.
    • Short-answer questions.

  Take-home / Open-book exam

  • Performance expectations are higher.

  Objective Exam Questions

  Multiple Choice Questions

  • Try to answer before looking at options;If you can’t, then look at ALL options before answering.
  • Answer the questions you know first.
  • Your first instinct is usually correct.
  • Take questions at face value – tricks are rare!
  • Watch out for double negatives (e.g. “Not studying for exams doesn’t help”)
    Cross out both negatives and then answer
    E.g., “Studying for exams helps”
  • Stuck?
    • Rephrase question in your own words.
    • Look for answers in other exam questions but, don’t waste time.
    • Cross out answers you know are incorrect.
    • Never leave a question unanswered.
  • Guess!
    • If two answers are similar, choose one of them.
    • If two answers have similar words, choose one of them.
    • If two answers have opposite meanings, choose one of them.
    • Choose the longest answerTrue-False Questions.
  • Don’t spend too much time on any one question.
  • Look for qualifiers in questions, E.g., most, sometimes, rarely. They are always true.
  • Questions that contain “always” or “never” are usually false.

  Other Objective Exam Questions

  Fill-in-the-blank

  • Eliminate options that do not result in grammatically correct sentences.
  • Look for cue words (eg., an, as, that, the, these)
  • Make sure the answer makes conceptual sense too.

  Matching

  • Determine whether any option could be used more than once.
  • Do all match-ups you are sure of first.

  Subjective Exam Questions

  Essay Questions

  • Read the entire exam first.
  • Make your exam easy to read; This puts the marker in a positive frame of mind.
  • Read directions carefully.
  • Plan your answer; Make a mini outline – if you run out of time, this could provide partial marks.
  • Get right to the point; Be concise, clear, compact. It is better to know a little and present it well, than to know a lot and present it poorly.
  • Keep to the point.
  • Don’t forget to include the basics.
  • Use examples or diagrams to show you understand.
  • Keep your eye on the time – don’t spend too much time on one question.
  • Always write SOMETHING – even if you don’t know anything.
  • Use all of the allotted time – it’s not a race!
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread.
  • If exam time runs out, don’t be afraid to use point form to finish.

  ON EXAM DAY

  • Relax!
  • Realize that you won’t know ALL of the answers.
  • Accept yourself & what you know.
  • Read through the entire exam.
  • Plan your time well.
  • Answer the questions you know first.
  • Answer the questions that are worth the most, second.
  • Mark up the exam & use scrap paper to guide your thinking.

  Reading Directions

  • Analyze = examine in detail; make judgments.
  • Compare = Show similarities and differences.
  • Contrast = Show differences.
  • Define = Explain meaning in short answer.
  • Describe = tell all you know; use details.
  • Discuss = write everything you know in logical progression.
  • Evaluate = examine positive and negative aspects; draw a conclusion.
  • Illustrate = use examples and details.
  • Justify = give reasons to support a proposition.
  • Outline= Using main ideas, give an overview.
  • Prove = use facts and evidence to support a position.
  • Summarize = give main ideas in a short answer.

  I wish all of you the best in your exam preparation.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/study-skills-for-exam-preparation/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/nutrition-infograph/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/nutrition-infograph/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:22:55 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1179 This is the best Infograph i have seen on nutrition, it simplifies a concept or formula which have been elusive for the average Joe for a long time.

  It takes a look at some of the statistics about preventable diseases over the last few decades in the US, and a history of official nutrition guides over time. It ends with some actionable pieces of advice for folks who find themselves in a less healthy state than they’d like or who simply want to maintain as healthy of a diet as they can. I thought it was very informative. I hope you find it helpful in understanding nutrition Overall.

  

  Source: frugaldad.com

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/nutrition-infograph/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/stop-procrastination/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/stop-procrastination/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:02:39 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1172 The key to learning to stop procrastination is to shift your focus toward concentrating on results. Many people work frantically each day and accomplish very little.
  It is counterproductive to concentrate on so many tasks that you cannot accomplish, they may cost you time and energy with no results. Many people seem to spend a lot of time and energy only to achieve very few results.
  

  You can learn how to stop procrastination and achieve success in all you do if you learn the appropriate time management and organizational skills.
  Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday
  Here are few keys to beating procrastination:

  Prioritize

  Working efficiently requires much less energy than tackling several tasks at once and never completing any of them.
  You can more effectively manage your time if you make a list each day of every task you need to complete in order of importance.
  Finish each task before starting on the next.
  Organizational and time management skills will reduce your level of stress and increase your productivity.
  Problems and demands can seem overwhelming at times and leave you feeling overburdened and out of control. The proper time management tools, including a to do list, will help you keep your priorities in order and give you a plan to follow each day. Concentrate on the important elements of your tasks and stop working frantically with no accomplishments.
  Procrastination is, hands down, our favorite form of self-sabotage

  Break down large chunks into smaller components

  If your tasks seem large, break them into individual components until they seem more manageable. With a precise plan you can eliminate most of the problems you face during the day and gain a sense of pride and accomplishment when you see a noticeable difference in your productivity level.

  Organize your life

  Procrastination tends to leave you with a feeling of frustration and a sense of never finishing anything no matter how hard you work.
  To find success both at work and at home, you must organize your daily tasks and your life. Time management skills are among the most important you’ll ever learn. Learning to prioritize and do the right things at the right time will help you reach your goals on a daily basis.
  Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried
  Exercise & eat right! Yes, that’s right. If you take the time to exercise, you will actually have more energy and will procrastinate less. Also, avoid those simple sugars that “give you a boost”. It may give you an immediate rush, but you will “dump” just shortly there after. Eat complex carbohydrates which provide a slower, steadier release of energy throughout the day.

  Be effective

  Being effective means doing the right things in a timely manner. Your effectiveness depends on learning how to stop procrastination.
  You can delegate tasks to others to free up your time to do the urgent tasks to meet your objectives in order to be more productive. Being inefficient and frustrated equates to poor performance.
  Procrastination is suicide on the installment plan

  Use your time wisely

  You can lower your stress level and achieve your goals by using your time wisely and learning to stop procrastination. Determine your priorities, set achievable goals, and plan wisely to enable you to make the best use of your time.

  Experiment

  Develop a system that works for you. There is no cookie-cutter approach to overcoming procrastination. A system that may be very successful for one person, could fail miserably for another. Try different “programs” on and be patient. You will find a system that fits you perfectly.

  Just do it!

  Just do it! I realize this phrase is completely over-used, but let’s face it, it applies. Sometimes we just need to buckle down and complete that unbelievably miserable task that we have been dreading for so long. I guarantee you that you will have more energy when you are done.

  And finally

  Learn your strengths and your weaknesses.
  Learning to stop procrastination will allow you to lessen the time spent on performing tasks that you dislike and gives more time to do things you like.

  Read More

  The Little Guide to Un-Procrastination
  Procrastination quotes

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/stop-procrastination/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/happy-new-year-2012/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/happy-new-year-2012/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:52:31 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1157 Happy New Year!! Dear Blog Readers,

  

  Live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday. Author Unknown

  Hope

  To face the coming year’s problems use HOPE, faith, and your trust in God and His wisdom to guide you to the future that’s right for you. You can create your own future by focusing your thoughts on what you wish to accomplish. Know that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life – both good and bad.

  Aspiration

  Make it your ASPIRATION to achieve something worthwhile. Learn a new skill, or seek greater knowledge in areas you don’t now have. Seek and master new ways to do something that’s already been done -and- do it better! Use the power of purpose by giving whatever it is you desire the highest amount of your attention. This determines how successful you will become.

  Prosper

  Make a concentrated effort to improve, grow, and PROSPER. Increase your financial security. Dare to be happy. Exercise and stay in good health. Keep a positive attitude. Do whatever it takes to improve your personal and business image. And know that your relationship with giving is the spiritual source of your true prosperity.

  Precious

  Treat your life, family, friends, and others you meet as a PRECIOUS gift to be enjoyed, and of great value. Regard them with a love that is special and – it will all come back to you. Send forth good and it multiples. Honor every one you come in contact with today, tomorrow, and make it an ongoing behavior. This too, is paid back to you by the Universe.

  Yearn

  To YEARN is to express compassion. In this coming new year, experience it and show compassion for those less fortunate then you are. Offer ways to help others whenever and wherever you can. Give only good. The more you give of yourself, the more comes back to you. It may help make this a better world.

  Network

  Learn to NETWORK and link to other like-minded individuals; whether it’s in an educational, business, or social setting the benefits can add to your growth and success. Celebrate and share your abilities so that you can attract more of the same.

  Eager

  Be EAGER to learn new things. Opportunities are all around you. Having an intense passion or desire to find new opportunities is the sign of an enthusiastic person. This desire comes from God. In order for you to find new opportunities, always move toward your goal with a spiritual awareness.

  Wisdom

  WISDOM – the ability to make well thought out decisions comes from maturity and understanding. In any given situation, it is wise not to judge until all facts are understood. Be open to understanding another’s point of view. Do you look at the world with a positive or a negative vision?

  Yesterday

  YESTERDAY is a day that has just passed. Now you are free to live in the present. Use each new day wisely and full of gratitude for every hour, every minute, and every second. Set goals for each day and take specific actions that will help you accomplish them.

  Life is a series of new beginnings and in every ordinary moment there are a thousand miracles to behold. Flavia Weedin

  Eloquent

  ELOQUENT. Are you confident, persuasive and effective in the way you communicate? When speaking with others how would you rate yourself? Are you always voicing negative opinions? Or, are you positive in expressing your thoughts?

  Advertise

  ADVERTISE. For those in business, always make the positive features and benefits of your product or service known. Appeal to the emotions of your prospective client. Give quality service and products so that your self-esteem is strengthened and your reputation is valued.

  Reward

  In the coming new year, here’s hoping that you will REWARD yourself for any successful personal and business achievements. Improve your skills where and when needed. Change any negative habits, and always follow His guidance in all things you attempt to do.
  May this New Year bring you many blessings of good health, dreams to come true, prayers to be answered, and gratitude for all.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/happy-new-year-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/somali-scholarship/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/somali-scholarship/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:53:03 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1139 Every Year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, offers young people the opportunity to study for a post-graduate degree in the UK under the Chevening Scholarship scheme.

  The Scholarships are fully funded and cover course fees, living allowance and return airfare. The scholarships are for post graduate study of up to a maximum of twelve months. Most scholars undertake Masters programmes, but awards to pursue short courses or research for between three to twelve months are also offered.

  The Chevening scheme also offers a Fellows course, consisting of 12 week courses, also in the UK, to study subjects of strategic importance to the UK and the participating country. These courses include human rights, democracy, governance, security sector reform and migration. These Fellowships are also fully funded by the UK Government.

  Chevening Scholarship Programme for Somalia  2012-13

  The Chevening Scholarship programme for 2012-13 is now open for applications from Somalia via the e-chevening website.

  Chevening Scholarships are 1 year post-graduate courses starting in September 2012.  Their objective is to promote the UK’s longer term political, economic and commercial interests and to support diplomacy by building understanding and goodwill.

  Purpose

  The purpose of the selection process is to attract those with the potential to become future leaders with capacity to benefit the UK, such as:

  • Top-level decision makers such as heads of state/government; senior ministers; religious leaders; opposition leaders; top-level civil society leaders; top-level civil servants; top level members of the judiciary and military and business leaders.
  • High level decision-makers such as ministers; influential MPs; regional and political leaders; high-level civil servants; high-level civil society leaders; senior members of the judiciary and military; senior business people; university vice-chancellors;
  • Influencers and opinion formers such as senior editors and journalists; senior academics, influential members of civil society.

  Applicants are encouraged to apply for courses in line with the UK’s objectives for Somalia, which include, but are not exclusive to:

  • Conflict management
  • Human right Governance
  • Economics
  •  Security

  Criteria for selection

  Applicants should:

  •   have the potential to rise to positions of leadership and influence
  •   have an adequate standard of English
  •   have a degree equivalent to a UK 2nd class Honours
  •   not have already benefitted from a UK scholarship

  Timeline

  The e-Chevening website site for 2012/13 applications is now open.

  The closing date for applications will be 23 January 2012

  Applications are accepted online only

  Applicants should:

  •   apply for places at UK universities when applying for a scholarship.
  •   should not wait to be offered a scholarship before applying to universities as this may delay or impede our ability to offer scholarships.

  Good luck to everyone and we wish you the best for the coming year.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/somali-scholarship/feed/ 24 http://www.hanadeducation.com/internet-academic-research/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/internet-academic-research/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:24:02 +0000 Mohamed Burhan http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1129

  The main problem with using the internet for academic research is that the huge majority of the material posted on the internet is complete garbage. There are all sorts of ludicrous sites run by cranks and lunatics, as well as those set up by well-meaning but ill-informed enthusiasts on various subjects and hobbies. You will also be able to find well written but badly researched and misleading articles generously posted on the web for you to consult. Almost everywhere you look, it seems, you are confronted with wall-to-wall rubbish.

  ---

  Where to start?

  You should not despair, however, of finding useful and reliable information on the internet. There are increasing numbers of really excellent educational and academic sites available, from historical time-lines and encyclopaedias to online versions of literary texts.
  Once you have found the right sites, you will discover that the Internet is a wonderfully quick and easy source of information. It is a particularly good place to look for general overviews and introductions to topics, as well as for basic facts, dates, and so on.
  For more sophisticated discussions and interpretations,however, it is still best to rely on academic books and articles, which are guaranteed to have been properly ‘peer reviewed’ prior to publication (that is to say, they will have been read and appraised by other academic experts in the field).

  As ever, the key is to be selective. An essay or academic presentation that makes good use of authoritative websites as sources of information, can be outstandingly good. While an essay or academic presentation that makes use of the first vaguely relevant site that came up on a quick search, regardless of its credentials, can be at best piddling and at worst middling.

  ---

  Ask for guidance first?

  Much the quickest way to find the most relevant and reliable academic websites for your subject is to ask the lecturers and librarians in your department or university. They will be able to tell you the best places to start and to introduce you to the electronic and online resources that your department and university subscribe to. You will be able to save huge amounts of time by having access to online biographical,bibliographical and other resources.

  ---

  Academic uses of the internet

  There are a number of ways the internet can be used for academic research and i will briefly describe the importance of each of them.

  ---

  Obtaining particular dates of key academic individuals, events and publications

  It’s very important for students to understand chronological occurrence of events they are writing or learning about, it will not only help them get the big picture but also provide them a platform in which they can review and easily explain in an essay.

  ---

  Getting basic background information about a topic

  Time is money is a common saying in our modern life. But this saying gives the wrong impression as it merely relates time to a business and materiastic lif. Time is much more than that, Time constitutes the moments and seconds of our life that we lose and can not get back. It’s for these reason that most people in today’s world are rushing after or busy with things that don’t matter in the long run. Students and learners are prime example. Why spend countless hours reading a textbook on Alternative Medicine when a few minutes of your time consulting popular sites like Wikipedia will yield enough academic competence to get you going and result you doing far more important things better.

  ---

  Discovering biographical information about an individual

  All educational systems and subjects are people-driven and every once in a while, it’s often crucial that you know more about prominent academic individuals like Albert Einstein than the subjects he helped shape e.g general relativity, so that you better understand and visualize such fields of his study.

  ---

  Bibliography: identifying the main academic books and articles on your topic.

  A lecturer may provide you with reading lists for any assessed project they have set you. However, the items on this list might not be available, so one of the ways you might use your initiative and go beyond the reading list is to use the internet to search for other texts to read. One way is to look for online reading lists provided by other lecturers at your own university or elsewhere. And secondly, you could use an online library catalogue such as Google Scholar to look for books on your subject and use it as a rough and ready guide to what are the most widely used standard
  secondary texts on a given subject.

  ---

  Getting access to academic journals

  The availability and acceptability of academic journals and texts are increasing exponentially thanks to the internet. There are online journals and archives such as JSTOR which is the premier source used by millions for learning, teaching and research. These list is equally good.

  ---

  For Self-study

  I have already listed the resources in previous blog entry at here.

  ---

  Conclusion

  Do we start reading at one end of the library and try to read through to the other end. Of course not. So you already know one effective approach. Be selective!. Also Don’t forget to ask for help and recommendations from friends and teachers, and finally if you have got any tips, feedback or suggestions, Please leave us a comment or Contact us about any other academic issues.

  ---

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/internet-academic-research/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/change-host/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/change-host/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:51:36 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1120 We would like to transfer our website to a new host and there may be some downtime during the weekend. Downtime is a period of time when a website isn’t operating or functioning properly due to the transfer of files from one server to another. For example, Someone may happen to visit the live url in the middle of the transfer and be presented with an error message. We hope to minimize this occurring and if it does, it won’t last more than an hour.

  The reason we are doing this is we want our customers and students to have the best experience serving our website both in terms of speed and usability.
  We would also like to start a few projects in the coming future, and we feel we will need to have a few things in place, powerful hosting and servers being one of them.

  We apologize for any inconvenience this may bring to you guys and we appreciate your patience and support.

  Thanks again.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/change-host/feed/ 0 http://www.hanadeducation.com/effective-exam-strategy/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/effective-exam-strategy/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:36:49 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1092 Exams are a regular part of the school, college and university life, which is considered to be a flexible form of learning and teaching process that aims at investigation of a student’s knowledge of a particular subject.

  However, nothing makes students gloomier than the prospect of exams. Even the word examination itself makes students shudder.
  There are no doubts that for the majority of students, examinations are something like death, which has the unpleasant inevitability to be faced sooner rather than later.
  Exam inevitability often creates a great deal of tension, and can become a cause of procrastination, work block, anxiety, and panic attacks, especially when students feel overloaded by the amount of work they are required to accomplish.

  A constant struggle, a ceaseless battle to bring success so that Winning is not a sometime thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing Vince Lombardi
  There are countless hours of preparing and sitting for examinations that is accompanied by cramming, sleepless nights, and it very often turns out to be very distressing and debilitating ordeal. Indeed, different people deal with exams in different ways. Some people may seem to be able to handle the pressure; others get agitated, anxious, bad-tempered, and can even become seriously ill and depressed.

  However, despite all this, one thing holds really true: examination period is challenge-able.
  Remember that you should be responsible for your own learning. Hence, your examination success is in your hands, and in many respects it depends on your ability to focus on active learning, to schedule your time sensibly, and to organize your working place properly.

  So don’t take exams lightly, putting off revision to the very last day, and entrusting your examination grades on lucky chance is not right. Therefore, exams is not an appropriate time to check how lucky you are.
  Whilst you don’t want to be caught off guard and confused on the spur of the moment, as leaving revision too late is an excellent recipe for stress and anxiety.

  Be sure to stick to these simple and effective examination techniques, which will help you pass your examinations with flying colours. Remember that with careful planning and preparation, exams can become nothing more than a question and answer session.

  Elaborate your revision program as early as possible

  Organize your time wisely. Be sure to allocate time for revision, relaxing and enjoying yourself sensibly. Be realistic about time that you can spend revising. Bear in mind that you need a balance between your revision time and the rest of your life. You need rest, and variety. So try to break your workload down into manageable chunks, combining working periods with rest.
  And what is more important is to begin studying early, with an hour or two per day, increasing this time as exams approach.

  Plan how you will use your time during your revision period

  Your plan should include what, when and how you are going to prepare for your examination. Try to produce a day-by-day revision timetable.
  Fail to plan, You plan to fail Unknown
  List all the topics you’re going to cover during your revision process, make up your mind what order to learn them in, and how much time you can manage on each topic. Be realistic about your time, and always remember about your deadlines.
  A good revision strategy is to set priorities. Evaluate the importance of each block of information that you’re going to revise, think it over what topics are compulsory for you to revise, and what subjects you already know.

  Involve in active learning

  Reading is a passive way of learning, while writing is an active studying technique, which is considered to be highly productive.
  Plunge into the text you’re reading, and ask yourself: “What is the most important to remember from this section?” Make notes while you read and underline the key concepts in the text.
  Mix easy and difficult topics, interesting and dull while you revise.
  Try to work in a comfortable environment, to remove any distractions, and to find out where you work best. Don’t forget to interrupt your study time with planned study breaks.

  Make your revision process effective

  Don’t learn parrot fashion. Researches have shown that a person recalls meaningful information better and easier. That’s why you should:
  1) Associate newly learnt concepts with what you already know. As you are reading try to link what you are studying with what you already know, with something that is meaningful to you.
  2) Elaborate upon new information with your own examples.
  3) Revise material in small chunks; don’t try to cover all the information in one sitting.
  4) Information is memorized better when it is represented in an organized framework. Group information into categories; write an outline or a summary.
  5) Use as many visual aids as possible; make a practical use of drawings, tables, graphs extensively in your revision process.
  6) People are more likely to remember things that go in some certain sequence, so that one thing triggers another element.

  Organize your working place sensibly

  Many students are fully versed in importance of time management in the process of preparation for their exams; however, quite a few is acquainted with the importance of organising their working places wisely.
  Be sure to divide your room into two areas: your working space that can be near your desk or table with papers, books, photocopies on it, all in all, everything you need for studying, and a place for relaxation, where you can look aside from studying, taking a nap, watching TV, or listening to music.
  Get used to indulge in work only in your working area, and to switch off in your relaxation zone.
  Physical separation of your working place from your relaxation area will make it easier for you to do it mentally.
  Bear in mind that doing well in exams not only depends on your knowledge, but also on how good you are at revising and handling the actual exam.

  Conclusion

  One may argue that an exam can be a lottery, where a large proportion of success depends on your lucky chance. It’s worth noting that luck can let us down in the most unsuitable moment. So, I don’t propose you to count on it. The most reliable way to pass an exam is a thorough and profound preparation.
  Remember that exams aren’t the be all end all, and the means will always justify the ends.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/effective-exam-strategy/feed/ 1 http://www.hanadeducation.com/usmle-plan/ http://www.hanadeducation.com/usmle-plan/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:54:15 +0000 Hanad http://www.hanadeducation.com/?p=1076 I have come across this excellent USMLE step 1 plan while serving the net and i thought it may be a lot of help to you guys. It’s from an IMG who did USMLE early this year and please share it with your fellow students.

  The USMLE is a multi-step professional examination that medical students and physicians are required to pass before they start practicing medicine in the US or Canada. The exam according to NBME (National Board of Medical Examiners) assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to determine fundamental patient-centered skills that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. Working in the US had become the holy grail for doctors in the last few years due to the payment package enjoyed by US doctors and the facilities offered by US hospitals that makes patients care much better and a more fulfilling and a rewarding experience.

  Started studying mid August 2010, took the exam January 20th 2011 (last Thursday)! Total prep time: 4-5 months

  NBME 1 (after watching kaplan videos): 185
  NBME 6 (late Oct): 197
  NBME 7 (Dec 31st): 240
  UWSA 2 (Dec 31st): 252
  NBME 3 (two weeks to go): 231
  USMLE Rx simulation (1 week to go): 266

  Materials used:

  • Pathology: BRS pathology, RR pathology, Kaplan Pathololgy:

  I would recommend reading BRS path once then listening to Goljan audio along with the RR pathology. I tried to read RR pathology but found the format difficult to deal with although I loved Goljan audio. Kaplan pathology was okay for pictures and I mainly used it while attending live lectures where I had Dr. Barone as a lecturer and he was pretty awesome.

  • Microbiology: First Aid, Clinical Microbiology made Ridiculously Simple (better than Kaplan micro):

  Wasted a whole week watching Kaplan microbiology videos which were really not necessary. If I could start over, I would read CMMRS and supplement with First Aid.

  • Physiology: BRS physiology (highly recommend this), Kaplan Physiology:

  Kaplan physiology along with the videos were pretty decent. I only ‘discovered’ BRS physiology a month before my exam and although everyone says not to read new material so close to the exam, I gave it a quick read and really liked it. I think if you know BRS physiology cold it’s sufficient for the exam.

  • Biochemistry: Kaplan biochemistry, First Aid:

  I watched the videos but didn’t know the material really well until I attended the Live Lectures and had Dr. Hansen as a lecturer. She is pretty amazing and I went from Biochem being my weakest subject to one of my strongest. First Aid has a few conditions that weren’t covered in the Kaplan textbook which is why I’m mentioning it.

  • Pharmacology: First Aid, Kaplan:

  I had a pretty good pharmacology lecturer during Live Lectures as well. I annotated Kaplan pharm into First Aid and I think that was enough.

  • Behavioral Sciences: Kaplan, First Aid:

  I read the Kaplan behavioral sciences book once and didn’t touch it again. Reviewed First Aid before my exam. I had Dr. Fadem (she writes the high yield behavioral book) for live lectures and I’ve heard good things about her book but I didn’t end up using it. My med school was pretty keen on Behavioral so I felt like I had a good starting foundation and it was my strongest subject in all my NBMEs.

  • Anatomy: Kaplan anatomy, HY neuroanatomy, First Aid:

  Anatomy was my weakest subject in all NBMEs and the actual exam. I kinda wish I had given more time to it. I felt the Kaplan anatomy book was overdetailed so I read it once but didn’t really go back to it. I didn’t read all of HY neuroanatomy just the bits on brainstem and spinal cord and some pictures. My neuroanatomy was pretty solid towards the end because I spent some time going through the pathways, pictures etc but I still really sucked at overall anatomy. I did get a lot of random anatomy questions on my exam (not just brachial plexus!) so yeah contrary to what you may have heard First Aid is NOT enough for anatomy.

  • Question Banks:

  Finished USMLE World once and then did incorrect questions again. The No 1 thing I would recommend is to annotate into First Aid concepts from UWorld as you go along. If 50 questions sounds too much, start off by doing 10-20 questions a day just make sure you annotate. The difficult questions in the actual exam are UWorld style so this is really helpful. I managed to annotate maybe 40-50% of UWorld into First Aid as I was pretty lazy in the beginning. My average was 56% first round and 80′s towards end of second round.

  I also did Kaplan Qbank, finished around 60%. I think I was on 65-70% towards the end. I don’t know if I would do the Kaplan Qbank if I had to start over, I didn’t find it extremely useful.

  • USMLE Rx. Finished 30%. Averaged 77%

  I bought this about two weeks before my exam because I kinda run out of questions to review on UWorld and wanted to consolidate First Aid. I reallly liked it. It makes you notice the small details you skimmed over in First Aid. It was also good for doing a full 8 hour simulation test a week before the exam. It predicted me 266 though but I think it has a +/- 20 error margin. I almost prefer this as a second Qbank over Kaplan but Kaplan seems to be more popular and my scores haven’t come out so maybe I’m wrong.

  August to October:

  I started off watching Kaplan videos for Biochemistry, Microbiology and Physiology. My studying during the first few months was kinda on-off and I maybe did 4-5 hours a day. I found the videos good but a little slow and most of the time I was nodding off. I also listened to Goljan audio once (using RR pathology along with it) during this time but again it was a bit slow for me and I didn’t really appreciate Goljan at this point

  October to first week of December:

  Kaplan 6 week live lecture course. Lectures were amazing for pathology (Barone!), pharmacology and biochem. Others were decent but not anything to be over the moon about. The only downside of the lectures was that it didn’t give me a lot of time to study in the evenings and I was lucky if I finished a block of UWorld questions at the end of each day. I guess it depends on how focused you can be. I also spent some of the time there socializing ( yes you do meet some decent people on the course) so I wasn’t really pushing myself 100%.

  December to exam:

  Crunch time. Ended up studying maybe 12 hours a day minimum, barely left the house etc. I was never an amazing student at med school but once I made a timetable and realized how much I needed to get through I just sucked it up and starting working my a** off. My score bumped up from 197 to 240-250 after three weeks of intense studying. I didn’t really want to move my Jan 20th exam date because I had holiday plans end of January.

  Things that really worked for me.

  1. I went through First Aid using the DIT videos . This really forced me to buckle down and get through First Aid instead of just skimming over it. You may not need it if you are a focused person but if you are slightly attnetion deficit like I am, this really helps as Dr Jenkins kinda drills all the facts into your head. I watched them 1.7x times speed.

  2. Listening to Goljan pathology again. I appreciated Goljan so much more second time round after I had a better pathology foundation. I also listened to this at 1.7x times speed as he was going too slow on normal speed.

  3. Making connections. Annotate, annotate, annotate. If you read about a disease in First Aid, that is maybe mentioned in another section, make the connection and write it down. The actual exam is all about concepts and making connections. E.g. Paget’s disease may cause high output cardiac failure (mentioned in the musk section of First Aid). Write this down in the cardiology section also. Add to it what kind of physiological values you would expect in high output cardiac failure. So this way you end up connecting musk +cardiac path+ cardiac physiology.

  Actual USMLE exam:

  More tiring than any of the 8 hour simulations I took. Maybe it’s the stress bubbling away underneath. Make sure to get a good nights sleep before I know a lot of people who couldn’t sleep the night prior and this really affected their performance. Avoid caffeine after midday the day before, go out for a movie or dinner with a friend.

  I got to the Prometric Center around 7:15 am and I think ended up starting my exam at 7:30 am or something. Did the first two blocks back to back, took a break after 3rd and 4th, did blocks 5 and 6 back to back, took another break then did my last block. I had a massive headache during my 4th block which I think was due to caffeine withdrawal so I took a break after that and had my lunch and some coffee.

  Question-wise:

  some of it was really really easy. There were definitely quite a few ‘free’ questions where you were kinda like ‘come on are you serious?’
  Then there were the mid-range questions where you kinda felt good about yourself because you were like ‘this would be difficult if I hadn’t studied my ass off but I did’.
  Then there were the horrible ones. Most questions I could narrow down to two choices then I’d be stuck between them for ages. Some questions were so bizarre that I felt like shouting at my computer screen. There were questions I felt like even if I had spent another year preparing for Step1 I wouldn’t have known the answer.

  Time wise

  : I was surprised by how I didn’t have 20 minutes extra like I normally did for my practice tests. I had three minutes left after going through my marked questions in Block 1 ( I did spend a considerable amount of time going back and forth between choices) so I cranked it up and sped up a bit for the blocks after. But yeah as I said I’m normally a fast test-taker and I didn’t have lots of extra time in the real thing.

  That was really long. I hope that was useful for you guys. Still waiting for results I think I’ll be happy with anything over a 240 but would be really disappointed if I ended up with a 220 or something. I don’t even wanna think about results right now!!

  - Anonymous IMG

  I wish him all the best and that was one heck of a preparation for the USMLE.

  ]]> http://www.hanadeducation.com/usmle-plan/feed/ 0